IN CAPE COLONY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 55, 6 March 1900, Page 5

IN CAPE COLONY.

BOERS IN FORCE AT

NORVAL'S PONT

FIGHTING NEAR" DOR-

DRECHT.

(Received 9 a.m.)

LONDON, March 5.

General Clements holds Achtestang, cm the railway midway between Cplesberg and Noryal's pont. ~.,'.

The Boers are still in strong,for,ce : at Norval's Pout.

-€-APE:I-oW?fr^arcliV^'

Two hundred Victorians and Tasjnanians, under Captain JjEUings, of

the Victorian Mounted Rifles, with two guns, while reconnoitring from Coles-berg, in ihe direction of Waggon Bridge, on fhe Orange River, saw 50 Boers busy on the opposite bank. They dropped a shell amongst them, causing their precipitate retreat towards a- distant laager. Other shells were fired, which burst among the retreating Boers. LONDON. March 4. Colonel Price, of VietoiTi, has moved his camp, which comprises a strong force of Australian Mounted Rifles, and the Berkshire Regiment, seven miles north of Colesberg. CAPETOWN, March 4. Major Maxwell, of the Royal Engineers, with a mixed force of 1100, attacked the Boers in .the rear, north of Dor.deeht, at dawn j'.esterday, and seized a lofty mountain in the face of a heavy fire. Two Boer gams continued firing all the afternoon. Several Cape riflemen, endeavouring f6 ifetfeh the bre&snvdrks, were'repulsed, losing four killed. Colonel Brftbaut marched by night to Labusohagne's Nek, and occupied a strong poaiiion, including a fort,- customarily vacated at night. At dawn yesterday the enemy were returning leisurely, when Colonel Brabant's force fire<l, bewildering them. Later on. the enemy made a determined attempt to retake the position, but were repulsed. Colonel Brabant occupies other points. The British had six killed and 15 wounded.