THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22212, 13 March 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

THE OSEONTEIN ROUT:. BOERS DISORGANISED AUDACIOUS PEACE OVERTURES;

KAFFIRS DESPERATE EFFORTS TO RALLY THE BOERS.. London, March 9; Fifty thousand Kaffirs have been commandeered and entrenched toria. The greatest secrecy is maintained respecting the defence work of thecity. Dr. Leyds is hurrying hundreds of skilled Continental artillerists to Pretoria.. During the Osfentein engagement Kruger and Steyn occupied positionsfar in the rear, and' attempted fruitlessly to stem the retreat,'? which resembled a partridge drive.. De Wet is iii supreme command, op the Free State,. Lucas Meyer. ..wid! Schalkdurger being-in disgrace.. Kruger, wearing bandoliers andcarrying a rifle, recently inspirited the burghers in. Natal, by declaring that he wanted to have a shot at the enemyhimself. He asserted that the strugglewould bo ended in a month either by. arbitration or intervention.. A detachment of; New has been sent to Carnarvon, and the-.-South Australians to Vosbrurgh.-

London, . March luF Sharp fighting preceded' Wednesday's retreat. The Boer’s rearguard'showed" a bold! front, enabling the remainder to, imspan. The majority- fled south and came* in the Colesburg and Stormberg direction; Presidents Steyn and Kruger weret under shell fire during the retreat. Kruger,, with tears,, attempted, to> rally the forces. Lord Roberts reports that the enemyconfessed they were unable to withstand the British artillery and- such as, formidable force of cavalry; General French*. who-is tern milesfc ahead of the main. body, t reports-that , the front is clear.. The disorganisation, of. the enemy is* confirmed. Reuter’s correspondent states that: the Transvaalers equally with theFree Staters are disorganised.. The- Times correspondent expects* the early submission of the-Free State.. Jouhert has gone to Pretoria. Berlin letters stato that ho has resigned: command of the army owing to a, quarrel with Kruger. A desperate attempt by the Beers* to escape from-Simonstown-by. making; a tunnel was discovered and frustrated.. The entire population of Carnarvon) entertained the New Zealanders. The Daily Mail states that Presidents Kruger and Steyn made audacious overtures to Lord Salisbury forpeace on a basis of the independenceof the Republics as a sine qua non. The Standard says the Government 1 , will shortly authoritatively reaffirm) the. impossibility, of. any peace perpetuating the political’and' military independence, whence arises [the present, sanguinary conflict-. After the war.Britain, will dictate but will maka.-no* bargain.