The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 108, 13 February 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal.

London, Feb. 8. The Times states that the Boors occupied three miles ot kopjes eastwards ■from Spioukop, with the eastern extremity curved southwards towards tSwartzkop. Strong batteries of the British Naval and Field and Mountain Artillery were massed on Swart/kop. Major-General Wynn operated ou •the British left, and General Lyttelton -•on the right. The latter captured the southernmost kopje on the northern bank. 'The Boers -on Doornkloof Hi \ 'shelled the British column heavily, 'land arrested its advance, maintaining ong rauge shell fire throughout Monday. On Tuesday it was difficult to locate the Boer forces, owing to their using smokeless powder. The Boers having recaptured the ■northern end of the kopje, which General Lyttelton carried on Monday, the position was re- carried by the British infantry at tho point of the bayonet. During General Wynne's attack, his force was heavily shelled by the Boers. The British casualties are estimated at 250. General Buller used 72 guns in the 'attack, and the work of the British Artillery is described as superb, the guns raking the Boer trenches. The Durban Light Infantry carried Vaai Krantz at the point of the bayonet. It is the key to the lower ridges. The Bine Brigade carried Krantz Kloof. In Monday's fighting the Ist Battallion of the Durham Light Infantry lost 80 men ; the Ist Battalion of the Bine Brigade 70 ; other regiments 60. General Buller's field force numbers 34,000, with over a hundred guns. Ladysmith reports that there are signs of the Boers preparing for a general retreat towards Van Reenan's >pasB in the event of revorses. News is received that the Boers ■have attacked General Gatacre at Penbock, near Bird Kiver siding. The lighting continued tb.rotigb.oxit yesterday. No details.

The "Boers feinted an attack on Pen- | hock, their real object being Molteno, ' but they retreated when General Gatacre was reinforced. Lord Roberts is concentrati 30,000 troops at the front, with a v cv ' of striking a hard blow at the ce'ilro. | pressing the enemy to extremities. ;hj<] ' preventing the arrival of reinforce | ments at weak points. Advices have reached the Tier -u ' Commons that the Boers pi rf!>' 1 t > vf j shells, and are making despoil It ;f i to obtain fresh supplies ' w mm ' i-n>v , In the House of Conn .• i>> Mv .\ ••(- j inond's motion' that V, <■> vyr.i ' tii , necessarj 7 and unjust ui 1 c 1 ;; h i» \'> oe ended on the basis of bK . -»avJion •">- i the independence of the Dutuii u [-<■<•. < lies, was rejected by 363 to 66. I"< speeches were mainly on the question of Home liule, and were received with gibes and jeers. Mr Eussell, mombor for South Tyrone, lamented the fact that representatives of a country claim ing to be oppressed, ehampioaed the cause ot one oi the most odious and tyrannous Governments of the ccntiuy. Sir H. Campbell-Banncrman and sixty Liberals voted against tho motion. The only Liberals who suppoitcd Mr Eedmond v/ere Sir Wilfred Lawpon, Alessrs John Burns. Roberts and Dr Clark. During the debate Commander Betbell, the Conseivative member for Golderness, created a sensation by declaring that the war was unjust. It was a racial conflict, and ib would be impossible to battle it by the swoid at such a distance. At a meedng at Northampton to discuss the Government's war policy, Mr Labouchdre was not allowed to speak. The platform was stormed, and resolutions were carried in favour of the prcsocution of the war. A conceit piomoted by the British Empire Trade League, under the Queen's patronage, which was held in the Albert Hall, London, in nid of the widows, and orphans of Colonial forces at tho iiont, was a great success. Madame Albani, Ross. Bud and Nora Dane sang. Medame Mclba and Miss Ada Crossley Avere unable to be nrcbent.

Feb. 9. The Boer scheme for flooring Ln.cl.ysraith by damtumg up the Klin Paver is regarded as impractic iWe, nl though fcheie are thirteen hundred natives at woik on the dam. The Daily Chronicle says that ii the Boers continue to arm the blacky Biitain may consider the employment, of Indian troops for garrison and police duties. The Daily News correspondent reports that on Tuesday the V/estralians, under Captain H. S. Moor, had an engagement at Pottsburg, near Slingersiontein. Thoy attacked the enemy's position. Then feigning to letrcat, they drew many Boers on to the veldt. When they advanced into the open, the artillery eiioctively shelled them and they ik-d buck to cover. Letters from Colonel Baden -Powell state that he had made 40 Fenians prisoners, including James Quinlun, late stationuiaster at Maxeking. The men were arrested on the charge of carrying on treasonable correspondence with the enemy. Mr Wyndham, in reply to a question by Mr Timothy Healey, in the House of Commons, said he had not bt-en informed whether Qumlan would be allowed, before being shot, to wiile a vindication of: his mnoeunco. A Eeuter's message states thai foreign attaches left Capetown for the front.

Feb. 10. Boers report that General Buller, after being heavily shelled, again with drew across the Tugela River. The War Office subsequently received confirmation of General Buller's retirement. Prior to official confirmation of General Buller's retirement across the Tugela, Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons, said General Bulier was not pressing the advance on Lady-smith from the position ho occupied on Wednesday. The Government was not pressing him for information while operations were in progress. The Daily News correspondent showed that after the British secured a footing at Molendrift, pontoons were sent further down the river in front ol Kraunttfkop in order to obtain a shorter cut to the Beer positions across the river^ Lord Eoberts explains, with reference, to General Hector Macdonalds retirement from Koodoosberg, that he fulfilled the mission of dispersing the Boers, who had expected to traverse the Reit River Drift, and cut General Methuen's line of communications. General Hector Macdonald also covered Colonel Broadwood's columu, and all the arms operating in the vicinity of Sunnyside. Reinforcements under Colcmel Babington, which were sent to assist

t < iomi y fifjci :orc, oi- .^e right f Kiel ii ~'r -uifitiuoai.cn' l the north ofT.ouJ j'^frg. The j>ji i s thereupon j Li»"!1p)i (j m( (i ■>ri l _.i'j,!.C]< ary, isreturni)',, Em I "in no',i'.iGf"l. Vlsr S .j.jl)H acatf) „ "War Estimates .-üb'ui.t' i '. f'u <J >use of Coramoiio tola! 'JL> u ',ni>'j, and provide for L2(J ''CO ,ti j ij'i' 1 men.

Capetown, Feb. 8. f'd t - xl i i, jr Macdonald is build 1 i;; i 't i- ( .■> . >^vent the enemy to the i. i i, v\ i' ■• ,'iig south. (J io i"i Jrod and twenty Boeib '^ i r i -,h Koo'loo-iberg and were -< ji- ■< 1 .mdred Australiaus, undei '/ /'.i i- ' Hood, ha,ve been tiMufcformed intu ounted Infantry, and are shaping well. They have been distributed amongst, responsible position^ round Colesbuvg. The \\'estrn,li.ins have been under fiie. One i^> silently wounded. AU desne to assuie Australia that they are doing gocd work in the forefront. Capetown residents aie supplying fcho colonials at the front with fniit and comfoit.

Feb. 9. The Boors at Yaalkrants employed aimed natnes in the fighting line. Loid Roberts has isoued a proclaim tion wherein he invites the enemy to descit the lepnblic army, proaiising thfra qeneious treatment. Loid Kobcits has authorised the enrolment of Yeomanry tliroughout the Cc pc for the piotection of loyal fanners. Sir Gordon Sprigg. telegraphing compliments to Mr Chambeilain for the o\orv\h?lmiug patriotic majority agnmst Loid Edmund Fitzraani ice's amendment &acs the laigesfc Govern inert policy, if steadfastly pursued, will secure, under Butish supremacy, permanent pi.ospei.ity and freedom m Suuth Africa. The Boors ho\o taken up an aggressne position between Rensbeig <md Colpebtirg. ITajoi General French is hairassmq them east, and at the west Goneial M.iedonald safeguards opeia tions of the troops from Belmont in the direction of Douglas, by which it is hoped to latercept and capture the Boors north of Eiet river. The southern slopes of Koodoosberg where ]\jaclon<ild is entrenched are so steep thoo hs is unable to mount guns on the summit, though he holds the summit on two sides. The Boeis are holding the lower slopes to the noith. Gcncial M." cdonald lias issued ordeis to his men to leseive fire till the Boeib aie close and seek co\er when fighting. Lord Roberts has arrived at Sterkbtroom. Majoi General Hector Macdonald v/as engaged all Wednesday repelling attacks. The casualties number 50. General Methven ordoiod MajorGeneral Macdoaald to retire to the Moddev river. A later linssa^s states that Macdonalds Highland Brigade encountered a btiong foiee we-^t of Koodoosberg. Heavy fighting followed, and the Boers abandoned the trenches during the night. General Macdoiiald would have been able to surround them if strong cavalry and artillery reinforcements despatched Lorn the Moddor nver had ai rived. Their absence is not yet explained. G< .ici.il Xcthacn then ordered their lem ''nuMit. A Bom prisoner states that so many hoi^es have been killed that the Boers aie for mng iniantry corps. The Loers assort that they compellod an aiviouied tram, with 2000 troops, -which was threatening their right on Tuesday, to return to Chiovely. Durmg the engagement at Pittsburg Captain Moor g^^e up his horse to a wounded man. The Boers tried to intoicopt Captain iloor, Avhon Lieutenant 11. F. Darling, a "W estralian, rode back under a heavy fire and bi ought Captoin Moor safely back. ■ The Boers shelled the 'New South "Wales troops with a VickerMa\im gun at Coleskop There were no casualties, Lord Roberts has arrived afc Modde r rivor. General French, with cavalry, has also reached the same place, while other reinforcements are arriving. Prior to General Hector McDonalds withdrawal, the Boers deserted all their camps on the northern slopos of ICoodoosberg. The British casualties were seven wounded. On Fridriy, fifty Australians and Tasinanians, under Cameron, made a reconnaissance near Colesburg, and drew fire from a large force of Boers. The Colonials retreated, stubbornly fighting from kopje after kopje. The Boers twice worked to the rear, and once nearly captured the horses, but

iiic Aiiotralians remounted amid a hail ol bullets. Peers. aTas'raanian, who was slightly wounded, declares he shot three Boers. Major Reay took him to the camp of the Now South Wales Laucers. Mr L/a'ubie, the wai coireapondent oi the Melbourne " A^c," is missing.

Jjoiu'an, Feb. 9. General Buller has conducted, three pontoons o\or the Tu_jela, and heavier aitillery and tnove nifantiy hfue been sent across, I-lt, is entrenching his base which is wedge shape, and intends to ttdvance tho artillery into position go dominate the 13oer gans. Gonoial iJu'ler is hopeful, and desi.ubes the position as effective. Ti.e ]jiitisti yun which was ] o\eitiuned when the artillery was ie turning from General Wynne's feint to cross i-ho Tugela on Monday was lighted under au eniiladmy fiic. Tho Boers expelled General Bnller to cross the Tugela at Shiotsdnit. They massed thousands on Doouikloof, i stationing only a few hundreds on Vaalkran!,z. The Doeis opened a heavy fire from SpionL.op on Sloaaay, which impenlled the 7t3th Battery. The coolness of Captain Dv Plate Taylor, who was wounded, enabled a bate withdiavval to be made.

Feb 13. Several Shells from Long Tom fel^ amongst the ti ansporls, while others reached iSwart'skop. A Nordonfoldt assailed ths British ontionehcd infantry, while severe damage wfis done by a cross fire of Creui.ot, and the hundied pounder til Doikloof. The iotirement of the lintish was commenced on Wednesday night without special incident. The casualties were mostly slight wounds. The JJoeis leporfc heavj' firing in the ducction of Ladj smith on the same night when the g.unson weie attempting a tie to v» aids tbo Fiee State L.iagci.

Jueleourne, Feb. 9. The Mayor 01 Melbourne has already foi.vardjd .020,000 to the London Wai* "Tit iid:.. JT.i e\peoia to send another «SIO,OCO before the tund is closed. The Legislative Assembly passed a Bill indemnifying municipml councils for gruitb made to the \vcU iund. Mr Miller, chairman of the Victoria Racing Club has given cC2OO towaids the PdtnotiC Eace Meeting. Several owners have intimated that any stakes ■won by tliem. would ,he similarly donated,

Sydney, Feb. 9. In replying to Mr Chamberlain's inquiry, Mr Ljno suggested that the ljusJimon'a Fund raided in London should bo distributed amongst the colonies in proportion to the number of men sent from each.