Widnes Examiner. — 1881-01-01 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

DISXSTER-TO-BICTISH`TIODPS TitrlCS: veer,. _ It is placed liefottd cklubtAhat a -detachment of the 94t.h  Regiment was stirprise,d by the -Boers on Monday week, oh the march from Leydenberg to Pretoriapa distance of 200 miles, with the disastrous result of 120 Britisk soldiers killed and wounded and 37 taken prisoners. The colours of the regiment were saved. Sir G. Colley, the officer commansling in Natal, in reporting the disaster to the War Office; asks for a cavalry regiment to be sent to him quickly, He feels that the overpowering of the British detachment will ,materially alter the situation, as it will encourage the Boers, who will now also feel themselves committed. On Sunday- it was decided,to send out to Natal the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, now stationed at Norwich. Arrangements are being pushed forward at the ordasnce stores at Woolwich for seniing immediate supplies te the Cape. ' , ' Further details of the disaster 'to tritish troops tam week in the Transvaal have been telegraphed from Durban, and it is made clear that the massacre was due to a "surprise," , and that the war will be of a most bitter character. It appears that the moment of attack selected was favourable to the Boers, as it was just at the time an 'effort was being made to extricate the waggons of the 94th llogiment from a swamp, and when Lieutenant Colonel Anstruther and his handful of men had, in. order to render aasistince, laid aside their arms: "'Upon the appearance of the Boers the soldiers rushed to their weapons, but before they conld place themselves in a defensive position they were shot down by their assailants. It is reported from-Kimberley in four Eaglishmen have been murdered in cold blood n the midst of an assembly of 3,000 Boers. The driver of a postcart, has also been murdered and his mail bags carried' off. There is a report that Colonel Bellaire has shelled the Boers out of Potchefstroom, killing 100 and wounding many. Throughout the Transvaal the wildest excitement prevails. At home arrangements have been made for the despatch of a regiment of cavalry and a battery of artillery to Natal, and a Reuter's telegram says that on- Monday the Tamar left Gibraltar with the 97th Regiment for Capetown and Natal. • An unsuccessful attempt has been made to cat off the cattle of the rebels in the ',tribe district. On December 20, Colonel Carrington was still patrolling in Basutoland. Dunnes, Tuesday.—A portion of the mail from the TritiaViud has arrived.,-Letters state that the first shot of the war was fired at Potchefstroom, by order of Major Clarke, upon a body of armed Boers approaching the military camp. Commandant Cronje was killed sad five Boers wounded. This is said to have been the actual corn-, mencement of hostilities.—The town of Potchefstriom is now hi the hands of the Boers, who are said to be 6,000 strong. At Heidelberg there are 3,000 of them. As Sir Pomeroy Colley will he escorted to Newcastle by the newlyarrived drafts, the services of the volunteers called out for that purpose will now not be required. Carrrows, December 24.—The postal line between this and the Transvaal has been entirely. idterrupted, and for twelve days no letters have come 'through. From Kimberley we have conflicting accounts of what is going on, but you will be better informed in England than we are here. The excitement is great, and the 91st are in readiness to embark for Durban at the shortest notice.—ln Basutoland there is no change. Colonel Carrington has returned to Mateteng, having effected nothing.—ln Caffreland the Pondomise have been beaten in several encounters by Colonel Baker's force.—General Clarke is still at Umtata.  BERLIN, Wednesday.—The Dutch Government, replying on the opinion expressed by Mr. Gladstone as to the attitude which should be assumed by England as regards the Transvaal, are about to make an appeal to the fairness of the British nation in favour of the, independence of the territory. Monday, the 10th of January, is named as the date of this embarkation of reinforcements for the Cape.