NEWS OF THE WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 532, 23 December 1899, Page 2

NEWS OF THE WAR.

LORD ROBERTS' MESSAGE TO THE COLONIES. A GLORIOUS PAGE IN THE EMPIRE'S HISTORY. GREAT THINGS EXPECTED FROM THEIR TROOPS. PROTESTS AGAINST ARRESTS UNDER FLAG OF TRUOE. CRONJE REPLIES IN INSOLENT TERMS. (Received December 23, 10.50 p.m.) London, December 22. Lord Roberts, iu bis message to the Australians and Canadians, expressed the warmest admiration at the spirit displayed by the colonies. It is a glorious page in the history of the empire. Ho expects great things from the colonial soldiers. Capetown, December 22. Lord Methuen protested against the arrest of the British officer protected by the flag of truce;. Cronjc insolently replied that ho considered the officer a spy, and declined further communication on the subject. Lord Methuen nightly signals with Kimberley. London, December 22. Ihe Boers have received 150,000 rifles via Delagoa Bay. Portugal, replying to the British protest, said the Boers had been allowed to import many guns through Capetown and Natal. , t , The Government have chartered the steamers Assuye, Parisian, Umbria, Pomeranian, Laurentian and Braemer Castle as troopships. The Lord Mayor is inundated with volunteers. Viscount Valencia and the Duke ot Marlborough have volunteered with the Yeomanry.

LORD KITCHNER EN ROUTE. THE ABANDONED GUNS. CAPTURED BY THE BOERS. WAR OFFICE TARDINESS. WARNED FOR MONTHS. THE BOERS FIRE ON THE FLAG OF TRUCK. Received Dec. 22, 0.35 a.m. London, Deeeuiber 22. Lord Kitchener covered the distance from Omdurman to Cairo in 61 housr. His train was derailed at Luzon, but Kitchener was unhurt. He sailed in the Isis. Several correspondents assert that the guns abandoned at the Tugela river were secured by the Boers. The Times urges tho purchase of Australian and Argentine grass fed horses, and it considers the Geomanry horses will take weeks to recover the effects of the voyage to the Capo. Late reports gives MS killed, 731 wounded, 180 missing, and 48 prisoners at the Tugela river fight. The Dublin Fusiliers had 38 killed, and 147 wounded, while the Cannaughts lost 24 killed, and 102 wounded. The Queen has authorised a collection in the Church of England and Wales on January 7th in aid of the sick and -wounded. Colonel Bullock, three officers, and forty Devons were captured while searching for wounded at the Tugela despite the flag of truce. The friends of General Buller lately superseded in the Cape command declare that he fully advised tho War Office of the Boer preparations. The Daily Mail states that Lord Wolscly urgently and persistently advised tho despatch of an army corps a months ago. The Daily News alleges that the London manager of tho Johannesburg Bank was snubbed for warning the War Office that the Transvaal was making vast remittances to arms factories at Creusot France, and Krupp's Works at Essex. Nobel's and Kynoch's Factories are busy manufacturing immense quantity of shrapnel shells and partridges for the British. (Received December 23, 12.55 a.m.) London, December 22. _ A company of the Gibraltar Garrison Artillery has been ordered to South Africa. Tho Lord Major's Marksmen will be readv to sail in 21 days. Tho Goldsmith Company has donated £SOOO, and Fishmongers and Mochnuts, Taylors Companies, £2 500 each towards the equipment of the Marksmun.