ROBERTS'S ADVANCE

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1900, Page 2

ROBERTS'S ADVANCE

Lord Roberts is still moving along the Delagoa Bay railway, and has arrived at Balmoral, forty-five miles east of Pretoria, and within thirty miles of Middleburg.

Lieutenant-General French and Major - General Hutton, whose mounted troops had been making a wide detour, outflanked the Boers, and compelled them to retreat. HUNTER MAKES AN ATTACK. News has been received that Lieu-tenant-General Sir Archibald Hunter's division attacked a strongly entrenched > position in the hills south of Bethlehem in Orange River Colony. The enemy, particularly at Retiefs Nek, made a stubborn defence. The " Black Watch " (Forty-second Highlanders) lost fifty of their number at this point, including Major E. M. Wiltshire, mortally wounded. RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF. The Boers made an attempt to cut General Buller's line of communicalion with Natal (the Lang's NekJohannesburg railway), but after three days' skirmishing they were driven northwards with considerable loss by Major-Geueral Hildyard. SUCCESS NEAR RUSTENBURG. On Sunday last Colonels Airey and Lushington, in command of a mixed force of regulars and Australian bushmen-,, numbering 450, scattered a force of 1000 Boers who were holding a strong position at Magold Pass, in the Rustenburg district.

The Boer losses were considerable, while on the British side there were s ix men killed and nineteen wounded.

VIGOROUS MEASURES

AGAINST THE BOERS

The movement for crushing the Boers still under arms in the Free State is being conducted with vigor. After two days' severe fighting, Generals Hunter, Clements, and Paget occupied Brandwater Basin.

COMMANDO NEK OCCUPIED

General Run die has taken Commando Nek, south of Bethlehem.

The Boers have gone to Feunesbure.

The British are following apd are intending to surround them.

The • Transvaalers announce they will continue the guerilla warfare, as they are awaiting the Americrnj. Presidential election, declari ng tha the Democrats promise to inter vene in the war if elected.