The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 99, 23 January 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal.

London, Jan. 18. The cavgo of the German steamer Bundersrath proved not to be intended for the enemy, it will be shortly released, and Britain offers satisfactory guarantees tliat the seizures will not be repeated. A great controversy is going on in reference to the strength, of the British artillery. The Times admits that the British field guns are equal to that of any Continental power.

Jan. 19. The, Paily fail's cprrespondent

states that the patrol sent on Wednesday to the scene of the Lancera' action, founiUhe dead body of Griffiths, South Australian Horse, also Corporal Kilpatrick of the Lancers badly wounded. Seven dead Boers and a horse were found on the spot, all the Hoer casualties being removed. The press applauds the boldness of General Bailer's strategy and skill with which he executed che various movements. Th 6 Times estimates that Lieutenant General Warren ha& 12.000 infantry, 1500 cavalry, 30 guns and six howitzers ; General Buller 7000 infantry, 18 gaiis and howitzers, besides naval guns. General Clery remains at Colonso. 16 is expected that Lieutenant-General Warren and General Buller will unite near Blauw bank, eight miles from Ladysmith. The movement threatens all the lines of the enemy's communication south of Ladysmith. The Times, discussing General Buller's movements, conaiders that the Boer's hold no continual line of defence but mainly occupy two positions and comparatively isolated, one being in front of each British camp. The numbers of the Boerd are unknown. Lord Roberts cabled that General Warren is advancing northwards from Tnch.irt's Drift in the direction of Spiodkop and Dew drop, and hopes to turn the strongly entrenched Boer position situated five miles from his rightIn reference to the passage of the PugeLt, General Buller cabled that General Warrens' force crossed the river by means of a pontoon 85 yards long. He hopes Uiab General Warren' will have advanced five miles toward*, the enemy's position by the evening of Thursday. The Boers are busily eng.iged entrenching and otherwise fortifying positions to resist the British advance. General Buller made a spirited appeal to the man of the relief column. He declared that it was intended to relieve Ladysmith ; there would ba no turning back ; at the same time he warned the troops to beware of treachery, especially of the abuse of the white flag. A later report states that the British crossed the river practically without opposition. General Warren shelled thw trenches of opposing Boers with howitzers all day on Thursday and succeeded in making a breach in a sand bag emplacement which the enemy hud thrown up to protect their guns, and the Boers did not respond to the tire. The success which attended the Buiish advance put the troops in good heart, and they are how full of confidence. Major Genet al Sir Henry Bundle, commanding at Dover, has been appoiuted to the command of the eighth Division of the Army Corps, which is being mobilised for active service in the Transvaal. Tna Eighth Division has been ordered to mobilise at Aldershot immediately. It includes ihe Second Grenadier Guards and Second Scots* Guards. Seventy-two guns, 8710 men, 2210 horbes embark next week to reinforce Lord Roberts. Jan. 20.

General French explains that Dowlings Lancers, haltiug at a drift to water their horses, were surprised by the Boers.

Jan. 21, Beuter's .correspondent states that moderate Cape ' estimates place the total Bder losses during the .campaign 6425. The British press is displeased with the almost minatory (? mandatory) tone of Yon Bulow's speech. The Times says it is unwise of Germany to too far exploit delicate international questions in furtherance of her big navy bill.

Perlin, Jan. 21. Count Bulow, in the Reichstag, explained that cominanderd of the British war vessels had been instructed not to interfere with German vessels on mere suspicion that they were carrying contraband, and an indemnity had been offered for the wrongful detection of the vessels- previously seized.

Durban, Jan. 19. An impressive thanksgiving service was held at Ladysmith on the 7th inst. The congregation sang the National Anthem. General Buller's transport consists of five thousand vehicles. General Dundonald's mounted troops were engaged in action westward from Acton Homes, and occupied a kopje. Cornet Heilbron and twenty Boevs were killed and wounded, and fifteen | were taken prisoners. The Boers ex- | ploded a bridge they were building seven miles westward of Potizeters Drift by which, they intended to outflank General Buller. On first arrival near Potzieter's Drift, General Dundonald found the Boers quit© unprepared and were

totally unaware of hid proximity, as many wore bathing. The crossing of the Tugela afc Potzieter's Drift by Lyttolton's Brigade was accomslished under great difficulty. The tioop3 waded the swollen river, the water being waist high, and to prevent themselves being carried off their feet, the men grasp one another by the rifles. The opposite bank was thus reached in safety, the enemy meanwhile offering no opposilion.

Jan. 20. Owing to heavy rain the roads are simply quagmires, and General Bailer's transport clitficulties are terrible. A military balloon gave valuable assistance in connection with shelling the Beer trenches near SwarUkop. Many Boeis galloped from Colenao upon the approach of the British forces. Two British \ver9 killed and two wounded in the skirmish at Acton Homes. A detachment of General "Warren' 8 Dragoons reinforced General Dundonald. The latter has 2500 men with maxims. The Boers are in strength at Spiou. kop. General Warren's force is steadily advancing. He has occupied kopjes commanding a ravine to the westwaid of Spoidkop. Major General Lyttelton's Brigade has gained positions two miles further forwaid, The bulk of the Boers in Natal are hastening to repel General Buller. Ten thousand ariived on the 11th, and commenced feverishly to construct formidable entrenchment. Their main position extends for milos westerly along kopjes opposite Potziters, where the river is tortuous — Spoidkop is the highest hill on the river and is used as a base for emplacements, and the entrsnehments extend back for miles. The Boers are compelled to defend a line fiom Oolenso to Acton Homes, a distance of twenty-six miles. They sullenly endure the bombardment of British guns from Mount Alice in silonco. They refused to touch the British who came within rifls fire of their trenches. Bennet Burleigh considers General Dundonald's success secures the control of an easy entrance to Ladysmith and interrupts the retreat of the enemy into the Free State. General Dundouald's seizure of Potzieter's and Major General Lyttelton's passage of the Tugela are considered magnificent featr. G. W. Stevens, the brilliant con-es-pondent of tho Daily Mail at Ladysmith has died of fever. The Boeis have undermined Johan. nesberg aud the fuit, wnh a view of destroying the town. The capture of The cable boat party by the South African Light Infantry by swimming Tugela River under a heavy fire, was one of the pluckiest incidents of the advance.

Capetown. Jan. 18. The Persic, the steamer by which it was proposed to send the New South Wales bushmon's contingent, has been delated here till the end of tho month owing to a dj,maged.ruddcr head.

Oan. 19. A patrol consisting of sixteen New South Wales Lancers and South Australian Mounted Infantry fell into an ambush near Rensbsrg, and only two escaped. Five were killed, one wounded and the remainder were captured. It is variously estimated that from 16 to 25 men, commanded by Lieutenant W. Y. Dowling, of the First Australian Horse, on Tuesday, reconnoitred towards Norvals Point, and while reconnoitring in the afternoon they e-icountered 60 or 100 Boers. The colonials raced for the neighbouring kopje, intending to hold it until relieved. A volley from the Boeis, who were in ambush on a kopje, checked them and killed some horses, but they started again, maintaining a gallant running fight. A few of Remington's scouts arrived towards the cose of the fight. One man named Bennett charged with the greatest determination, rescuing a wounded lancer. Three well mounted colonials reached camp and reported that two killed and 14 captured, of whom it i a feared that seven or eight were badly wounded, as the Boers were seen carrying some and helping others who were unable to walk. Dowling was taken prisoner. The mishap i s attributed to the treachery of a Dutch farmer, who 1 , it is believed, warned the Boers of the whereabouts of the patrol, enabling them to advance so as to compel the Lancers to retreat on an ambushed kopje. .' General Gatacre has pushed his troops from Bushmanshook to Loperberg. Colonel Hector Macdonald, who it was recently reported would succeed General Methven has arrived at Capetown. Further 'details of the disaster to the New South "Wales Lancer.!? and the

Australian Hoise state that Kilpatrick is dead and that Sergeant- Major Griffen, of the Australian Horse, was killed. The following are the missing Lancers : — Sergeant Major Fisher, Sergeant McDonald, Corporal Hoft, Troopers Daley, Dodney, Found, Johnstone, Roberts, Taylor and "Whiltington. Australian Horse missing . Corporal Wilson, Troopers Evans and Lynn.

/an. 21. General Dundonald has captured one of Kruger's grandsons.

llobart, Jan. 19. The contlngena received an enthusi' astio send off.

Sydney, Jan. 19. There is some doubfc whether South - Australian troops' are engaged in the patrol as the first contingent was unmounted. It is possibly confused with the first Australian Horse.

Jan. 21. The Premier received a cable requesting the transports to call at Durban or Port Elizabeth for orders. The vessels were instructed except the Southern Cioes which went direct. The Surrey sailed laat night. In connection v/iih providing a convoy the Admiral informed the AdmiivJ commanding at the Capr of the depar ture of the transports.