THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 25 May 1900, Page 3

THE WAR.

[By emoibio Tklkghaph.—Coftbiqht.] (PSK PUBS ASSOCIATION.) WITH LPRDIOBEBTS. the advance northward begun HEILBRON OCCUPIED BY lAN HAMILTON'S BRIGADE. Received 24,1.1 pjn. London, May 23. The British Infantry at Kroonatad have began the advance northwards. Lord Roberta is now at Honning Spruit. General lan Hamilton, after serious rear-guard encounters, involving 75 fimnltiV, h&soccupied Heilbron; Christopher Dd Wet, with 4000 Boers, retiring. EIGHT HUNDRED SUBMISSIONS AT VRYBURG. USEFUL CAPTURES. (Received 25,1.15 am.) Losdon, May 24. Eight hundred submissions were received in the Yryburg district. General Broadwood, previous to the occupation of Heilbron, captured fifteen waggons, a number of prisoners, and a branch railway connecting with the main line. A British patrol, finding Ficksburg ilwmi liitd captured the Landdroet and others. ANOTHER LAAGER CAPTURED. niWimtH ARTILLERY PARTICIPATE. FRENCH CROSSES THE EHENOSTER RIVER. Received 25, 2 ajn. Lohdok, May 24. Sir Charles Warren, with two compcaite columns, captured a laager, and three wagons containing ammunition and food, near Douglas. The fionmiian artillery participated in the fight. General French has crossed the Bhenoster River north-west of Honningspruit. LORD ROBERTS' SPEED, STRATEGY, AND STRENGTH TOO MUCH FOR THE BOERS. A STRONG POSITION ABANDONED. FRENCH SCORES AGAIN. Received 25, L4O am. Losdoh, May 24. Lord Roberts' speed, strategy, and strength are overwhelming and defMwliimg the Boers. Lord Roberts, from the south bank of the Bhenoster River, telegraphs that the enemy finding their rear threatened abandoned daring the night their strongly entrenched position on the north bank. The bridge across the Bhenoster and several culverts with some m<les of tailway were destroyed. General French's passage lower down was strongly disputed. He might have lost heavily but for a concerted plan bringing General Smith-] Darrien's force opportunely on the enemy's flank. GENERAL BULLERS ADVANCE. LAING'S NEK ABANDONED AND RE-uCCUPIED. HOUSE AMBUSHED. SIXTY LOST AND CAPrUKED. HIS ADVANCE CENSURED. (Received 23, 9.30 a-m.) Loudon, May 22. A report has te3n received from Maritzburg to the t licet that the Boers have left tne colony, having abandoned Laing's Nek. They wrecked the railway, thus delaying General Roller's advance. (Received 24, 10.15 ajn.) London, May 23. , It is officially reported that General Buller when at Dundee ordered Major

Bethune with five hundred men to prOOMd to Ngtu in Zululand, which was I reported to have been evacuated by the Boers; instructing him then to return to Newcaetle on the 20th inst. A squadron of Betbune's mounteds were ambushed by the Boers six miles south-west of Yryheid. The caaoalities including captured numbered sixty. Earl Delaware was slightly injured in the leg. Bethune returned to Ngtu for supplies. The Times says the orders which Bethune received did not justify his advances into the Transvaal. Five thousand Boera have returned to Laing's Nek and are entrenching both ends.

THE RELIEF OF MAFEKIN6. |

A STUBBORN RESISTANCE. I

(Bec«ived 23, 9.30 ajn.) Lonoux, May 22. Router's correspondent with the Mafeking relief column reports) that ' the Boer leader Eloff was captured by Colonel Hare and a police force from the headquarters of the Protectorate Keginient, after a desperate combat at short range. Many ot Eloti 's men lied, thereupon their leader, dis = usted. fired upon them, and then surrendered to Colonti Hare. Altogether 120 Boer prisoners wei i] taken, including the French Count Li! Bremontand the German Von Weio i Colonel Alabon's relief column too : twenty waggon ioods o£ supplies foi - ward. The official rapstates that Colon t Jlahcn entered ii.-iV-icg at fo; .• o'clock in the moiiii:i 0 ' o. n;diy, ti j 18th. Un the previous d.;y Me ui countered fifteen hundred lioer.-: :n strong position niuu fro i M ■ f eking. After a stubbcm i cm'-, IjstiL [ Q;kv live hours, the ikie.- v. . j drive > lium ti.o Jele. A o-'U-I.iii- l.'ot eV:; .-iuri .Hiili"-. ui.-.-J '•> 'it"-.' '■ i \ -1 ' 1.".' ■' V

!the makch of the relief column. A SHARP ENGAGEMENT EN ROUTE. GALLANT RESCUE Or A MAXIM. Received 24, 9.40 a.m. London, April 23. The encounter in the bush in which Colonel Mahon's column took part, occurred on 13tb. | The enemy occupied some hills to south-west of Maritzini. .Mahon's forces bad just previously turned a position which was occupied by five hundred Boers with three guns which they had withdrawn from Koodooetand Nek and Kimberley.

One of the British Maxims was ' nearly loet, the native drivers bolting when under fire, but troopers gallantly effected its rescue. Several interesting battle incidents are related. A bullet smashed Major F. S. Baden-Powell's watch, although he himself escaped unhurt. A Cape Corporal when under heavy fira disengaged a dead mule and reharnessed bis ammunition cart, thus enabling the team to be rescued. COLONIAL BUSHMEN TAKE PART. A SPLENDID MARCH. J UNCI lON OF THE FORCES. SNYMAN'S HEAD LAAGER CAPTURED. BRITISH CASUALTIES SLIGHT. London, May 23. A portion of Sir Frederick Carrington's Colonial Bushmen, consisting of Canadians and Queenslanders, took part in the relief of Mafeking. The colonials all dismounted and marched admirably, covering long distances over heavy sand, and accompanying Plumer's column to Jan Maribis Stad.

On the 15th inst. Colonel Flumer's force entered the Stad from the north, while the Hon. Maurice Giffordj Colonel Rhodes, the Duke of Teck, and Sir John Willoughby entered from the south.

Baving pushed forward in advance of the Kimberley relief column, Colonel Jlahon soon afterwards followed, and the united forces advanced eastward over the 25 miles which then sepaited them from Mafeking.

On the 17 th inst. the Boer forces i vera encountered, and an engagement (ought, in which the British troops sustained 30 casualties, the enemy's 1368 being heavy. Mr. Chamberlain officially congratulated Canada upon the good work of the Canadian troops. Major Karri Da vies, the Westralian, who fought with the Natal local force, accompanied Colonel Mahoo's relief .column.

Major-General Baden-Powell, with Mahon's forces, captured the Boers' aead laager at Mafeking; one guD, flag, and much ammunition. General Snyman, the Boer commander, just managed to escapa. Tbere were three British killed and 22 wounded. THE FIGHT IN THE FORT. BADEN-POWELL'S CORDON. THE BOERS DESERT THEIR LEADER. MAGNIFICENT COURAGE OF QUEENSLAND BUSHIIEN. When Elcfi' took the fort BadnnPowell swiftly improvised a fresh line of defers. A stone cattle ehed and also a stone sopjo sheltered parties of the enemy. Tne Biiii'h in well screened positions gradually drew tha cordon tighter, subdividing the enemy into sections. Eighty Boers in front deserted Eloff owing to the deadly accuracy of the rifle fira. The Queensland Bushmen in the fitjht before Mafeking behaved with uiagnificient recklessness, and came through scathless. WHAT KRUGER DREADS. BRITISH PRISONERS IN DANGER. HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS BEING I BUN.

KRUGER TRANSFERS HIS FORTUNES, COMMANDANT BOTHA'S THREAT. (Received 24,11.15 a.m.) London, May 23, A high Transvaal official has informed Adrian Hofneyer that Kruger dreads an invasion of the Transvaal from the the west, where he has insufficient troops, whereas he would be able to check a British advance from the east and south. The Transvaalers have a superstitions dread of Baden-Powell. The Executive intend to protect British prisoners, but fair the rabble, especially the Irish and other foreign legions. The New Tork Uerald states that Kruger is considering advisableness of sending British prisoners over the Border.

Kruger, Reitz, and some Holhndere ilono now run Government of the .Transvaal. Mrs, Reitz and her family and those of other officials have gone to Delagoa Bay. The Times' Delagoa Bay correspondent states that Ki uger has transferred the bulk of his fortunes to the names of various ftiends, fearicg confiscation. Kruger has abandoned tho idea of the destruction of the mined, owing tu Commandant Botha's threat that the commandoes will defend Juhaunusburg jgdinst the Government, declaring sucti a wanton destruction of piopirty barbaric. THE PEAGE PHQPOSALS. A CC KT. :ADIC I'iON. 1 i P.'iO an.) 1 May 22. Tli-i ,:■><. •_j i; tortiiidicled that Kiu.tr -.t.-j.. pijpu.s u, couched :n i . L-i CclujS. iiOl'd SJiabuiy. ' li-u -.il £l, <l.-10 a.m.) >'e'.v May 23, >. Psx.aids.-ut .. '.7 u-.(.f'loi-.i'y r> ' ,J: i- c ..... 1 —L ■ 1 ' I >i: ~'V it ; '• 1 V.' •• !'1 : /

. j FISCHER ADVISES 'SURRENDER. j j LORD ROBERTS' EXPECTED PROPOSAL. THE BOERS LIKELY TO ACCEPT. (Received 25, 1.30 a.m.) London, May 24. i It is affirmed in Capetown that Mr. , Fischer has advised President Kruger to surrender on the best terms obtaini able. There are indications that Lord ■ Roberts, when across the Vaal River, [ will announce that if the burghers i return to their homes their property and stock will be respected. It is believed that the majority are i willing to accept this proposition. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. (Received 23, 9.45 a.m.) London, May 22. Cameron, of the Austaalian Horse, who was missing after tbe Zand River engagement, is supposed to be a prisoner at Pretoria, The following deaths from enteric fever have occurred at Capetown:— Liscock, of Victoria, and Ogle and

Kelly, of New S juth Wales. Received 24, 1.1 p.m. London, May 23. Barbour, of the Victotian Mounted?, and Rowe and F. Legge, of New South Wales, died of disease at Bloemfontein. Boers desecrated the Catholic churches at Newcastle and Dundee. Seven thousand of the enemy are entrenched at Rbenoster River with several hundred-pounders and Creuzats. There is a strong commando, with ten gun?, at Hammonef l . (Keceived 25,1.15 a.m) Sydney, May 24. The Premier has received a communication from the Daily Express in reference to the London War Memorial, The Premier expressed sympathy and said he would do what he could to aid the project, but pointed out that Sydney would very likely have a local memorial erected. They must bear in mind local claims. Beceived 25,1.30 a.m. Melboubne, May 24. Arrived: Moravian, with invalided Australasian soldiers. The following are New Zealanders: —Sergt.-Farrier Neilson, suffering from a dislocated hip, the result of a horse accident at Maitland; Trooper R. T. Arthur, with rheumatism, contracted at Slingersfontein, ShceingSmith Taylor, rheumatism and influenza at Graspan, and Trooper Seely, dysentery debility, caught at Paardeberg ; Trooper Young, injury to spine through a horse accident at Gasfontein; and Harding, of Napier. 24 New South Wales meo ; 13 Victorians 2 ; Westralians; 4 South Australians; and 1 Tasmanian, are included in the list. OUR TROOPS AT THE FRONT. CONCESSION IN TELEGRAPH RATES. Wellington, May 23. | The Secretary of the General Post Office notifies that concession of reduced telegraph rates now allowed to troops serving in South Afiice is extended to cover telegrams for nursing corps appointed by tlie Governments of Australia and New Zealand. The concession, however, is not intended to apply to nurses who have gone to South on their own account. S O U TH jRFR'SA. UNFAVOURABLE PROSPECTS FOR COLONIALS. Wellington, May 23. C. Jacob, who accompanied the Third Contingent in the Knight Templar bs providore, gives a poor account of ■South Africa as a market for produce. Ee took a trial shipment with him, but found the market glutted and no reasonable price could be got. In addition, he had to pay heavy landing rates at East London and excessive customs duties. Durban and Capetown were also overstocked and hay could be bought at tho former place for a penny per bale. During the voyage Jacob gathered from many of " Jowseys Boys" that their object in going to the Transvaal was in hope of securing land and settling down after the war. Whilst in East London he had conversations upon this topic with Imperial officers and the impression he received from them was that Colonials who looked for grants of land would be sadly disappointed. The officers said that except for garrison purposes no colonials who had served in the war would be allowed to stay and take up land. After the war was over they would either be drafted into the British Army or would be sent back to their colonies, If colonials were given land they would become an element danger in that the Dutch would not take ' kindly to those whom they already 1 term trespassers. The Imperial officers 1 thought it would not conduce to peace if confiscated land was given to men ! who had fought; against the original ' settlers, i ■