THE FOURTH CONTINGENT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10887, 12 February 1901, Page 5

THE FOURTH CONTINGENT.

CLEARING .THE COUNTRY.

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

{7BOM OUB SPECIAL YfKR COKBESFONDKJi? KLERKSDOBF. December 20. j After marking time in Klerksdorp for ten days our column moved out on the last day of November. We proceeded along the railway line in the direction of Potchefstrooiu for about 11 miles, aud then turned south-east- towards tie Vaal River. Fresh orders had just been received from the Commander in Chief that our duty in addition to engaging the enemy as usual would be to bring in every white man, woman, and -child -from the forms and villages tlliat lay in our r.ray. to destroy all forage and implements, and to commandeer all the live stock we could find. It is generally considered that some such stringent course of action is necessary to bring to a. close the present system of pnerilla warfare into whidh the campaign has degenerated. Of course, all loyalists will receive compensation for whatever is taken from them. On the second day out tJhe work wus begun jn real earnest, and in three days we had upwards of 250 women and children in what we called our "\vomen"s laager." A convoy .with provisions came to meet us fixwn Potchefstroom, and they were sent back with it and entrained for Johannesburg. The work, which was carried out in the following manner, was certainly most objectionable, but, nevertheless, had to be done: —Squadrons of horse were sent out on either flunk of our line of march, accompanied by guides and interpreters. When a farm was approached, small parties were detached, and stationed all round to avoid a surprise by the Boers, Avhile the officer iv command would proceed to inform the women that they had to come to our laager. They were generally given half an hour to prepare themselves. First, a look of blank dismay would cloud their faces, and then the usual expedient of womenkind: when in trouble—tears. If there happened to be a conveyance of any description on the premises," it was utilised for the purpose of bringing them in to the column, but if not, they had to walk, which, however, happened but rarely.. Some very lew that were almost starving "were glad to come with us. but the majority appeured to feel the position very keenly, especially wlien our men were burning and otherwise destroying the grain and other farm produce. I am sure we would all far rather faced the armed" Boers than their tearful wives and children, but our duty was to obey, and so the work went on. On the eighth day out we learned that a force of 400 Boers were holding the top of a broad ridge of hills called Los Derg, and that we were to co-operate in a scheme to capture them. On the following morning the three columns were in their respective positions, and had apparently surrounded the hill, but the why Boers hnd made their escape during the liigft-t, probably through some defect in our outpost arrangement. Two days more trekking brought us to Potchefstrooin, which wus being occupied by (ienerul FreiKU. We htad on our arrival ;it the town 71 msn (including nine prisojurs), 625 wemen and children, 5600 head of cattle, and aibout 12,000 sheep. We left all these nt Potchelstroom, and proceeded to Klerksdorp. The following promotions a""< appointments have latoly toen continneel: —.Major Davies to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Lieu-tenunt-Colonel Francis (invalided). Lieutenant Bauchop (A .squadron) to ba Captain, vice Captain Fulton (invalided); .Strg-.-unt-.Major Saxby to he Liuiitentnii attached to li squadron"; Serjeant-Mm jor Dawsou (D squadron) to be Regimentnl Sergeant-Major, vice Sergeant-Major iSaxby (promoted); Sergeant Murphy to be Sergeant-Major; Corporal Hazlttt to be Sergeant, and Trooper J. Gibb to be Corporal. The last three appointments are in b squadron. The pro.lnotiou of M.ftjot' Davies to Lieutenant-Col-onel is extremely popular among .vl-l rpnks.