THE WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 527, 16 December 1899, Page 2

THE WAR.

STOIIMBERG REVERSE. MORE DETAILS. [united press association.] (by elkctric telegraph. copyridht). London, December )3. General Gataobe's eileuce in referonce to the maimer of his losses is attributed to the censors. Reports from Capetown state that General Gatacrc's artillery, in retreating, fired on a body of British in a hollow ia mistake for the enemy, wounding several. The War Office has issued a corrected list, showing the missing from the Northumberlands to be 366. President Steyn reports that six officers and 230 Northumberlands and two officers and 250 Irish Rifles were captured by th°. Boers. The Boers occupied auunscaleablchill, and wouuded many British in the open. The Northumberlands attempted to eject the enemy, but failed. The Irish Rifles seized a kopje, the mounted artillery supporting them. The artillery under Major Jeffreys worked splendidly. One gun was overturned and a second sank in the quicksand. The force was withdrawn from ridge to ridge for nine miles. The Boer guns were remarkably well served, and their firing was accurate up to the 5000yds raugc. Capetown, December 13. Three thousand Trausvaalers have reinforced Burghersdorp, about 25 miles south-west of Aliwal North, and threaten Bushman's Hoek. General Oatacrc holds the latter place and Cyphergat, further to the south.

LORD METHEUN REPULSED. HEAVY LOSSES. BRITISH RETREAT. GENERAL WAUCHOPE KILLED. S3B KILLED AND WOUNDED. CAUGHT IN A TRAP. London, December 14. A heavy artillery duel has beeu proceeding since Suuday at Magersfontein. The British infautry attacked the trenches, bu*; suffered heavy loss, and the Boers maintain the position. The battle is proceeding. The canuonade at Magersfontein was resumed early on Monday. The infantry were engaged from noon till dark. The Boers stuck to their trenches, and the British steadily withdrew. The Highland Brigade suffered the heaviest lasses. On Tues lay Lord Methuen entrenched his forces, and resumed a desultory cannonade. The Boer version of the encounter claims that they have taken 41 prisoners. In connection with the statement that friction exists between President Steyn, of the Orange Free State, and General P. A Cronje, it is reported that the Transvaal troops are dominating the Free State troops. Cronje, who has Commandant Prinsloo, a leading Free State general, associated with him in command, ordered the shooting of any Free Staters who attempted to desert or who discontinued to fire on the British. Lord Methuen, in a cable message, states that he shelled a strong position held by the Boers on a long high kopje from 4 p.m. till dusk on Sunday. It rained hard all night. The Highland Brigade, at daybreak on Monday, attacked the south of the kopje. The attack was properly timed, but failed. The Guards protected the Highlaud Brigade's right and rear. The cavalry and mounted infantry attacked the left, and the Guards the right and centre, the artillery and howitzers protecting them. The artillery shelled the position from daybreak. At oue o'clock he sent the Gordous to support the Highland Brigade. The troops held ground facing the enemy's entrenchments until dark. The position extended six miles towards the Modder River. To-day (Tuesday) concludes Lord Methuen, I am holding my position and entrenching. Our troops faced at least 12,000 of the enemy, and our loss was great. Major • General Wauchope was killed on Monday. Other accounts say that Lord Methuen used balloons to locate the enemy and that no assistance was forthcoming from Kimber'ey. Later. Lord Metheun retired to Modder River on Tuesday evening, the Boers occupying the British trenches. Lord Methuen cables as follows :—I retired in perfect order here, where our forces are in security. I gather from the prisoners captured, and from information imparted by Boers to members of the ambulances, that their losses were terrible, some corps being annihilated. The enemy are most kind to our wounded. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent states that the British forces on Monday vainly tried to traverse the left flink between the kopjes and the river. The Marquis of Winchester, a major of the Coldstream Guards, was killed. The Times states that Lord Methuen'a repulse is the most serious event of the war. General Wauchope's Highlanders went iuto a trap, and were exposed in close formation to magazine rifle fire from a force not subjected to artillery fire. Lord Methuen will possibly retire to the Orange River. The news caused a grave sensation. The Times demands that 30,000 reinforcements should be sent, and the calling out of the whole available reserves. Also the utilisation of militia and volunteers Further troops from Canada and the other colonies must be sought aud accepted. Capetown, December 14. At Jagersfontein the Boers, at the foot of the eastern spur, waited on Monday till just before daybreak, when the Highlanders, marching in close order quarter column, within 200yds of the euemy, commenced to extend. At 150 yards the Boers poured a terrible fire on their flanks. Hundreds fell on the veldt. The Boers were shooting high, otherwise our 1033 would have been heavier. The Highlanders took refuge in a hollow, and the Gordons jo : ning them all fought with desperate valour, till within 200yds of the spur, when they were repulsed. A concentrated fire of lyddite shells meanwhile poured on the terrible effect, and into the eirefiiy's" trenches, which the horse artillew enfiladed. Later on the Boers advanced iuto the open, intending to make a flank attack, but the Guards and artillery prevented this movement. Lord Methuen commanded 11,000 when he retired, expecting an attack on the flank and rear from Jacobsdal, in the Orange Free State, east of Modder River. The wounded from the Mo ider River, to the number of 293, including 27 officer?, arrived at Orange River on Tuesday. (Received December 15, 9.20 a.m). Capetown, December 14. The Highland Biigade was guided through intcuse darkness and ran close to the Boer entrenchments, which were screened with leaves. The Boers silently waited till they approached, and then met them with a hail of lead aud 200 were mown down. The Brigade fell back. The Black Watch refotmiug mustered only 160 and renewed the attack at daybreak, 31 big gnus covering the advance.

The attempted to retrieve tho disaster, passing across the dead and wounded, but found the tuhk impossible. The Boer trenches were protected with barbed wire. The Guards failed in their attempt to turn the enemy's flank, owinc to the arrival of 2000 fresh Boers with a number of guns. Toe British loss totalled 833 killed and wounded, including 700 belonging to the Highland Brigade. There were 69 casualties amongst the officers. (Received Dec. 15, 10.35 a.m.). Capetown, December 14. Lieut.-Colonel G. T. P. Downman, of the Gordon Highlanders, is amongst the lost in the early irorning attack on Mageisfoutein. MOLTENO ABANDONED. Capetown, December 14. General Gatacrc bus abandoned Molteno, near Stormberg, iu Northern Cape Colony. . , , Major-General Gatucre has retired to Steikstroom. Many of h*s missing men have returned. The Boer lues at Stormberg was four killed and nine wounded. The British delivered no genuine attack. The men rushed to the nearest hill without orders. The Magistrate at Sterks'rron. wires that the situation has slightly improved. MAFEKING. Capetown, December 13. The rations of the defenders of Mafcking have, as a precautionary measure, been reduced by half-a pound of meat and a quarter of a pound of bread per A Rhodcsian column under Colonel Plummer is advancing on Mafeking. They found Gaberonrs, 80 miles north of Mafeking, evacuated on December 2. Colonel Plummer is repairing the railway as he advances southards. ITEMS. London, December 13 The militia will garrison the Channel Islands and Malta in place of the troops ordered to South Africa. The war relief fund now amounts to £405,000. Durban, December 13. The Boers pay a heartv tribute to Major-'«Jeneral Hnoter for his successful sortie on liombardskop on Thursday. General White, addressing the Natal volunteers who took part, said the feat was a credit to the colonial troops and the Empire. Seven hundred have been enrolled at Durban for ambulance work. A general advance of the British on Colenso has begun.

THE LATEST.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. A TRANSPORT ASHORE. DISLOYAL DUTCHMEN. COLONIAL REINFORCEMENTS. (Received December 15, 10.23 a.m.) London, December 14. The Fifth Division of eleven thousand meu, under Lieuteuant-General Sir Chas. Warren, arrives in Capetown within ten days. Military experts admire the Australian troops. They would be more useful if all were mounted. The transport steamer Denton Grange, with 13 traction engines and 142 ambulances and other vans, and 170 waggons and a quantity of forage, hai gone s>shore at Las Palmas. Durban, December 14. Four Natal Dutchmen have been sentenced to five years' imprisonment on charges of disloyalty. Capetown, December 14. There were twenty-three British killed and 61 wounded at the battle of Stormberg. Sydney, December 15. Estimates were passed aftor a protracted discussion. Prior to submitting the military vote, the Premier, who, with other members of the Calinet, upon receipt of the news of Lord Methueivs reverse, had a conference with MajorGeneral French stated that in view of the sensational news he had cabled to the British Government asking if it was desired that the colonies should send any more troops to South Africa. He sent a telegram to some other colonies to ascertain, in the event of the news proving true, whether they would join in the despitch of another contingent if the reply was more troops were wanted. He would bring the matter before the House should it be sitting, otherwise take action and send troops away and ask the House to indemnify them afterwards. The announcement was warmly received. After en assurance was given that the colony was well provided with arms and ammunition, the vote was passed in globe, amid cheers for the Empire. REPORTED RELIEF OP LADYSMITHSIX THOUSAND BOERS CAPTURED. (Received December 15, 5.16 p.m.) Sydney, December 15. Several telegrams have been received from Adelaide stating that a local broker has received a cable announcing that Ladysmith has been relieved and six thousand Boers captured. CASUALTIES TO DATE. (by telegraph —press association). Wellington, Last Night. The Agent-General has cabled to Mr Seddon that the total British losses to date are five thousand three hundred killed, wounded and missing, the euemy'a forces being still unshaken. FURTHER TROOPS FROM THE COLONIES. (BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. With reference to the suggestion of the New South Wales Government that another Australasian contingent be sent to South Africa, it is understood that a full meeting of the New Zealand Cabinet will be held on Wednesday, when the majfcjr will be considered. The CcmmffiLat of the forces says there will be no difficWty in obtaining men in New Zeala&d Arequired. LORD RANFURLY ON THE WAR. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. Interviewed by a representative of the Post, Lord Ranfurly said everywhere he went in the Australian colonies he found an intense feeling of loyalty to the Mother Land and a growing feeling of Imperialism that was being f oatered in all. His Excellency would not express any opinion in regard to the tactics in the Transvaal war, but in regard to the outcome of it he adopts a reassuring tone. He does not place the greatest reliance on some of the cablegrams that come to us from Capetown. In the initial stages of such an arduous and difficult campaign, he says it is only to be expected that we must suffer occasional severe reverses, especially seeing that the enemy has enormous advantages in position in an extremely difficult country. Though there has been considerable loss

of lifp, he points out that thore has beeu nothing absolutely jeopardising our position, and he looks forward before long, when our troops hare been reinforced and have overcome the present initial obstacles of the country, to seeiug a very different state of things. No Englishman, he added, can have any r'oubt as to the final result. Hl9 Excel lency expressed his delight that the New Zcalanders at the frcnt had, according to the short te'egraphio uccnunt received, done so well in their first brush with the enemy. He felt confident that they, as well as ail our colonial troops, would prove worthy soldiers in any future operations they might be called upon to undertake.