The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 1 November 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

SHARP FIGHTING AT HOOPSTAD. Eighty Boers, led by a Russian officer, raided Waschbank, in Natal, ten | miles soulh of Dundee, on the main line of railway T':ey captured a goods train, and injured the line. A British convoy that was being escorted by Cape Police was attacked in dense bush at Hoopstad, in the north-west of the Orange River Colony. The Boers, who were under General Ben Viljoen, faced a heavy Maxim fire, and succeeded in capturing two guns. The arrival of reinforcements of the Imperial Yeomanry saved the convoy. Seven British were killed, eleven wounded, and fifteen taken prisoners. STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY. It is stated by the Daily Mail that there are 15,000 Boers still fighting — half in the Orange River Colony, divided into small commandoes. REWARDS FOR VALOUR. After the annexation ceremony at Pretoria, Lord Roberts presented Victoria Crosses to seven recipients. He also handed a Humane Society's award to Trooper W. Cassidy (of Nelson), one of the Third Contingent of New Zealand Mounted Infantry, for bravery in rescuing a companion from drowning on the march to Preiska. A SURPRISE MARCH. A force under Lord Kitchener, by making a night march, surprised and captured a Boer laager at Krugerspoorf, wounding several and capturing four Boers. HUNTER'S OPERATIONS. Lieut. -General Hunter's force has been engaged in almost continuous skirmishing in the Bothaville and Bloemhof districts. The Boers, who are dressed in khaki, threaten to shoot all prisoners in revenge for their burned farmsteads. Oath-breakers are especially desperate. Others who refuse to fight are illtreated and starved. A TROPHY OF THE WAR. Lord Roberts will allow the New Zealand forces to take back to the colony a gun captured by them at the Vet River. THE RECENT FIGHT WITH DE WET. Details of the fighting at Frederickstad show that Major-General Barton's troops scattered the Boers under General De Wet in all directions. The British used the bayonet freely. More dead bodies of the Boers have been found, and an additional thirty wounded. Seventeen more British are also reported to have been wounded. THE. DYNAMITE MONOPOLY. Testimony given betore the Transvaal Concessions Inquiry Commission shows that the company controlling ' the dynamite monopoly paid £39,000 I to the Volksraad and newspapers in ! three years as bribes, gave Dr Leyds shares in the company, and supplied the Boers with 20,000 expanding ' bullets. I THE SHOOTING OF A NATIVE. I A Reuter's message states that the i Treason Tribunal is sitting at Capej town, trying one Smith, a Cape policeman, on a charge of shooting a native I at Colesburg in November last. ! Smith pleaded that Captain Cox, of i the New South Wales Lancers, directed him to drill a hole through the native, who did not bring a bridle, as commanded. Other evidence indicated that deceased's delay in getting the bridle imperilled an expedition, owing to the proximity of the enemy. Captain Cox admitted giving orders for shooting the native, but justified his action on the -ground that it was necessary his orders should be executed the position being dangerous. DEATH OF A PRINCE. Prince Christian Victor has died at Pretoria of enteric fever. MISCELLANEOUS. A burgher has revealed to Lieuten-ant-General Hunter where a quantity of 15-pounder ammunition is hidden. Mr Kruger's farewell message to his wife was " Trust." He relies on the promises contained in the 91st Psalm.