CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 6 March 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. SERIOUS BRITISH LOSS. OVER THREE HUNDRED MEN MISSING. The British casualties in the attack made by Boers on Colonel von Donbp’s convoy were distributed as follows: — Northumberland . Fusiliers —lO killed and 59 wounded. Fifth Battalion Imperial Yeo-manry-—2 killed and 18 wounded. Third Battalion the South Stafford Regiment—lß killed and 6 wounded. Other Yeomanry detachments —ls killed and 37 wounded. In addition to these losses, there are 10 officers and 802 men missing. CAPTURED BOERS. Parry’s column captured eighteen Boers at Middleburg. Twenty-three surrendered.

Latest. THE ATTACK ON VON DONOP’S CONVOY. Early in the morning of the 25th De La Rey and Kemp with twelve to seventeen hundred men, thrice attacked Colonel von Donop’a convoy and were twice repulsed. Ten captured British officers and two hundred and forty-five men were released. A pompom section headed Colonel Donop's convoy, the seeond company of mounted infantry on the left flank, the third guarding the rear, and the Yeomanry in advance also on both flanks and in the rear. When ten miles from Klerksdorp, the vanguard received a heavy fire from the scrub. It was so dark that only the flashes of the rifles were visible.

After a sharp action the convoy closed up and repulsed the enemy. The march was then resumed. The second attack was made on the left flank, the enemy being within a hundred yards. Some of the wagons stampeded, but the bulk of the convoy maintained its formation. The infantry were repulsed again, the actions occupying two hours. When the march was resumed the rearguard was strongly assailed, the Boers boldly charged, and interposing between the left flank guard and the convoy, the stampeding mules throwing the infantry into confusion the Boers rode down and separated the units of the escort.

The British fought gallantly and fired most of their gun ammunition. Two hundred mounted troops at Klorksdorp, hearing the firing, hurried out. The Boers between them and the convoy held them in check until the stampede of mules showed them that they were bound to be captured. The Boers engaged made up a rapid concentration Most of the commandos of the Western Transvaal were engaged : DeLaßey, Kemp, Oelliers, Lemmerr, Yeomads, Wolmarans and Potgieter. It is reported that Lemmer was killed. The newspapers complain that the defective intelligence service caused the Klerksdorp disaster. A company of infantry, two guns and a pompom headed Colonel Von Donop’s convoy. CARRIAGE OF HORSES. In the House of Commons, Mr H. M. Stanley stated Messrs Houlder Bros, carried to South Africa 85,548 W >r Office’s horses.

The women in the refugee camps, pastors and members of the Orange Free state Government at Heilbron, protested against the slanders on the Army. Similar meetings are being held throughout the Orange Colony BOER DELEGATES. Wessels and Wollmarans have arrived at Washington. They have no plan of action. ARMY REMOUNTS. A Blue Book, dealing with, remounts which has been issued, shows that Lord Kitchener complains particularly of the bad selection of Australian horses. Colonel Birkbeck reports ha was very sadly disappoined at the draught horses, which were a positive scandal, the cobs were better and the nuggets excellent. Other officers complain that many were quite untrained and unbroken. The Australian Cavalry Artillery horses arrived in December by the Langton Grange. In the House of Commons the Hon. Mr Broderick stated that 16,000 horses were shipped to South Africa in January, 14,500 in February, and 1350 were going in March, which would be sufficient for all requirements. BOER LOSSES. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report is as tollows: —Sixty nine Boers killed, fifteen wounded, nine hundred and three taken prisoners, one hundred and five surrendered. One thousand and thirty-four rifles and three thousand horses'ware captured. PURSUING DE LA REY. Colonels Kekewicb and Grenfell are pursuing Da ia Key’s commando, which is reported to be scattered. Lord Methuen is marching from Vryburg to Licheuburg to try to intercept them. THE ENEMY’S PLIGHT. Major-General French reports that scattered bands in the northeast of Cape Colony have crossed south to Steynburg, leaving only a few strag glers. Malan’s commando were torced across the western line but vainly

attempted to recross. They are now south. The enemy west of the wester n line are being pushed gradually north to the new blockhouse line through Britstown and Willishan to the Vanbrynsdorp line. A TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALANDERS. The South Australian Register says the deepest sympathy of Australians goes forth to the relatives of the New Zealanders who fell in the fierce fight near Vrede. For soma time the narrative of the struggle will create a thrill of patriotic pride and exaltation. New Zealand is not a member of the Commonwealth, but the blood her sons are shedding in South Africa has mingled with that which has freely flowed in the veins of our own volunteers, and bound her more closely to Australia as well as the Motherland. The New Zealanders behaved with superb valour and the incident will stand out prominently in the history of a campaign which has been marked with innumerable deeds of heroism.