CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 18 January 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

RECENT FIGHTING

Major- General Bruce Hamilton wires:—“ Was marching when Colonel Wing reported a large concentration on the very spot he had encamped the previous night. “ I retraced my steps, but unfortunately the Boers had quitted, the place, the inmales of a roadside farm having given the alarm. “ On reaching Knapdaar, saw the enemy trekking three miles distant, Botha’s Cape cart being a little beyond. They were chased for seVen miles, when the British horses be came exhausted. Saw four hundred Boers. “ British casualties were slight. Thirty three Boers were captured'" Captain Muller, a German, commands De Wet’s guns. De Wet, by doubling, has eluded pursuit near Vrede. A portion of his followers were driven to the hills south of Heilbrofi. FIGHTING FROM BLOCKHOUSES. Twenty-five of Brand’s commando ran the gauntlet of heavy fire from blockhouses from Thabanchu in the direction of Dewatsdorp. TIDINGS OF DE WET, Christian De Wet is reported to be north-east of Lindley, in Orange River Colony, SWEEPING UP THE ENEMY. Batches of Boers aggregating a considerable numbers are being captured daily. THE FEDERAL FORCES. Speaking in the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Barton stated that the Federal Government, in acceding to the request of Colonel Williams to return to South Africa, asked if a field hospital equipment and a detachment of the medical corps would be required. The Imperial Government replied that it would be glad to accept them. It was therefore intended to despatch a field hospitalMISCELLANEOUS. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report shows that ao Boers have been killed,

9 wounded and 203 captured, while 93 have surrendered. The British Government has purchased 80,000 morgen of land in the Picksburg district, 45,000 at Thabanchu, and more elsewhere in Orange River Colony, and is already allotting the farms.

The War office has cabled for tenders for xoo.ooolb of Tasmanian jam for South Africa. Lord Kitchener has. accumulated a vast number of remounts at Bloemfontein in readiness for the arrival of reinforcements. He is preparing a big effort to end the war. The “ St. James’s Gazette" directs attention to the fact that this is the first time federal troops have been sent to South Africa.