The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 112, 23 February 1901, Page 3

The Transvaal.

London, February 19. Recent Boer captures by the British included Commandant Boswan, who led the Bosehkof commando.

Lord Kitchener has returned' to Pretoria,

It is reported that on the 18th De Wet was seventy miles west of Hopetown, apparently making for Prieska, where the commandos from Western Cape Colony are also retiring. De Wet threatens to dioot all Dutch colonists upon their refusing to fight.

Schalk Burger, who took a prominent part in- the fighting early in the campaign, is ’still in the northern Transvaal, doing his utmost to induce the Boers to agree to a general surrender.

The Daily Mail states that an extensive expedition is being organised in Pretoria to expel the Boers from Pietersburg and the northern Transvaal.

The Boers derailed a train between Vereenijing and Johannesburg, but they were repulsed before they were able to plunder it. All the stores at Komati Poort have been closed, owing to the discovery that they have been supplying the fighting Boers. The Standard states that Mr Malcolm Clark, a well-known identity in the Transvaal, with large mining interests, accomplished a daring cross country journey from Leydsdorp to Pretoria," and captured six Boer officials and brought them, with important papers, to Pretoria. February 20.

Mr Thermon, replying to Piet De Wet’s overtures to the Afrikander Bond leaders to assist in his efforts to secure peace, says that it is impossible for him to recognise the status of the Orange River Pence Committee, which Piet De Wet represents. He is unable, under the Bond constitution, to negotiate with a body whose principles are at variance with the Afrikander party. Nevertheless, he offers his services to the constituted authorities to promote a peace honourable to both sides, and harmonising with the declared policy of the Afrikanders.

A hundred of the members of Lord Stratbcona’s Horse join Baden Powell’s police after visiting Canada. General French is constantly receiving the submission of stragglers from Botha’s main commando.

De Wet, after his flight from Houtkranl to Prieska, obtained remounts ;and went westward to Hopetown.

Sir Gordon Sptigg, Premier of Gape Colony, proposes to confer a medal with the Imperial star on all British and colonial forces that have taken part in the war. Mr Broderick, in the House of Commons, promised drastic reform of the Army Medical Service, and stated that he hoped by the end of March to have increased" the mounted forces under Lord Kitchener in South Africa to the extent required. During the last three months, besides 13,000 horses sent from England, there hnd, been 30,000 despatched to South Africa from other sources.

Mr Asquith stated that there was no practical alternative to the annexation' of the conquered territories. An interval was essential before constitutional government would be possible in the conquered States. Mr John O'Donnell, member for South Mayo, created a scene by attempting to address the House in the Irish language. Colonel Pluiuer and Lieutenant Henniker’s detachment of Victorians on Monday got within five miles of Do Wet’s 'laager. The Boers hastily divided, half goin-j in a westerly and half in a north easterly direction. Router’s correspondent points out that some of the officers and men attached to De Lisle’s command have been fighting and trekking for over a year, and have inarched 7000 miles. These include Colonel Knight, com manding the New South Wale* Mounted Rifles; Captain Leggo, of the same corps, is De Lisle's intelligence officer, and Captain Watson his galloper, while Lieutenant Osborne acts as supply officer. February 21. A goods train was derailed near Johannesburg. The train contained Lord Kitchener’s baggage, which was preceding Lord Kitchener. An armoured truck attached to Lord Kitchener’s train hastened forward with a body-guard., who expelled the Boers from'the vicinity of the fine. The invaders derailed a train on the Naaupoort-De Aar railway, near Tftiboschfontoin, and compelled the blacks riding on the trucks ta stand over a hole from which the ballast had been taken, and then fired, killing two and wounding the others. Schalk Burgher told the burghers that their cause was hopeless and the hostilities tutile, and advised them to surrender, not in twos and threes, but as a nation. Mr Kruger has announced that he will be returning to the Transvaal after the war. The Morning Post’s Pretoria correspondent states that a Boer report is in circulation that Mr Kruger is returning to arrange for the termination, of the war. Adelaide, February 20. Mr Holder has informed . the Imperial authorities that the Government will be very glad to offer facilities for recruiting the colony’s quota of a hundred constabulary for South Africa. Brisbane, February 20, A commencement has been made to raise a sixth contingent. It is expected that it will number four hundred men, with five hundred horses. The Government has been informed that .he Queenslanders captured at Swartz kopje have rejoinedi their company. Sidney, February 20. Dissatisfaction exists amongst the troops recently returned from South Africa. They complain that the pay promised from the Imperial authoiities over and above the amount paid by the New South Wales Government had been stopped. The matter has been submitted to the Colonial Secretary. Pbeth, February 20. The Government has decided that the proposal to recruit .constabulary for South Africa cannot he entertained.