CABLE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 34, 12 February 1901, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

(Br Blectbio Tklbsbaph.—OopyßioHT)

BOER WAR. __4 A LOYALIST'S OFFEK. FLIGHT OF THE ENEMY. THE CAPETOWN QUABDS. (PEH PRESS ASSOCIATIOX.) (Received 11, 9.14 am.) London, February 10. Field-Cornet Steynberg, a loyalist, of the Graafreinet district, otters to bring fifty land owners to join the defence force to resist the in7asioo of Boers. Before evacuating Petrusberg the British destroyed the supplies in town and collected 3500 horses and cattle, and tcok them to Kimberley. The first symptoms of phgue at Capetown appeared in the south arm of the deck?, where the military transports discharge. The rats have since deserted this spot, and are migrating to Green Foist, where the British camp will probably be abandoned. A reward of threepence per head is •ffered for rats.

Commandant Kruitziager is still retiring north-ea^t. Two hundred l>ee r s at Ottlands, a station south of Graafreinet, fled on the approach of the British, and abandoned many horses, saddles, and rifles. The burghers of the Orange River Colony are everywhere indignant at the barbarity shown by Commandsint Da Wet in shooting tho envoys of the Peace Committee. Sir Alfred Milnor and Lieut.General Foreetier- Walker inspected 7500 Capetown City Guards, including artillery, cavalry, and cyclists. They warmly complimented the Guards on their appearance. Colonel R. H. Davies, of N»w Zea land, has recovered and resumed duty.

(Received 11, 9.55 a.su). Brisbaxb, February 11. J>rd Kitchener has accepted ofl'ers to raise the Contingent to 500. LOKD ROBERTB' DESPATCHE3. PRAISE OF COLONIALS. «--.- : THE MAFEKING EPISODE. Received 11, 9 28 p.m. Lokdos, February 11. In a despatch of March 18th Lord Roberts singled out Colonel Byron, Queensland, and Major Fiaschi, Nen South Wales Medical Corps, for ppe-ral praise. He would also have f el-i-ted Colonel TJmphclbv, Victoria, an«! L : ent. G. J. Grieve, N. S. WaUg, for reward if tbfy had not been killed. Writing in January last Lord Boberts deep'y regretted the deparun of the first Australian and Cimdian Contingents, which materially impaired the mobility and cftii ncy of the army, but it was imposdule to disregard tl e nrgency o f the reason for their return. He recognised io the colonials many soldierly qualities, ard their telf-facri-ficing uncompllining attitude. No episode of thr> war was more praiseworthy than Marking. Losdon. February 11.

Among the d spa'efces published by the War Office is cae dated March 18'b, in which Lord Robert? drew special attention to the go'd servic s and splendid efficiency of the Colonial troop*, who had a distinguished share in tbe advance on the O arge Free State. All vied with one another it shariag hardships nnd dangers in v manner that won the respect and admiration of every one.

SEVERE ENGAGEMENT WITH DE WET. ; ■•. A POMPOM JAMS AND IS LOST. HEAVY ODDS. BRILLIANT DASH FOR HIGH GROUND. RENEWAL OF FIGHT AT DAYBREAK Received 11, 0.45 p.m. London, F< brnary 11. Colonel Pilcher and Major Crewe, on opposite sides of the Tabacberg range, engaged a large force of Boers commanded by De Wet on the 31s*. C lonel Pilcher, with lyddite shells-, dispersed the Boers, who, strenmieg down the rinee, encountered Majo' Crewe's force of seven hundred and a pompom. The Boer s- , numbering at least 2500. att»ckcd both fl inks and rear.

TUe pompom jammed arid was ] s>t, despito. i .7-rts'o save it. Maj>r Crexya brilliantly f»ized the rising groußd, just; for.s'alhVg the Boers who charged the British acd fought their reirguard. The Action wan nHot.iined B terribly rifle fir* until the ammunition failing they retired to tkeir linger vragow, defending themgalvss until nightfall, Xhough the attack was renewed at

'daybreak, Major * Vewo n-ud hi.-- .:<mvoy joined <Jo!o':ul K«j, Urh Bolemrout'jiti.

BOTHA. ATTACKS GKNKRAL SMITH JXtRUN. HEAVY LOSSES. THREE MORR TRAINS AVRECKKP, A PANIC AMONG THE BOERS. BOTHA MOVING EAST. DE WET AND STEYN INTIMIDATE CAPE FARMERS. (Received 11, 11.10 p.m.) Louis Botha, with 2,000 at daybreak on 6th, attacked General Smith Dorien at Bathwell. Twenty British wen; killed and 53 wounded.

Tho Boors left 20 dead on the fiVi.l, including General Spruit and two field cornets.

Many were severely wounded, inolud ing General Baademeyer.

[ The Boars have wrecked three moie trains on the Natal Johannesburg line. Lord Kitchener reports that, the British movement in the East has thoroughly upset the Boers' calculations, and created a regular panic. Botha with 7000 men, 800 waggons, 1 and a very large number of stock, is going east.-

De Wet and Steyn have issued a proclamation that they intend to enter Cape Celony and give the farmers a taste of the sufferings of war.

N.S. WALES RIFf.ES DO GOOD SERVICE.

GROSSING MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. GREAT PLUCK AND DARING. PIET DE WET'S APPEAL. (Received 11, 10.8 p.m.) London, February 11. A wida flanking movement was admiratly executed by the New South Wales Mouut-d Rifles, commanded by Captain Bennett. They compelled the Boers to ev.reuato the lleggeveJd .Range, thus enabling De Lisle to sscure the Pass leading on to Calvinia. Captain Bannett's man cros3cd a country hithetto considered impassable.

Several horte* of the force rolled over precipices two thousand feet deop. Ten men ascended a precipitous face of the mouotaia five thousand feet high.

P'eb D < Wet has appealed to Christian De Wet to use common sense, and recognise the struggle as hopeless. Better for all to yield uud be loyal, and try to win a responsible Government, otherwise the Bo;irs will be impoverished and degraded and their condition will be that oF a mere working c'as?. He is convinced the other Transvaal Gecerals would submit if Christian did.

JDE WET SLIPS AWAY WESTWARD. DE LISLE OCCUPIES CALVINIA. Received 12,0.12 a.m. LonijON, February 11. Wot-, f .iii,,,; i 0 croRS tbo Orange llivrr oa-.t of Jto'hulir, has suddenly 'urted west under covtr of a detached ■ O'DHvmdo and c-o-wd tho line south oF Jaegaufwitf-in Road on tho 9rb, evad ng tievm co'.umns.

De Lisla has occupied Calvinia, tbe B era retiring towirds Kenhardt.

A UKI.IKVi.NG CONTINGENT. | RETURNING TROOPS. ] Wellington, February 11. The Miuist.-rs liave decided to send in »•!> tii ops for, liMve those who have ali>:i'}' tsovei fo- tho pariod fiT %hiih they enlisted. Thefirstdraft, r.umbarirg about 300, w.ll he He-pitched in a oicr.th and will be followed by others :>i m> .it a* th»y cm be got ready. A not lit r n.e ical man will alto b* sent.

Tie Wowing New Zealandcrs are rot-iii-.im; 'ty He s'eimer Chicago whcli left Cip town, February 6»h : Farrier Sergt. Spain (Fouith Contingent), Otigo; Private D. Spaccer (Thi'd), Kiikour.l ; J. Warren (Fifth), Dun-rim; G. Digti-n (Reseive), Auckaiirl; J. McKay (Fifth), Ulinton ;0. \V)ie- (Fourth), Otago Central; 0. W. Btown (Fourth), Tunuka; A. Woodward (4th), Dunedin ; J. Matson (Is 1 ), Cambridge ; J. Fairfll (reserve), Kihikir.i; C. W. Wut; (fifth), Dun*din; 2261 F. W. Jones (fifth), Wanganui; A. J. Waliace (fourth), Shinnon.