CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 9 August 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

» The Transvaal. A COMMANDO TO THE SOUTHWARD. Lord Roberts reports that General French reconnoitred thirty miles north of Middleburg without meeting with any organised opposition. Commandant Christian Botha is reported to be laagered with a commando three thousand strong between Ermelo and Amersfoort, in the country lying southward of Middleburg and due north of Lang's Nek. DE LA REV RETIRING. General De La Rey is retiring before Lieutenant-General lan Hamilton's division, which is pressing on to the relief of Rustenburg. The Boer leader made a stubborn attempt to hold the hills around Magaliesberg. Three hundred of his men resisted the attacks of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and the Berkshire Regiment, with six guvs, for five hours. BARBARIC PRACTICES. The number of prisoners captured by Lieutenant-General Hamilton at the Magaliesberg range was seventeen. They declare that only sort-nosed bullets were served out to them. In consequence of the use of these missiles the wounds received by the British soldiers, in the engagement are of a serious nature. Lord Roberts has sent a remonstance to General Botha against allowing soft-nosed bullets to be used. PURSUIT OF THE RAIDERS. Lieutenant-General Rundle's troops are pursuing the Boer commando which wrecked the train at Honing Spruit. Three men were killed and several wounded after the derailment of the train. The release of the prisoners was the result of a request made by Mr J. G. Stowe, the American Consul- General, with whom they had been travelling. GENERAL OLIVERT It is officially announced that General Oliver, with fifteen hundred men is occupying a position between Harrismith (formerly terminus of the railway through the Drakensbergs from Natal) and Newmarket-rand. Oliver clams that he is not bound by General Prinsloo's surrender, and declares that he intends to continue the war. A DASTARDLY TRICK. A party of Boers at Waterval volunteered to surrender if a show of capturing them was made. A patrol of Strathcona's Horse accordingly approached the rendezvous appointed in extended order, but the Boers suddenly fired, killing two of the troopers, and wounding two others. The rest escaped. PUNISHMENT OF TRANSVAALERS. Many residents of Pretoria have been exiled. One person was sentenced to twenty-five years for cruel and shameful treatment of Britishers. COAL MINES THREATENED. News has been received that the Boers have re-ocoupied Springs, the terminus of a branch line of railway, twenty-five miles east of Johannesburg. They threaten to destroy the valu able coal mines in this vicinity. PROMPT PUNISHMENT. Colonel Gough's troops destroyed the house of a Boer named De Lange at the Klip River and seized 150 of his cattle for refusing to surrender a

number of Boers who had been forcibly re-enlisted in his commando. BRITISH PRISONERS. There are 1800 British prisoners at Nooitgedacht. They are being infamously treated.