CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 20 May 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

• A RECENT ENGAGEMENT. A sharp skirmish occurred in the vicinity of Popknil. Captain Halkett’s Yeomanry attacked four hundred of De Villiers’s commando, who were concealed, in the hope of surprising Colonel Pilcher’s column. The Boers thrice rushed the Yeomanry, and once got within twenty yards of them, but eventually they were repulsed. WOMEN ANXIOUS FOR PEACE. The “ Daily Express ” states that the Boer women in the concentration camps are keenly anxious for peace. Since the exclusion of the local visiting committees, the hostility of the Boer women has greatly abated. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMMANDOES. Renter’s Pretoria correspondent says that the result of the consultation of commandoes in the field is not considered favourable to an early peace. The “ Daily Mail ” says that the conference at Yereeniging is thoroughly representative, and includes the representative of a Cape commando. The conference is certain to accept Britain’s irreducible minimum. The offer to give a month’s cost of the war towards rebuilding farmhouses is exercising a great effect.

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Boers at Brussels and Amsterdam assert that the peace negotiations have failed through Great Britain refusing the armistice asked for iu order to permit of Mr Kruger being consulted. Advices received from South Africa, however, state that the Vereeuiging Conference is proceeding. Arrangements have been made for the prompt communication of the decisions of the Yereeniging Conference to Lord Kitchener.

Secrecy in regard to the deliberations of the delegates is to be respected. The voting will be by ballot. The proceedings will, it is expected, be protracted. An arrangement has been come to not to attack the commandoes represented during the progress of the conference. Lord Milner is at Pretoria.