The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 93, 9 January 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal.

Capetown, Jan. 4. The Boers had six killed and twelve wounded at Sunnyside. A number of incriminating documents were found in a laager captured from them. The Boers refused to recognise as prisoners of war any former residents of the Transvaal, but will treat them as convicts. Colonel Pilcher,' having accomplished his object, withdrew fr m Douglas, escorting a great procession of loyal residents. Many of the colonial troops carried children. The Boers occupied Molteno and Cyphergat, but General Gaiacre dislodged them, and they fled towards Stormberg. There has been intermittent fighting around Colesberg, the New Zea aalers being engaged. Reinforcements haye been sent to

Major-General Erenoh, who holda ■ good position against a laager. Lord Methuen's cavalry operated to the northwards of Colonel PUcher's advance, thus preventing the Boera from sending reninforcements, and seeking to intercept the Douglas fugitivea. Numbers of traction engines at Frere are doing good work.

Jan. 5. Twenty-five New Zealanders, while occupying an exposed position on a hill across a narrow flat, were fired upon by the Boers at close range. Major Robin with a picket, hastened to their relief, covexing a mile under heavy fire safely. He rescued them, and then retired amid a hail of bullets, two British guns covering their retreat. Captain Montmorency has evacuated Dordrecht, and occupied Bird's Siding a few miles southward, on the Indal wayo railway. It has been ascertained that forty thousand of the latest pattern rifles have reached Pretoria as pianos, via China and Dslagoa Bay. A detachment of New South Wale Lancers, under Major Lee were sen' to prevent the looting of the wrecked coramisauati train at Hamburg. They were exposed to a heavy shelaad musketry fire for hours, and took good shelter, and returned the fire. Two were slightly wounded. Five horses wore killed. Three Boers wer« killed and several wounded. A defcaehment of che 9th and 12th Lancers at prevent the Boer advance eastwards. Lightning exploded two defertaivs mines at Kimberley. President Sfceyn has issued a proclamation that every white man in the Free State shall be henceforth regarded as a burgher, liable to be called upon active service in the defence of the I country. Colonel Pilchor brought to Belmonfc a list of disloyalists at Douglas, whose sons fought in the battle of Sunnyside. Sir Reivers Buller has complimented Colonel Pilcher on the part the Queenslanders took at Sunnysids.

Jan. 6. In view of re-opening communication by means of Botha's Drift by a wagon bridge, 1000 Boers at 5 o'clock on Thursday morning attacked the British left flank, three miles north of Colesburg. A squadron of Enniskillin Dragoons charged clear through tha enemy, killing seven of them. The Boers, who were then ascending a small kopjp, fired volleys. Two companies of the Berkshire regiment, and a half battalion of the Suffolks replied hotly, and four guns of the Horse Artillery shelled the enemy's position, driving them into cover. The enemy.s two Maxim's and two of Vickers quick firers fired heavily into the 10th Hussars and the Horse Artillery threatening the enemy's right, the British infantry meanwhile poured in a [hot fire. The mounted troops at 9 a.m. dismounted and charged the enemy, killing 50 of them and capturing 19. Many were also wounded. Major Ilaivey, of the 10th Hussars was killed, and Major Alexander wounded. The British casualties were small. The Boers then withdrew to Colesberg, but are still ir* strength to the southeast. The New South Wales Lancers participated in the fight, their dash and willingness helping to disconcert the Boers. The Boers at Colesberg on Monday last had 50 killed. An armoured train made a sortie from Mafeking on the 26th, not the 24th, with a view of pushing back the enemy's cordon to the northward. The British displayed the greatest gallantry in the face of a withering fire, and endeavoured to scale a forfc in an impreanable position. Eighteen were killed including Captain Vernon Sandford, and twenty-three wounded. Baden-Powell, in his report, makes no mention of Lords Cecil Cavendish and Bentwiek, whom the Boers assert were wounded. The Boers have evacuated Molteno. Lieutenant Adie, wounded at Sunnyside, is out of danger. Lord Edward Cecil, wounded at Mafeking, is progressing satisfactorily. Major-Geueral French is to be temporarily re-inforced. The London Times correspondent states that the Boers used explosive bullets in the fight at Mafeking on the 26th, and plundered the dead and wounded.

Jan. 7. Yesterday General French in force assaulted the Boers round Golesberg, and discovered a body of the enemy with two guns, five miles north of the town. The British reconnaissance in force failed to draw the Boers from their stronghold. .

London, Jan. 4. The Modder Kiver correspondent of the Times says that the prisoners taken at Sunnyside ought to be punished as rebels, and- *n nude oi them-

Mr Chamberlain has congratulate^ Canada on the success of her troops. The enthusiasm over the enlistment of yeomanry in England continues. The City and Imperial Volunteers will include a battery with four Vickers 12^-pounder guns, manned by tha Honourable Artillery Company,'

Jan. 5. Five thousand men of the seventh British army division have sailed foi? South Africa.

Sydney, Jan. 5. The Premier has reoeived a csbia from the Secretary o£War,, expressing a hope that a fully- equipped medical corps will accompany the coutingeat. In response to a request from the officer commanding the >, T ew South Wales Lancers at the front 50 extra mounts will be sent there with the contingent. Mr Chamberlain has acoepted 10 out of 20 nurses who volunteered their services for the war. The War Office has declined tha Sydney coachbuilders' offer to build transport waggons, as they considered them unsuitable for military requirements in South Africa. William Waldrop Astor gives £5000 towards the equipment of the City Imperial Volunteers Battery. Lord Iveagh equips a field hospital with Irish surgeons and nurses for the Transvaal.

Jan. 7. The Government has finally decided that it cannot spare the commandant to go to the Transvaal, It is understood that the Imperial authorities prevented the commandant going to South Africa on account of th» unsettled appearance of foreign afrairs generally. The Premier has been advised thafc £500 from ths Daily Mail Kipling poem fund has been voted to tho colony's patriotic fund.

Melbourne, Jan 6. Three New South Wales Permanent Artillery men, and a German supposed to be a Boer spy, stowed away on the Warrigal. All were landed here. Victoria receives from the poem fund,

Durban, Jan. 5, General Buller shelled, with destructive effect;, the Boer trenches on tho plain in the vicinity of Inhlawe, shifting the enemy, whose horses stampeded.

_, Jan. 7. Creneral Buller is carrying out a lot of effective scouting, and has 83 guns engaged in shelling various Boer poait&na.

Wellington, Jan. 5. The Premier hag cabled to the Agent- General, stating that he approves of the proposal to form a contingent of Australian bushnaen for South Africa. The Patriotic Fund now amounts to £4442. Araong the later large donations are the Press Association £50, Bank of New South Wales £50, Wellington Club £105. The contingent are all selected to the number of 250, and fcho men for the gun detachment are noip being picked out.

Auckland, Jan. 6. Mr GeorgeJFowlds, M.H.R. has received the following telegram from the Premier ia answer to his message offering the services of five Ausfcrians ; "Thanks veiy sincerely for five Austrians offering their services for tha Transvaal. Have got the number required."

Hoeitika, Jan. 4, About half- a dozen of the Westland Bifles are likely to be accepted for the second contingent.

Christchpbch, Jan. 5. The editor of the Press having requested the members of both Houses and the mayors of all boroughs to forward their views regarding the despatch of a larger contingent, has received a mass of replies covering five columns, which was published in the paper this morning. Most of them are strongly in favour of more men being sent. -The Press analyses the list as follows :— Legislative CouncilApproval of larger contingent, 12; disapproval, 2. House of Bepresantatives—Approval, 16; qualified approval, 5 ; disapproval, 2 ; leave it to the Government, 1. Mayors —A p. proval, 89 ; qualified approval, 6 ; duapproval, 8; leave it to the Government, 2.

Dunbdin, Jan. 5. The actual cash receipts for the patriotic fund in Dunedin is £4\.Q4 14s 2d.

; Aden, Jan. 5. The British authorities at Aden detained the German steamer General, bound for East Africa, and discharged her cargo m order to overhaul it.