The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 96, 15 January 1901, Page 3

The Transvaal.

London, January 3,

The Boers, on the night of Jan; 7, simultaneously attacked many posts in the Belfast, JVonderfontein, Nooigedacht, Vvildfontein, and Pan districts, A dense fog enabled them to creep close to the British parties. After heavy fighting they were repulsed, twentyfour being killed. One British officer and twenty men were killed, and three officers and fiftynine men were wounded. Beyer’s commando attacked a convoy near Krugersdorp on J.ah. 8; and were repnjsedj eleven being killed- The British casualties were trifling. De Wet recently visited his farm, and disinterred two cart loads of ammunition.

Daring the general attack on the Delagoa Bay line the Boers penetrated the British lines at Belfast, and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. The Gordon Highlanders and Royal Irish finally expelled them. Lord Kitchener’s proclamation is gradually proving effective. There are indications that it has been determined to denude the districts unable to protect themselves, and evacuate all towns outside the British lines of communication, and abolish convoys. The Boers who surrendered and were placed in refuge camps are cheerfully assisting the British to recapture stock and punish marauders.

Botha and Viljoen, whenever pressed, retire north to recruit.

General Lyttoltown is at Belfast, bat is unable to follow the enemy in force.

January 9.

A patrol of Western Australians, while breaking a wire fence near Richmond,- came under a close lire. It skilfully evaded capture.

A patrol of Brabant’s Horse was ambushed at Richmond, and five men woie captured, stripped, and released. Another'patrol of Brabant’s Horse avenged the incident by defeating a Boer patrol, killing the leader and capturing a number of horses.

January 10

Entrenchments are being constructed across the Cape Flats from False Bay to Table Bay. January 11.

Recruiting and other defensive movements in Cape Colony am! Natal are astonishingly rapid and complete. The Boers invading the western districts of Gape Colony have divided into two columns, which are advancing on Clan william and Worcester. The Bn! mb nave occupied all the intervening strategical points. All the British soldiers stationed ai Cairo who are capable ot acting as monte* troops have been warned to hold themselves in readiness lor despatch to South Africa.

Tiro Naauwpoort losses were duo to Boers concealed in the grass allowing 'the Hussars to scout uphill, and only firing when the Imperial Light Horse ascended in d >.-,e formal ion. The Light Horse alighted, and responded to the Boor lire briskly, but as tiiey were suffering considerably from the enemy’s 'ire they were recalled and re-formed, and carried the position by assault. The Boor tactics at Findley, where Colonel Long fell, were similar. .IA unary 11.

Commandant Herixog, with 700 [rail and two guns, has crossed tho Uoggovuhi mountains, in western Capo Colony, travelling a distance of 50 miles, and has boon lost, to pursuit in the Clan william country, which is extremely dilUoult, and the passes easily defended.

The cruiser Sybil’s bluejackets and guns have been landed at Lambert Bay, and are entrenching to prevent Hertzog advancing along the sand veldt. A second column, live hundred strong, belonging to the westojm invading commando, has reached Doom Elver, 70 miles south of Gdviuia.

Several thousand Boers, in Bech nanulamh who, it was supposed, were trekking into German East African territory,have turned south and occupied Griqiuitown.

The circulation of the newspapers “Ons Laud’ and ‘‘Louth African News,” are prohibited in the districts under martial law. The Boers have raided cattle close to Pretoria.

General Bruce Hamilton has repravisioned Kuopstadt and Bullfonteio. The latter place was surrounded for two months, and the people repulsed several attacks.

January 12

Lord Kitchener reports that Hertzog’s commando, is .near Sutherland. General Settle is arranging to head him off. The invaders on the Midlands lineare broken to fragments, some returning north. One half of the easternmost Boers are goingaioi th, and the others are hiding in the mountains to the north-west of Jauiesfnwn.

An attack on Madridadorp on Wednesday night, wu? repulsed at, dawn.

It is semi-officially announced that the Cape Town invaders are avoiding the railway and garrisoned towns, and are continuously on the move. They seized horses and foodstuffs, and their mobility ..eludes? pursuit. All the country which the invaders have quitted is again quiet, and garrisons protect the chief towns.

A portion of the mounted forces moved south to protect the south-west. A hundred Boers crossed the Orange River towards Barkley East, the Cape police and British farmers repelling and punishing them. AH the towns on the main line from Orange Colony to Pretoria are held strongly, but the Boers show no disposition to attack. The mounteds occupy Piekinerskloof Pass, blocking the invaders’westward march; Henniker’s troops, with others, cover the railway in the vicinity of Matjesfontein. The screen across Cape Town is considered impenetrable. Mr Hofmeyer, who is recruiting his health in Munich; cabled to the Africanders that the proposed mission to England was useless.

A Naval Brigade of 2000 strong, with six Hotchkiss guns, are at Cape Town iri readiness. Pour thousand Town Guards and a Postal Corps of 450 have enrolled, and are drilling daily. The “ Cape Times” and ‘‘ Argus’* have each formed an employees’ corps. ; • A number of the City Imperial Corps are offering to return to the front.

The “ Daily Mail” says that the English have decided to bring the train from Pretoria to Delagoa direct, without transferring .the coni rot to the Portuguese drivers of the "daily express. Holland prevented Dr. Leyds engaging Boer exiles in Holland. January d'3.

Lord Kitchener has cleared Johannesburg of undesirables. Many foreigners have been shipped away. The refugees at Capo Town are returning to guard the Rand mines, but the number per mine has been limited. Renter estimates the total at P3OJ.