THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 97, 14 May 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

[By Elbcthio Tklegbaph.—Copyright ] |PBB PHH9S ASSOCIATION.] THE MAFEKINGTELIEF FORCE. VERY SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. VRYBURG PASSED. FORCED MARCHES NIGHT AND DAY. (Received 13, G. 30 p.m) London, May 12. Advices by way of Pretoria state that the British relief column, three thousand strong, with field guns, under Lieut.-General Sir Archibald Hunter, is advancing along the railway line by forced marches night and day, and passed Yryburg (on the main line running to Mafeking, and about eighty miles north of Fourteen Streams) on Wednesday towards Mafeking, the Boer commandos harassing their rear,

LOR 3 ROBERTS'S ADVANCE TO THE NORTH. THE ENEMY DRIVEN FROM POINT TO POINT. GALLANTRY OF OUR TROOPS. (Received 12,11.45 p.m.) London, May 11. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, who is at Eeitspruit, eight miles north of the Zand River, telegraphed that he had a successful day on Thursday, and drove the enemy from point to point. The cavalry and mounted infantry reached Ventersburg station, about 25 miles south of Kroonstad. Lieut.-General Tucker's Division is at Dulfontein, and Lieut.-General Hamilton's at Ventersburg. The latter met with a stubborn resistance.

The Boers have again attempted to occupy the Thaba 'Nchu district. Generals Rundle and Brabant are trying to prevent them.

Lieut.-General French and MajorQeneral Hutton, after a series of artillery duels, crossed the Zand at Yermenlene Kraal, and thence worked north-east, three thousand of the enemy continuously opposing them. The infantry carried some kopjes at the bayonet's point with great gallantry, especially on the part of the Sussex and East Lancashires,

Mr. Steyn has 10;000 men north-east of Thaba N'chu. It is expected that his cattle will be captured. Lord Roberts has wired that the enemy north of the Zand River, before they retreated, occupied a position extending over twenty miles. Our lines were necessarily longer than theirs. He adds that he is hopeful our men have not suffered much.

VENTEKSBURG OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH. / CLEVER WORK OF THE ENEMY. (Received 13, 4.55 p.m.) London, May 12. The Household Cavalry occupied Yentersburg. General Louis Botha commanded 6000 of the enemy, with twelve guns, at the Zand Iliver. Eight command • ants, including De Wet and Dolarey, were present.

Thousands of the enemy on the previous night trekked their guns and families towards Kroonstad, under cover of a clever rearguard action, which lasted all the following day, the convoy getting their wagons near Kroonstad by dusk. The Times' correspondent states that the enemy held an impossible position, partially covering the Zand. Lieut.-Gener.il Tucker shelled them out of their main positions, and Lieut.General Pole-Carew's cavalry outflanked them, the mounted troops gallantly pursuing, but were checked by a strong rearguard until reinforcements reached them.

BRITISH ENTER KROONSTAD. FLIGHT Off PRESIDKNT^STEYN.

FREE STATERS REFUSE TO FIGHT.

(Received 14, 1.15 a.m.)

London, May 13. It is officially reported that Lord Roberts entered Kroonstad yesterday, unopposod.

President Steyn flad on the previous night, after vainly endeavom ing to persuade his burghers to continue fighting. The refusal of the burghers resul'ed in a great quarrel bttween the Free Staters and the Transvaalers.

[ Lindley, 45 miles east of Kroonstad, i on the railway connecting Kroonstad [ with Harrismith, has been chosen as the new seat of the FrBQ State Governi ment. I GENERAL BULLERS OPERATIONS. A SMART SKIRMISH WITH ENEMY'S OUTPOSTS. Received 13, (>.30 p in. London, May 12. General Buller, who is advancing on Helpmakaar, near Van Reenen's Pass, had a smart skirmish with the enemy's outpost. PROCEEDINGS IN THE VOLKSRAAO. KRUGER OUTWITTED. Received 12, 9.10 a.m. Pretoria, May 11. The Volksraad, by 12 to 9, rejected President Kruger's proposal to sell the underground mining rights below the machinery of the companies on the Witwatersrand for £I2OO par claim, The intention was to favour German firms whose representatives are maintained in the Transvaal. IMPASSIONED SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT. GREAT BRITAIN'S " DEVILISH CONSPIRACY." KRUGER ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION.' WHICH MAKES IIIM ANGRY. 1 (Received 13, 4.40 p.m.) j Pretoria, May 12. i President Eraser made an impas- ; Slowed spoeuJi in. tbo Volksraud, Ho ;

appealed to God to strengthen the right, and said ho possessed documentary proof that a devilish conspiracy to annihilate the Republics existed in 1896. Great Britain was a vindictive and voracious foe, and their everlasting enemy.

Kruger was subsequently accused of corruption in connection with his min- j ing proposals, and quitted the Volksraad in a passion. Dr. Smuts, State Attorney, protested against Kruger'e attempts to browbeat the Assembly.

THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICS. SPEECH BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN. A WARNING TO LOOTERS. (Roceivcd 13,0.30 p.m ) London, May 12. The Bight Hon. J. Ohamberlain, speaking at Birmingham, said the Republics would be administered like a Grown colony or the Indian native dependencies, and, whenever it was considered safe, would be introduced within the circle of self-geverning colonies. The loyalist?, he asserted, would not find themcelvc a in a wcrse position than those who looted their houses and defiled their homes.

BOER PRISONERS TO GO TO CEYLON.

Received 13, G. 30 p.m,

Calcutta, May 12,

Preparations are being made at Dijitalwa, in Ceylon, for the reception of 6000 Boer prisoners.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Received 12, 9.40 a.m.)

London, May 11. Gertbaum, the Government horse contractor at Capetown, who was arrested for concealing three escaped Boer prisoners, has been released. Sydney, May 12.

A Pensions Board has been appointed to deal with the claims of families of soldiers killed or wounded in the Transvaal.

THE NEW ZEALAND PRISONERS AT PRETORIA.

ALL IN GOOD HEALTH. | Wellington, May 12. The Premier has received advice from the United States Consul at Pretoria to the effect that the New Zealanders who are there as prisoners are all in good health and provided for comfortably. NEW ZEALAND SECOND CONTINGENT. ANOTHER TROOPER SUFFERING FROM J EVER, Wellington, May 12, The Government have received information that Trooper A. C, Hadfield, of the Second Contingent, a 6on of the ex-Primate of New Zealand, is dangerously ill at Capetown of enteric t'ever, POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS AT THE FRONT.

Wellington, May 12. Tfce Postal Department here is advised in connection with mails for thosion active service in South Africa at. follows : —" An Army Base Office "is astablished at Capetown, and serves ns m office of cschftngD between the civil and military po*t cfficc-s and centres at which large bodies of trcops are located. Field post offices and also opened at point s ilong the lino of communication at advanced deputy and with eacl. biigade and division in tho fi-ld, and mails are exchanged between the bast office and the field offices by ordinary means of communication provided bj the civil administration as opportunity offers. When a force is located at distance from any civil post i fliee tht exchange of miils is maia'aiued between the camp and tho nnuvsi civil office by meaus cf the transp ri vehicle) utilised for maintainiug sup^l.os.