NEWS OF THE WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 545, 11 January 1900, Page 2

NEWS OF THE WAR.

NEW ZEALANDERS ANXIOUS TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES. THEY OFFER TO CAPTURE THE BOER BIG GUN. THE DORDRECHT PRISONERS. ONE THOUSAND TO BE TRIED FOR TREASON. A GENERAL TO BE SUPERSEDED (Received January 10, 10.25 p.m.) Capetown, January 10. The New Zealanders are approaching Oolcsberg. They offered to capture the enemy’s big gun, but General French, while he admired their pluck, declared the operation toa risky. Correspondents’ accounts show that differences occurred between VVauchope and Methuen as to the plana of attack on JV£agcrsfon tein. A thousand rebels from the garrison at Dordrecht, Pilcher’s prisoners, have been brought to Capetown, where they will be tried for treason. Thirty thousand Boers are needed to defend theModdcr entrenchments. The Afrikander Bund party in 1896 secured the appointment of two examining officers in the Custom House at Capetown, These passed munitions for the Transvaal without question. These men have since disappeared. London, January 10, Ihe Daily Mail hints that one l general at the front will shortly be superseded, Durban, January 10. General Joubert on Friday last sent General White an imaginary complaint. The messenger carried a white flag, and was doubtless a spy. BATTLE OP MAGERSFONTEIN FURTHER PARTICULARS. AN INVISIBLE FOE. FIFTEEN HOURS’ FIGHTING. (Received Jan. 10, 10.12 a.m.). Sydney, January 10. The Boers’ trenches at the b.tt e of Magersfontein extended far beyond the kopje, on to the open plain. Those on the plain were hidden by screens ot leaves. Those near the kopje were guarded by a double lino of barbed wire. After raking the enemy’s trenches with fire from thirty guns, the Highlanders, at dawn, were sent across the veldt, when they were suddenly subjected to a murderous fire from four trenches in the Font. The greater part of the fearful loss of the day was suffered in a single minute. Start'ed and overwhelmed, the Brigade retired quickly, but soon rallied and retained its position, this was on the left. On the light the Guatds Brigade advalued across the volt against the outside trenches, and fought an invisible foe for fifteen hours Tnc Gordon High'andera were sent forward. The Boers allowed them to pass one line of trenches, and then enfiladed them. The Highlanders then met a murderous po ; nt blank lire and about 200 were mown down. The Black Watch rcjiment reforming was only able to muster HO men. The Boers aLo lost severely. The second advance by the Gordons in the afternoon was likewise repulsed. They got within two hundred yards, when it was found physically impossible .to take the trenches, although the enemy's artillery was practically silenced. The ride fire was persistent, concentrated, and well aimed. The destructi n wrought by the British naval guns was enormous, and the Boers confessed that this was their greatest loss during the war.