The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 107, 12 February 1901, Page 1

The Transvaal.

London, February 7-

• The Times says that the very important statement which the War Office has made will go far to allay the anxiety recently, and adds, “ We can only hope that reinforcements will arrive in time to prevent a serious recrudescence of the trouble. The estimate which Earl Roberts has formed of the colonial contingents is a high compliment to the colonies’ patriotic spirit, the latest confirmation of which is the offer of the Sixth Conting°nt by South Australia. Lord Kitchener also needs infantry, to relieve the infantry at the front, who have gone a hard campaign. The meats to men to go to South Ah ca should be raised. If the pay M one hundred thousand men were even quadrupled it would only amount to one-tenth of the weekly cost of the war.” The “ Daily Mail ” states that the Portuguese section of the Delagoa Bay line is in the hands of the British, and it is now possible to utilise it for reinforcements coming from the sea. Mr Dnplessis, the Dutch pastor at Liudley, implores the Cape Dutch to cease blowing the fire of destruction.. He declares that, under the influence of despair and fanaticism, the Boers are committing acts against Christianity and civilisation. General Buller, criticising the war, said that, generally speaking, the British subordinate commanders lacked initiative and independence of action, undxhe rank and file lacked independent and intelligent action.

February 8

General Brabant commands the Cape Defence Forces, and is pushing northwards and vastwards, clearing the invaders. Eleven thousand irregular troops have been embodied in South A frica for three months. General De Lisle has reached Elandsvlei. He declares that his troops had never been so well mounted for a hard trekking column. They experienced terrible difficulties in crossing fords and mounting rugged precipitous hills, dragging guns and.waggons. With double teams it took thirtyeight hours to cover three miles over almost impregnable passes. The Boers did not defend the passes unless they were able to retreat on horseback in case of necessity. Reuter’s Capetown correspondent states that the troops, forming a broad front, are sweeping the enemy towards Cape Colony, the outstretched wings of the cavalry clearing everything before them. Lord Kitchener is personally acting simultaneously in the southern districts, his forces working jointly upwards. Mr Cartwright, editor of the “ South African News,” has been arrested and bailed on a chaige of reproducing a seditious libel from a London r- wspaper dated Jan. 17, The article stated that Lord Kitchener had secretly instructed the troops pursuing De Wet to take.no prisoners. Lord Kitchener telegraphed an unqualified denial of the statement. Major Dobbin, an Australian officer enimated with the remount depot at Picquetsb ;rg, has secured 4000 of the finest horses and 3000 mules, Sydney, Feb. 8. The Government has been advised that five troopships will arrive between February 25 and March 5 to take-the New South Wales Contingent to the Cape. Mr Seddon has cabled to the Government, thanking it for entertaining the Cornwall's contingent.