THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11012, 9 July 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE ESSENTIAL FOR PERMANENT PEACE.

BOER ATTACK ON BLOCKHOUSES. RIMINGTON'S GUIDES ROUT TWO COMMANDOS. CLEARiiw THE ORANGE RIVER -COLONY. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received July Bth, 8.51 a.m.) LONDON, July 7. The Hon. J. Rose Innes, AttorneyGeneral for the Transvaal colony, addressed a meeting ct Westminster, under the auspices of the Imperial South African Association. He declared .that tie annexation of the late Republics alone coutd secure permanent peace. To grant them their independence again would mean a revival of conspiracy. Lord Kitchener reports that f ocr raiders burned the Roodeporb railway station on Friday, and were driven off with the loss of two killed and seven taken prisoners, all of wlipm were wounded. The British had one wounded.

(Received July Bth. 10.26 p.m.) LONDON. July 8. Further details, of the attack on the blockhouses at Bruispruit, on June 26th, show that two hundred of Ben Yiljoen's commando attempted to cross the Delagoa Bay railway northwards. One of the blockhouses fell into the hands of the enemy, the others held out. An explosion partly derailed an armoured train coming to the assistance of the British. The Boers, thinking the train was wrecked, attempted to rush it, and encountered at a distance of ten yards a terrific case shot fire. They thereupon withdrew. •

Two thousand refugees have been brought to Extenburg in a fortnight. Eieuter's Agency reports that a squadron of R-imington's Guides routed Ackerman's commando at Brakfontein. Ackerman was wounded in the shoulder.

Rimington next attacked Pretorious's commando, 200 strong, at Kootzepoort. After twenty minutes fight at close quarters amongst rocks and bushes, -during which several Boers were- wounded and Pretorious was shot in,the eye, mc enemy fled.

Five British columns have been engaged for several weeks clearing the banks of the Orange River. They have captured 127 Boers, including .several leaders, 92 rifles, 18,000 sheep, 7000 cattle, 5000 horses, and have collected 1200 refugees.