The Transvaal.
London, June 16.
Ten men of the North Staffordshire Regiment were captuted near Winburg on June 11th. June 17. A detachment of Victorians were surprised at Steenkocspruit. There were sixty casualties and two guns were lost. Lord Kitchener has ordered each householder in the Transvaal to exhibit on a front door a list of the inmates of the house. Lord Kitchener states that he will hold the householder responsib'o for the absence of any inmate unh ss such absence is satisfactorily explained. Lord Kitchener repons that 250 of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, detached from Beatson’s column, were surprised in camp at Steenkovespruit, near Wilmanrust, twenty miles south of Mlddleburg, at 7.30 on morning of June 12th, by at superior force of Boers. The enemy crept within short range and poured in a deadly fire, killing two officers and sixteen men, and wounding four o file era and thirty-c : ght men. Twenty-eight of the latter sustained only slight injuries.
Only two 'officers and fifty men rejoined Beatson’a column, the remainder being captured. They were afterwar is released.
Two pompoms were also captured,
General Bruce Hamilton has cleared the country between Bloemfontein, Faursmith and Petrushurg, capturing 100,000 sheep and many cattle. horae s and waggons.
The Times, commenting on the disaster to the Victorians, says that sincere and profound mourning will he felt throughout the Empire for their brave -colonial kinsmen, who had died soldier’s deaths.
It was necessary for the Government to continue the war until the Boera were finally defeated. The union did not want a patched up peace. Colonels Scobel and Goring forced Kruitzinger’s, Foucke’a and Mybnrgh's commandos across the borders of Kaffraria.
The commandoes dispersed, brok 8 back, and crossed the railway line at Molteno’ on the 13th, well clad, with several horses each and plenty of ammunition,
After Sladen’s Mouoteds had captmd a convoy, Do Wet sent help and- a hot engagement followed. General Elliott despatch d De Lisle’s Mounteds to Sladcn’a aa-istanee, and the Boers were routed. - The killed included Lieutenant John Muir, late of the New South Wales Mounted, Corporals Hamp and Barrow, and six men of the South Australian
Bushmen, En ters Durban correspondent states that Kitchener’s scouts and the Bushveldt Carbineers on May 13, surprised a laager at Pienaars river, capturing forty prisoners, all their waggons and 7000 cattle. Twenty-seven Boers were killed, and eighty-six wounded. Five British were killed and twenty woundel. This intelligence is considered to be a confirmati oi of the engagement at Warmbalhs cabled on June 6,
Mr Cecil Rhodes, addressing a gathering of 3000 at Bulawayo, estimated that there were 9000 Boers still in th field. It would be nonsense to concede self-government to the Tiausvial and the Orange River Colony, until Federation was accompli-hed. When this was achieved, Natal and the northern states would not sympathise with the Cape Colony, which had encouraged rebellion.
Lord Kitchener advises that sines his last report twenty-four Boers have been killed, fourteen wounded, 265 taken prisoners, 165 have surrendered, and 3000 cattle 1500 horses, 193 waggons, 157 rifles, and 8200 rounds of ammuni tion have been captured, apait from General Elliott’s operations. At the Colonial Club’s dinner in the Hotel Cecil, 350 were present, including the Ageuts-General. General Buller received an iniraens ovation. He stated that recant events showed that Great Britain possessed a number of very strong, lusty, wellmatured children, who were prepared to help in every difficulty in which they thought her right, by sending fine men, fine soldiers, gallant fellows. Imperial unity was a dangerous idea unless backed up solidly. Mr Cockbarn, of South Australia suggested that an Bmllem should bo added to the Union Jack, specially appealing to the colonics, and reminding thorn of the part borne in sending contingents to South Africa. Lord Strathcona, who acted as chairman, advooa'.cd the enrolment of colon.al volunteer corpi in London. June 18.
iScheeper’s forces partially looted Murraysburg. The Beers made a debormmsd effort tr recapture a convoy at Reitz, and charged light up to the mounted infantry.
Brussels, June 17. Mrs Botha has returne I here, after a two hours’ interview with Kntger,
The Independence Beige sta’es Louis Botha has informed Kruger that the influential members of the Transvaal were divided, the majority desiring
peace. Kroger’s encourage assert that he will issue a proclamation disclaiming his responsibility for peace without independence.
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 165, 20 June 1901, Page 3
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724The Transvaal. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 165, 20 June 1901, Page 3
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