THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 17 May 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

[By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright J (PEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.] LORD ROBERTS^OPERATIONS. ABUSE OF THE WHITE FLAG. CAPTURE AND SURRENDER OF FREE STATERS. (Received IG, 9.45 a.m.) London, May 15. Lieutenant Wilkinson, of the Australian Horse, was captured with a party of Inniskillings when Captain Elworthy, of the 6th Dragoon Guards, was killed through the Boers abusing the white flag. Lieut.-General Bundle has check-' mated the Boers who were attempting to advance southwards along the Basutoland border, and is now returning. Many Free Staters were captured or are surrendering. The enemy has evacuated Macquattingo Nek and Ladybrand, and the district is now clear of Boers, who have retired to Lindley. A commando from Harrismith is going to Bethlehem. The Boers from Vrede and Frankfort are concentrating at Heilbron. Reports from Kroonstad state that the Boers are withdrawing from Biggarsberg and the south-western borders, and are concentrating on the Vaal River. A BOER WAR COUNCIL. DECIDED TO HOLD HARRISMITH. (Received 17,1.45 a.m.) London, May 16. A Boer War Council held at Lindley decided to hold Harrismith. De Wet is at Clersdorp organising a force. ATTACK ON MAFEKING. NATIVE QUARTER OF THE TOWN BURNED. (Received 16, 9.45 a.m.) 1 London, May 15. Advices from Pretoria state that the attack on Mafeking began on Saturday. The native quarter of the town has been burned. The newspapers express hints that General Hunter started for Mafeking while General Barton was fighting at Rooidam on May 7lt. HEAVY FIGHTING. THE BOERS CLAIM TO HAVE SEIZED NATIVE QUARTERS. MESSAGE FROM BADEN-POWELL. FIVER DECREASING. ENOUGH FOOD FOR NEARLY A MONTH. Received 17,1.45 a.m. London, May 16. There was heavy fighting at Mafeking on Saturday. The Boers claim that they seized the native quarters and brought their guns to bear at close range on the town. The British then surrounded them, and fighting continued on Sunday. The Boers admit seven killed and 17 wounded. Colonel Baden-Powell, on the 7th, wired to Lord Roberts that fever was decreasing, and that he had food sufficient to last till June 10th.

ON THE NATAL SIDE. 11 THE BOER POSITION TURNED. GENERAL BULLISH OCCUPIES DUNDEE. Received 16, 10.10 a.m. London, May 15. The cavalry division under Lord Dundonald and Major Bethune having outflanked the Boers, General Buller's main force was enabled to secure tbe Helpmakaar plateaux, thus turning the Boer position on the Biggarsberg. The cavalry pursued the enemy's left wing within seven miles of Dundee. Major-General Hildyard has occupied Indoba Hill. A later report states that General Buller has occupied Dundee. GENERAL BULLER'S REPORT. THE ENEMY HURRIEDLY RETREAT. PURSUED BY BRITISH CAVALRY. (Received 17,1.45 a.m.) London, May 16. General Buller's report on the occupation of Dundee states that tho enemy made a hurried retreat, burning tho grass as they retired, Lord Dundonald pursuing them all Monday, and covering forty miles of waterless country, I mostly through hot smoke. [ Colonel Gough's columD, which was flanking, manoeuvred the enemy out of a strong position. Twenty-five hundred Boers entrained at Glencoe, their guns and stores preceding them to Dannhauser and Dagager's Drift. General Hildyard seized Wessel's Nek.

Almost every house in Dundee was looted, and machinery and collieries destroyed.

The Standard's correspondent states that the cavalry chased the rearguard of the enemy from ridge to ridge for seventeen nrles. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. (Received 10, 10.15 a.m.) London, April 15. Three hundred and fifty women of Pretoria demanded arms and ammunition to undertake work so as to enable officials to go to the front. Commandant Botha threatens to resign if the Transvaal prepares to destroy property. President Kruger consulted a Dutch fceer, who prophesies peace in June, and that Kruger will die three months from date. Kgw York, May 15, ' Several American Governors have informed Mr. Eeitz that they will welcome Boers emigrating in the event of l annexation of thp iiejiublic I;

COLONIAL CASUALTIES,

Received 16, 9.55 a.m. T . t „ . May 15. Th ® following Australians were wounded at the battle of the '/Zl iw£ w fT. A PP leb y. of New South Wales; Troopers M and T Meehan, Westralians. ' ' The following deaths from enteric fever are reported .--Bugler Devitt, Queensland, and Trooper Crips, New South Wales. Sydney, May 18. Mr, Spooner, the Evening News war correspondent, and a well-known Sydney pressman, died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein. Received 16,11.17 p.m. Sydney, May 16. The following casualties to the New South Wales troops in recent fighting are advised: —Privates Taylor and Tonkin, severely; Corporal Chart, Privates Williams, D'Arcy, slightly wounded; Sergeant Doyle, wounded and a prisoner; Troopers McDonald and Harnett, prisoners. (Received 17, 1.50 a.m.) I London, May 16. j The following New South Wales troops were wounded at Welgelegen Sergt.-Major MacAlister, Corporal Osborne, Private Buchanan, soveroly; Private Mitchell, slightly. THE BOER PEACE ENVOY IN AMERICA.

A WELCOME FROM NOISY NOBODIES. FISCHER'S REPLY. HE WILL APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. (Received 17, 1.50 a.m.) New York, May 16. The Irish-Dutch Reception Committee in New York, consisting of noisy nobodies, including Patrick Egan, welcomed Fischer, the Boer peace envoy. The Irish Mayor presented the freedom of Hoboken, and 60 Mayors sent invitations. Fischer, replying to the welcome, said he hoped America would arbitrate with Great Britain. If he was unable to induce President McKinley to do what he desired, he would appeal to the American people, who would compel him. He added that some of thei foreign attaches at the front, on learning the reasons of the war, said: "Give us guns; we must fight with you." NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. TWO OFFICERS ORDERED TO THE FRONT. Napier, May 16. Lieut. Hovell, son of Dean Ho veil, and Lieut. Oollett, of Waipawa, have received orders from the Defence Office to join one of the contingents in South Africa. They leave by ,the Ormazon next week. A GENEROUS COMPANY. Auckland, May 16. Cable advices have been received from the London Board of Directors of i the Waihi Company notifying that at I the annual meeting of shareholders | held recently, it was unanimously resolved to vote <£looo for the benefit of widows, orphans, and dependents of members of the New Zealand Contingents in South Africa. This is in addition to £IOOO voted to the Patriotic Fund some months ago, which was! augmented by £l5O subscribed by the employees.