The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 114, 28 February 1901, Page 1

The Transvaal.

London, -Feb. 24, The Imperial Government sapports the proclamation issued by Lord Kitchener, prohibiting the circulation of newspapers and books calculated to encourage the Boers continuing their resistance.

It is estimated that the Boers lost IGOO hilled, wounded, and prisoners, during January, over 200 being actually counted,—The losses in February up to the present are estimated at 800.

A military tribunal at Johannesburg sentenced two burghers, captured while attempting to •enter Johannesburg, to be shot for espionage.

An explosion on the track stopped a mail train from Natal to Johannesburg near Heidelberg oh the 20th. Three hundred Boers in biding fired on the train, and wounded five passengers. Troops arrived and repulsed the enemy. Lieutenant Morrison, of the Canadian Artillery, declares that the New York Sun garbled his letters from the front, and that tbe pro-Boer journals in Kngland copied tbe garbled accounts, and the Conciliation Committee founded by Mr Leonard Courtney reproduced them. Tbe Daily Chronicle’s exposure has led to the withdrawal of the pro-Boer pamphlet and, a promise to publish Lieutenant Morrison’s letters in extenso. - , February 25. General French reports that oa Friday he occupied Reitretief, the troops protecting the Swaziland frontier, five thousand Boers retreating in scattered, disorganised parties. The pursuit was much hampered owing to the continuous heavy rains. He gives the following list of 282 Boers are known to have been killed or wounded in , action, 66 were taken prisoner and 183 surrendered. A fifteen-pounder, 462 rifles, 160,000 rounds of small ammunition, 6500 horses, 74 mules, 3530 trek oxen, 18,700. cattle, 155,400 sheep and 1070 waggons and carts were also captured. Five British officers . and 41 men were killed, and four officers and 108 raen'wete wounded.

Lord Kitchener states that Be Wet’s invasion., of Cape Colopy completely failed* ? Heaters corresppndea| that it is reported at Capetown that after the engagement at : Biseilfon* tein De Wet crossed the Orang# River in a boat, fleeing with a handful of his followers*

Lord Methuen captured at Brak* pan 1800 cattle and 1000 sheep. A party of Imperial Yeomanry surprised and captured a Boer post at Bethlehen, bayonetting five. : The Boers stubbornly defended for six hours a strongly fortified position at Hartbeestefontein, extending for ten miles. .There was much fighting at close range, and the Boers only retired when both their flanks had been turned. All their cattle were captured. Colonel Plumer reports that Colonel Owen with detachments of the King’s Dragoons, Victorian Imperial Bushmen, and Imperial Light lloriG on Saturday, captured De Wet’s 16 -pounder and pompoms* The Boers were in full retreat and dispersing, being vigorously pursued. Fifty prisoners and some carts and ammunition were captured. There were no British casualties.

Other reports slate that Be Wet on Friday thrice failed in his attempts to cross the Brak and Orange Rivers. Colonel Plumet on Saturday chased him from Karaeel Drift towards Ffopetown, Fancying the British exhausted, De Wet laagered in the evening, atid then ' Colonel Owen charged, capturing the enemy’s artillery. The Boem fled, leaving their horses saddled • and the cooking pots fall. Mr Bennett Burleigh states that Colonel Owen also captured a Maxim gan, and that the Boers scattered in smalßbodtes. De Wet’s party is reduced to 800 1 Steyn told the Boers, many of whom were dismounted and 'shoe* less, to shift as best they.-could, and return to the River T Colony. He and De Weftdbk 800 of the Best homes and created the railroad at north of Ife Aar, early on Sunday,* going Colonel Thothey croft and others fresh ~ horses' are .closely puramiig tlbe fugitives*

aMae&ejl Eishßiver railway station, north of Cradook. The. gatrispn, consisting of forty men of Regiment and a. few. OapePolioej made a gallant defence armoured train arriyed to tlilir/'asaistance. The Boers lost irxteeo kilied and wounded. i flijbwlEitohener isinthe-Eastem l^nevaa 1 , f fMr' JBehnett Burleigh states that River is still- flooded/ and-that the Boers are trekking east ahd north. The columns are forming av.wide. obrdon from the Orange River Station to Nerval's Pont, and are Closing in. The only means of escapelbft to the Boers is swimming the/river., /De; Wet and Steyn are close to Petrusyille. Prisoners admit that Botha received a crushing blow. He is retreating: in the direction of Ebmatipoort with 2000 men. In the House of Commons, the Hpn.lW. Brodriok stated that ninety-nine Courts of Enquiry had been"; held, regarding twenty oases of British surrenders in South Africa,-'resulting in the dismissal or placing on half pay of ten officers; and inflicting penalties on others. The oases, involving court martial wouldire made.public. '