The Boer War.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 4052, 15 May 1900, Page 4

The Boer War.

Success of Roberts. Flight of Steyn. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) (Received Midnight) LONDON, May 13. General Roberts has entered Kroonstad unopposed. Ex-President Steyn has fled. [The above was issued as an extra yesterday.—Ed. W.M.] White Star Line Transports. Now that the urgency appears to have parsed, says Lloyd's Shipping Gazette of the 22nd ultimo, for pushing troops out rapidly to the Cape, the British Government are able to dispense with the services of the faster transports, and an intimation has been received by the White Star Line that the Majestic will not be required to make another voyage. The Majestic left Liverpool on her first trip as a transport on December 13 th, when she conveyed to South Africa 2000 officers and men, including the Ist Battalion York and Lancaster Regiments, which were soon employed at the front, and took part in the attack on Spion Kop. She went out via St. Vincent in 14 days 21 hours, steaming lime from Liverpool. Her second trip commenced at Southampton, whence she sailed on February 12th, with 1688 troops. She left Capetown for home on March 11th, and her duties as transport will terminate on her arrival in England. Krupp Guns for the British Army. Two Heavy Batteries Sold Through an Italian Syndicate. A London despatch to the New York Sun on February 9 says : Baron Krupp was in Rome on Tuesday and completed an interesting deal. There happened to be in Krupp’s arsenal at Essen a couple of batteries of heavy field guns, made on the order of the Turkish War Department. Delivery was delayed owing to the usual difficulty respecting ready cash. On Tuesday Baron Krupp sold these guns to an Italian syndicate. The price obtained leaves no doubt that he was aware that he was dealing indirectly with the British Government. The syndicate, of which Maggioro Levi is the head, makes a big profit also, so the price paid by England must have been pretty stiff. The Italian Government is construing its neutrality obligations very benevolently as against England, so there is not likely to be much difficulty about shipping the batteries to South Africa. Baron Krupp is now in Athens, engaged in a deal in connection with the re-organisation and rearming of Grecian artillery, towards the cost of which {he Czar has promised to contribute 200,000d01. War Engines for South Africa. Traction engines for use at the war, like many other necessaries, were (the Daily Mail states), made in a hurry at the last moment. How violent this hurry has been may be gathered from the experience of Messrs Fowler and Co., of Leeds. Explaining whv they were unable to carry out a contract with the Goole Rural District Council, the firm state that their works have “ practically been commandeered by the War, Office.” Already 20 engines have been sent out by the firm to the Cape, and they still have orders for threescore of armoured traction engines. The War Office experts have almost “ lived on the premises for three months.” The Transvaal New Vice=Presi= dent. As everyone thought, Mr Schalk Burgher has been appointed the new Vice-President of the Transvaal. By the death of General Joubert, the late Commander-in-Chief of the Boer. forces, it was only a matter of precedence for the very much younger man to be chosen as Mr Kruger’s right hand support—save, of course Reitz, who would appear to have considerable influence with the President at Pretoria. Mr., or to correct “General,” Schalk Burger, a couple of years ago was chosen by the Progressives to run for the Presidency but there being three candidates, and the Joubert vote and his vote being split, M r Kruger was elected by the burghers a long way the head of the poll, and the “ swearing in ” on oath-taking day was perhaps one of the most remarkable periods ever witnessed in the capital. The President drove in state to the Government Buildings, and in it might be such will become a historical incident, a gorgeous turnout of silver eagles, blue satin, and all the surroundings of a pageant that may not be repeated. But the President apparently did not bear any ill-feel-ing towards the younger man—a v3ry communicative gentleman who was always willing to give to the Englishman his valuable opinions on nany matters of the State in the best }f English. In this way the new made himself very popular, and his thin, spare figure, lollow cheeks, goatie beard, frock ;oafc, tall hat, white tie, and bearing lie general tout ensemble of a dopper >arson, was a familiar one always in Pretoria gnd very often in Johannes>urg. .On the Executive Bench he ras quiet and unobtrusive, but his peeches never fiery, indeed the reerse, were always listened to intently »y the Raad, and when' transited were read wirh great inerest and concern by Johannesburg, t is possible that no better Vicehesident could be chosen from the Jitlanders’ point of view, for General chalk Burger, while fighting in fatal before the relief of Ladysmith,

appeared to have no great venom, and so far as has been reported, treated messengers from the British camp with courtesy, save that of blindfolding those passing through his lines. Before the war nearly all of the prominent people of the Band looked to him to prevail on Pretoria to grant the concessions and rights desired by the new population. His election will, no doubt, be well received even in the camp of his enemy, while his appointment to such a prominent position might give some satisfaction to European and other shareholders in Witwatersrand properties, and who have fears for their safety. For Mr Schalk Burger is a peace-loving man, with considerable circumstances, and, it may be, a full knowledge of his responsibilities.