The Second Drive.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 81, 7 April 1902, Page 5

The Second Drive.

A' BIG MOVEMENT.

TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTIES SURMOUNTED

MANY CAPTURES MADE

DE W TET'S ESCAPE

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS

THE HARDSHIPS OF SCOTT'S COLUMN. .<.""'.

The first account of the second drive organised by Lord Kitchener, when a detachment of the Seventh New Zealanders bore the brunt of De Wets attempt to break through the cordon, is just to hand from South Africa. Renter's correspondent, under date of Flakplaats (near Harrismith), February 27, pens the following graphic version of the whole movement, of which De Wet's escape was but an incident: —■ The second of the great drives organised by Lord Kitchener commenced , about the 16th February, when the columns operating in the last drive, moved in different directions, giving the enemy no Indication of the new combination. ;; , ( Colonels Rawlinson, Byng, and Rimington reached the main railway line between Vereeniging and Klip River, and moved due east, with Colonel Rawlinson's left on the Standerton line, and Colonel Rlmington's right on the Heilbron-Vrede line. On the 19th February the movement, began to take definite shapeColonel Rawlinson's left resting on Standerton, Colonel Byng holding the line between him and* Colonel Rimington, whose right touched Tafelkop on the Yrede-Frankfort blockhouse line, while the Leinster Regiment held a portion of the Wilge River from the blockhouse south, to Rietspruit. The .idea of the whole movement necessitated operations of a vast extent, which were to enclose the enemy within the line and the Wilge River, and the Vaal and Klip Rivers on the Natal frontier, and drive them eventually on Harrismith. The drive differed from the former, inasmuch as the .line held was almost twice the length, and the country east was terribly cut by deep valleys and precipitous mountains. ' On the right -- the 21st February it is estimated that, an extended line of 120 miles was „eld by the operating columns. On the morning of the ?oth February the circle was complete. The extreme left, was held by Colonel Nixon, resting on Paardekop, on the Natal line. Next came Colonels Rawlinson,, Byng, and Rimington, who had edged away from Tafelkop, the gap being filled by Colonel Keir's Horse Artillei and ..Mounted Rifles. The Leinster Regiment extended the line up the V ilge River to' Strydpoort, where General Elliott took up the line south as far as Majoor's Drift. Thence to Harrismith the line was held 1 y troops belonging to the Harrismith command. On the 22nd February the northern portion of the .line wheeled round, pivoting noon Colonel Keir. There was a wheel forward, Colonel Keir being still the pivot and remaining stationary. Colonel Nixon rested for'the night on the Drakensberg, Natal frontier. The country was hilly and broken, and the ' weather wet and cold. In seme eases the scouts climbed high mountains right into the clouds, and not a hill or kloof was left unsearched. On the &3rd February Colonel Keir moved forward along the Wilge River to a junction with Holspruit, Colonels Rimington, Byng, Rawlinson and Nixon holding a huge semicircle, the last two columns camping on the Yrede - Botha's Pass blockhouse line. Here we learned that on the night of the 21st February some 200 Boers had broken \through the line, accompanied by cattle, in the midst of which they remained 'hidden, and having cut the wire, had galloped through a hot fire from the blockhouses. A number of horses and cattle were killed, and two natives were left wounded, so it is right to infer that they had not passed through without loss. Natives state that the Boers announced their intention of going west across the Wilge River. It is evident that the enemy were' under the impression that the object of the drive was to'force them on the Vretle-Botha's Pass blockhouses, not realising that General Elliott held the Wilge River, and that they were completely encircled. The Boers in front' of General Elliott, however, realising their plight, made plans for a portion of their force to attempt to get round our - left, possibly through Natal, while the rest should try to force General Elliott's line across the Wilge RiverOn the 24th February a halt was made and Colonel Rawlinson changed places with Colonel Nixon, taking the extreme left, while Colonel Byng rested on Witte kopjes, an old stronghold of the Boers.' Colonels Rimington and Keir held the line from Holspruit to the Wilge, River. We heard to-day that D>; Wet and Steyn had passed through the line at the Wilge River, losing heavily, and it was reported that Manic Botha was killed. The line moved forward,'wheeling to the right •O'jpbr the worst country yet experienced. Precipices barred their progress, and deep-vaUeys made it very* difficult to keep touch. On the night of the 20th of February a party of 200 Boers made a gallant a,^texnp> to pass Coionel Nixon, who, with fhe Third Hussars, held part of the* line on Colonel Rawlinson's right. They rode through, losing, however, five "killed,, two prisoners, and nine wounded, and climbed the precipitous face of the mountain, leading their horses, and then made -a dash. The H&i fay the line continued its

course through terrible country. Gol. Scott, on the Natal border, was much beset with difficulties; indeed, his Mounted Infantry played the part of Alpine climbers "as. well as soldiers. Colonel Rawlinson's line that night reached from the Natal frontier to the left of Marais' Hock, where Colonel Briggs, with the First Imperial Light Horse, held a very strong position. Before camping a large body of Boers was observed off-saddled about two miles on our front, so it was expected there would be either an attempt to cross during the night or a fight next day. The rest of Colonel Rawlinson's column, under Colonels Dawkins and Scott, discarded their transport, the. country being too difficult, and everything promised well for the morrow. The men, who had been undergoing great hardships, immediately they heard the Boers were in front, were in wonderful spirits,, and kept the picquet line with extra zeal. , The nature of the country was such that it often took the whole day to cover twelve miles. . Immediately they arrived in, camp the men were -marched out to the tops of high hills or down deep dongas, where _icy remained all night, showing a splendid example of endurance Few men on picquet. duty slept more than two- or three hours that nig-ht. At six o'clock in the morning of the 27th February (Majuba Day) the line moved forward. Everybody was on the alert, knowing the presence of the enemy in' fr0nt,..... ■ . Suddenly a, troop of the Imperial Horse pounced upon two Boers, who rode over the rise, carrying a white flag, but protested that they were envoys coming to negotiate terms of surrender for Jan Meyer's commando, which was laagered a few miles ahead " Terms were given, which allowed them to keep their personal effects, otherwise unconditional surrender. Truter and De Jager, the two envoys, were given one hour in which to arrange matters in the laager. Captain Watson, staff officer, accompanied the envoys, and I rode with him. On entering the laager we found the Boers gathering in a huge, close crowd in a garden." Truter mounted a horse and rode into their midst, calling the burghers together. When they were assembled he addressed them, stating the terms of surrender, and ordering them fo pile their rifles and saddles. In a short time there were a hundred large piles of rifles, bandoliers, masses of saddles and bridles, and other gear. What struck me most was the cheerfulness, almost gaiety, of the rank and file. Some of the leaders .appeared sad and depressed, but theirs were the only faces showing regret. Most of the commando were Transvaalers. A number had been driven before us from Zuikerboschrand, near Heidelberg, where they had been present at the engagement with the 28th Mounted Infantry. At the end of an hour the Light Horse, which crowned the heights all round, arrived. The total number captured was 500, but the figures are not absolutely corrected yet. From a conversation with the prisoners it is evident that the system of great drives is destined to end tfie war quickly. Although many managed to cross the warm reception they met with acted as a great deterrent. Truter, one of the envoys, crossed with De Wet, passed Colonel Garrett, and stayed "on the other side. He returned alone, rode back into this district, and broke through Colonel Nixon's line, but hearing that his son was wounded he returned. He is a man of great influence, and his capture is a most important one, perhaps the most important, of all. - De Wet's son, a young man covered with Free State emblems, broke through the Lindley-Kroonstad block-;. house° line with his father on the night of the 10th February, losing five men, but remained with the commando here. - - . The whole capture was the biggest since Prinsloo's surrender. A great number of horses and about 4000 head of cattle were taken to-day. Yesterday's total bag by our columns" was about 500, but other captures have not yet been returned. Colonel Nixon accounted for 60. It is impossible not to admire the splendid spirit shown by otir men. the weather on the mountain tops has been terribly cold. With heavy work all day, the men have been obliged to keep watch all through the night, often enshrouded in driving clouds of mist. The commanding officers and staff also hud heavy work, being obliged to see the line picketed out during the night, and touch kept during the day. Everybody, from the commanders to the privates, worked with admirable spirit and great zeal, and the success of the present drive was thoroughly deserved.