BOERS COMMANDEER CLOTHING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 293, 11 December 1899, Page 3

BOERS COMMANDEER CLOTHING.

Kimberley, November 2, by dispatch rider, via Hopotown, " Renter's special service.—l learn that the enruy now investing us are a miscellaneous lot. Natives avlio escaped from the Boers declare that, besides all the money, even clothing was being commandeered from their women.

On November 1 the enemy lifted over 200 head of cattle, besides horses, in the neighbourhood. The owners, now quite destitute, came into Kimberley under protection.

Major Scott-Turner's reconnoitring force Avent out yesterday, after the explosion, and ascertained that the laag-efr" of dynamute huts had "been I bloAvn up. The general manager of IDe Beer's iuforms me that the total I amount of dynamite exploded Avas 1970 cases, representing an actual loss of nearly £0000. Boers fired on the scouts and reconnoitring party, but at an absurd range. The Avounded are doing- well. M'Cl.intock is on duty again, full of pluck, notwithstanding the fact that a bullet penetrated the fleshy part of his side. Under date November, 2, Renter's special at Kimberley says the residents are bearing the strain of the siege bravely, and have perfect confidence in. the arrangements made to withstand any attack' from the enemy. The Boers- in the neighbourhood are showing signs of restlessness OAvinjr to the non-arrival of Cronje's commando and his fruitless efforts to take Mafeking. It is reported that 1500 Boers have left Cronje's commando to join the forces outside Kimberley, and the enemy has recently begun to slioav. himself. On Thursday last a patrol under Captain White was fired on by artillery from the Free State,border, both in the morning and afternoon, but the shells did not explode, and Captain White did not think it advisable to return the fire. The burghers at Spytfontein are under Commander Engelbracht, avlio was at one time in the Cape police. There is no scarcity of provisions. The enemy's force outside the-town is stated to "be about 4000.