The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 27 September 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

FIGHTING NEAR NATAL. Major- General Hildyard's brigade has occupied Vryheid, in the southeast of the Transvaal after Colonels Gough and Bethune had turned Christian Botha's strong position. ARRIVALS AT DELAGOA BAY. The Boers are abandoning their positions near Komati Pooifc, and crossing the Portuguese frontier. Five hundred more have arrived at Delagoa Bay, the greater number being foreign mercenaries. Many of them were members of Colonel Blake's Irish Brigade. GREAT CAPTURE OF LIVE STOCK. . Early on 9 Saturday last five hundred Boers belonging to Commandant Erasmus's commando shelled the Elands river station, but a small garrison of two hundred repelled the attack with rifle fire, wounding eleven of the enemy. Meanwhile Major-General Paget, with the West Riding Uegiment, two companies each of the Wiltshires and Munsters, the C.I.V. Battery of Artillery, and two five-inch guns, made a night march of twenty-five miles, and, arriving on the scene, oaptured Erasmus's camp, securing in addition to twelve Boers, 2500 cattle, 6000 sheep and fifty horses. A force of Australian Bushmen, under Colonel Plumer, also attacked a section of the same commando, capturing eleven Boers, 750 cattle and 1600 sheep. Forty-five miles east of Vryheid, Lord Methuen captured 684 cattle, 3000 sheep and twenty-nine horses. ROLLING-STOCK SECURED. Much rolling stock, including locomotives, and truck-loads of " Long Tom " ammunition have been captured at Komati Poort by Major-Genercl Pole-larew. DEPORTATION. Lord Roberts has announced that those burghers who voluntarily surrender will be confined at Bloemfentein and not transported. OCCUPATION OF KOMATI POORT. The British troops have occupied Komati Poort, the town on the Delagoa railway on the Transvaal side of the frontier. The railway bridge has been found intact. THE MERCENARIES. The Portuguese authorities at Delagoa Bay are promising maintenance and also passages home to most of the meroenaries who have left the Transvaal.