THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22214, 17 March 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

A. PEACE DEPUTATION.

THE. POSITION OF MAFEKING.

A GOOD SUGGESTION.

Durban, March 14. Messrs Fischer,. Woolmarans and Weasels are leaving Delago Bay for Europe, on a peace mission., London, March 1-4. Colonel Batleii-Fowell has- warned? Commandant S u y son that unless he ceases using native soldiery around Mafeking he will direct the Bochuanasto raid the border districts. After- the- Battle of Driefontein Steyn fled to the north.. The railway is working 30 miles north, of Kimberley. Sir A.. Clark,. Agent General for Victoria, has unofficially suggested- to the Imperial- Government the desirability of selected Boer prisoners- and families, be sent to. Australia and Canada, where they would have a chance to• study, representalive institutions. The Boers at Lobatsi are retreating to Zeerust. Typhoid and d'lp'lieria are raging at Mafeking and the sufferings of the womenand children am terrible,.

THE; BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ

Sydney,. March 1.4. At the battle of Vaalkrantz.. there were manj’ gallant deeds. One of those grand, heroic feats ■ which, inspire to almost- maddening point took place when the officers •shouted to the men to hold the trenches.

The officers of the King’s Royal liifles took up the shout, “ hold- on •boys ” came from every, direction, and in a second every man of the Sixtieth .Regiment left cover and dashed over tire rough ground, alongside the mountain with cheering. The enenty kept up a firo, “but the enthusiastic advance completely nulli’fied'the enemy’s object.. The situation was gallantly saved, and the reinforcements swung across the river.

LORD' ROBERTS REACHES BLOEMFONTEIN. London, March 15;. Lord Roberts has reached Bloem-r fonteiu,. He was warmly welcomed...

THE: PRESIDENT'S DESPATCH. LORD' SA BISBURY’S REPLY. L jNDOX, March 15. The' general! verdict on the Rfesi* dent's despatch is that it is canting, hypocritical, ar.d insolent, while Lord: Salisbury’sis clear, dignified amhs >ber. There is widespread, satisfaction in Britain and the colonies, especially in-. Natal. At Pretoria there io- bitter disappointment: Secretary Reitz stated that the war would be fought out to the bitter ond. President Kruger telegraphed to a New. York newspaper on the 13th that: the burghers would,fight till the death. They were retiring in good order on their first line of defence on their own soil, and the British would never reach Pretoria. In his telegram to the New York paper, Kruger said:. ‘ Tho campaign in Natal was longer in our favor, than we eipecfed. Sfcejme,, Joubert, myself, and. burghers aremnited.. Cod help us.”

/JOY OF THE QUEEN.

London, March 15. The Queen was- overjoyed at the receipt of the news of the capitulation of Bloemfontein. Mr Donoghue reports that General on. Monday. threatened to bombard the town unless it aurrended in the morning.. The white flag was hoisted in the morning. The citizens* gave Lord; Boh eta an ovation.. As he visited the public-buildings, a frenzied crowd followed, waving the British flag, cheering and- singing “ God. Save the Queen.!’

THE CAPE REBELS

Two hundred and sixty robc-ls at Dordrecht have surrendered. Many of their arms are marked “Transvaal,” Eight engines and much rolling stock were captured, at Bloemfontein. The Boers are strongly, entrenched at the junction-' of- the Biggarsberg and Drankenberg mountains.

THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDERS

Weli.tj*gto>y March 15. Major Robin informs the Premier that 10 men of the first contingent are ill and have been invalided. Ho does not give the names. The Government are considering a* recommendation, by the Agent-General that an agent should be appointed at Capetown to look aftar parcels sent to contingents, and wa ch over the interests of the Government generally..