DETAILS OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 211, 5 September 1900, Page 5

DETAILS OF THE WAR.

THE LATEST-BATTLES

DRIVING BACK THE

BOERS

ATTACK BY HUNTER'S

FORCE

A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT,

(From Capetown Papers.)

FOURIESBURG, July 27.

All the forces under General Hunter made a simultaneous movement on the 23rd inst., the enemy, within the circle of the mountain chain, holding- the passes. Generals Clements and Paget attacked Slabbert's Nek two days ago, forcing their passage through. It was mainly an artillery engagement, and there were'few casualties. <> General Bruce-Hamilton attacked Naauwpoort Nek, where there was ■hard fighting. j General Bundle has advanced to Commando Nek. General Hunter has had a severe eno-agement, forcing Eetief's Nek, a narrow pass in the mountains with hu"-e hills on' either side, and very strongly held by riflemen concealed in the rocks. About two miles east of the nek is a pass in the hills leading to a precipitous path, or bridle track, and very difficult to deal with. The intelligence officers of llimmgton s Scouts reconnoitred the paths and found them strongly held by riflemen at the head of the ravine which was commanded from thesis side The Black Watch was sent, and made an attempt to force, the path, and were met with a severe lire, during which Major Wilshire was very severely wounded. They succeeded n getting possession of the outlying kopjes, but found that the pass could only be carried at terrible loss. General Hunter stayed until dusk, when the hills were rushed and carried suwesrfuHy. Dunn"1 the suspension ot this flame atfack the Highland Light Iniantry and the Sussex Regiment made, _ A DIRECT FRONTAL ATTACK upon the hills on either side of the SEW* Jo get a. footing on th hills and drive the enemy oil. Both regiments advanced roost rpW acroTs the open plain under hre, fijrn the -nL in adva enS Ck TheASr/w t S sHelf co^XSwever, that tfjjso steep that it w»« .>;»£*■* ££^

They got close to. the hill overlooking the nek, but they found it impossible to ascend. A retirement was therefore ordered alter dark. On the 24th the attack was renewed on the bridle path east of the* nek. During the night Lovat's Scout® and Kimington's Guides, with four companies of the Highland Light Infantry, ascended the hills commanding the paths. There was a "heavy mist on the hills. The Boers feared a night attack and left the hills unoccupied. The Highland Light Infantry and Lovat'sScouts occupied them at dajrlight. The Boers still held the heads of the ravine in the rocks under such cover that it was impossible to see any man. A hot fire was kept up, the Boers bringing two guns to bear on the hills the Black Watch hiid occupied. Our five-inch gun silenced them. The Seaforths crept close to the head of the ravine, when they were ordered to charge, while the Boer fire was kept down by the heavy fire from the Black Watch. The Volunteer Company of Seaforths made A DARKING RUSH across the, open country, so fast that the Boer fire did not take much effect. The Boers ran down the precipice and galloped out from under the rocks the Highlanders firing upon them from above. About 250 Boers went out dressed in khaki. Our fire, had very little effect, being fired from the top of the ravine. A few men yfell. The main body of the Boers immediately fled from the nek itself and retired, our five-inch gun firing into tiaem. General Hunter followed through the nek and met Generals Clements, Page and Bundle at Fouriesburg. The Boers have now been driven into the mountain passes, and it would be hardly possible for them to get their waggons and guns out. At Fouriesburg Mrs Steyn, the wife of the exPresident, was left in charge. Poultney, the chief of the Commissariat, and other Free State officials, were captured here. They, are Roberts, secretary to the War Council; Morgan, clerk to the Treasury; Tetley, clerk in the State Attorney's office; and De Villiers, Landr<ost of Senekal. Generals Hunter and Eundle called on Mrs Steyn, and found her well. The commanders in charge of the operations were Koux, Fourie and Colbie. About thirty Boers are wounded in the hospital here. About one hundred English" prisoners were released. Our troops are now watching all the passes in the hills. A very large number of waggons, stores, cattle, and about 6000 Boers have gone to the hills.