The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 25 August 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

A BRUSH WITH DE WET. Brigadier-General Mahon, in command of part of the troops that are following up De Wet, north of Rustenburg, engaged the brilliant raider on Saturday at Roodekopjes, on the west bank of the Crocodile River. As the result of the action, the British captured some waggons, and made a number of prisoners. It is stated that De Wet has had to use the sjambock (hide whip) upon upon his burghers in order to compel them to march. ALLEGED BLUNDERING. It transpires that if Lord Roberts's orders had been carried out to the letter on two occasions, De Wet would have been captured. DE WET CLOSE TO PRETORIA. General De Wet has re-united his scattered forces and passed Hebron, about fifteen miles north-west of Pretoria, travelling east. There are indications that the raider has junctioned with the command) under De La Rey. Colonel Paget had an engagement with De Wet's rearguard on Monday. BADEN-POWELL'S MOVEMENT S. Lientenant-General Baden- Powell has reached Waterval, on the railway line twelve miles north of Pretoria. BOTHA STILL RETREATING. The Boers have evacuated Machadodorp, on the Delagoa Bay railway line. BULLER AND FRENCH. The troops under Generals Buller and French have advanced from Trofelaar, a few miles north-west of Carolina, to Van Wychevli, in the direction of Machadodorp, on the Delagoa Bay railway. There was much desultory fighting during the march, the Boers tenaciously defending a succession of rough ridges. A detachment of the Fifth Lancers were at one time hardly pressed, but a battery of artillery came to their support, and compelled the Boers to retreat. A force of Gordon Highlanders were also temporarily in a tight place, but regained camp at night.

THE RHODESIAN:FORCE. Tho Rhodesian Field Force, tinder Lieutenant-General Carrington, engaged the Lichtenburg commando at Ottnshof. HAMILTON MARCHING NORTH. The division under LieutenantGeneral lan Hamilton has crossed the Crocodile river, in the Rustenburg district, and is now marching in a north-easterly direction. CARDNA FOUND GUILTY. The courtmartial trial of Lieutenant Hans Cardna, of the Transvaal Staats Artillery, on the charges of having broken his parole and plotted to kidnap Lord Roberts and other British officers, has concluded. Prisoner has been found guilty on all counts of the indictment. Sentence was deferred. SOUTH AFRICAN REBELS. In the Legislative Assembly Mr D. H. Wessels, member for Vryburg, said that ninety per cent ot his constituents joined the Boer commandoes owing to President Kruger's ingenious reports, but they would unanimously support tl,e Treason Bill. The Treason Bill has been read a second time without division. MISHAP TO A RECONNOITRING FORCE. The enemy appears to be in force in the vicinity of Ventersburg, in the Gatsrand Hills, to the east of the Johannesburg-Klerksdorp railway, south-west Transvaal. A reconnaissance in the direction of the town, beaded by Colonel W. H. Sitwell, of the Northumberland Fusi. Hers ("The Fighting Fifth") has resulted disastrously, thirty-one men of the reconnoitring force being either . killed or wounded. MISCELLANEOUS. It is believed that the whole of the Boers intend retreating to the bush and veldt in the northern districts of the Transvaal.