The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 191, 17 April 1902, Page 1

The Transvaal.

London, April 13,

Lord Methuen, in his report on the leverse at Tweebosch on the 7th March, states that the din? prior to the engagement, damn,' sniping, the 86tb company of Imperial Yeomanry, whose rear got out of band, was without discipline, the otlicers and noncommissioned officers being uninstructed and incxpei ienced. s Thereupon he placed the Yeomanry in the van-. On the 7th the rout be gan among the Afrikander levies, who formed the rear screen of the convoy.

Fourteen men of the Leinster regiment were wounded i.i an action near Bethlehem on. Tuesday last.

The trial of Judge Kock has commenced at Graaf Heine t. He is charged with spying and fraudulently obtaining military permits to travel. April 14. Lord Salisbury and Mr Balfour proceeded to Hatfield Hall. The Duke of Devonshire, Mr Brodrick, and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach met at midnight on Saturday at Mr Chamberlain’s house and consulted for one hour, it is supposed respecting a cable message from Lord Kitchener. Mr Dhamberlain spent Sunday morning at his office, and had a two hours’ audience with His Majesty the King in the afternoon.

The Times says that the Boer delegates will probably attempt to renew negotiations from the starting point of Lord Kitchener’s offer to Botha, but the prolongation of the struggle lias so immensely altered the situation that it is impossible to ignore this or exasperate the loyalists by undue leniency towards rebels.

The Standard says that the first proposals were merely intended to open preliminaries. Doubtless the Boers will ask too much. If the demand for independence is frankly abandoned the rest is worth digsussion.

The exaggerated sensational reports which ace current relative to the peace negotiations are entirely premature. It is considered in most responsible circles that it is highly improbable that the Boer delegates will at first submit acceptable terms. It is believed that they have journeyed to Pretoria personally, toobtain information from Lord Kitchener on certain points.

The Transvaal delegates are lodged in General lan Hamilton’s ‘house, and the Free State delegates in a residence adjoining Lord Kitchener’s. Lord Milner is also at Pretoria.

The brevity of the Klerktjdorp conference is considered to imply that the delegates have agreed to a general basis of negotiation. Though there have been no formal overtures, it is believed that Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner have a fair idea of the character of the terms expected, and have cabled them to the British Government.

The Times says that the yachting cruise had reached its natural ending, and that Coronation business accounted for the King’s return. The paper adds that the meeting of the Cabinet is not connected with peace, since no overtures have been received.

In his last engagement with the enemy General lan Hamilton killed forty-four Boers, including Commandant Potgieter, and captured fifty-four, and also two guns and a pompom.

General Hamilton’s force included General Kekewich’s Major-General Rawlinson’s column. The Yeomanry, the Scottish Horse, and the Mounted Constabulary fought admirably. Captain Salter, Lieutenant Bull, and five men were killed, and forty-two wounded. GeneralKekewich captured the guns. Colonel Colenbrander’s columns defeated Commandant Beyems, inflicting one hundred and six casualties.

Captain Coode and two men of the West Riding Regiment were killed, and fourteen wounded.

.Commandant De Villiers and 700 rebels at Douglas, Cape Colony, have asked Load Kitchener's terms of surrender.

Colonel Colehbrander blocked Beyers’ outlets. $

Colonel Murray, with half a battalion of the Inniakilling Pusiliers, made a brilliant advance and seized the hill at the entrance to Molispoort, Colonel Colenbrander is pursuing the Boers, and hopes to make further captures. April 15. (General Brace Hamilton’s column and part of Colonel Williams* column are sweeping the .Eastern Transvaal from Heideibeog to Standertpn, the railway between the Errrielo and Carolina bh**;‘ houses, and the South Constabulary line.

fe” Not if the i

Details of Colonel Colenbrander'a fight at Molispoort show that the country was extremely difficult. Lieutenant-Colonel Murray was seriously wounded, and there were (even other British casualties. A strong column attacked General Kekewich at Eoomal on the 11th. The fighting was very hot. Most of the British were only slightly wounded. Washington, April 14. In order to pacify the pro-Boers President Roosevelt has sanctioned an enquiry as to whether British camps have been established at New Orleans or elsewhere for the purchase of remounts. Representatives of th 3 Southern and Western States are indignant, and declare that if purchases of horses i and mules ace slopped these states several hundred thousand dollars monthly. At the instance of Congressmen, ivho fear that they will lose their seats, President Roosevelt has recalled the Federal Remount Inspector.