The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 3 May 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

BOTHA'S RETREAT NORTHWARD. Lieutenant-General Rundle's column which had fallen behind that of Lieutenant-General French (composed of cavalry) in the pursuit of the Boers from the vicinity of Dewetsdorp, has now arrived at Thabanchu.

A skirmish took place between Lieu-tenant-General French's column and the enemy ten miles eastward of Thabanchu, i.e., between that town and Ladybrand.

With reference to the escape of the De Wet and Botha forces, it transpires that in their flight northward they divided, one portion striking nortto, and the other going north-east, towards Ladybrand. Another of the flying forces — that which had invested Wepener — disliking the proximity of the Basutos, whose boundary runs close to the road that leads to Ladybrand, avoided the latter town, and struck across country towards Thabanchu, eventually going on in the direction of Winburg, almost due north.

The various commandoes succeeded in taking their guns with them. The strategy of General Botha, the Boer commander-in-chiei, in withdrawing the main portion of his forces past Thabanchu and Patchou, and up the Leeuw Valley, forestalled the British scheme for their interception by 24 hours. FIGHTING WITH DE WET'S REARGUARD. The operations of the cavalry are slowly compelling the strong Boer

rearguard, which is stubbornly defending the steep hills north of Thabanchu, to retreat northwards, where most of their guns and baggage have been withdrawn. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ATTACKS ON THE RAILWAY. The country eastward of the railway has been entirely cleared of the enemy Commandoes have been broken up, and ma.ny of the men have returned to their farms. Strong garrisons have been placed at Thabanchu and Dewetsdorp to prevent the Boers attacking the British lines of communication. RAIDING FREE .STATE FARMS. Lieutenant - General Pole • Carew's operations to the east ot Bloemfontein have been directed to the punishment of the Free Staters who at first surrendered, but afterwards broke the oath of neutrality. The column has now returned to Bloemfontein. Thousands of heads of stock have been commandeered, and forage seized in every direction. The General has insisted on the Free Staters delivering up their Mauser rifles with a reasonable amount of ammunition, otherwise he has threatened to treat them as prisoners. Twelve men bearing arms were arrested. A colonist who accompanied the column describes the results of its operations as being equal in effect to a brilliant victory, the enemy feeling [ really crippled. PLUCKY NEW ZEALANDERS. I A party of six men of Major-Jowsey's force of New Zealand rough-riders had an exciting adventure in the course of the advance to the relief of Wepener. In scouting in the vicinity of Boesmanskop, some twenty miles south of the then beleaguered town, they came upon half-a-dozen of the enemy, .who were only fifty yards distant. A fierce interchange of shots ensued, but the New Zealanders proved to be the better marksmen, killing three of their antagonists and wounding the other three. One of the New Zealanders was dangerously wounded in the shoulder. THE RAND MINES. President Kruger was reluctant to cancel the directions tor the preparations to destroy the Rand mines, but was induced to give way owing ta General Botha threatening to resign the position of commander-in-chief if the preparations were continued. FEELING IN AMERICA. The Hon. John Hay, the Secretary of State in the McKinley Cabinet, has intimated that he would receive Mr Fischer and his colleagues on the Boer Peace Commission, but in an unofficial capacity — merely as distinguished individual visitors. The Senate by twenty-nine votes to twenty has declined to discuss a resolution tabled by Senator Pettigrew expressing sympathy with the Boers. Mr Bryan, the Democratic candidate I for the Presidency, in the course of a speech at Chicago declared that if ,he was elected the Democratic" Government would express moral sympathy with the Boers in their struggle, and tender them good offices at the proper moment. ROBERTS AND BULLER. The Hon. George Wyndham, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, stated in the House of Commons that Lord Roberts (not the War Office), had communicated with Generah Buller prior to the publication of the despatches with regard to the battle of Spionkop, in which the latter officer, Lieutenant-General Warren and Colonel Thorneycroftj were severely censured. The Hon. A. J. Balfour, leader of the House of Commons, has fixed the debate with reference to the affair for Friday. SIEGE OF WEPENER. Particulars ot the recent siege of Wepenar, show that the investment of the town lasted tor seventeen day?, Colonel Dalgety, with seventeen hundred men, holdingiout against a force of eight thousand Boers. The garrison was heavily shelled throughout the siege. Its loss is nowstated at thirty men killed and 150 wounded. „ AMATEUR NURSES. Dr Frederick Treves, the eminent surgeon, who accompanied Sir William MacCormac (president of the Royal College of Surgeons) to the front, has returned to England. At a banquet given by the Reform Club, he declared that the amateur nurses in South Africa were , an absolute terror. They were a worse plague than flies.