Rhyl Journal

QUEEN CONGRATULATES LORD ROBERTS. The Press Association's Windsor eorrespondent telegraphs: The welcome news of General Cronje'a capitulation was received by the Queen with great joy, and her Majesty at once despatched a telegram of congratulation to Lord Roberts. Princess Chris- tian was proceeding to London from Cumberland Lodge when she was informed of the glad tidings by Lord Churchill, Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen, who had been sent from the Caette by her Majesty to intercept her Royal Highness at the station. Prmcess Christian immediately caused a telegram to be despatched to Prince Christian at Cumber- land Lodge, but be in the meantime had reoeiTed tk telegraphic message direct from the Queen.

JOYFUL SCENE AT THE WAR OFFICE. TOASTING THE VICTORIOUS GENERAL. The Press Association telegraphs: The joyful Boene at the War Office on Tuesday has had no jMtrallel during the war. Some minutes before the news was published officially a rumour had spread that Cronje bad surrendered, consequently no one in the vicinity of the War Office was surprised when the resident clerk himself hurried down into the Press lobby with a handful of papers. The newspaper men darted off with the news, and a minute later all Pall Mall, from Marlborough House to Ch cing Cross, knew that the rumoured good tidings bad been officially confirmed. The ftrst half doten eallers at the War Office were too excited in the confusion of the moment to read the report through, and after glancing at the dispatch board rushed off to a neighbouring hostelry to toast the victorious British General. Everybody was radiaatly ha.ppy at the War Office. and a.11 were talk- ing of Majuba. Fain, generally so important a con- sideration with oaUere, oould not damp the eagerness of those who bad beard tbe news to come and see for themselves, and it was not long be- fore the inquiry lobbies were filled. The wording of the telegram was deemed excellent, and them could be no doubt that whatever the opinion entertained by her Majesty's Government of the ne,, s the nubbo of the Metropolis was delighted. Their optimism found expression in the oft-repea-ted assertion, And we shall have the relief of Lmith to-night." Un- like the news of the relief of Kimberley, the morn- ing's tidings were, of course, not unexpected, tut this circumstance appeared in no way to lessen the {eeling of satisfaction with which the news was re- ceived. In the occasion wan certainly one where the pleasure of realisation equftlleu and even exceeded that of expectation.

REJOICINGS AT THE MANSION HOUSE. The pogtin, of a Press Association telegram at the M-aneion Bowse, London, regarding the capitulation of Cronje and his force, was reoeived with great ex- citement, and load cheers were raised. Cries of "Bravo, Roberts!" and Majuba! rent the air, and in spite of the inclement nature of the weathers- drizzling rain falling—numbers oi city business men collected to read ilia glad tkhftge. In conversation yfiiii & of tbe PrtJBS AjoowaUonj^tiw Lord Mayor said that, although the surrender of Cronje was a foregone conclusion the receipt of the news would occasion a very great sense of relief. The result of the capitulation would, he thought, be a rapid conclusion of hostilities, and the Free Staters and Boere would recognise British equality and rule. As an official of forty years' service at the Mansion Houee said, there has never been such excitement in the vioinity of the Chief Magistrate's residence since the time of the Prince Consort's fatal illness, w hen the latest bulletins were posted outside the building. As the morning wore on crowds of people continued to gather giving hearty eheers, which were taken up by pedestrians in Queen Victoria-st. and Chea,pside. Even the wretched weather which prevailed for once failed to depress the crowds, and had Lord Roberts's .gr'. J.t popularity ever been in doubt the earnest ejaculations of "Good old Roberts" and "Bravo, Bobs." were sufficient to show the high estimation in which he is held by the British public from the big-best to the lowest. The fact that the day was the anniversary of Majuba was not lost upon the elated people, and the far-reaching effect of Cronje's sur- render upon the Free State as well as Transvaalers was a matter of much comment. It was known that President Kruger had arranged for a series of sporta to be held at Pretoria that day, and the President's d«cision was referred to with much contemptuous ridicule. The Lord Mayor said We have not had such an exciting time for years, and although there is not the slightest doubt as to the bravery of the Boers, yet I think thev will realise in the end that the equality of British rule to both Briton and Boer will be more just and beneficial than their own.

CRONJE'S MOVEMENTS. The following diary shows at a gliamoe Oranie's movements since he check-ed the British advance from Modder River — Dec. 11.—Cronje checked Metihuen at Mageivfoofteiin, Feb. feint at Koodoosberg. Feb. 11.—Roberts's enveloping move began. Feb. I2.-Fretlch across the Riet. Feb. 14.-Cronje's army passed East of Klip Drift. Feb. 15.—General French relieved Kimberley. Feb. I7.CrOlITje's position at Koodoosrand located. Feb. 18-22.-Brltish bombardment conti-nued from day to day. Fpob. 23.—De Wet's reinforcements defeated. Feb. 27.—Cronje i vnoarndrtionaily surrenders with all his foroe.

TELEGRAM FROM THE KAISER. The Daily Telegraph" says the German Em- peror has sent telegrams t-o the Queen and the Prince of Wales, in which he speaks in very eulo- gistic terms of Lord Roberts's victory at Paarde- berg. A similar message has been received by the Queen from the King and Queen of Italy.

PAARDEBERG CASUALTIES. APPROXIMATE TOTAL. The ioHowing summary of the casualties sus- tained in the fighting at Paardeberg last Sunday has been compiled from the official despatches, but can only be approximately correct, as the lists themselves have come piecemeal, and contain discrepancies: OFFICERS. Kill'd. Wded. Mis'g. Staff (Generals) 2 Cornwall Light Infantry 3 5 Seaforth Highlanders 1 *8 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.. 1 4 West Riding Regiment 1 2 1st Yorkshire 1 4 Oxford Light Infantry. 2 3 East Kent 1 Shropshire Light Infantry 4 Canadians 2 Royal Medical Corps w 2 Gordon Highlanders 1 Black Watch 4 Field Artillery 1 4th King's Royal Rifles 2 Norfolk Regiment 1 1st Welsh 1 1 1st Gloucester 1 2nd Derbyshire — 1 — 13 44 ? Total Officers' Casualties 59 Since dead. RANK AND FILE. 1st Weet Riding Reg;ment 15 118 — 2nd Seaforth Highlanders 35 107 1st Yorkshire Regiment. 17 99 2nd Black Watch 13 87 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.. 13 75 Canadian Regiment 18 65 2nd Duke of Cornwall's 12 56 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry 36 1st Essex Regimeni; 11 17 1st Gordon Highlanuers 1 14 1st Welsh Regiment 8 44 7 Royal Artillerv 7 Kitchener's Horse 1 6 Royal Engineers 1 5 N.S.W. Mounted Infantry 2 1st Oxford Light Infantry 36 Royal Horse Artillerv 1 Royal Army Medical Corps 1 2nd East Kent 2 2nd S.W. Borderen 1 2nd Cameroniana 1 2nd Bedford 1 2nd Lincoln 1 — — 2nd Gloucester 5 20 — 2nd Derbyshire 5 21 166 783 7 Total Rank and File Casualties 956 Total Killed 179 Total Wounded 827 Total Missing 9 j Total Casualties 1,015

LEADING UP TO THE SURRENDER. Telegraphing on Sunday, a war correspondent at Paardeberg says The position is unchanged. The encirclement of Cronje and his forces is complete. The Boers are at our mercy, and Lord Roberts could any day capture the camp by direct assault, but the loss of life in that case would be extremely heavy. Cronje is believed to be willing to surrender, certainly some of the commandants are, but prisoners assert that the Transvaal Boers, inflated with their success at Magersfontein, declined to yield, and assert relief is sure to come to them. Telegraphing from Paardeberg, Feb. 25. a war correspondent says:—Cronje is still only defiant. It is now known that his men have given up hope, and are anxious to surrender. Prisoners are coming in daily. There are about 4.000 men beleaguered in his camp, exclusive of the losses hitherto sustained. Cronje'f* wife is not with him, although there are women and children in camp. The Boer position is now almost exclusively confined to the river bed. The enemy are entirely at our mercy, and the end is inevitable, but Lord Roberts is treating them with great consideration from motives of humanity.

"SIMPLY MURDER." THE SHROPSHIRES RUSH A BOER POSITION. HOW THEY WERE RELIEVED BY THE GORDONS. [Press Association War Special.] Paardeberg, Thursday. February 22nd (via Cape Town), February 24-th. The scene of the last day's fighting is one of the prettiest spots in South Africa. The river where General Cronje is ensconced and fighting for his life resembles parts of the Thames. The ground all round slopes towards the river. All the higher ground is covered with our artillery, so that General Cronje is faced front and rear. On both banks lay our men, while General French's horse, operating far from our flanks, prevents any sudden inrush of Boer reinforcements. The Shropshire Regiment oc- cupied the bed of the river from Sunday till to-day. Yesterday our artillery continued firing till dark. During the night, after the last gun had fired, the Shropshires rushed forward and seized nearly two hundred yards of new ground, where they spent the remainder of the night in entrenching themselves. When morning came General Cronje thus found himself with two hundred yards less space. As the Shropshires ever since Sunday had been under a galling fire and had done good work, they were bo- day relieved by the Gordons. The manner in which the relief was effected was amusing, in spite of the danger. The Highlanders crept up to the trenches on their stomachs, and the Shropshires crawled out over the bodies of the relieving force. In the course of our artillery fire last evening the mulss of the 82 Battery, which remained hitched to carriages, were startled by a sudden dis- charge, and the whole of them stampeded and galloped off, but to-day all except one wagon have been recovered. General Frenoh has sent in 75 men whom he had taken prisoners, while a patrol eight miles to the west have captured 30 Boers. Altogether this force has taken already 460 prisoners, while numbers of Boer dead have been seen. The prisoners all comment bitterly on General Cronje's persistence, which they say is simply murder. They are extremely depressed by the course the war is now taking, and by our refusal to attack their strong positions. To-day a German ambulance attached to the enemy was allowed to pass through our lines from Jacobsdal. Wp have captured a large quantity of cattle, sheep, and trek oxen, which had wandered from the Boer laager. Paardeberg, Friday (via Cape Town, Saturday.) Yesterday afternoon there was a terrible thunder- storm accompanied by rain. During the night our guns fired several rounds, and the position of General Cronje is now not only hopeless, but abso- lutely impossible. We are gradually closing in on all ,ides. In last Sunday's fight the Canadians, who were heavily engaged, behaved with grea-t gallantry. Col. Martyr has been appointed to command a brigade of Mounted Infantry. Paardeberg, Saturday, February 24th (via Modder River). Eighty more prisoners were captured as the result of yesterday's engagement, the Buffs having success- fully worked round to their rear. A balloon ascended, and several new works which the enemy had constructed were discovered. The guns are shelling them to-day.

THE BESIEGED FORCE. CRONJE'S INHUMANITY. WOMEN AND CHILDREN RETAINED IN CAMP. The special correspondent of the "Daily News," telegraphing from Paardeberg on Friday, says:- CmnWtt re crathmWa trnt.U»a maca ana worse, orne atvropsmres a tew days ago pushed up stream, driving back the enemy for a distance of 200 yards towards the bed of the river. They have now been relieved by the Gordon Highlanders, who are adopting the same tactias. For the last few days Ti&ve maintained a most effective sTTWI ffre, anèl have given the enemy little rest even by night. Gen. French's movement, already reported, resulted in the capture of nearly a hundred prisoners. Many deserters have also arrived in our camp. These speak freely in condemnation of what they consider the Boer General's inhumanity in forcing his troops to remain fighting against such odds. Others state that Cronje is him.seJf willing to surrender, but that he is being prevented by the young Boers from tho Transvaal. General Cronje has a number of women and children in his camp. When Lord Roberts as- certained the fact he sent word to the enemy tha.t these non-combatants would be allowed to depart. Cronje, however, refused to allow them to leave. This action is severely commented upon by deserters who have come in. They describe it as an act of positive ba.rbarity. Firing at our ambulances has been fre- quent during the fighting here, a.nd the carrying away of the wounded has now become one of the most dangerous tasks possible. The use of expand- ing bullets by the Boers is, moreover, now verified beyond the smallest doubt. Some of the prisoners have been found to have such bullets in their pockets and bandoliers. I have had some conversation with some of these prisoners. They all appear to look upon the pre--ent move a. likely to bring about a speedy end to the war, although they admit that the Transvaalers are apparently determined to fight on. The most intelligent among the prisoners speak as if they regarded it as almost certain that the new tactics now adopted by us were bound to result in the success of Great Britain. The talk, they say, was openly now what policy England would follow when she had conquered the two Republics.

ENEMY FOILED AND BEATEN. [Press Association War Special.] Paardeberg, Saturday. Yesterday there was a most interesting series of fights on our front. A body of one thousand Boer* commanded by Commandant De Wet was known to be operatirq on our immediate front. Just before daybreak yesterday they made a deter- mined attempt to break through our lines in order to bring help to the unfortunate Cronje. One force, numbering five hundred, moved towards our left front, cantering towards a kopje with the object of occupying it. Unfortunately for the Boera the kopje was occu- pied by a company of the Soottish Borderers, who opened a heavy fire as they advanced. The enemy galloped off, but moved again towards another posi- tion with exactly the same result. Undaunted they made a third attempt to occupy a third position, but again the Borderers were ready to receive them. This third check thoroughly dis- concerted the enemy, who galloped off, evidently in a state of panic. At last they perceived another kopje towards which they quickly made their way. This time the kopje wae unoccupied, but the Borderers, not to be beaten, raced the mounted Boers and won, occupy- ing the kopje and driving off the enemy. A portion of the Boer force ultimately occupied a kopje which was partly flanked by the Borderers and faced a kopje held by the Yorkshires. A vigorous fusilade ensued. Our men, firing coolly and accurately, succeeded in silencing the enemy's fire. Meanwhile the Buffs were ordered to reinforce the Yorkshires in case the Boere were reinforced. Our attack worked round the right of the Yorkshires ko'^je. where the 75th Battery was stationed, the 62nd Battery being on a farm in the centre of the Borderers' position. Vigorous shelling accompanied our fusilade. It drew no reply from the Boer kopje where complete silence prevailed. Accordingly a company of the Yorke was sent to clear the enemy cut. The attempt failed, as the Boers opened a heavy fire on our men, who had no cover. We opened again with a heavy rifle fire, which silenced that of tihe enemy, who made several attempts to ran. Our Maxims, however, prevented their escape. The Buffs now worked carefully and cautiously round amd got within 150 yards of the Boers, 80 of whom surrendered. Mainy of them, however, got away by rushing off one at a time. Most of the prisoners had just arrived from Lady- smith. They complained of the bad generalship of their leader. Nearly every nuun carried explosive buHets. Five of our men -s»were woun- ded by explosive bullets. I myself have seen these miseiles. One Boer carried fifty. There is no loilger the slightest doubt that the enemy are gradually discarding all the rules of civilised warfare. The other day they poured the contents of a Vickers-Maxim gun into an ambulance which was at least three hundred yards away from the troops. Fortunately it happened to be empty. Our balloon has already done excellent service. It rose to a great height early this morning and discovered four wagons in the bed of the river which contained ammunition. Directed by the balloon our artillery opened fire on them and ex- ploded the contents. An hour afterwards a. number of horses which were also seen from the balloon near the wagons received the attention of our shrapnel. The Gordons have now been incorporated with the Highland Brigade, which consists of four kilted regiments. The Highland Light Infantry, who do not wear kilts, join Col. Smith-Dorrien's force, which ia thus strengthened by a fine, gallant body of men.

BOER EXECUTIVE REMOVE TO WINBURG. A week ago it was suggested here that the Free Staters did not intend to defend Bloemfontein. It is now reported that while they are concentrating their forces thirty miles outside the oapital they have removed the offices of the Executive to Win- Iburg, a town some sixty miles to the north-east of Bloemfontein and about twenty miles from the railway line that bisects the Orange Free State. The inference ij that they had decided to abandon Bloemfontein because they could not hope to de- fend it owing to the nature of the surrounding country. The selection of Winburg as the seat of the Government therefore argues that the country in which it is situated would afford them a defensive position. Possibly they hope to find such ground in the hills which cross the country in front of Win- burg. stretching from Brandfort Station eastwards to the ranse which run- along the border of Basu- toland. There is one good reason why the Trans- vaal burghers should desire their allies to occupy and defend such a position. It would enable them to continue the siege of Ladysmith, provided, of course, that they were able to stay the advance of General Buller. An army at Winburg or on the Brandfort- Ficksburg line would protect the Boer forces in Natal from any attack on their rear or flank. The moment a Boer army defending Winburg was driven away to the north the continuance of the siege of Ladysmith would become an absolute impossi- bility. The Boer forces in Natal would then be compelled to retire through Northern Natal, and any hope of a successful further resistance on Free State territory would have to be abandoned.

ON THE TUGELA. CONTINUOUS SEVERE FIGHTING A message from Sir Redvers Buller, which the Wa.r Office reoeived and issued on Saturday giving casualties among officers on February 22nd, con- cludes as follows:- Owing to the continuous fighting, it is not possible at present to give the number of men. killed and wounded."

WITHIN SIX MILES OF LADYSMITH. Every mile of our advance to the relief of Lady. smith, says a correspondent, is being obstinabely contested by the enemy. On Wednesday our ad- vance guard was within six miles of the outlying positions of Lady-smith. General Wlhitte is co- operating with the advance, and everything pro- mises well.

SEVERAL HILLS CAPTURED. The following cable has been received foy the Out- look :— Colenso Camp, Saturday, 2-30 p.m. Weare gradually advancing. The Boers are show- mg stubborn rtanœ. We nave taken several hills by night attack. The Boers a.re shelling with five guns, but their effect is unimportant.

THE FIGHTING AT GROBLER'S KLOOF. THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE GROUND. ["Times" Second Edition Telegram.] Colenso, Saturday, 3-20 p.m. The first brigade across the river on Wednesday immediately proceeded to reconnoitre Grobler's Kloof. The brigade advanced across the plain, covered by shell fire from two field batteries and tho heavy gun". They saw no sign of the enemy till they approached the foot of the hill, when they were suddenly met by a fusilade at short range. The enemy were not entrenched, but were much scat- tered among the bushes and dongas. Our men im- mediately retreated, but the Somersets had nearly one hundred casualties, including three officers killed. This decided General Buller to make an ad- vance on Thursday with part of General Wynne's Erigade, General Hildyard's Brigade supporting .he advance from the Fort Wylie group of kopjes. The country through whioh the advance had to be made is a strip at first two miles broad. Then wind- ing northward between high hills behind Grobler's Kloof and the river it consists of extremely broken, steep kopjes, and many dongas all thickly wooded. It is good country for the Boer method of fighting, and affords a series of defensive positions one be- hind another, though none is quite first-class. It also provides excellent gun positions extremely diffi- cult to locate. The advance consequently is slow. Our men had been hampered by a heavy cross fire from the wooded slopes of Grobler's Kloof. A small force of the enemy, too, crept up unperoeived on our left flank and took up a strong position. In the evening we advanced about two miles. Almost all our guns were active, but the Boer fire was almost inappreciably affected owing to their force being so widely scattered. Sniping and occasional heavy firing went on almost all mght. On Friday the attack was pushed with more vigour. The left, advancing through the centre of broken ground. ww tuatkred, by. Âm &aa_Q1"1t.JQQof.Ä nvgn wen-entrencnea Kopje oa.uea uway rrm prevented our right from moving. Consequently it was midday when a general attack was ordered. A large foroe, General Hart's Brigade leading, marched along the railway and occupied a very broken kopje lying between the river and Railway Hill and separated from the former by the railway, where they maintained a sustained and heavy rifle fire. Meanwhile the artillery were concentrating a. heavy fire upon Railway Hill, but the Boers wer plainly visible standing up in the trenches in con- siderable numbers, firing and ducking when they heard a shell coming. The artillery being mostly in front of Railway Hill the Boers were able to maintain a heavy fire from broken ground north* east of Railway Hill.

THE HEAVY FIGHTING AT PIETER'S KOP. Colenso Camp, Saturday (forwarded Feb. 27th. 10-15 a.m.) Last night General Hart's Irish Infantry Brigade made a frontal attack on Pieter's Kop Hill, spur of Grobler's Kloof, near Pieter's Station. The Boers, who were strongly entrenched in numerous rifle pits and dongas, resisted our advance with the utmost tenacity. Schanzes (stone breastwork) erected during the night now protect our advanced lines. The Inniskilling Fusiliers have suffered heavily. To-day the Boer artillery fire has slackened, and we are heavily bombarding the enemy's posi- tion. Sunday (forwarded Feb. 27th). There is a cessation of hostilities to-day, and our dead and wounded are being brought in. The Boers admit that their casualties amount to 600.

BULLER'S PROGRESS. FOUR COUNTER ATTACKS RE- PULSED BY LANCASH1RES. The war correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Pietormaritzburg telegraphs on Sunday, February 25th, 5-30 p.m.:—A telegram received here, dated Near Pieters Station, Friday," states that the Lan- cashire Brigade and other troops holding the kopjes to the left of Pieters resisted four counter-attacks on Thursday afternoon. The Boers, who appeared to have been strongly reinforced, attempted to rush our positions in the most determined fashion. At daybreak on Friday heavy fighting was resumed. Our positions were maintained, despite persistent attempts to drive the troops back. In the afternoon the Boers made a further counter-attack, but retired in disorder under a withering fire. It is reported that the enemy has removed a large quantity of stores and ammunition across the Klip River.

BAYONETTING THE BOERS. KRUGER'S GRANDSON KILLED. Long telegrams from Mr. Winston Churchill des- cribing General Buller's advance appear in the Morning Post." In one message, despatched from Frere Camp on Sunday, Mr. Churchill says that as the result of fighting on the 19th and 20th the Boers evacuated their great camps around Ladysmith, a.nd hundreds of wagons were seen leaving for the north. It was believed that they had decided to raise the siege of Ladysmith in consequence of the withdrawal of the Free State oommandoes for home defence, and the loss of important positions, and were retiring covered by a strong rear-guard. It is now proved that this belief is at least premature. In the fight- ing on February 21, in which the Lancashire bri- gade were engaged, our loss was about 150. Con- fused, close fighting of a fierce and sanguinary nature continued throughout the night. Our l086es were eevere, but it is certain that the Boers suffered proportionately. The troops closed with the enemy several times. Sixteen men of Wortley's composite battalion of rifles—all Reservists—showed blood on their bayonets. President Kruger's grandson waa among the killed. Many officers and men were wounded, but the morning showed the British in full possession of all this ground. Our further advance is confronted by the formidable Pieters position stretching from the lofty waterless hills of Doori) Kop and around Grobler's Kloof to the river.

WITH GENERAL GATACRE. A RACE FOR LIFE. The "Morning Post's" war correspondent sends some interesting details of General Gatacre's recon- naissance at Srmberg. The Boers were in great force and strongly entrenched, and the artillery fire lasted far six houTS, amid. a heavy tlhundør.>torm. Unhappily our soouts got beyond tihe mounted 1111- fantry and raced tbe Boers for possession of a kopje. The Boers arrived first and opened a deadly firs at close range, killing four of the scouts. Our loss was fourteen killed, wounded, and musing—presumably prisoners. There wera no casualties among Uie Im- perial troops. Half a field] ospital, -alf a bearer company, tihe New South Wales Medical Stiff Corps, and seven officers and 81 men under Col. William* have arrived in camp.

SCOUTING AT STORMBERG. CAPTAIN MONTMORENCY & A VOLUNTEER COLONEL KILLED. [Press Association War SpeoiaLl Sterkstroom, Saturday, Feb. 24th. During a reconnaissance of too Boer position at Stormbeng, a party of ecouts, under Captain M<mt- morency, came into close contact with a number of the enemy, and the two parties blazed away a.t each other at a distance of only fifty yards. Sterkstroom Camp, Sunday. A divisional order issued by General Gatacre re- cords the General's deep regret at the news of the death of Captain Montmorency. V.C., commanding Montmorency's Soouts, and Lieut.-Colonel Hoskiss, 3rd Middlesex Volunteer Artillery, killed yesterday a.t Schoromon's Farm. In those deaths, the or concludes, the division has lost two very valuable officers.

ANOTHER VICTORY BY GEN. BRABANT. JAMESTOWN OCCUPIED. Sterkspruit, February 26. Boer reports which have been received here from Ladygrey show that General Brabant has occupied Jamestown and captured all the Boer horses. Native fugitives hom the Boers ooming from the Ilerschel district state that the enemy has been thoroughly routed, and are fleeing on foot in all directions. Major Hook has been ordered to H 'rschel with a force of mounted Volunteers, and Captain Penny, who is in comma.nd here, will pro- ceed immediately to Lande,xn's Nek to join In- spector Wooler, who commands the Cape Police, and will take command of both forces. If is sup- posed that the rebels will attempt to retreat over Landean's Nek and along the River Telle, through Basutoland, into the Free State. Some, on the other hand, think they will use the new drift at the junction of Aliwal and Herschel districts with the Orange River, and this is considered a.n excellent spot at which to cut off their retreat. The greatest excitement prevails on account of the close prox- imity of our troops, and the natives are jubilant over the news of reoent British victories.

OPERATIONS AT ARUNDEL. AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION. .¡'t.. [Press Association War Special.] Arundel, Sunday. Very early this morning a. strong force of Aus- tralians of Prince Alfred's Guard alIld. of Mounted Infantry, under the command of General Clements, with two batteries of Field Artillery, advanced across the plain towards Knilfonteim. The to the right and left were shelled, a 40-pounder and Howit- zers co-operating with Lyddite. A body of Austra- lians from Hanover Road, under Ookxnel Price, with the lruniskNhngs and two guns from Moorfontein, under Colonel Henderson, attacked the enemy on the flank, whole Prince Alfred's Guard were sent past Vaajfkop to the plain beyond to cut off the enemy's retreat. They remained there for some time. Our shells caused a small force of Boers to retire from Vaalkop through the hills in the rear rowa.rd8 Rensburg. A Boer gun opened on Prince Alfred's Guard, who retired across the pkon. As they were passing Vaalkop, which was believed to be evacuated, suddenly a very hot rifle fire was opened on them. The enemy used black powder. thus revealing their position. There was nothing for it but to gallop, which the Volunteers did, es- caping almost unscathed. The 40-pounder soon put Lyddite on the spot from which the fire came, and the enemy were seen to be retreating under the cover of a stone wall to Kinefontein. Meanwhile the bombardment of the hill on the left continued. Throughout the morning the enemy were eventually seen leaving that portion, also retiring to Krnefon- tein. About mid-day tihe enemy got a gun and a, Pom-pom into position on Va.a.1kop aM commenced shelling our cavalry and the guns which were ex- posed on the plain. Their operations, however, were much hindered by the attention of four Howitzers and the 40-pounder, and they soon ceased. Not a, shell took effect, and it is remarkable that While the Boer Pom-poms have fired thousands of shells dur- ing the campaign in this neighbourhood, the effec- tive ahote can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This evening rain set m, and tihe greater part of our forces withdrew into camp.

FOURTEEN BOERS SHOT BY A VOLUNTEER SCOUT. Arundel, Sunday. The Port Elizabeth Volunteers had an exciting experience yesterday in the hills round our left flank which are in the possession of the enemy. The men behaved remarkably well. Good service was done by one of their scouts, who is an excellent shot, taking up an advanced position whence he had the Boers in full view. While remaining per- fectly concealed himself he fired every cartridge he possessed at the enemy, and then got a fresh supply from a comrade. According to the latter's state- ment he laid no fewer than fourteen Boers low. The enemy were completely puzzled as to the direc- tion whence the shots eame. The Volunteers sus. tained no casualties. Heavy rains are falling here. One of the attractions of Aberystwyth, the old Devil's Bridge, is giviDg way; and if the structure is to be preserved, something must be done to it. <

NEWS AND NOTES. A Welst-speaking clergyman in the Record complains that, though there are large numbers of Welsh-speaking soldiers, especially in those regiments allotted under the territorial system to the Principality, no care seems to be taken to provide them with bilingual chaplains. This," he says, plainly, is an evil which has lost many adherents to the Church in Wales in the past, and yet, when I have spoken about this neglect of Welsh soldiers, I am met with the cold snub, They can speak English.' Many Englishmen can speak French, but I doubt if when dying on the field of battle they would care to have the last consolations of religion in aught but their native tongue. There are chaplains 06 the War Office list quite capable of speaking both languages. Whynot select them for our Welsh Highlanders p" An eccentric clergyman in Sunderland has asked Mr Lloyd George to address his congrega- tion in church. Mr George has, of coarse, accepted. Rabid Radicals will accept anything that will get them anyhow into church circles. Their bitterness is taken away by a little clerical notice. This is the way they do it in the Isle of Man. | There are scores of people in Rhyl who would like the same to be done for Rhyl; but when you ask them what they will do in the matter, they in effect say Nothing: we expect you to incur the expense, and we will reap the benefit." "The report just issued by the Board of Advertising in the Isle of Man gives some remarkable statistics of holiday-making. During the past visiting season 395,772 passengers were landed at insular ports, a considerable increase over anj previous figures. Of these Douglas bad 369,006, Ramsey 18,193, Peel 7,973—being ■ a total increase on 1898 of 65,329. In the year the Board began work, 1893, the arrivals were 266,685, so that the total increase in seven years is 129,087, or nearly 50 per cent., due, as the Board claims, to its advertising genius. Last year advertisements in newspapers were circulated to the extent of 195 million copies; 400,000 full-page advertise- ments appeared in guides and railway publica- tions 30,000 copies of a free official guide were distributed 5,000 pictorial and letterpress posters wore exhibited, and 100 lectures illustrative of Manx life and scenery were delivered in towns throughout the British Isles." A contemporary states that it is now said to be practically certain that Mr Herbert Lewis will not consent to exchange the Flint Boroughs for the representation of Merionethshire." Quite true. We can confirm it. The Merionethshire people would not have Mr Lewis they are going to have a local man. When the Flint Boroughs are disfranchised, Mr Lewis will have to go further a-field for a seat, or wait for dead man's boots in his own county. We have received a little booklet entitled "The Riviera and Italy for a £10 Note." Nice places but most people who require a change after the winter and influenza need go no further than Rhyl. At Coventry an auctioneer and a merchant were fined for not clearing a length of footpath in front of their premises of snow although shrub- beries and a carriage-way divided the houses of defendants from the pathway. Colonel Lovett, speaking at a dinner to the Imperial Yeomanry at Shrewsbury, said he served with the Boers in the Zulu war, and found them fine fellows and brave chaps. He had been a personal friend of Mr Kruger's and Mr Joubert's, and they were very nice old gentles en. It is officially estimated that Wales spent last year £874,611 under the Intermediate Education Act. It is stated that this money could have been far better used had it gone to enable Elementary Schools to give advanced teaching. A much larger number of children would thus benefit than the few drafted into the Intermediate Schools. It seems that the Principality is not as white as it is often depicted. In the publication called National Righteousness." there is a map des- criptive of offences committed in every county in England and Wales. There are six degrees in the diagrams. The first and best shews under 150 offences per 100,000 population; the next shews 150 and over 250, the third 250 and under 500. In the first division there are six English counties and not one Welsh. In the second eight English and one Welsh (Merioneth) in the third Flint, Anglesey, Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Radnor appear. In the fourth Denbigh, Carnar- von, Brecknock, and Montgomery. In the fifth Glamorgan and Pembroke- Not one appears in the sixth, which is made up exclusively of Northumberland, Durham, and Lanoashire. The late rector of Llandysilio, in this diocese, the Rev J Mathews, left a sum of £100 in his will as the nucleus of a fund for the maintenance in the parish of a minister of the Church when it is disestablished! Bat it is not known where the money has gone, and the Commissioner who last week inquired into rhe charities of the parish thought the bequest was bad for "uncertainty and remoteness." Who's Who" for 1900, is issued by Messrs Adam & Charles Black, Soho Square, at 3s. 6d. The work contains over a thousand pages in small type. There is no man of note whose biography is not given. In addition, information as to public offices and appointments come in for minute details. The work is marvellous value. The c. Cambrian," a high-class journal issued in the United States, gives one a fresh notion of the status of Welshmen in the great land of liberty. The Welsh speech," it states, is associated in their mind with what is foreign and humble, and, as far as success here is concerned, the Welsh language is connected with the incompetent." The their mind referred to is the mind of young Welsh Yankees. The much-decorated bard Cadvan," wails in a Welsh quarterly of the neglect of Welsh parents to teach Welsh to their children. He states that the chief cause of complaint, and the bitterest shame, is the way in which the children are neglected in the matter of their language in the religious circles." The English causes which have multiplied so rapidly may be responsible for this neglect." It is the practice at one of the Welsh Univer- sity Colleges to place on the notice-board notices of vacancies in scholastic and other circles in order to give graduates an opportunity of apply- ing for the appointments. The other day a notice was posted to the effect that a headmaster was wanted for one of the county schools of Wales. A star or asterisk appeared after the word Headmaster," and on reference to the note at the bottom to which the asterisk referred it was found to read, By the county scheme regulating this school, the headmaster embraces the head- mistress." Some of the more cautious graduates wrote for a photograph of the headmistress; but there was so great a rush for the post that the governors had to issue the advertisement in an amended form, by which it appeared that what they meant was that the two positions were com- bined in the headmaster. The Methodist Times occasionally plays the candid fnend to its own denomination. Here are some eloquent sentences from its leading article of February 1: We need scarcely say that there is nothing which we more greatly need than an increase in the number of actual members of the Methodist Church. The membership of the Church is the necessary foundation of all we do, and we are getting very top-heavy. The founda- tion is not broad enough. Much more than in the past, the actual members are outnumbered by the congregation. It is a very unsatisfactory state of things. Relatively to our numbers onr membership is probably smaller than that of any other Church. It is useless to say that this is due to the fact that our conditions of Church membership are more rigorous and exigent, because, as a matter of fact, whatever the theory in practice they are not. Some people, on this subject, live in a fool's paradise." The Rhyl County School Governors held their annual meeting last week, when Mr Llewelyn Jones was elected chairman, in the room of the Vicar. Mr Perks was elected vice-chairman. The reporters were accustomed to receive notice of the meetings of this body. It would be inter- esting to know how it is the public are not still allowed to be made acquainted with the pro- ceedings. We trust there is nothing wrong. I

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