BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 37, 19 February 1901, Page 3

BOER WAR.

BOERS AMBUSHED BY A CYCLIST CORPS. WHOLESALE ARRJBSTS OF TRAITORS. ATTEMPT TO OUT~A RAILWAY. COMMANDEERING HORBE3. OASUALTIEB. FEB PBES3 ASSOCIATION. Received 18, 8.46 a.m.) Lokdon, February 17. While 100 Boers were couveying forage through Giringspoort they were ambushed by a detachment of the receHtly formed Cipe Cyclist Corps who were entrenched up a kopje. The cyclists killed seventeen. All the male inhabitants of Grasfontein have been arrested on a charge of assisting the invaders. Three Boers were killed and 23 weunded while attempting t« cut the railway at Bank Station. Few thousand horses have baen commandeered in the Harri&mith district and 2000 at Standerton for the purpose of remounting the British irregulars.

The raiders possess splendid maps of Ope Colony provided by Mr. Stern before the war.

Captain Berry, ef the Queensland Bushmen, and Lieutenant Lewin, of the New Zealand Bough Riders, have been discharged from the hospital and j bare resumed duty. The following We-traliaas were wounded in the fighting at Klippkat: —Captain Oliver, and Privates Cimpbell and Flynn. The King and Queen inspected Strathcena's Horss at Backiogham Palace. They will present the Canadians wi'h a medal g*t in their regimental colours. Lord Roberts and General Boiler were presint.

PtJRSUIKG OB WKT. TOIUNQ THBOUGH MUD. LORD KITOKBNSK AT TBS HOUTKBAAL FIGHT.

DS WET SURPRISED BY ARMOURED TRAIN.

OAPTURB Qjr HIS CONVOY.

AMBULANOJ "WAGGON LADKN WITH AMMUNITION.

DS WET'S LOSSES. FLIGHT OF THE BOBR9. A LABQK PURSUING FORCE. Received 18.10.14 p.m. London, February !8. Details of the recant encounters with De Wet show that (Jolooel Burner's farce of Australian and New Zealand Bushmen followed sections of De Wet's commandos from Phillipstown to Houtkraal UHtil darkness stopped the pursuit. Friends and foes were both exhausted, and the horses were knee deep in mud. Lore! Kitchener witnessed the action which took place north-west of Houtkraal.

De Wet an! Steyn wiMi betw<w>n 2000 and 3000 men cnes-d the) ailway betweenHoutkraal r>nd Po'.foctein before daybreak on the 15th. Colonel Crabbe left Hcutkraal in pursuit at daybreak. Using twe 15ponnders he shelled frequently, scattering the eßemy. De Wet did not attempt to use hi» guns. He was surprised by narmoured train, which arrived from the north, opening with two nnval 12 pounders. This facilitate i the cap a\-v' of practically the whole of De We '«' convoy, including an ambuhnre laden with ammunition, nineteen other waggons, six hundred shells, atd half a million cartridges. Fifty Boer* were captur-d, mostly ragged and bootless, and a hundred horses.

De Wet lost sixty-five killed and wounded.

The Boers broke iota soctions and fled, sniping occasionally, towards Britetown.

Cols. Plnmer and Crab! e are pursuing.

Generals Knox >'d Bruce-Hamilton with Colonel White bare j. iued iu the chase.

DS WIST FOLLOWED FOR 3 WBEK*.

STATE OF HIS FOHCBS. OTHBR COMMANDOB OUT OFF. Received 19, 0.10 a.m. London, February 18. General Brace Hamilton, by zig-zag marches, followed De Wet for three, weeks. De Wet, at the moment, of invading Cape Colony, forbade his followers looting. Tbe Dutch received him unwilliegly, declaring ho would only ruin them. Many followers have sinoe deserted Da Wet, whose horsrs are badly fsd. His forca is uninly armed with LeeMe'fordg, and is now grea'ly harassed. Krui<zinger'a and H-rtzoog and other commandos aw b-in? prevented fi-om junctioning with Da Wet. Lord Kitchener, in view of tbe heavy expenditure in Seuth Africa, has asked for financial assistance. Mr. Broderick is sending Mr. 0. D. A. FleetwoodWilson, Awistint Under Seoretjiry of the War Department, temporarily, as Lord Kitchener's financial adviser.

GENERAL FRENCH DRIVING BOTHA'S FORCE. (Received 12, 0.20 a.m.) London, February 18. General French is still driving all Botha's force before bim, excepting the Carolina commando which broke through westwards, and haa eiace be ome drsjr^anised.

RETURNING TROOPS. Wfllisgtos, February 18. Tie Premier has advised that Cap'ai'i Farrier Crna.ie, jS t ;\ 21, rnd IJ» ? kr F;-a, Xn. ill, of th, First foMiijgent, nnd Surgeon Captain Godfrey, of the Third Contingent, are returaing by the Msraroa,from Sydney, ok the 16th, far WelliigUn.

SIXTH COXTINGENT. ) Witllisgton-, February 18. _ Colonel Banks cables than hj.» f<.uod it advisable fr> invalid Privat'-s Bui, and MeCntcheon at Albar v. BEVBNTH CONTINGENT. Wellington, February 18. Thedefencs authorities have received . numerous applic.it ions fer enrolment in the Seventh Contingent, and they .desire it known that it is impossible to reply to individual enquiries. There is bo doubt a Seventh Contingent will be despatched, but no details-havo been arranged as to the number from each district in the colony. When this is decided, the officers commanding thv districts will be informed and applications must ba made to them.