WHITE FLAG TREACHERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 196, 18 August 1900, Page 5

WHITE FLAG TREACHERY.

A CLOSE SHAVE.

The following- (says a Cape, paper) is from a letter from Mr Percy G,., Shepherd to his father, in Capetown, dated Johannesburg^ 21st June, 1900: When at Pretoria I determined to rejoin my regiment, which I had heard was stationed at Boksburg, and ask for my discharge, to enable me to attend to my business affairs here. In setting.about this, I passed through an exciting- experience. Under Captain Brown (21st .Brigade, we occupied the Springs near Boksmirg. The next morning at daylight I was ordered to .take a patrol of three men and proceed to a point five miles east of the Springs, across the Blesbok Spruit. As we were aware that the neighbourhood was swarming with Boers under the command of Dirkse^i, I did not expect to return. My men got ready to start with coats rolled and strapped to their saddles, but I made them strip the saddles to make them as light as possiblefor the horses. About two miles out we captured two Boer scouts, and, leaving them in charge of Muller, one of my

men, I proceeded with the other two towards Lombard's farm, across the Spmit, in which direction a Kaffir had informed me a third scout had gone. I savvy two men apparently Kaffirs, leaving the house, which was nearly on the crest of the ridge, and disappear over the rise. When we were about 300 yards from the farmhouse a young girl got on the roof and tied up a white flag, showing us that we were being- *wntched. Calling to Stewart and Avery that the white flag- had gone lip, and that there was no need for further caution, I galloped up to the house and was most effusively greeted by the two farmers and several women. While still greeting them a volley was suddenly poured into us by a party of about 25 Boers, avlio were only about 30 yards distant. By a miracle none of us were hit, although Stewart, who was next to me, had his rifle stuck out of his hand, the foi-ce of the blow snapping the armsling. Before they could reload their Mausers I got my small party under shelter of the house, and this gave us about 50 yards start. Just as we dashed through the spruit the Boers, who had mounted their horses, raced past the house (about GO yards from the spruit) in hot pursuit, firing all the time. The foremost Boer, a man named De Lange, of Bocksburg, as I afterwards learned, mounted on a black horse, outstripped the others, and would have soon caught us up, but just as he dashed through the Spruit his horse stumbled and fell, turning quite a somersault.

My horse being quite a racer I had some trouble in keeping him from leaving Stewart and Avery, who were mounted on Argentines. HoweVer, he set the pace for the latter, and this certainly saved our lives. After an exciting race of about 3J miles, we got near the Springs, and turning round on my horse I fired a shot at our pursuers, after which they retired. Muller here rejoined us, having1 stuck to the two prisoners, Avhose rifles and bandoliers Stewart and myself were carrying in.addition to our own.

On reporting the affair to Co'lionel Otter of the Canadians, who had just arrived, Brown was ordered to send out a detachment of ■"■") men to reconnoitre, and burn down the farm house as a penaltj* for abusing the white flag. Lieut. Saville was in charge, and asked me to take charge lot' n've advance scauts who had to keep half mile in advance of the party. On getting close to the Bfesbok Spruit, we discovered the enemy on the ridge behind the farm house, who opened fire on us. We drove them back about two miles, and returned tio the house, taking the- two farmers back with us to camp. As the farmers said that the house belonged to an Englishman, Lieut. Saville did not burn it down, although an example should be made of such a. flagrant piecel of treachery. I put down the number of Boers who chased us at 25, but the lookout on the big dump at the Springs counted about 40.