CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS

Manawatu Herald, 5 April 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS

The Transvaal. BOERS IN GERMAN TERRITORY. A hundred and fifty Boers who trekked to Namaqualand, a German colony, west of Bechuanaland. have been compelled to submit to conscription. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. It is reported at Pretoria that Mr Steyn is with General De la Rey. In the course of an interview at Paris, Mr Wessels, the Boer delegate, implied that the Boers were willing to abandon the Rand if they were allowed to retain the rest of the country, with the management of internal affairs. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT. A railway accident occurred to a military train at Barberton on the 30th ult. Thirty-nine men were killed and forty-five injured.

The second battalion of the Hampshire Regiment had twenty killed and eleven injured, and the fourth battalion five killed and two injured. A volunteer company of the same regiment had eight men killed and twenty-seven injured. The fourth battalion of the East Surrey Regiment', the fifth battalion ot the Leinster Regiment and the seAmd battalion of the East Kent Regiment also suffered. The detailed accocnts of the train disaster which occurred outside Barberton show that the train was proceeding to Johannesburg, and on a steep decline the driver lost control. The train was going at the rate of eighty miles an hour when it became derailed, the engine and five trucks being overturned. REPORT FROM LORD KITCHENER. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report to the War Office is as follows: — “23 Boers killed, three wounded, 201 taken prisoners, 49 surrendered ; also captured 217 rifles, 15,500 rounds of ammunition. “ Flooded rivers impede operations in the north-east of Orange Colony. “ The commandoes in the Cape Midlands are being given no rest. “ The area in the west held by the Boers has been much reduced. “ Beyerts surrounded a post at Speloken, but It was relieved by Colonel Colenbrander." A SHARP ENGAGEMENT. The Second Dragoon Guards surprised a laager at Boschmanskop at dawn on April xst. The Boers receiving reinforcements, fought a severe engagement, compelling the Guards to maintain a rearguard action until reinforcements arriving drove the Boers east, with severe loss. _ Six Boers were captured. Four British officers were wounded. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Brodrick, Secretary for War, refused Viscount Villebois permission to taka an ambulance to the Boers, on the ground that it is impossible to guarantee the neutrality of the staff. During the next fortnight 500 men of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and xooo infantry will sale for the front.