The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 106, 9 February 1901, Page 4

The Transvaal.

London, February 5,

Thei Pretoria correspondent of The Times says that more troops are required to cope with and gain an immediate success over the nine? teen thousand Boers still with the commandoes.

General French’s force captured a 15-pourider, arid collected the parts Of the guns his artillery disabled.

. The capture of Moddersfdntein occurred on a dark night, in heavy rain. Fourteen hundred Boers, with a gun and pompom, rushed the position and overpowered the garrison. The British casualties were nominal.

Commandant Kruetxinger has been driven in the direction of Steyndorville, after losing sixteen killed.

The towns of Benekal, Bindley, and Reitz have been depopulated to facilitate the British operations. In the fight between General Knox and De Wet, near Senokal, the Kaffrarian Rifles had one hundred casualties.

General Brabant and staff are in the eastern provinces of Cape Colony, organising a defence force. Brisbane, Feb. B,

It has been decided that the Fifth Contingent shall be armed by the Imperial authorities on arrival at Capetown, ■

London, February 6. A thousand Cape Highlanders, garrison artillery, and scouts have been stationed in Namaqualand, where the telegiaphic communication with Capetown was cut. The Portuguese authorities, fearing a raid, have placed all the ammunition which the Boors surrendered at Komatipoort on lighters in Delagoa Bay. London, Fob. 6. Capt. Gordon, of the Queensland Mounteds, received a severe gunshot wound in the foot in the fight at Doom River. The garrison at Moddersfontein numbered 200, and before their capture they repelled several determined attacks. The Boers numbered 1800. The British casualties were 80, mostly wounded. The raiders sent a force to Doom River to prevent Johann Colenbrander, managing director of the Co’enbrander Matabeleland Development Company, who recently raised amounted regiment at Buiuwayo, joining with a portion of Bethune’s Horse. Advancing, Colenbrander arrived first, and occupied the enemy’s trenches, and inflicted considerable loss. The enemy fled, abandoning the township of Vanryhedor, and a quantity of waggons and loot. Sydney, Feb. 6. The troopship Cornwall got away at a late hour, considerably after the time fixed, owing to a number of the Contingent delating their return abroad. London, Feb. 6. Unofficial advices state that as Colonel Blake's force is threatening Lorenzo Marquez, Portugal has appealed to England, with the result that the squadron in South African waters is concentrating at Delagoa Bay, and a British force is rapidly advancing along the Delagoa Railway on the Portuguese frontier. Reuter’s Agency declares that Piet De Wet, president of the : Bloemfontein Peace Commission, has passionately appealed to his brother Christian to surrender. General Smith-Dorrien has occupied Lake Chirissie. Major-General French is drawing the Boers back towards Amsterdam.

Do Wet, on February 2, damaged a train of transport waggons at Pompey Siding. The Boers have cut the Delagoa Railway 83 miles from Lorehoo Marquez, Two hundred British, by zigzag marches on several days and nights, outwitted the Boers, and expelled them from Petrusburg, and then removed the inhabitants and cattle to Kimberley.

The Africander Bond has offered to urge the Boers to surrender if they were allowed to return to fcheic farms, and the rebels in the new British colonies were not punished. Prominent burghers suggest that Botha and De Wet should join the Council of the Governor of the Transvaal and Orange colonies, and watch the burghers’ interests in the respective colonies. The War Office is sending promptly 30,000 mounted forces beyond those already landed in South Africa. Ten thousand Yeomanry will shortly be available, and 8000 Constabulary, including those enlisted in the colonies. It is estimated that 5000 men in the new colonial con ingents will replace those, withdrawn, and the Home ■ establishment will contribute the; balance of the cavalry and mounted.troops. The troopship Aurania takes the first batch on Saturday. . Recruits are rushing in to join volunteer companies to replace those who have been twelve month*; at the front. i