The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 90, 29 December 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal.

London, December 25. I All the available cavalry in the V iff i dir^tici; hawi been \varne4 lo hold themselves in readiness for South Africa. Nofcvrithsfcftndirghis apology, arid the sever o casfcl^anoa he received through the Press, M"r Bryan Roberts is unrepentant^nd intends to re -open the question of the South Aft'icarKColonhls as soon as Parliament meets ne'xb session. ' Tho Boers destroyed a railway bridge, ninety feel long, south ol De Aar. General Uolville's column encountered a comuiaudo at Moddersfontpin. The enemy tried to envelop tho British, who quickly cook up a Jaaif-moon formation on koi>jes, a&d used a pom-pom. The Boera watered, and the infantry charged tm& routed the enemy with heavy loss. The BiU.iah had four wounded. The Daily Mail atates that a force at Heidelberg destroyed thirty-seven Boer !arm3, and removed the stock. December 26. Prisoners confess that the Boers' object; in capturing isolated detachments is to secure arms and ammunition! Commandant Bejers punishes the first offence, of using ammunition needlessly, by a fine of £10, and the third with death. A thousand Canadians are enrolling for General Baden-Powell's new police force. Lord Kitchener has gone to Maauwpoort. Thornsyeroft's mounted detach-, incnt occupied Britstown Unopposed. The. Boers retired towards Prreska, whither they were followed. Reuters corresptS-ideiitrSftys that the cha*^of De Wei^ ipade the British the fmeajj, mounted infantry in the world. General Knoxs officers were instinctively as prompt as the Boers to seize the situation, but rearguard acfcion3 always enabled Dg "Wet to gain twenty nailes. An Hollander from the Transvaal, in an interview with the Paris newspaper Siecle,' said that Botha' has ffifc hope, and merely tries to *^5§S disaster, lest- lie should cut the ground from under' Xruger's feet. Other leaders are &ware that the cause is hopeless. General Baden^Powell, speaking M Port Elizabeth, said that the JuaWl derivable from; the war was mat the co ioruea 'should help each ether mutually. - To-day it was South Africa, to-morrow perhaps it would be Canada ors.ustralia which wanted help. In casf of need; Soyth Africa would acf» .equally nobly by the other colonies; -' December 27. A regiment of cyclists is being formed in Capetown io protect the lines of communication. - •The British m the- Oolesberg distriqt are. commandeering h6rses, for remoiints, •"' ' t ■ \-

I The rapidity of the 'movements of Lord Kitchener's troops, tiie announcement that reinforcements are bcin^ gent and the proclamation of martial law" combined 'have allayed the uneasiness of loyalists in the Cape, 'ira^resged 'tho .Dutch and mo^ecaiied 'the* tone of "the pro- Boor Press. A mixed force with ' seven guns expelled the lepers from the l^bpj^a north- west of" Steynsberg. '"T-tu? enemy went to Znurberg. JL>e Wet refuses to make a stand,and is kept moving, thus iosin 6 manyhorsLS. The Ladyßraad district is cleai 1 of Heavy ppi'sistonfc sniping of con "voya in tho-Zcerust aiatL'ictr cok?tinuos. General 2vlnhon has cancelled porruita grantud to country peopli visiting Zoorust, lesfc they should gleau iafonnation.