The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 16 October 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

VOLUNTEERS RETURNING.

The city of London Volunteers will arrive from South Africa on the 17th A short thanksgiving service will be held in St Paul's, and the men will immediately disband. NEWS OF DE WET. Lord Roberts reports that General Christian De Wet has been driven north of the Vaal, near Ventersroom. The Boer leader has persistently deluded his followers by declaring that Europe would stop the war on the ioth. RECENT FIGHTING, A patrol of forty South African Horse, with a Maxim gun, surprised and engaged four hundred Boers in a running fight in the direction of the Sabie river. The Boers got away, leaving a number of rifles behind. A fight occurred at Bethulie, in the south of Orange River Colony, between some Boers and British outposts. Four militiamen were wounded and twelve captured by the enemy, who after taking their prisoners' uniforms, released them. A train was upset at Kaapminden, at a division over the Kaap river. Three artillerymen were killed and fifteen injured, Lieutenant Hayke having one of his legs broken. An engine and trucks conveyed some engineer officers, with Captain Paget of the Rifle Brigage, and eighteen of the Vlakfontein garrison to ascertain I the nature of the damage. Some Boers who had laid in wait fired on the party. Captain Stewart, hastened with forty men to Paget's support. In the figting Captain Stewart was killed, Captain Paget dangerously wounded, six others wounded and eleven captured. MISCELLANEOUS. Five hundred Boer prisoners have been despatched from Lydenburg to Capetown. All able-bodied Britishers an . the Rand will be liable to service, Sir Alfred Milner advises refugees who are not willing to serve in the Town Guard to postpone their return. A French Deputy is arranging with the authorities in Madagascar to grant a concession of land to Boers who may desire to migrate there. The French Nationalist Party, wishing to embarrass the Government, are scheming to secure the landing of ex- ! President Kruger at Marseilles. 1 LORD KITCHENER TO BE LEFT IN COMMAND. It is understood that Lord Kitch-

ener, Chief of Staff to Field- Marshal Lord Roberts, will take supreme command in South Africa and superintend the settlement of the country. VILJOEN SURROUNDED. The Standard states that General Viljoen's commandoes are completely hemmed in, and their only alternatives are to starve or surrender. THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPS. The Premier has received a cable from Lord Roberts intimating that he hopes to be able to allow the New Zealand contingents to return home by December 4, if not earlier.