The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 18 September 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

BOTHA SUCCEEDED BY VILJOEN. The " Daily Mail " states that Commandant Ben Viljoen has succeeded General Louis Botha, as Commander-in-Chief of the Boer forces. The latter has resigned owing to the cowardice of his troops. During the recent retreat from Lydenburg, it is said that many of the Boers were roped to the waggons in order to preeent them deserting. GOING ONWARD. Lord Roberts reports to the War Office that the troops operating in the east are slowly gaining ground though the advance has been slow owing to the difficult nature oi the country to be traversed. TREATMENT OF THE SICK. Lord Roberts testified before the Hospital Commission at Pretoria that owing to transport requirements the campaign was axtraordinarily difficult from the hospital standpoint. No complaints had been made by the men. The Army Medical Corps and the civilian surgeons had met the difficulties magnificently. MISCELLANEOUS. The death of Commandant Theron has been confirmed. Major-General Hilyard's brigade has expelled the Boers from Langwacht Pass, to the east of Utrecht. FIGHTING NEAR MAFEKING. News has been received that the Boers attacked Douglas, between Ottoshoop and Lichtenburg, the latter place being fifteen miles east by south of Mafeking. The enemy were repulsed after some hours' fighting. Captain Neryke, of an Australian Bushmen j Corps, was wounded in the shoulder. PROCLAMATION BY LORD ROBERTS. Lord Roberts has issued a proclamation in the Transvaal, which states : — " Mr Kruger and Mr Reitz (State Secretary), with the archives have reached Delagoa Bay, intending to sail for Europe.

" Mr Kruger has retigned the Presidency, thus severing his official connection with the Transvaal. His desertion of the Boer cause is proof of the hopelessness of the struggle. " Fifteen thousand Boers are now held prisoners, not one of whom will be released until all in the field surrender unconditionally." Lord Roberts further announces by the proclamation that intervention must be regarded as impossible ; that the Empire is determined to complete the task undertaken. Any lingering doubt on this point that the Boers may hold must, he says, be dispelled by the permanent manner in which the Republics have been occupied and annexed. The Field-Marshal says that he intends to vigorously suppress guerilla warfare by every means which the customs of war prescribe, and points out that the measures he may require to take will prove ruinous to the country, entailing endless suffering. OOM PAUL A PRISONER. At the instance of the British Consul, who protested the use of Delagoa Bay as a base for Boer communications, Mr Kniger was invited to the residence of the Governor. He accepted the invitation, and is now nominally a prisoner under strict surveillance. Mr Shalkburger, the acting-Presi-dent of the Transvaal, with the French Consul and military attache, called to see Mr Kruger, but were not admitted. The British warship Doris is lying in Delagoa Bay. STRONG MEASURES TO BE TAKEN. The Capetown correspondent of the " Standard " states that Great Britain will shortly declare peace, and summon the Boers to surrender within a given period, failing which they will be treated as outlaws. MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED. Lord Roberts has proclaimed martial law over the whole of the Transvaal CAMPAIGNING IN THE EASt! Lieut. -General French's division has now occupied Barberton, setting tree 23 British officers and 59 men ; who were in the hands of the enemy. One hundred prisoners were captured, also forty-three locomotives, a quantity of Mausers, ammunition, cattle, and three weeks' supplies. The Boer position at Spitzkop, fifteen miles north-east of Lydenburg, has been captured by General Buller's forces. About 300,0001 bof rice, sugar, flour, and coffee were found, and 300 boxes of ammunition. After an advance up the narrow and difficult Elands Valley, Major-General Pole-Carew's troops have occupied Goodwaan. The Boers retreated when threatened in the rear by MajorGeneral Hutton's force. BURGHERS DESIROUS OF PEACE. The leading burghers of the Orange River Colony have petitioned Lord Roberts asking to banish the leaders of' the war party and to prevent the clergy from preaching resistance. ANOTHER BOER REVERSE. Major-General Clements had an engagement with the Boers under the command of De La Rey between Krugersdorp and Rustenburg, in the Western Transvaal. The enemy were expelled from the positions. Two British were killed and fourteen wounded. COMPENSATION FOR LOYALISTS. The Premier of Cape Colony, Sir Gordon Sprigg, proposes that the Government shall pay 50 per cent, of the amount awarded directly the ComI missioners have assessed the amount ! of compensation which should be paid to loyalists, He hopes that Great I Britain and the Chartered Company I will contribute towards the compensation fund. COLONIALS TO VISIT ENGLAND. A number of officers and men, representative of the colonial contingents, are to be the nations guests when the troops return from South Africa, and will come to England by the earliest transports. The Queen has intimated that she hopes to inspect the soldiers and present them with colours commemorative of the distinguished part they have born in the campaign. MR STEYN. Ex- President Steyn has retreated with ten guns to Hectorspruit.