BULLER'S ADVANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1900, Page 5

BULLER'S ADVANCE.

BOTHA'S FORCES ENGAGED

AMERSPOORT CAPTURED,

AMERSPOORT, August 8. The advance north under General Buller began. yesterday morning at 7 a.m. from Paardekop, Amerspoort, 18 miles away, being reached after considerable fighting. After dark Christian-Botha, the brother of the commander-in-chief, with between 1200 and 2000. men and some ten guns, including pompoms, tried to stop the advance by holding a strong ridge immediately south of and commanding Amerspoort. Dividing 'A. hi 9 guns, he employed several on-either flank commanding the road over the ridge to Amerspoort, and opened fire the moment the long line of infantry deployed for the attack, and came within range of his riflemen who.lined the ridge inside the gurisj- but at no time did the Boers make any determined stand under the fire of our advancing infantry, it being, evidently trying'to their nerve. In consequence

the fighting was principally on the left of the big guns. The Boer gunners had the range, and shells and pompom missiles were dropped with marvellous accuracy amongst our men —especially the King's Royal Riflescausing several casualties.

As the khaki line neared the ridge with a steadiness beautiful to watch, the Boer riflemen retired behind the ridge and closed upon either flank, leaving their guns to continue to harass the advance. The guns on the right were speedily silenced, and were withdrawn out of range, but on the left the long range pieces still threw shells amongst the infantry.

As the latter |.assed over the ridge on to Amerspoort, our left wing- being then extended towards the Boers* right, the enemy limbered up the remainder of the guns, and Amerspoort' was occupied this morning. A small party of the enemy worked out during a dense fog and pushed our outposts immediately north of the township, causing the Fifth Lancers, who were watering horses, to scatter, but they were quickly driven off by the infantry outposts. Sniping continues during the day, Botha being evidently anxious to dispute our advance.