Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

HOW BOTHA ESCAPED. A MOVEABLE "GOVERNMENT." Monday. A telegram from Newcastle states that General Botba appears to have effected his escape by travelling with a small escort, and thus avoiding notice. On the night of the 11th inst he was located at Derby, North of Piet Retief. Thence he moved to Spitzkop, were he left his personal follow- ing, numbering a.bout a hundred. Taking only six men he then marched to Amsterdam, whence he moved North, to join Mr Schalk-Burger, who had for a short time established the headquarters of the Boer Government at a point a little to the West of Amsterdam. This movable Government possessed an escort of 100 men and a few vehicles.

MILNER ON NATAL. A British force which has been scouring the country to the South-west of Rustenburg for some weeks arrived at Klerksdorp on the 17th inst., bringing in 250 Boers who were found in various hiding-places. Colonel Campbell's Column has secured a large number of cattle and sheep. Lord Milner, in his reply to the Address of the Pieter maritzburg Corporation, said it was satisfactory to see that Natal, which was the first to bear the brunt of the war, was the first to begin to reeover. What he wanted was a peaceful, prosperous, pro- gressive South Africa, one great community under the British flag. But they must not reckon on it coming in a hurry, and they must not dispense with the great virtue of patience. His visit to "Natal might lead to a few steps being taken, if only small and tentative, in the right direction.

BOER LAAGER TAKEN. THREE FIELD CORNETS CAPTURED. Tuesday. The War Office yesternay issued a Despatch from Lord Kitchener reporting the surprise of a Boer laager by Colonel Benson at Trichardsfontein, and the capture of 37 prisoners; also the capture of 2 Boer laagers and 76 prisoners including 3 Field Cornets, by Colonel Dawkins to the West of Nylstroom. Colonel Henry's Column on Friday drove a Boer force under Neauwhomdt from a strong position uear Koppyfontein.

PETITION OF VICTORIANS. THE KING QUASHES PROCEEDINGS. A petition was recently forwarded to the King drawing attention to the conduct of Brigadier General Beatson in calling the members of the 5th Victorian Mounted Eiflas "white-livered curs." The men, the petition added, very naturally resented these words, and three of them were sentenced to death for mutinous conduct," a sentence which was subsequently commuted by Lord Kitchener to twelve years' penal servitude. The petitioners, a number of Australians resident in South London, have been informed that the proceedings of the courts-martial on these men have been quashed and instructions issued for the immediate release of the prisoners.

FIGHT WITH DELAREY. AN OBSTINATE ENGAGEMENT. Wednesday. Lord Kitchener has sent a long despatch refer- ring to the recent operations in the three colonies. In the Transvaal a column under Colonel Von Donop, which had been detached from Lord Methuen's command was attacked while moving towards Zeerust on Thursday last, near the Great Marico River. The enemy, who were led by Delarey and Kemp, fought with great deter. mination, but were eventually repulsed, leaving 40 dead on the ground, including a command. ant. Our losses were two officers and 26 men killed and five officers and 50 men wounded. The Boers captured eight waggons.

PURSUIT OF BOTHA. WEEK'S WORK BY THE COLUMNS. Colonel Rimington, in conjunction with Colonel Rawlinson, made a long night march on Schemel- hoek, to the east of Ermelo, where General Botha was reported with 300 men, arriving there early on the 24th of October. An hour before they reached the place General Botha and his force ret.red to the north. Some of the Boer leader's papers were captured. Comuiandant Viljoen attacked the blockhouse line in course of construction near Bad- fontein on the 24th, but was easily driven off. The columns under Colonel Williams and Colonel For- teecue attacked a Boer force near Dewagen Drift, killing six and capturing 17 of the enemy. In the Orange River Colony the columus south of the Thaba 'Nchu line have made gooj progress towards completely clearing that distriot. In Cape Colony the Boer commandos in the north-east con- tinue to avoid all contact with the British columns. In the midland area there are only two formed bodies, which are being pu. sued, and in the extreme west the raiders under Matitz have been driven back. During the past week, the despatch states 487 Boers were killed, wonnded, taken prisoners, or surreuderedt,aud 471 rifles and over 75,000 rounds of small-arm ammunition were captured.

BOTHA'S NARROW ESCAPE. A Pretoria telegram frays General Louis Botha had a narrow escape from being captured by Major Rimington. The British force surprised the laager and the Boer General only got away a few hundred yards in advance, leaving his hat and revolver be- hind him. Major Rimington found that the Boer leader and most of his force had vacated the laager, apparently in great haste, as his papers were left behind, and fell into our hands. Ten prisoners were also secured

LOCAL CASUALTIES. 2nd South Wales Borderers-7615 Pte Alfred Morgan, enteric, dangerously ill, Elandsfontein, Oct 24. 2nd South Wales Borderers-3398 Pte Carroll, dysentery, dead, Ventersdorp, Oct 19. Mounted Infantry Shropshire Light Infantry.- Lieuts R L Surtees and C A Wilkinson, discharged to duty.

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers—Capt B K Hanbury retires from the Service, receiving a gratuity, with permission to rttain his rank and wear the pre- scribed uniform. Brevet Major Sir H W McMahon, Bart, D.S.O., from Supernumerary Captain, to be Captain, vice B K Hanbury. The undermentioned officer is granted the local rank of Major in the Army whilst serving with a Provisional Battalion:— Major and Honorary Lieut-Col the Hon H R H Lloyd-Mostyn, 4th Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The undermentioned officer is granted the local rank of Capt in the Army while serving with a Pro- visional Battalion Capt kS P Macartney Filgate, 4th HattallOD the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The undermentioned officer is granted the local rank of Capt in the Army while serving with a Pro. visional Cavalry Regiment:— Capt F Graham, Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeo- manry. The Cardigan Artillery (Western Division)- Second Lieut R J K Potter to be Lieutenant. Montgomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry- Lieut G FitzHugh to be Capt. Second Lieut F J Walton to be Lieut. The following Second Lieuts to be Lieuts ani to remain seconded :—G H Mytton and W M Dugdale. At an Investiture held by the King at St James's Palace on Tuesday the following distinctions were conferred :-Order of the Bath (C.B.) Military- Lieut-Colonel Henry Richard Lloyd Howard, Mont. gomeryshire Imperial Yeomanry. Civil-Dr John Lynn Thomas, Welsh Hospital. D.S.O.: Capt R R Gubbins, Shropshire Light Infantry; Capt W G Braithwaite and Lieut F J Walwyn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

WAR ITEMS. The Brussels correspondent of the Standard states that Lord Kitchener has permitted Mrs Delarey, wife of the Boer general, to return to Pretoria and stay in her daughter's house. In a letter addressed to a Dutch. friend Mrs Delarey speaks highly of Lord Kitchener's politeness to her. It has been decided that the limitation of separ- ation allowance to two years under the regulations is not to apply in the case of wives of mobilised reservists during the continuance of the war. On the re-assembling of the South African Com- pensation Commission, on Monday, Sir]John Ardagh announced that a settlement of all the claims made for deportations had been come to with the various Governments, with the exception of France and the Netherlands, the total amount being sixty- nine thousand five hundred and fifty pounds, about ten per cent. of the total claims. The Representa- tives of several Powers having expressed satisfaction with the arrangements, the Chairman (Mr T Malvain) said it was a generous settlement, and he hoped that before the next sitting, which was fixed for Monday next, the Dutch claims would have been settled on reasonable terms.

KING AND KIMBERLEY. ROYAL MESSAGE TO THE TOWN. The Mayor of Kimberley (Mr Councillor Oliver) on arriving there, after a visit to England, was heartily welcomed by the Town Council. In re- turning thanks, he said that while at home he had heard the greatest praise of the defence of the town. The reception of the King was one entiiely of kindness. His Majesty and Lord Roberts re- ceived him most graciously and made numerous inquiries regarding the tiege, and expressed regret at the sad death of Mr Labran, the maker of "Long Cecil." The Mayor added that the King had entrusted him with the following message :—"When you return to Kimberley tell the inhabitants that we watched all the events of the siege with great inteiest. It was a great relief to us when we re- ceived the news that the siege was raised by General French. Tell the inhabitants, also, that we veiy much admire and appreciate the splendid efforts made by the people of the Diamond Fields to defend the honour of the Empire at such a critical time. We hope that as soon as peace is brought about there will be a time of great pros- perity for all our subjects in South Africa."

LETTER FROM THE FRONT. SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR OF THE 89TH. The following letter from Mafeking has been received by Mr Walter J Jones, Montgomery. The writer is Corporal J J Powell, of the 89th (Mont. gomeryshire) Imperial Yeomanry :— We stayed in Klerksdorp till the 29th August and had a very good time of it, but since then we have had it rather rough. After we left Klerksdorp we came through Doornfontein, then Ventersdorp, where we stayed during the night. Soon after leaving here we received our letters, much to our surprise. My brother also returned from hospital and joined us there, looking very well. We next came to the Rustenburg mountains, a frightfully rough country, but we got rewarded for our labours when we halted that night. There was a nice orange grove down in the valley and we did full justice to the fruit. It is a beautiful valley, one of the finest I have seen in Africa. On the following morning we moved on again, leaving the 28th behind with the convoy as we had to go through some very difficult country. First we passed through Toulan Nek, which is about ten miles long, leaving Rustenburg ten miles on our right. Leaving the Nek we came to Rooitval, where we caught up with Fontana's Commando, capturing 20 waggons, 20 prisoners, and there were also some killed and wounded. That afternoon I was sent out on outpost duty about a mile out of camp. A veldt fire started and as there happened to be a strong wind blowing it spread like lightning. There happened to be a lot of ammunition lying about the veldt and as the fire caught this there were explosions, which made us think the Boers were banging away at us. You should have seen us charging through the fire, which was first hot enough to make us liken it unto We got through all right and next morning when we moved away I was put on prisoner Puard. The next place we came to was the Marigo River and then Derbestfontien, a native location, where there was another orange grove. We also captured eight more of the Fontona's waggons, which only left him four to get away with. Continuing we came to Rickersdam where we made a halt. Next morning before we had got half a mile out of camp we were greeted with three volleys of lead from about 1,000 Boers. Luckily I was on prisoner guard and had the fun of watching the action. Our guns, howit. zers, 15-pounders, pom-poms, maxims, blazed away for about three hours without budging, having taken up a remarkably strong position. Our fellows, THE 89TH, BEHAVED SPLENDIDLY, not rt tiring once, which cannot be said of several of the other squadrons. Lord Methuen said it was one of the hardest engagements he has ever had with such a small number of men and fought in the worst piece of country there is in South Africa. We had 11 killed and 22 wounded, including 2 killed and 3 wounded in our Company. The General remarked that he never wished to lead better men into action if he had to stay in South Africa years yet. He mentioned three of our company in his despatches for gallantry in trying to save the maxim. We also came very near to losing a pom-pom, but the Welsh were again to the front and saved it. The fight lasted for 12 hours until we got into Wonderfontein, where we met the 88th again with the convoy. The name of the place where we had the fight was Rhonester- fontein. We stay at Wonderfontein two days, and during this time we had Divine service and also buried our dead. The General also told us all about the engagement, informing us that we had as many as five commandos against us, viz., Duncan Boiha, Delarey, Kemp, Lemmer and Fontona, who told him they were 1,500 strong, but this he did not think was right. In conclusion he told us we were going to Leerust and that we had two hard days before us. Next day a Boer came in under the white flag and asked for medicine and bandages. On being asked by one of our fellows why he wanted all this replied they were not for use then, but he expeeted they would want them on the morrow at Vaalkop. We started again, but I lost my job as guard as we had to hand them over to the Infantry and I had to go up to the front along with my troop. I suppose the Boers knew I was there for they attacked the rear guard instead. However, some of the shots did not fail to come as near as I cared about. Poar old Humphries was in the rear guard action and said he had a warm time of it. The dust waa flying up around him in clouds. We got through Vaalkop, where we halted again without so much resistance as we expected. Next day we got into Zeerust, but we were very doubtful if we should reach it safely or not. That day we were advancing along with the Bechuana- lands. Our great guns were shelling the kopjes all along before we went through them. The Boers would not stand as I expect they hrd a fairly good muLing in the last two engagements. We left Zeerust again next morning and got into Mafeking two days later, not meeting with any more resist- ance after being on trek two months-one of the longest treks Methuen has made for a long time. The proclamation does not seem to have had very much effect on the Boers yet. I guess we have got to go through the mill again as we have been chosen to join the Bechuanaland Mounted Rifles, who are ■ >me of the finest men in South Africa, and about 200 of the Australian Bushmen to form the First Division Scouting Corps. We had a very nasty sand dust storm, which was something awful, lasting about 12 hours. After this we bad 12 days rain. One of the Boer prisoners gave me his photograph and also took me over to the refuge waggons and introduced me to his mother and two sisters, but he did not forget to tell me one of them was married.

THE WELSH HOSPITAL. DISTRIBUTION OF MEDALS. On Tuesday, at the Mansion House, London, Vis- countess Parker distributed war medals to the Welsh Hospital Staff, who have recently returned from South Africa. Sir John Williams (chairman of the Committee of the Hospital) presided and there were present a considerable number of persons who had assisted in the movement and their friends. The Chairman explained that it was now eighteen months since the small band constituting the Hospital staff left Southampton for the Cape. As soon as they landed they were sent to Bloemfon. tein to deal with the outbreak of typhoid fever there. They suffered severely at first, for in the course of six weeks five of their number were laid low, and during the campaign Professor Alfred Hughes was severely wounded, and returned home to die. The Hospital moved to Springfontein where it did excellent work. Originally it was intended to send out one hundred beds, but that number was increased to two hundred. The total number of cases treated was 1,10/, and the number of deaths was only ten—a very low mortality for injuries in war. THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT. Sir David Evans (treasurer to the fund) said that in common with his countrymen and countrywomen he should ever be proud of his association with the movement for establishing and so successfully carrying out the Welsh Hospital in South Africa (hear, hear). They were met to some small extent to recognise the efforts of those who went to give aid at great sacrifice of time and of money. The financial statement which he would lay before them would clearly prove that when an appeal was made to Wales-sometimes referred to as gallant little Wales-their country was not backward in recogi i a ing the national requirements, and came forward as readily and substantially as any other part of Great Britain aad Ireland, or indeed of the Empire, to.do what she could to aid and assist (cheers). The staff would not be there that evening in their full strength. Miss Lloyd was away in South Africa, having transferred her servioes to the Army Officers' Hospital. Others had returned to South Africa, and, of course, were unable to be present. They had to deplore severe losses. They lost their esteemed colleague and friend Professor Alfred Hughes, and they also lost Professor Thomas Jones, Assistant Surgeon Herbert Davies, Dresser T R Eames, and Nursing Sister Florence Sage-all of whom died for their country. Mr Lynn Thomas bad been awarded a C.B. and Mr Mills Roberts a C.M.G., and he believed that they were invested by His Majesty that morning. He congratulated them upon their well-earned honours (cheers). In addition to Mr Thomas and Mr Roberts there were also mentioned in despatches Miea L'oyd and Orderlies Brown and Sidney Ireland (hear, hear). The total subscriptions for the hospital amounted to zEl2,539, and there was now a disposable balance of £ 3,892. The Committee had decided that R,250 should be sent to the officers commanding the three Welsh regiments now in South Africa to provide extra clothing or comforts for the men of their regiments that had been sent out. The rest would be used in making grants to wounded incapacitated soldiers of the Welsh regi- ments and Welsh militia, volunteers, and yeomanry, and also to help the widows and orphans whether on the establishment or not. That scheme was extensively advertised, and every opportunity offered to those who disapproved of it having a part of their subscriptions returned. Needless to say not a single subscriber disapproved of the scheme (cheers). Viscountess Parker then distributed the medals, and also presented a service of plate to Mr Arthur Hughes (hoc secretary) as a mark of gratitude for the work he bad done in connection with the movement. Mr Hughes said he had taken up the work for his brother (the late Professor Hughes). Votes of thanks closed the meeting.

— — CENTRAL WELSH BOARD. THE PROPOSED OFFICES AT CARDIFF, Meetings of the Executive Committee of the Central Welsh Board were held at Shrewsbury on Friday night and on Saturday. Mr A C Humphreys- Owen, MP, presided. It was decided to hold a conference between the Executive Committee and His Majesty's inspectors of schools for Wales in the early part of next year. The alternative schema submitted by the headmasters of intermediate schools was considered in detail, and the decisions of the committee on their acceptance or non- acceptance were recorded.-Principal Reichel pro- posed, and it was carried-" That it is educationally desirable that the schools Should not be formally inspected so often as once a year; and that the Board cf Education be approached, with the view of ascertaining whether it would bar possible under the Central Board scheme to make a change in this direction."—It was decided that a draft circular on the subject should be prepared for submission to the Central Board.—The Com- mittee considered at length in proof the detailed annual reports on the inspeotion and examination of county schools, and drafted resolutions and recommendations thereon for the consideration of the Central Welsh Board at the half-yearly meeting to be held at Merthyr on November 15.—>Qn the report of the Finance Committee, it was pointed out that the Board's expenditure, in respect of examiners' fees and expenses in connection with the written examinations, the oral examinations, the practical science examinations, and examina- tions in cookery and manual instruction for the year amounted to £ 2,455 2s 7d, that amount being within 17s 5d of the sum estimated for.—It was reported that the Sub-committee appointed to pre- pare a report on the offer made by the Corporation of Cardiff of a free site for the offices of the Board would meet at Cardiff on Tuesday to discuss the proposals with a Sub-committee appointed by the Corporation of that place. The report on this subject will be submitted to the Central Board's meeting at Merthyr.

— ■* — PERSONAL. Lord and Lady Cromer left Charing-cross on Friday evening for Brindisi, en route for Egypt. The Marquess and Marchioness of Londonerry's guests for covert shooting during last week at Wynyard Park, Stockton-on-Tees, included Earl and Countess Howe, Lord and Lady Binning, Lord Stavordale, Lord Lurgan, Mr James Lowther, M P, Sir Edward Carson, M.P., Sir Edward Hamilton, Mr and Lady Aline Beaumont, Mr L and Mrs Harcourt, Mrs Bonham, Miss Stanley, Canon Body (Durham), Mr G W Smalley and' Lady Heleq Stewart. Mr Herbert Gladstone will be the recipient. öf several interesting presentations on the occasion of' his marriage. The Hawarden villagers and tenantry have subscribed for a number of beautiful gifts. From the Liberal Party in Cheater he receives a complete folio edition of Schubert's works, some thirty-eight volumes* The Duchess of Manchester was delivered of a daughter on Sunday. Mother and child are doing well. The marriage of the Hon. Mary Dal berg-Acton to Lieut.-Colonel Edward Bleiddian Herbert, of the 17th Lancers, was solemnised at Tegernsee, Bavaria, on Monday week. A series of presentations was made to Mr Herbert Gladstone, M.P., at Hawarden on Monday evening'on the occasion of his forthcoming marriage, Mr Gladstone, in acknowledging the gifts, said he knew that they were made to him not so much on account of his supposed merits as on account of the share which he necessarily had in the associ- ations of Hawarden and of the memory of those who had gone. His interest in the place would not be abated by his marriage, and it would always remain to him a home. The divorce decree obtained by Countess Russell against her husband, Earl Russell,was made absolute on Monday by Mr Justice Barnes. There was no opposition. Printed and Published by David Rowlands, at 21, Berriew Street, Welshpool, in the County of Montgomery, and Rock View, Towyu, in the County of Merioneth.—Thursday,,Oct. 31,19QI,