The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 195, 29 August 1901, Page 4

The Transvaal.

tiONDOK, AogUSt 26. ‘ Further particulars of the capture of Haashruok’s laager at Doornberg last week show that Colonel Barker’s column almost encircled the Boers daring thft night, and at dawn opened a heavy fusiladewith big guns and rifles. Fot ten minutes the wildest consternation reigned amongst the enemy. The captures included a mass of official correspondence. August 26. A detachment of the lOfcfa Hussars bad a sharp fight with Scheeper’s Commando at South Uniondale. The British had four men killed, and eleven wounded. Commandant Vandermere and Field Oornet Duplessis were among the Boat wounded. The standard’s Pretoria correspondent reports that Colouel Williams’ column escaped scathless in connection with the capture of a convoy near Klerksdorp. Th- prisoners include Miss Steyn, the ex-President s niece, and Commandant Do La Bey’s mother. The Daily Mail’s Brussels correspondent states that Botha has decided to keep British prisoners as hostages in the event of Lord Kitchener’s Proclamation being enforced. Two commandos, numbering 700. unsuccessfully attempted to cross the Orange River into Cape Colony. The invaders in-the midland districts of Cape Colony are attempting to move south to join S’he»pers, who is irtthe vicinity of Madshoorn <? Oudtslioorn). The Standard correspondent says that Mr Kruger is convinced that the Czar’s attention to Mi" Vanderhoven. who a-tended tho weeing of Prince Oldenburg as representative of the Transvaal, implies that the Czar and President Lonbet will disouss the question of intervention, Reuter’s ‘special correspondent at Pretoria reports that surrenders are occurring freely throughout the country. Two Boer sympathisers at Middleburg have been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for secretly entertaining the enemy, and 200 others have been disfranchised at Burghersdorp, Middleburg, and elsewhere for treasonable conduct. Commandant Letter sent an unprintable reply to Lord Kitchener’s proclama--tion. August 27. The Uniondale engagement was fought on difficult ground. Besides the other losses, ten of the Hussa r s were captured before Scheepers retreated. Colonel ; Beatson is now driving Scheepera’ force northward. Steyn and Da Wet are reported to be near Basutoland.

Haasbroch’s captured correspondence shows that he recovered Steyn’a lost dynamite and ammunition.

Three British officers and men on General Elliott’s right, north of Ladybrand, were surrounded on unfavourable ground and captured by a superior force. Afterwards they we-e released. One man was killed and four men wounded during the action. An inquiry into the matter has been commenced.

The Daily Express correspondent says that 400 burghers have surrendered at Middlcburg.

C imm md >nt Letter’s force has taken refuge on the summits of Achtersberg, in the Sneenberg range, Cape Colony. Colonel Scobell, who is pursuing him, seen remand shot 100 horses and fired the grass slopes at Achtersberg.

Tho invaders of Cape Colony are split into fragments.