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Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22206, 27 February 1900, Page 2

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SHELLING OE CLONE’S POSPTINUED. - THE CORDON DRAWN - TIGHTER? LEYDS AFFIRMS CRONJE HAS? broken through. London,|February 25. Later details show that General’ McDonald was wounded in the foot, andl not severely, as at first reported. Lord Methuen. administers- the Kimberley district. The shelling, of Gronje’s was oontinued on. Tuesday,, and 1; thecordon drawn tighter, the Shropshirea* having ad van < ed 200yds nearer. Two thousand Boevs hover to the • y northward.General French elsewhere captured! 75 Boers, while a patrol to the westward captured 30. President Kruger claims that communication, with Cronjp-is not severed. Advices received from Pretoria state« that fighting is- going, on. around! Petrusville, also near Kimberley,- audi the result is still doubtful.. Dr Leyds- affirms that Gronje ha»> broken through the British, cordbn.

THE BOER PLAN UPSET; FIGHTING- RESUMED. ON. THE: TUGELA. LADYSMITH STILL, INVESTED> London, February 25. To Cronje is persistent- y„ attributed? a proconcorted plan,.part-of which was that- the British’, attention was to be? occupied, with a view, to- the O'nc 11--tr.’ition of the Boer forces to protect:, the to; Bloemfontein- and: Pretoria; The recrudescence of-fighting on Tugela is iuterpreted-to meau-that tho* Boer plan of campaigh has- partially collapsed.

The Boers claim that the Ermelb> and Middleburg commaudos repulsed; the attacking- force under Sir ItBuller on Thursday,, the British, suffering heavy loss.. Sir R. Buller reports that owing to* the continuous fighting it is ar. present to give his casualties sustained by rank and. file..

Thi ee of Sir R. Bmler’s officers were* killed in the -. engagement at. Pieter’son Thursday, including Lieutenant the Hon. Reginald Catiicart,. fourtlu son of Earl Cathcart..

Major-General A. S. Wynne-and 13i other officers were wouuned..

Although the Dundee Road iscovered for miles with Boer waggons, trekking northwards'from Ladysmith* tfiere has been no> general retirement of the besiegers, and Ladysmith is* s. ill cl >sely invested by fcbo Boers. A letter from Joubet found at Inhlandawani HRI„ states that 3000} Boors were disabled at Spionkop. Dukban, February 25.. The steamer Admiral, landed at: Delagoa Bay with a 100 German recruits for the Transvaal. The steamer Gesmonde also landed 150. of many nationalities..