CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 3 April 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

OPERATIONS IN THE WEST. Details of the last drive show that owing to the enormous area to be covered and the incompleteness of the blockhouse, lines Lord Kitchener adopted new tactics. The bulk of the enemy were at Hartebeestefontein, twenty miles west of Klerksdorp. The British columns marched in the bright moonlight a considerable distance to the westward of the enemy’s position. Colonel Rawlinson, operating from Klerksdorp, and some other columns moving parallel, rode forty miles straight through the enemy’s lines. The boldness of the move puzzled the enemy, whose snipping was unheeded. At dawn the columns deployed and faced eastwards. The ends of the columns met, encircling the Boers with a view to driving them towards the Vaal-Klerksdorp and the Schoon-spruit-Lichtenburg blockhouse lines. The rapidity of the movement came as a surprise, and a thousand Boers were caught within the net. They were hustled in an unprecedented manner and were driven from their guns by the Scottish Horse without fighting. They rushed in various directions. ' . t ; The extreme width of the British front caused one or two gags while forming line, and the hilliaess of the country also facilitated the escape of the Boers southward. General Da la Rey and a number of Boers were on the extreme west of the position, outside the eastward sweep of the drive.

Commandant Liebenburg and several hundred men escaped by imitating the formation of a** British moving column. Commandant Kemp escaped through a gap on the British right flank.

Only twelve Beers were killed. The prisoners, who include Laaddrost Meethling, declare that General Da Wet and Mr Steyn recently visited and conferred with- General De la Rey.

During the drive five Canadians, who were isolated and outnumbered stoutly resisted. Eventually four surrendered. The fifth, indignant fought till he was killed. The British, although twenty-six hours in the saddle, were fit and fresh. The correspondent of “ The l imes,” writing from Vaalbank, says the distance travelled prior to the actual drive prevented an adequate pursuit, while the length of country covered robbed Colonel Grenfell’s column, which was pursuing the main body of the enemy, of the support necessary to effect the big coup so admirably planned. DISSENSION AMONG THE BOER ENVOYS. Great dissensions exist among the Boer delegates on the Continent. Messrs Leyds and Kruger are annoyed at General Schalk Burger’s mission. The others are insistent on peace. RECENT CASUALTIES. The casualty lists show that seven of Marshall’s Horse were killed and Lieutenant Cabbett and eight-men wounded. Captain Wallis and twenty eight men were captured. They were released on the 24th near Sutherland, Cape Colony. AN ACTIVE PATROL. A British patrol surprised thirty of Bezuidenhout’s commando at Lilliekloof, Cape Colony. LOSSES OF THE ENEMY. The “ Daily Mail ” states that General De la Rey in the last drive lost nine men killed and four wounded, while 148 were taken prisoners and 80 surrendered. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Dr Kuyper, the Netherlands Premier, is again busying himself on behalf of the Boers. He has arranged to meet Baron von Richthofen, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs at Berlin after interviewing Dr Leyds and Messrs Wolraarans and Wessels.

Dr Leyds, addressing the Boer Independence Committee in Paris, said that the position was never more favourable to the Boer cause. There was a prospect that England was abandoning the conflict. The present negotiations were the outcome of Lord Kitchener’s express invitation. RAIDERS IN CAPE COLONY.

Colonels Doran and Price intercepted Malan’s and Fouche’s commandoes at Murraysburg Capa Colony. The Boers divided into four parties, and fled south. MISCELLANEOUS. A Treason Court at Cradock, in Cape Colony, tried n 8 cases out of which 26 persons were acquitted and 92 disenfranchised. Messrs Wessels and Wolmarans, the Boer peace delegates, are on a visit to Paris, conferring with Dr Leyds, formerly representative of the Transvaal Government in London. The New Zealanders, of the Ninth Contingent, who missed their passage by the Devon at Sydney, have been taken in the New South Wales Contingent. Piet De Wet, at Kroonstad, denounced foreign slanders of Britain. He declared that Tommy Atkins was invariably friendly and generous. Mr Wessels, one of the peace delegates, said, in an interview, that he thought the present negotiations might result in an honourable and satisfactory, if not ideal peace. General De Wet and Mr Steyn have returned to Parys. The War Office has decided to grant a medal without clasps to each war correspondent who took part in the South African campaign. The prisoners lately taken in Orange River Colony include Field Cornet Van Schoor of Bethlehem. Latest. KITCHENER’S DRIVE. Further details of the drive show what appeared to be a column moving into line, proved M be Lihea-

berg’s khakiclad commando. It was allowed to escape, because pursuit would have widened the loophole. The British attacked another khakiclad body passing in front, but on one Boer commander shouting, ‘‘ We are British proceeding to our allotted place,” it was allowed to pass. AN UNEEPORTED ENGAGEMENT. The Censor early in February stopped the following message : “Doran's Yeomanry fought Commandant Theroh and others in the Galvinia district. The enemy was fourfold the strength of the British. The British abandoned the convoy, and shifted the guns during thenight. The Boors at dawn directed their fire upon.the position previously occupied by the guns. Later _ they approached under cover, and tried to overthrow the British. The British guns severely punished the enemy’s supports, and the Boers were four hours removing their and wounded, and then withdrew."