CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS

Manawatu Herald, 4 January 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS

The Transvaal.

ENGAGEMENTS WITH DE WET. “ The Standard” publishes a graphic narrative of Christian De Wet’s fight at Langberg, where MajorGeneral Dartneli was ambushed, and the capture of Colonel Firman’s camp at Tweefontein, on Christmas Eve. The Boer General, realising that the chain of blockhouses and the mobile

columns encircling him would isolate him in a foodless district, scattered his forces and resembled at Langberg.

Major-General Dartnell hastened to encounter him near Langberg on December 23rd, when the Boers charged the British force like cavalry with desperate courage. Wfien checked the check became a stampede. As the Boers fled to cover many fell into Dartnell’s clever impromptu ambush. De Wet then sjamboked the retreaters into renewing the flank attack from their mover. .

De Wet’s casualties totalled one hundred, and were chiefly sustained during the charge and the retreat across thd open.. The British torce, after the victory, went to Bethlehem.

Efe Wet then summoned Commandants. Prinsloo’s and Sellier’s men. Collecting seventeen hundred, and leaving two hundred at Langberg, he feinted in the direction of Reitz, and then doubled back south-eastwards to Tweefontein.

Commandant Gert Olivier, of Bethlehem, was killed at Tweefontein. When attacking Major-General Dartnell’s (force at-Langberg, General De Wet covered a daring charge by means of high velocity guns and a pompom. There is anxiety lest these and other guns captured by, the Boers' may imperil the blockhouses. The garrison of the blockhouses in the Standerton district frustrated General Botha’s attempt to send reinforcements to Christian De Wet. The “ Standard ” states that the defence of Tweefontein was more stubborn and sustained than 'was at first apparent. The picquet on the crest of the precipice was seized and killed, no shot being fired until the Boers, descending to the camp, stabbed the Yeomanry .with bayonets taken from the sentinels.

A gallant rally was made by the British, and Major Williams, who directed the defence, fell with fourteen wounds.

The tide of the fight ebbed and flowed, but numbers told at last, i «The captured Yeomanry were stripped and released ten miles from the scene of the fight. General De Wet, with five hundred men, two guns and two pom-poms, then fought a rearguard action with Major Elliot in the direction of Reitz. The commando afterwards divided northeast of Lindley, frustrating pursuit. MINOR ENGAGEMENTS.

Colonel Price engaged sixteen of Fouche’s commando at Burghersdorp on December 28th, killing Field-Cornet Venter.

The assailants of the Calvinia convoy afterwards entrenched themselves on a high ridge. A detachment of the Sixteenth Lancers rushed the position, and disabled thirty of the enemy. LOSSES OF THE ENEMY.

Lord Kitchener’s weekly report shows 35 Boers killed, five wounded, 237 taken prisoner, and 51 surrendered. There were also captured 212 rifles, 7600 rounds of ammunition and 1760 head of oatlle. The losses do not include those killed in De Wet’s recent attacks upon Major-General Dartnell's column at Langeberg and Colonel Firman’s camp at Twegfontein. It is reliably estimated that De Wet lost thirty killed and fifty wounded in these attacks. ' A SERVICE PENSION. Major-General Knox has been awarded a good service pension of £IOO a. year. MORE CAVALRY WANTED. Lord Kitchener has asked for more cavalry. REINFORCEMENTS. The King will inspect a draft of twelve hundred men selected from the Brigade of Guards previous to their embarkation for South Africa on the iSth inst. The Standard’s Pretoria correspondent says reinforcements of mounted infantry arc imperative for the early termination of the war. Earl Longford and Viscount Fincaatle are raising two regiments, to be known as the Irish Horse and the Fincastle Horse respectively. They will embark for South Africa at an early date. Earl Longford, who is a captain in the Second Life Guards, has been serving in South Africa with the Yeomanry since 1900. Viscount Fincastle is a lieutenant in the Sixteenth Lancers, and has been serving with the luniskilling Dragoons in South Africa since 1900. He won the Victoria Cross in the Malakand campaign. GALLANT ARTILLERYMEN. The “ Q ” Battery Royal Artillery brought to England four Victoria Crosses and two Distinguished Service . Orders. MURDER OF OFFICERS. Two Intelligence officers—Steere and Kerr —were shot by concealed Boors during a parley with pseudosurrenderers. A REMINDER TO MR KRUGER. ~Hb. The newspaper “Independence Beige ” tells Mr Kruger that _ if Great Britain granted the B iers independence she would lose all her prestige. The entire nation would rise in protest against what has been gained at such great sacrifice. CAPTURED AND ABANDONED GUNS. The guns captured from Major Damant at Tafelkbp were afterwards abandoned, and were repaired half an hour after the Boers fled. HOSTILITIES AT MING’S NEK. The Boers attacked Laing’s Nek and Botha’s Pass, on the northern frontier of Natal, on Saturday, but were repulsed. The British loss was slight. v MISCELLANEOUS. General Botha has decided to jhoot

every member of the National.; Burgher Scouts who is captured. Private W. R- Davies, of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent (Medbury, North Canterbury) was severely wounded in the chest at Ingogo. The trial of Commandant Scheepers has concluded. Judgment was reserved. ; . ! Mr Kruger is defiant and provocative demanding, besides the independence of the Republics, an amnesty for rebels and compensation for destroyed farms, i ’ ; . „w-, ; -

Two hundred Boers raided Inkamne the Swazi Queen's residence. A halfhearted 'resistetfbft’ was mads, and many natives' wore killed

The Deaf ■ Hear.—No 494 of The Illustrated M r orld of 626, Chiswick High Road, London, W., England, contains a description of a Remarkable Cure for Deafness and-Head Noises which may be carried out at the patient's home* which is said to be a certain cure. This number will be sent free to any deaf person sending their address to the Editor. Friendly Societies’ Sports. h*New Year’s Day was one of the finest we have had this season, the pleasant breeze tempering the heat. The Park waa crowded with the Friendly Societies’ friends and supporters, the three trains, from Palmerston, Woodville and Feilding, being crowded. In the afternoon the residents turned out, and the scene in the Park was very animated. Wbx should estimate that over 2000 travelled by rail, a number of whom travelled by the s.s, Planet to the sea beach. The Palmerston Brass Band played during the day and their music was much appreciated. All the officials worked so well together that every item of the pro--gramme was got off without fuss. Mr Watson, the. Secretary, had plenty to do, and did it pleasantly. The refreshment booth on the ground was in charge of Mr Mark Perreau and appeared to be doing a roaring trade. We are pleased everything went off so well, and trust the next meeting will be held here, as we are always glad to welcome visitors.