THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 222035, 11 January 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

BOER TRICKERY.

London, January 8. General I've oh reports that the four companies of the first, battalion of the Stiff Ik regiment attacked a hill some dsia ce from French’s main post n. JH The enervy sounded the BriMsn* order to retire just -at the moment when Col. Arthur John Watson of rhe Suffolks was wounded. Three-fourths of the Suffolks thereupon retreated. The remainder held the position till * they were out-numbered. Sixty-three men and seven officers were taken prisoners. General French’s situation remains unchanged. The First battalion of the Essex Regiment has replaced the Suffolks. London, January 8. Reuter’s correspondent states the British generals are determined to use artillery to the utmost to demoralise the Boers before using the infantry, the battle thus lasting days instead of hours.

ATTACK BY GENERAL JOUBERT

DESPERATE FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS. Durban, January 8. General Joubert attacked Besters and Ladysmith from all sides of the town at 3 a.m. on Saturday. The garrison repulsed the attack with a tremendous fire of and field guns. The fighting was of a character, and almost continuous throughout the day, and was the fiercest hitherto experienced during ■ the war. At 9 a.m. General White helio-' graphed to .General Buffer: ‘Enemy repulsed.’ At 11 o’clock : ‘ Fighting continues. Enemy being reinforced from the : -i South.’ ■ ') At 1 o’clock: ‘Enemy beaten off. v but still round me in great numbers.* * At 3.-30 : ‘ The attack was renewed, and I am very hard pressed.’ At this stage the sun failed, General White stopped However, a private message showed that the Boers got so near to the Gordons and Manchester* in the morning that the fetter used ’ their bayonets in repelling them. London, January 8. General Buffer, in reporting to the War Office upon the attack on Lady- ' smith, mentions a camp rumour that the Boers wore defeated and fourhundred prisoners taken. . y The war u rresponden s agree thatk-'y the Boer losses were heavy. POSITION ROUND LADYSMITH. Durban, January 8. Every hill round Ladysmith Coleuso is fortified, including seige guns. London, January 8. A soldier’s letter, received in England, states that when the guides’ treachery, which led to the reverse at Stromberg, was discovered, General . Gatacre had them shot down with a revolver. Capetown, January 8. The British-German residents at Barkley East and Lady Grey have signed an oath of neutrality, drafted by the Free State authorities. 120 MOUNTED POLICE SUE- '* k RENDER. Capetown, January 8. The Boers in strength bombarded i Kuruman on Monday. J The garrison, consisting of mounted police, including 12 surrendered in the evening. Fifteen British were wounded. Londow, January 9. y v The last words of Lord Wauchop killed at Magersfontein were: ‘ForGod’s sake don’t blame me for this.’ \ Durban, January 8. The forces under General Buffer’S' command number thirty-three thousand.

_ London, January 8, Six Maxim guns, packed in piano cases and marked ironmongery, ad- V dressed to Christiana, were stopped aboard a steamer at Millwall Docks. Fourteen hundred of the LordL ’ Mayor of London’s Volunteers sail bejT* tween 13th and 20th inst. ASSAULT ON LADYSMITH. Capetown, January 8. --W General White reports to the War", Office that the Boers have been rc» s pulsed everywhere with heavy greatly exceeding the casualties to the “ British. FIGHTING LASTS SEVENTEEN HOURS. London, January 8. Widespread suspense over the attack: on Ladysmith was relieved late this afternoon by the War Office publishing a heliograph message from Gcarnal White, stating that lased seventeen hours, and w r a^PßS^is s with courage and energy. - Some of our entrenchments on / Wagon Hill were thrice taken -and re-taken. The enemy held one point throughout, but at dusk, during a h-avy rain storm,. wort ejected most ga lanfciy at the point o: he bayonet by the Devon shire regiment, Major Cecil W. Park I leading. lan Hamilton rendered m valuable services. ■ At Wagon Hill tho troops very trying time, but behaved lently and are elated at the they rendered .the Queen, W