CABLE NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 33, 8 February 1902, Page 3

CABLE NEWS

2* Blbotkic ftiußiiupH.— Copyright. BOER WAR. GENERAL ITKHS. PXB FBKBS ASSOCIATION, London, February 6. Details of the Liebenbergvlei affair show that eix squadrons of the South African Horse and a squadron of Yeomanrjr captured a convoy of 700 cattle and dispersed 70 Boers, and captured from Steyn's remount depot twenty of hi« splendid horses. At the same time Oarratt's Seventh New Zealanders, and fc- Sixth Queensland Bushmen defeated a| commaqdo of 360 strong, backed up with a fifteen pounder and two pom- 1 poms. i Tho Boer Government's headquarters An now at Steemkanfsberg. Sir John Cockburn in a letter to the Times om tbe remount scandal showed the unparalleled advantage of establishing remount depots in Australia, advocated by S ; r Langdcn Benythone, of Adelaide. M. Blowitz, the Times' Paris correspondent, says tbe opinion is gaining; ground from Kaypir's note that he would be glad to rid Holland of Boer delegates whose agitation is disquieting.

Louis Botha has degraded Tobias Smuts foe burning Bremersdorp. Smuts retorted tt at Christian Botha similarly offended, but went unpunished. Moreover Louis Botha ordere I Boer women to be driven into concentration camps against their will. Lard Salisbury speaking at the Junior Constitutional Club said he was utterly unable to imagine the precise object of the Dutch Government, but ■possibly the British pro-Boers were at the bottom of the mystery. The ■Struggle bad reached a stage when the suggestions of intellect ought to carry more weight than the emotions, and the Government would welcome with delight any peace recognising the Sling's rights and providing security for the .Empire. They must consider tho Sooth African loyalists and ob ain peace strengthening the devotion <,f, 11 colonies which were growing every year. The raids on De Wet's numerous grain stores are a worse blow than the blockhouses l . The absence of food prevents any prolonged c mcentration of the enemy. Bennett Burleigh states that recently Lord Methuen's force was marching on a dark night and being indifferently led moved in a circle and succeeded in capturing its own convoys. Privates John Oonsidine and William Davies, Seventh New Zealand Mounteds were wounded at Charleßtown. Colonel Kekewieh reports that the Scottish Horse commanded by Major Leader, killed seven and captured 131 of Delarey'g commando, including Commandant Sarel Alberts, Landdrost Potfieter, and Cornet Jan Der Plesses. he British casualties were slight.

PAST OF BOTHA'S COMMANDO CAPTTJRJCD. Beoaived 7, 10.G1 p.m. y Loudon, February 7. ■ Seventy Europeans recently joined ißotha, coming through Zululand and bringing a new heliograph equipment. Colonel Rawlinson's mounted forces have captured thirty of Botha's commando.

Mr Balfour siates that Lord Kitch-1 £iner has been asked to communicate toj. ■Of. Van Kuypsr Lafu Lansdowne's j notes to the Boer leaders.

KtJYPER'S THANKLEBB TASK, A GERHAN CHANGS OF FROICT. Received 8,1.7 a.m. London, February 7. The Kruger clique are incense at Van Kuyper's fruitless intervention. Lord Salisbury's speech has convinced Germany that Britain dees not i ntend to abate her demands in South Africa. Berlin, February 7. The National Zeilvmg says that Smuts' letter shows the so-called English barbarities were sometimes regarded by the Boers as military necessities, thus showing the impropriety of characterising soldiers as murderers and farm burners. Smuts also confirmed the allegation that the British were forced to establish concentration camps.

BRITISH LOSSES IN THE WAR. Received 8.1.15 a.m. ' London, February 7. The total British losses in the war to the end of January include, by deaths and disease, 965 officers, and 24,340 men. WHY GERMANY CALLED A HALT. Received 8.1.21 a m. London, February 7. The Times s»ys the movement for a preferential tariff within the Emnire apparently contributed to quicken German perception of the unwisdom of estranging the British completely.

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT. j Ohkistchdkch, February 7. | The public have been k r p f . in doubt for some time as to when the Eighth Contingent wou'd leave, snd a'so as to whether it would leave frrm Christchurch. The military auth'»i 'en w nt to avoid marching from the c mp at. Adding! on to the Chrisvhurch railway and it has now been d rvded that the troops sha'l leave Adding'on straight for Lyttelton *t 2.20 p.m. tomorrow. The Cornwall is exp cted to sail at 4p m.

THE NINTH CONTINGENT. Napier, February 7. Eighteen of the Hawke's Bay section of the Ninth ConMt gent left for Auckland on the Tutnnekt-.i this evening. Three men forfeited their places, and were replaced by emergencies.

The local portion of the Taranati

quota of the Ninth Contingent are to parade at the Drill Hall at 7.30 to4ight, with roll«d blankets, in order to roceed to Auckland. The Hawera Beef ion will arrive by the mail train, and join the local men. The Garrison Band is to turn out and play the men off.

Corporal Jordan, of the Stratford Rifles, who is one of the men picked for Taranaki's quota in the Ninth, received many expressions of goedwill at a social gathering given by Captain Malone at Stratford on Thursday. The officers and men of his company complimented him on heine selected non-com. in charge of the New Plymouth section.