BOTHA'S DEFEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 259, 9 November 1901, Page 5

BOTHA'S DEFEAT.

ATTACK ON FRONTIER

FORTS

A DESPERATE AF7AUI

FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS

The Natal "Mercury" special correspondent at Nkandhla gives the following detailed account of the fighting in Zulukind last week; —

Latest accounts received respecting the battle of Itala prove it to have been the severest contest and most 'disastrous to the enemy of any during I this long campaign. Up 10 to-day ■ close on 300 bodies of Boers have I been recovered by our biirlal parties, ■and as the enemy were observed .throughout the fight removing their ; dead, and from the native reports. ; their total loss in killed cannot fall short of 500. They admit having 300 ! wounded, and taking into consideration the veracity with whvh former casualty lists1 have been compiled it I may be taken for grunted that the present one may be considerably increased. I have listened to numerous accounts of the battle, and carefully j comparing one with the other, and ! sifting some apparently doubtful details, all tend to prove that the Boers fought with DOGGED DESPERATION, fearless of consequences, repeatedly charging the trenches in which our 1 men were lying, and doing everything I that daring could do to capture the ; little hcdy of brave defenders in Italu i Camp. The enemy was supposed to be about 1500 strong, but it is now ascertained that they numbered between 2000 and 3000 under the personal command of Botha, who was aided by all the Commandants of repute in the Boer army at present under arms. Of these COO men under Generals Emmett and Grobler were sent to atjtack Fort Prospect. The general plan of action was well conceived, and the attack was bravely pushed, but 2000 odd Boers forgot for a moment that although the British force beneath them numbered only some 300 odd, they consisted of men who fought at Talana, men of Spion Kop, and Pienarr's Hill, Ladysmith, and Vryheid, men who knew not the meaning of the word fear. Such were the men who held BOTHA'S ARMY AT BAY for 19 hours, without food or water. From the time that the Boers gained possession of the summit of Itala Mountain, and captured the advanced outposts of the British, an incessant hail of lead was poured into the little camp below. So heavy was the fire that two guns of the 69th Battery, E.F.A., were early in the fight placed out of action, and an unlucky bullet from the enemy, striking underneath 'the maxim, choked the mechanism with earth, and put that grin also out of action. A common occurrence during the fight was to see Boers rushing to trenches, calling on the occupants to surrender, only to be met with volleys and bayonet .charge. The enemy seemed throughout to be possessed of some heroic madness. Men who have been through some of the most severe engagements of the campaign have told me they have never known Boers to exhibit such reckless daring as they did on the early morning of the 26th. It was AN ANXIOUS MOMENT when towards nightfall the rumour gained ground that the ammunition was running short. Then our troops clenched their teeth, grasped more tightly their rifles, and sawl that their bayonets were more firmly fixed. There was never a thought of surrender, but a. unanimous desire to die fighting. Their gallant leader, Major Chapman, seemed to bear a charmed life. Amidst showers of lead he visited and revisited each trench, saying a cheery word to his gallant lads, unmindful of the bullets, and as cool as if on parade.

About seven o'clock in the evening the Boer fire suddenly ceased, whistles sounded throughout the camp, and. immediately afterwards a general retirement was observed in the ranks of the enem3 r. Taking advantage of this unlooked for respite, Major Chapman decided to retire with his muchdiminished force, faint with the efforts of nineteen hours in the trenches, to his old camp at N'Kandhla. This was accomplished without r

hitch, and the gallant little band were soon enjoying much-needed repose.

Simultaneously with the opening of the attack at Itala, Emmet and Grobler

ATTACKED FORT PROSPECT here with their force of 600 men. They evidently anticipated a wa^k over, the garrison numbering but 20 men, but were grievously disappointed* Captain

Rowley's Maxim, placed in an advantageous position, simply mowed down the horses and men by the dozen. Again and again they attacked throughout the day. but without making the slightest impression on the little bund of heroes within the fort. The Maxim worked splendidly, aud being ably handled, wrought such execution amongst the enemy that they thought discretion the better part of valour, even though it occurred to them late in the day. Captain Rowley and his little party captured fifty horses, and there were found fifty-two lifeless bodies round the enclosure. To this may be added dozens that were removed as usual by the Boers during the engagement.

Of eighty men who composed the outyost on Iraki Mountain when H was rushed by ilie enemy, fourteen j managed to escape, and thirty-seven ! were taken prisoners by the Boers. These were immediately made to do duty as stretcher-bearers, and after (carryingl the dead Boors bade to | Bad an a n go. a distance of about eighteen miles, were released and seni into camp here, first being deprived of their clothing and ' RECLOTHED IN RAGS cast off by their oaptoss. On the whole 1 am informed that these prisoners were treated not roughly nor unkindly by the Boers. A parade of the heroes of Tinla was held by Major Chapman while he read out to'them the contents of ;\ congratulatory telegram from Lord Kitchener. The gallant Major then publicly thanked his men for the brave stand they had mode on the 20th hist.. but his words were scarcely audible owing- to the vociferous cheering. Recommendations for the Y.C. have been given in at least two instances, i