OUR MEN IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11130, 23 November 1901, Page 5

OUR MEN IN SOUTH AFRICA.

PLUMER'S FORCE IK TH|E ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

(mail OUB, SP-XnaJC.COKBESPONDEN'r.} ROUXVILLE, October 1. We have just completed a month's heavy trekking. Perhaps the last four weeks' work done by the Sixth New Zealand Contingent has been the most arduous- and has furnished the most exciting incidents thoy have experienced. As most of our operations have been conducted at night, necessitating patrols making long marches in the vicinity of the column, the men have been subjected to severe physical strain, and it says much for the physique of the New Zealanders that there are few who have not be_n fit for duty during the whole time, notwithstanding the fact that the men on occasion have subsisted almost wholly on "mealie pap" brought over from Basutoland, and have several times been soaked to the skin. We left Pinaar's Siding on the afternoon # of September 3rd. The first day out, whilst crossing the line, we met a special train with the lady members of the Refuge Camp Commission, who seemed anxious to get a look at the * New Zealanders and Bushmen, of whom they had heard so much at Home. Plumer's force, as usual, split into two, the Australians going with Colonel Jervois, on our right. Marching through Springfontein we entered Rouxville on September 7th, the right flank under Captain Harper meeting with sligh* resistance from a few snipers. Next day we had our first experience of heavy rains, and crossed Coomissie Bridge (a fine iron structure of three spans costing £33,000), reaching Smithfield in the evening. Here we _a.w a monument to the memory of the Boers and Britons who fought; side by side and fell in the Basuto war. Sergeants Wahl and Moore having commandeered a piano, organised a concert. On the 11th, whilst entering Zastron, Captain Stevenson, who was in command oi the advance screen, captured two armed Boers, two Cape carts, and several fam-lies. Major Andrew went out with a patrol to the Basutoland border, and climbed the heights of Allapoort, whence we had a splendid view of Basutoland, the natives impressing us as being tne finest we nave met in this country. They are well mounted, armed witn the latest r_fie, and have a pom-pom baittery, a present; from the British Government. Woe betide any Boer that crosses the frontier. A patrol under the command of Colonel Vialls consisting of Yeomanry and 60 New Zealanders, under Captain Finlay, made a very smart capture of 18 armed Boers. Lieutenant Ireeth managed to stalk an outpost of five at daylight, thus paying the way for a surprise of the Boer laager, where the other 13 were captured. Lieutenant Overton made a capture of the other seven whilst escorting supplies to Colonel Vialls. On each occasion the New Zealanders galloped the Boers down. On the night of the 14th a heavy thunderstorm bursit over thfe camp. Six men attached to Colonel Colvin's staff, including Troopers Ronalds and Farquahar (fcixtn N.M.R.)were struck by lightning, their boots and clothing being torn to shreds and burnt. They were sent into JVlaieking (Basutoland) from Wepener, which place we reached next day, meeting Colonel Jervois's corps camped outside the town. Next .day the Whoile of Plumer's force was housed in the town owing to the heavy rains having washed everybody out of camp. The Queenslanders, who had crossed the Caledon .river on tihe 11th, had been in touch more or less with the enemy until entering Wepener on the 13th, when an action was fought with the reargued of a force of Boers estimated at- between three and four hundred. We learnt that the Boers had only. vacated Wepener the morning we entered. Owing . to the heavy rains our guns could not cross the river, consequently the Boers got away, ■ .caving one man dead behind them.. CAPTURE OP BOERS. Leaving Wepener again at daybreak oh the 19th a patrol of tne Seventh Mounted Infantry, under Captain Jvnight, rushed a farm,. capturing eigmt armed Boers, includi__g a veidt-cornet, and twenty-two horses with saddles. Unfortunately they had a ■ sergeant and one man severely wounded, and ano-her slightly, the bwo former dying within twenty-tour hours. Captain Knigtit went . out again on patrol with the Q.1.8.M.1., and on the 21st got on the track of some Cape carts, wh__U_ he. followed for twelve hours, doing seventy miles before he re- ' turned to tne coitann. He captured six armed Boers, two boys, and some women, scone horses, cattCe, etc., and bropgiit in three waggon loads of refugees. "Whilst searching ior a Boer who escaped down a donga, a corporal, of the Buffs acdde_rto__y Shot himse-f with his revolver, the bullet ' entering tbe left eye, and ging right through tihe brain. This man was left, as in tbe oase of the wounded on the previous patrol, for Surgeon-Captain Purdy' to bring in. However, he oniy lived three hours. On four successive patrols Captain Knight captured in all twenty-one .Boers. The same day a patrol of New Zealanders, under Captain Tucker, oaazte in contact with Kruitzhnger's commando- of 150 Boers. Corporal Martin, of SouthLand, made a smart capture of two veldt-cornets, one of' whom, was wanted for the murder erf Lieutenant Montgomery an Imperial officer. A • brother of the veldt-cornet has-since been captured by the Q.1.8'5., and will also he tried as an accomplice. A Boer corporal was aCso bagged by Martin. Lieuts. Morrison and Watkins held a ridge of the Elandsbwg against a.superior lore© of Boers, ultimately driving off Kruitzinger's commando, Veldt-Cornet Hugo being wounded. Meanwhile Captain Finlay, wno, as usual, came in touch with the enemy, was having, a warm time with Assistant-General Brandt's commando. The enemy being of much superior force our men feigned retirement, leaving Sergeant McGoldrick and eight men concealed .n a donga. The Boers fell into the trap, losing one killed and 11 wounded. Here Lieutenant Fre-eth was slightly wounded, though he. managed to. ride back to the column. Commandant Brandt was hit, and was within an ace of being captured. A few days previously Captain Finlav, at daybreak, with 50 men, surprised 50 of the enemy, -who were headed off by Captain Leigh, but managed to escape to the Eilandsberg, a mountain over 2000 feet high, reported to be the rendezvous of Kruitzinger's commando. Every inch of this mountain must be known now to our column, no less than 15 -different patrols having rounded up Boers in its vicinity. A favourite song- with our column is "Here we. go round- the Elandsberg,'- to thstune of "Nuts in May." Quite, a feature of this .trek has been the meeting with reputed Boer. ambulance 'men. No .■ less titan eight "Ambulance Scouts," as our mcn 5 call ■them ) rr have been found hovering round-our camp. A SCOUTING EXPEDITION. Leaving Rouxville again on the 25rd, we trekked back to Wepener. Information having been received by General Plumer that a large force of tlte enemy were not far distant, volunteers -were called to go out and locate them. Lieutenant Tudor, Sergeant. Moore, Corporals Horam, Hill, White, Macintosh, Cassidy, Hislop, and Troopers Petherick. Jackson, Shand, Talbot, West, Bailey, J. Gibbes, and Me-, Knight, all of the Canterbury squadron, immediately offered, and left* camp at 9 n.m. on the 25th near BoshmanV Kop. They marched until 3 a.m. At daybreak (5 a.m.) they found a large commando of the enemy, numbering 300 with waggons, Cane carts, lcd-horses and pack mules, had been camped within a mile of them during the night. Mr Brink (an ex-veldi-cornet, who. has served on Plumer's intelligence -taff since the relief of Mafeking) with his 12 native scouts, together with Tcdor's little band of New Zealanders, followed up the Boers for two days and two nights -without food or sleep. ATTACK ON THE BOER POSITION.

On the 26th a native brought a despatch to the column with 'Tudor and Brink's information. 'A force set out ..under Major Andrew, consisting of 80 New Zealacdsnt with Captains Tucker and Stevenson, lieutenants Morrison, Hutton, Jones, Nelson, and Watkins;

50 Queen-landers, with Lieutenants Hunter, Cashey, and Podey; 30 Hampshire Mounted Infantry.-with Captain Leigh and Lieutenants .Barton and Parker.- Drs. O'Neill and Purdy accompanied the patrol. This force marched until 1 a.m., and were joined an hour later by Captain Tucker and Lieutenant Tudor j who had been holding Bastard's Drift, on the Caledon river, during" the night. The whole force of 162 moved in the direction of Mokaxi Drift, twelve miles down the river, and five miles distant. The Queenslander. were sent forward to seize the drift. Intelligence arriving that the Boers were in strong force between Arcadia and Mokari Drifts, Captain Leigh, with his mounted infantry, was despatched to support the Queenslander., whilst Captain Stevenson, with Lieutenants Hutton and Tudor, crossed the river at Wen-el's' Farm, a few miles higher. A simultaneous attack was made on the Boers at both drifts, and an* engagement was fought from 2.30 p.m. until dark. Tbe Boers, numbering 400, held splendid positions, occupying a wide front and lining the kopjes on the far side of the riverLieutenant Tudor's small troop, the first of the New Zealanders to cross, received quite a fusilade from three different quarters. Leaving their, horses under cover, they took up a position on a ridge about 1500 yards from the enemy. Lieutenant Hutton occupied the kopjes on the left, whilst Captain Tucker,. with the troops under Lieutenant Morrison, came up as reserves. Lieutenant Nelson covered their advance. The enemy were quickly reinforced, affid a hot fight ensued. DISASTER TO. QUEENSLANDERS. At 4.30 p.m. the enemy evidently found things getting a bit too warm, our men making excellent practice, and suddenly vacated their position, offering an excellent target for our rifles. In the meantime the Queenslanders and Moupted-T-n----fantry were ; fighting on both sides of Mehan's Drift. Lieutenants Casty and Podey, on arrival at the drift, seeing Boers on the other side, crossed and galloped for the kopjes. The Boers opened fire from either side, and in front. Fourteen Queenslanders succeeded in crossing, but of these both officers and two men were killed. Two men were wounded, another received an injury to his spine from his horse falling in a donga, and the remainder, after a fierce encounter, some of them getting within 15 yards ©f the enemy, were forced to surrender. Ope man, Trooper White, absolutely refused to surrender, and was shot in six places. An attempt was made to outflank the Mounted Infantry and Queenslanders, hut they succeeded m holding their position with a loss of one wounded.

A Boer ambulance orderly came from the Boer position with a flag of truce, and reported our; casualties. Surgeon-Captain Purdy returning with them waded across the river above the drift, and succeeded in reaching:the'Boer Laager. Here he met Commandant Wessels and other three commandants, reported afterwards to be Joubert, Cqetzie, and ;Kraghf. At their request he. attended to two wounded Boers in addition.to".sur..two,, and shortly afterwards the Boer-doctor joined them. RETREAT; OP THE ENEMY.

Just at dusk-the column with the three £un_, having galloped ten miles, began to play on tbe'Bper position. As the shrapnel and pom-pom began to fly all round, one shot bursting*in a farm which they had just vacated, Commandant Weasels made haste to retreat, leaving our wounded and his own with the men; he had captured. The guns made excellent' practice, but owing to darkness coming .on it. was impossible to see whether thejenemy suffered, . On returning to camp it was found thSt Trooper Matthews, of Timaru, was missing. Later it was learned that he was last seen up to his armpits whilst attempting to cross the river,, and no doubt his body was washed down, by tbe hsavy current. Quite a gloom-was cast over the camp, Matthews being very popular with his comrades, several of whom searched all next day for his body. DEATH OF TROOPER.STRAWBRIDGE. At 10 p.m. volunteers were asked for, to carry despatches to Colonel DuMoulin (wellknown at one time in Auckland), whose column' was supposed to be at Bastard's Drift. A party, -consisting of Corporals Hemphill and Page, Troopers Strawbridge, Law; P. W. Letts, J. Baigent, Strange, and Muir, all of Auckland squadron, started on their dangerous task. Upon crossing thedrift they .saw two men whom they took for one of DuMoulin's outposts. They challenged, end were astounded to hear an answer in Dutch.. Hemphill fired, and immediately, his party received a volley from three quarters. Realising that they were ambushed, they re-crossed the drift. Hemphill's horse fell, shot in three places. Trooper Baigent galloped back to him .remarking, "You had better bet up behind mc, old man." Thus they gained the opposite bank. When half-way over the river Strawbridge was killed, the bullet passing through his brain. Page had a very narrow escape, a bullet going, throughi his hat. Letts, having lost his horse, was taken prisoner, and afterwards, on being released, he made his way across the Basutoland border. Next day (permission being given by General Plumer) Captain Markham, with the Regimental-Sergeant-Major Jones, Sergeant-Major Hay,, Sergeant Moore, 'and seven men! -returned to the drift and buried poor Strawbridge. Captain Markham conducted the burial service. Great anxiety was felt about this party, as \then they left the country was reported to be infested by Boers, and it was uncertain which direction the column would take. After an absence of fifteen hours, however, the whole party returned safely to camp.

KILLED ON OUTPOST. A regrettable incident ■ occurred on. the night of the 27th. Trooper Raines (Auckland) being accidentally killed on outpost. He was heard to cry out, "Take cover, take cover; the foes are upon ns." Within a few minutes the Otago squadron had turned out to reinforce the. picket-, only to find poor. Raines accidentally shot through the heart. Captain Markhom, Sergeant Moore, and Corporal Stock reached him in time to see him breath his last. - -'

GALLANTRY OF A CANTERBURY " .. * ■ MAN.

One of many incidents' of the. fight with' Krnitzinger waa, the gallant conduct of Trooper Jackson (Canterbury). He was leading three horses when one was shot, and the other two breaking away galloped toward the Boer lines. Without a moment's hesitation Jackson rode after- them and brought them back to shelter under a heavy fire. Trooper i Bailey crossed the zone of fire on three occasions, bringing water for his comrades in the firing line.

On October Ist the column returned to Rouxville, awaiting supplies from Aliwal North. We expect to trek again, within & day or two, destination unknown. There are now six other British columns working in this district. After Plumer drove out Wessels and Kruitzinger's commandos, they broke into small parties, some of which ran into other columns. Thus Laurie Cole captured a commandant and seven men, and Bausing took prisoners Veldt-Cornet Dv Toit arid five men. In all General Plumer has captured 58 prisoners since leaving the railway line at Pinaar's siding. It is always difficult to know Boer casualties, though this trek we have actually picked up three dead and found a few wounded. Different patrols claim to have inflicted losses of more or less severity on the enemy. But as we havenot, found their wounded on many occasions, it is difficult always to place "reliance in the statements. Certainly numerous graves have been found in this district testifying to their losses. From what Commandant Wessels and the other commandants told our doctor, they are still as determined as ever, and state th"at the war will not be over until •■we catch them, and.we've got to catch them first. How difficult this task is, can only be realised when one sees the vast extent of country so admirably adapted for this mode of warfare. October 8. We arrived at Springfontein to-day. and embarked on the train, our sphere of action being again changed.