THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 92, 23 April 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

[Br Elbotbio Tblbobaph.—Copyright.] (I'EU PRESS ASSOCIATION.) i LORD ROBERTS T S~~OPERATIONB. STILL DELAYED OWING TO DRIFTS. (Reived 21, 10.35 a.m.) London, April 20. The news from the front U scanty and contradictory. It is believed that important operations are proceeding. Fighting is proceeding in the vicinity of Karee. There has been a deluge of rain in the Free State. The dam ia full and grata is abundant. The completien of the Bethulie bridge enables fifteen instead of three trains to run to Bloemfontein daily. A large quantity of concealed Mausers have been found at Bloemfontein, Received 22, 6 p.m. London, April 21, The weather is now fine, but Lord Roberts is still delayed, owing to the impassable condition of the drift*. THE OCCUPIED PORTIONS OF FREE STATE. MILITARY GOVERNOR APPOINTED. (Received 22, 6.10 p.m.) Capmowh, April 2i. With a view to the preservation of law and order, Major-General Pretyman, Governor of Bloemfontein, hat been made Jmilitary governor of the whole of the occupied portion* of the Free State. GENERAL RUNOLE ENGA6EB THE ENEMY. , A HEAVY ARTILLERY DDBL. TWO OF THE ENEMY'S GUNB SILENOED. Received 23,1.32 a.m. London, April 22. > General Rundle fought the enemy five miles west of Dewetsdorp, forty { miles south-east of Ladybrand, on Friday. The artillery duel lasted from noon till dusk. Two of the enemy's guns were silenced. The mounteds outflanking and opening fire, the Boers were driven to the lecond ridge, the British occupying the first ridge with a few wounded.

THE BIE6E OF WEPENEB. A LARGE FORCE OF THE ENEMY. (Received 21,10.35 a.m.) London, April 20. The Boers report that eight thousand men, with fifteen guns, are attaokiog Wepener. BOER ATTACKS REPULSED. TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER THE BAYONET FREELY USED. (Rocelved 22,6 p.m.) Capetown, April 21. The Boerc.on the night of the 11th, were discovered slipping up a donga to VVepener. The British Maxims opened on them at 200 yards. The Boers removed five wagon loads of dead and wounded. Simultaneous attacks elsewhere on the British position were also repulsed it the point of the bayonet. LORD METHUEN'S FORCE BOER ATTACK ON A CONVOY. THE ENEMY REPULSED. (Received 23,1.26 a.m.) London, April 22. Lieut.-Goneral Lord Methuen, who is at Zwartskopjos, has been ordered to retire to Boshof. On Friday two thousand Boers, with three guns, towards Boshof, fiercely attacked a portion of Lord Methuen* force, consisting of the Kimberlsy Mounted Rifles and the Yorkshire Yeomanry, which protected a convoy six miles long. The British took cover in kopjes. The Boers fought skilfully and determinedly till the moment they came within three hundred yards range, when they were repulsed, suffering hei\ily.

There were several British ouoaltiw, but the convoys were saved. . STEYNS APPEALJTO THE TROOPS. (Received 22, 6 p.m.) London, April 21, Steyn is urging that the British be prevented at all costs from securing the rich ground in the districts around Wepener, Ladybrand, and Fickeburg, THE THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF MINES. THE IDEA NOT ABANDONED. Received 21, 9.85 a.m OArisrowN, April 20. At the trial of tha men arrested for preparing for the destruction of the Band mines, Munnick, in crossexamination, admitted that Mr. Beits instructed him to prepare to dynamite twenty-five mines, including several of the richest. Johannesburg refugees declare that the plan to destroy the mines has not been abandoned, despite official disclaimers and the protests of Foreign Consuls.