CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 19 April 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

DEFEAT OF KEMP’S COM M Atf DO.

Details of the fight at Rooival show that when Colonel Kekewich’s scouts on the nth topped a gentle rise they saw ■ Commandant Kemp’s force, fifteen hundred strong, drawn up in a long line in close formation. The Boers instantly charged, thinking Colonel Kekewich’s column' was part of a thin driving line. The British dismounted, and reserved their fire for short range, and some of the Boers getting with forty yards. BOER LOSSES. In three weeks the Boers in the Western Transvaal have lost five hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners. Colonel Colenbrander’s force has captured Commandant Beyer’s laager. It is feared that Beyers and a few others escaped by scaling a precipitous range of hills. General Bruce Hamilton’s column has arrived at Standerton, after a sweeping movetnent in the East, during which 145 Boers were killed, wounded or captured. General De la Rey’s force has only one gun left and little ammunition. RECENT FIGHTING. After Colonel Kekewich dispersed the Boers at Rooival, Major-General lan Hamilton pursued them, killing seven and capturing 8t additional prisoners. Major-General Rochtort's column surprised a laager at night atSchweize Fek, capturing fifty-five Boers, with waggons and stock. The total number of Boers captured by Colonel Colenbrander’s column at the surprise of Beyers’s laager is a hundred and ten. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Mr Balfour, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said he would immediately inform the House when there was anything to communicate with regard to the peace negotiations. “ The Times ” says Mr Balfour’s reply implies that the negotiations are not progressing satisfactorily. Probably the Boers are submitting impracticable demands. The “ Daily Mail ” states that the Cabinet refused to grant an armistice, and declined to give an amnesty to rebels or withdraw the banishment of rebels. % The same paper afjds That Boers are willing to abandon their demand for independence, and agree to a general surrender if their farms are rebuilt and restocked at a cost of five millions, and a general amnesty granted, with possible disfranchisement to rebels. They also demand the withdrawal ot the banishment proclamation and the earlier restoration of representative institutions than the Government contemplated. The Boer delegates asked for an armistice, ostensibly for the purpose of communicating with Mr Kruger, but it is suspected with the view of reorganising their forces. The request was peremptorily refused. " St James’* Gazette " says that an

impression prevails in political circles that a hitch in the negotiations has occurred on the question of a general amnesty. The “ Pall Mall Gazette ” states that the Government on Tuesday night received from Lord Milner the first clear statement of the attitude of the Boer delegates. After a short meeting of Cabinet, Lord Salisbury saw the King. “ The Times " expresses doubt as to whether serious pioposals were submitted. MISCELLANEOUS. The High Court of Transvaal Colony has been established, with Sir J. RoseInnes as President. Nine rebels at V r yberg, in British Bechuanaland, the majority of whom had twice joined commandoes, have been sentenced to terms of penal servitude varying from five to twenty years.

Latest. KRUITZINGER ACQUITTED. * Kruitzinger was acquitted, which was chiefly due to the Crown Prosecutor producing an intercepted letter wherein Kruitzinger reproached Commandant Scheepers for burning houses and otherwise expressed humane and honorable sentiments. When he was acquitted all the Court warmly shook Kruitzinger’s hand. MORANT-HANOOCK TRIAL. The newspapers publish a detailed report of the Morant-Hancock trial, which was supplied by Reuter’s agent at Durban. THE AFRICANDER BOND. A caucus of the Africander Bond members, representing twelve districts of Cape Colony, censured the leaders of the Bond for knowingly pursuing a policy precipitating the war. The rank and file never intended to encourage the war and were kept in ignorance of the policy. A TRAITOR. Lewis Handley, a farmer from Natal, arrived in London to give evidence that Arthur Lynch commanded a body of Boers, who confiscated his cattle and destroyed, 100 acres of crops for an act of treason.