THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 29 May 1900, Page 3

THE WAR.

[By Electric Telbgkaph.—Copyright.] [pee pbbss association.]

RAPID ADVANCE_OF_LO RD ROBERTS.

HEARING JOHANNESBURG. Received 28, 10.§j3 p.m. • . London, May 28. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts has reached Ve'reeninging, on the Vaal River, and about forty miles south of Johannesburg. A COMBINED MOVE. FOUR BRITISH COLUMNS CROSS THE VAAL. BOERS CONCENTRATING NEAR JOHANNESBURG. (Received 29, 1.4.2 a.m.) London, May 28. Lord Roberts's steady marching and enveloping movements are proving irresistible, The troops are on full rations. Major-Goneral Broad wood, on Friday, crossed the Vaal and held Wonderfontein Drift. Lieut.-General lan Hamilton followed him on Saturday. Lieut.-General French, securing an excellent flanking position, invaded the Transvaal via Lindrque's Drift, The Boers have left the Vaal, and are concentrating at Klip Riversberg, near Johannesburg. Tho bulk of the British encamped north of the Vaal yesterday.

There are indications that Lieut.General Lord Methuen invaded the Transvaal via Schoeman's Drift. » THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF COLLIERIES. TIMELY ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH. London, May 28. Lord Roberts telegraphs that his vanguard was just in time to prevent the destruction of the collieries on both sides of the Vaal River. THE ENEMY SURPRISED. London, May 28, The Times states that Lord Roberts, rapidly changing the distribution of his forces' front and seizing the Yaal drifts at unexpected points, totally disconcerted the 'enemy. Four thousand fruitlessly awaited General Hamilton at a drift north-east of Heilbron. THE ENEMY'S REARGUARD SHELLED A RAILWAY BRIDGE DAMAGED. London, May 28,

While General French was crossing Lindeque's Drift, the infantry, under Colonel Henry, shelled the enemy's rearguard railway train, nearly having the railway bridge. Only the northernmost span was destroyed.

THE NSITWJN NATAL

GENERAL BULLER ADVANCING, (Heeeived 28, 9.20 a.m.) London, May 27. The Boers are fortifying a semicircle from Majuba to Pongwana. Six guns are visible, There are indications that General Buller is advancing with a view to turning the Boer position at Laing's Nek, via Buffalo River. Louis Koch, a Free State magistrate who surrendered to the British, has informed General Buller that all the Harrismith and Yrede burghers have returned to their farms.

THE BOERS' FRONT.

FROM LAING'S NEK TO VRYHEID. (Received 29, 1.12 a.m.) London, May 28, The Boers' front stretches from [ Laing's Nek to Vryheid. I . : '•

IN THE EASTERN FREE STATE.

THE CAPTURE OF FIOKSBURG. A LARGE NUMBER OF BOERS TAKEN. (Received 29, 1.42 a.m.) ' London, May 28. Brigadier-General Brabant'occupied Ficksburg (on the Basutoland bolder of the Free State) on Thursday. He previously captured 150 B jers and ten waggons laden with grain. The Boers attacked on Saturday, but were repulsed. Lieut.-General Rundle occupied Senekat unopposed.

SIGNS OF SURRENDER.

A MEETING OF COMMANDANTS. (Received 29,1.42 a.m.) London, May 28. Many Free Staters refused to enter the Transvaal when the Boers passed the Yaal. Hauler's correspondent states that 'he CLmmandantH have assembled to ujbcuom itie quesii mof suribiider, 'Jhe m "j ■■ i-y tf tne Lmghws v«jw the siege of Pretoria wit. disfavour, TRANSVAALEItS DJiSEKI'ING. MORE IiUKJU LIES. London, May 28. A number of prominent Wit watersrand outlanders have joined Lord -Hoberis's guides. They advise that many Transvaalers, indignant at the accumulated deception of their are deserting. The latest lie circulated is that the British commandeered all children over jtwelve for service in India, aud also [ burned every farm, exposing women and children on the veldt.

THE MAFEKING RELIEF,

REBEL RINGLEADERS CAPTURED. (Received 29, 1.42 a m.) London, May 28. ' Thirty-two rebel ringleaders Raptured during Uqloml. M^ o n ! a march fco Maffiking, fla( j j Q JPBJQn r "

THE JOHANNESBURG EXPLOSION.

j A SUSPECT DISCHARGED. (Received 28, 9.20 a.m.) Durban, May 27. William Begbie, who was arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion at Johannesburg and charged with attempted murder, has been acquitted.

THE BOER PEACE ENVOYS.

DISHEARTENED AT AMERICA'S RECEPTION. (Received 29, 1.42 a.m.) New York, May 28. Mr. Fischer and his colleagues, disheartened at their reception in America, announce their early return to Europe,

COLONIAL CASUALTIES.

(Received 28, 10.40 a.m.) London, May 27. The following casualties are reported: —New South Wales troops—Trooper Kite, died rf enteric fever; Lieut. Macarthur Onslow and Trooper MacDonald, severely wounded. Major Bridges, of the Australian Artillery, and Major Owen, New South! Wales Second Contingent, have been invalided. Received 28,11.20 pro. Melboukne, May 28. Lieut. Dree, of the Victorian Mounted Bifl.es, died at Bloemfontein.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

I Beceived 28,10.40 a.m. London, May 27. Klunike, the Transvaal State Minicg Engineer, who opposed Boer interference with the Johannesburg mines, has been removed from office, and W. J. Munnik, State Mining Inspector and Assistant Engineer, succeeds him. The Hon. W. P. Schreiner, Premier of Cape Colony, opposes the proposal to build a hall to perpetuate the names of the heroes who fall in the war. He predicts that the nation will eventually deplore the war as neither necessary nor inevitable.

Martial law has been proclaimed in Rhodesia. Brisbane, May 28. The Premier has received a cable from Major-General Baden-Powell announcing the relief of Mafeking. He says he is most grateful-for the invaluable assistance rendered by the Queenslanders under Captain Kelly, who made a record march through Rhodesia to help. A cable has been received in Auckland notifying that Sergeant J. A. Black died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein on May sth.