The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 19 June 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

BRITISH PRISONERS'.

A Boer force remained in charge of the camp of the British prisoners at Waterval, outside Pretoria, until the force of liberation of the prisoners drew near.

When they finally saw that they would have to withdraw, the Boer gunners turned their artillery upon the prisoners Camp and hospital, and began shelling them.

Fortunately, however, Major-Gene-ral Porter's cavalry were within striking distance, and they attacked the cowardly gunners and drove them off. PRESIDENT KRUGER. President Kruger occupies a saloon car on the Delagoa Bay railway. He is manufacturing paper money and shipping away gold. THE DEFEAT OF BOTHA. The detailed accounts of the battle fought in the enrlv part of the week beyond Eerste Fabrieken (nine mileeast of Pretoria) show that the actior extended over two days. In the operations of Monday th<enemy were able, so strong was the nosition, to check the attacks mad by the British cavalry on their flank* On Tuesday, however. LieutenantGeneral lan Hamilton's mounter 1 divison and Lientenant-General PoleCarew's infantry assailed and carried the Boer centre. Thus compelled to retreat, the enemy fell back unon a second and even stronger position. This, however, they evacuated during the night.

The official report of the fighting says that General Botha did no! anticipate a frontal attack, strengthened his flanks, and held his central position weakly. Lord Roberts preceiving this, ordered Lieutenant - General lan Hamilton to attack Diamond Hill with detachments of the Sussex and Derbyshire Regiments and the City of London Volunteers.

Major General Inigo Jones's Guards Division, supporting on the left, made a magnificent advance over difficult ground under heavy fire. The seizure of Diamond Hill greatly impressed the enemy, who were practically surrounded. The mounted force followed the retreating commandoes. The British casualties were under one hundred.

Lieutenant-General lan Hamilton received a contused wound on the shoulder from a shrapnel bullet. " All the troops engaged, including the New South Wales and Western Australian Infantry, under LientenantColonel H. De B. de Lisle, greatly distinguished themselves. The City of London Volunteers lost two killed and twenty-four wounded during the two day's fighting. THE NEXT STAND. General Botha has retreated to the eastward. His rearguard was surprised and fhoronghlv routed by Lieut.-General lan Hamilton's mounted troops, notably the Wes 1 Australians. DIVIDING THE ENEMY. With a view to isolating the Free Staters Lord Roberts has ordered General Buller to proceed northwards from Volksrust to Standerton, on the main line of railway running to Johannesburg and near the Vaal river. Another force has been sent to Heilbron, to the north-east of Kroon- , stad. ! BADEN-POWELL. Major-Gen"ral Baden Powell has been appointed to the local rank of lieutenant-general. With a force of eight thousand men he is pacHying the Mnrico, Lichtenbnrg and Rnstenhnrg districts Six hundred Boers have submitted and two hundred and fifty taken prisoners. A thousand stands of arms have been freely surrendered to LieutenantGeneral Baden -Powell. GENERAL BULLER. The Queen has congratulated

General Buller upon the success of his recent operations. BOER LOSSES. During the recent fighting near Lang's Nek 140 Boers were killed, The Boers from Lang's Nek are massing at Ermelo and Paardekop, on the line of railway running northwards to Johannesburg, about twenty miles from the Nek. The commandoes are very demoralised, and have but a scanty supply of food. GENERAL HUNTER. News has been received that Klerks* dorp, the town which forms the terminus of the railway that runs southwest of Johannesburg, surrendered to Sir Archibald Hunter on Saturday last. EASTERN OPERATIONS. - Some days ago. Lieutenant General Rundle, who is operating in the Orange iiver Colony to the east of the railvay line, notified the Boer settlers in \e Ficksburg district, on the Basutoind border, that their farms will be .^••• ! '"d un iess they surrendered by Friday, PUNISHING REBELS. Several settlers in the Upper Tugela district who took up arms against the British and fought on the Boer side at Spionkop have been tried for treason. Those against whom the charge was proved have been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, and also fined £250 each. ROUTING THE RAIDERS. Another attack was made by the Boers who have been raiding on the line of communications in Orange River Colony upon the engineers who were engaged in reconstructing the damaged portion of the line north of the Rhenoster river. The enemy were, however, disperse" by Lord Kitctiener's command before any damage had been done. MISCELLANEOUS.

Lord Edward Cecil, son of the Mar* guis of Salisbury, who took a prominent part in the defence of Mafeking, has been appointed Administrator of Zeerust, the Transvaal town forty miles north-east of Mafeking that was lately occupied by the British troops.' "