CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 1 May 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

« The Transvaal. FRENCH'S TROOPS IN ACTION. | In connection with the efforts that are being made to enuelop the Boer forces now in retreat northwards from Dewetsdorp and Wepener, news has been received and when approaching Rooderkop, Lieutenant-General French's troops encountered some ' opposition from a small body of the enemy. The cavalry dismounted, and when , effected carbine fire drove the Boers across the plain, where they suffered severely from the fire of the machine guns. General French continued the pursuit. The success was the more noteworthy from the fact that the ground on which the engagement took place favoured defensive tactics. From these rearguard actions it is feared that the Boers' divisions are

converging "upon Thabanchu and Ladybrand, towns situated between Bloemfontein and the Basutoland boundary, to the north of Wepener. GENERAL HAMILTON NEAR LADYBRAND. Major-General lan Hamilton, with an equipment of naval guns and howitzers, has occupied a mountain dominating the Ladybrand district. Lieutenant-General French, with his cavalry forces, and Major-General Sir Henry Rundlc, with a Yeomanry brigade, is closely following iu the direction of LaJybrand. Lord Roberts reports that MajorGeneral Ridley, with the 2nd Mounted I Infantry, and Major-General SmithDorien, commanding the 18th Brigade — portion of Major-Genercl lan Hamilton's column — performed an admirably- executed and well-conceived turning movement at Israel's Pont on Wednesday, the enemy being expelled from a strong position. The British Jesses were slight. Both these brigades are now advancing on Thabanchu. Major-General Pole-Carew ; in passing northwards from Dewetsdorp. punitively, seized the cattle and horses belonging to a number of Free Staters who had surrendered and then broke their oath of allegiance. Prisoners who have been taken admit that this step is the only one calculated to stop the risings. During the advance of this column numerous small commandoes were met with, but they melted away, with no resistance, the farmers slinking away to their homes. THE THIRD CONTINGENT. On Wednesday last BrigadierGeneral Brabant discovered a Boer commando occupying a kopje which commanded^ the eastern road from Wepener. " He at once posted a hundred of Major Jowsey's New Zealand roughriders (the third contingent) on a kopje in front of the enemy, and then directing a wide detour on the part of the remainder of the rough riders and Brabant's Hor9e, accompanied by two guns. This force, operating from the east, outflanked the enemy on the left and gained the eastern slopes on a kopje adjoining the Basutoland border. On the south west the Boers sub-* jdcted the colonials to a terrific fire but General Brabant, placing*the men under cover in a mealie field, shelled the enemy at a range of seven hundred yards. The Boers were eventually ousted from their stronghold, and were shelled again as thay retreated with deadly eftect. The result of the engagement has been to "open the road northwards for miles. LORD ROBERTS'S ARMY. The Hon. George Wyndham, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, ' speaking in the House of Commons. J stated that prior to March 31st the number of horses shipped to the Cape exceeded Lord Roberts's demands. Twenty-seven thousand and fortyone hadr he stated, been shipped since December towards the newest estimate of forty-two thousand, and seventeen thousand mules towards the twentythree thousand asked for. i Lord Roberts, proceeded Mr Wyndham, was less delayed by lack of remounts and rolling stock than by the labour of repairing the railway lines in order to transfer his base to Bloemfontein. Only a single line of rails existed, and operation were now being completed to defend the lines of com- , munication from interruption. j MAFEKING. I It is officially announed that good news has been received from Colonel Baden-Powell, commander of the beleaguered garrison at Mafeking. j Under date April 10th the Colonel : ■ has reported that all his wounded are prqgressing favourably^ ; In the House of Commons, the Hon. George Wyndham, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, said that everybody was anxious about Mafeking but the revelation of the objective of any of Lord Roberts's forces would not hasten relief. , CRUELTY TO NATIVE WOMEN. j News has been received that the 1 Boers stripped and sjambocked (flogged)- a number of native women fugitives from Mafeking. A MISSING OUTPOST. The missing outpost of thirty-five men of the Worcester Regiment, which disappeared in the course of the operations of Lieutenant-General Rundle's division in the vicinity of Dewetsdorp, is now accounted for. It appears that the men lost their way while searching for water,- and stumbling upon a Boer camp; were made prisoners. FOURTEEN STREAMS. An engagement has been fought at Fourteen Streams, forty-seven miles north of Kimberley, by a portion oi Lord Methuen's division, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Arthut Paget, of the Scots Guards. A heavy fire of shrapnel and lyddite shells were directed upon the enemy's position by Colonel Paget's artillery, and eventually the Boers were expelled, and compelled to retreat. At latest advices they were flying northwards. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING. The Eleventh Divison, MajorGeneral Sir Archibald Hunter's command, which comprises the Guards Brigade and the Eighteenth Brigade, is now arriving at Kimberley. THE FREE STATE. Lord Roberts reports that on Friday morning Lieutenant-General French's two cavalry brigades effected a junction with Major-General lan Hamilton's Mounted Infantry and MajorGeneral Smith-Dorieu's 18th Brigade at Thabanchu, General Hamilton's force having been straining every nerve to reach Ladybrand before the Boer commandoes in their retreat northwards from Dewetsdorp and Wepener The three brigades, on meeting, combined, with the intention of immediately oiisting the enemy from the eastern outlet town. [Presumably this means Ladybrand forty miles further east, near where t

by the way, we were told on Saturday morning General lan Hamilton's artillery bad taken up a commanding position. 1 , Ou Thursday Major-General Sir Henry Rundle was eight miles to the south of the combined column. The reports which have come to hand from the war correspondents show that General De Wet, in conducting his retreat from Dewetsdorp, suddenly altered his course, and passed between the several British columns which were manoeuvring to intercept his army, made a running fight of it, though they narrowly escaped capture. The Boers who were encountered at Thabanchu were the rearguard of the main body. A patrol stationed at Bethulie, near the Orange river, between Aliwaj North and Norval's Pont, had a akirmish with the enemy on the Smithfield road. During the engagement a private was killed and two privates captured. Lord Roberts has reported that Brigadier-General Brabazon's Yeomanry Brigade reconnoitred the Wepener district and returned to Dewetsdorp. MASSACRE OF NATIVES, A Reuter Agency message reports in connection with the recent attack by the Boers on the Natives of the Fingo tribe outside Mafeking, that one of the Fingos escaped by concealing himself in a bed of reeds. The others, though armed with obsolete weapons, fought with desperate courage until their ammunition was exhausted. The Boers mowed them all'down with quick-firing and Maxim guns. General Snyman then protested against Colonel Baden- Powell employing barbarians to rain Boer cattle. Colonel Baden- Powell in reply disclaimed any responsibility in the matter, adding that the Boers had burnt the kraals and stolen cattle belonging to the natives, who were roaming about destitute and vengeful.