CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 20 February 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. RECENT FIGHTING. The “Standard” gives the following details of a reverse in the Zuikerboschrand, south of Johannesburg:— The scene of the fight was between Elandsfontein and Vereeniging, where the railway crosses the Vaal river.

The British force consisted of 330 men of the Twenty-eighth Battalion of mounted infantry, mostly fresh drafts from Home, many of whom had never fired a shot in action. This force proceeded to the Klip river to attack a supposed small force of the enemy, which proved to consist of five hundred men under Commandant Grobelaar. Finding no signs of the enemy, Major Dowell abandoned the plain, leading his men in extended order up the bills, and leaving the horses behind under a guard. A sudden fusillade revealed the presence ot the Boers. The British sought cover, and replied with a hot fire. Strong flanking parties of the enemy tried to surround the British, most of whose horses stampeded. A retreat was ordered, but before it could be executed the British were surrounded. A portion of the men fought hard. Some scattered in trying to regain their horses, others ran afoot to the Klip river, pursued by the Boers. Major Dowell, Captain Sheldon, Lieutenants Dun, Bridge, Cballenor. Le Marchant and Hotell made a most gallant stand. They refused to surrender, and fought until all dropped. Major Dowell was killed, and the rest were wounded, Altogether the British had ten killed and fifty-four wounded. The Boer losses were considerable. On the 14th the British expelled the Boers from the Zuikerbosch, hotly pursuing them south. LORD ROSEBERY. Lord Rosebery, in his - Liverpool speech, said the determination of the Government to negotiate only with Boer leaders who would be banished if they surrendered stultified Ministers. BOER ENVOYS. The Boer delegates, Messrs Wessels and Wolmarans, have suddenly sailed from Holland for America, to foster t he movement for American intervention in the war. COMMANDANT KRUITZINGER. The trial is proceeding of Kruitzingar, an Afrikander, who was commandant of one of the bands which long harassed the Midlands of Cape Colony. LOSSES OF THE ENEMY.

Lord Kitchener’s weekly report to the War Office on the losses of the enemy is as follows; —Seventeen killed; five wounded; 107 taken prisoners • 138 surrendered; 4500 cattle captured. RAIDERS IN CAPE COLONY. The Midland* of Cape Colony are clear of rebels. Piet Wessels’s commando has been pushed across the railway at Victoria West. -Bower's and Theron's commandos have been driven north of Vanrhynsdorp. CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

Out-of 114,376 persons in the Boer concentration camps during January, 169 men, 587 women and 1049 children died. This was the lowest average death-rate since July. The committee of women under Mrs Fawcett (widow of the late Right Hon. Henry Fawcett) appointed by the Government in July to inquire into the concentration camps has recommended that increased precautions be taken and comforts provided. Lord Milner has agreed to carry out the recommendations regardless of cost. MISCELLANEOUS.

A sentry shot dead a Boer prisoner was attempting to escape from St. Helena. The War Estimates provide tor the army in South Africa being maintained as its full strength until November. Commandant Wessels is retreating, hotly chased, in the Maraisberg, district, Northern Cape Colony. The British Remount Department sent agents to Russia to buy horses. The mission, however, proved a fiasco; Districts were found abounding in good horses, but they were earmarked for use by the Russian Government. Mrs De Wet is comfortably housed in a canvas cottage in the Maritzburg camp. She states that her husband would rather die than surrender, and she would sooner bury him than sec him surrender. She expressed a wish for a floored house like that of General Smith’s wife.