The Boer War.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1379, 27 February 1900, Page 3

The Boer War.

THE BATTLE OF KOODOOSRAND.

FOUR DAYS FIGHTING.

GRONJE'S ARMY ENTRAPPED.

RAIN OF LYDDITE AND SHRAPNEL

GRONJE REFUSED ARMISTICE,

BOER LAAGER IN FLAMES,

On the relief of Kimberley being effected the Boeos cleared out of the neighbourhood, Cronje marched 33 miles' without outspanning. He was overtaken by Lord Roberts' army at Koodoosrand in the Paardeberg district 33 miles east of Kimberley, and about 40 miles west-north-west of Bloem f ontein.

Then Cronje's 8000 troops lined the banks round a semi-circular bend of the Modeler river. The laager v.'as situated at the easterly end of the bend. The Highlanders, Welsh Fusiliers, and the others marched north-eastwards into the bend. Lieut-Col. Dorrien's force when crossing the river were subjected to the enemy's lire from both sides. The infantry lay still whilst the infantry drove tho Boers out of their laager. The shell fire was then concentrated upon their position.

The seizure of the drift by the Welsh Fusiliers cut the Boers in halves. The mounted troops and artillery circling to the south surrounded the kopjes and cut off the the enemy's retreat.

General French had meanwhile marched from Kimberley and completed the circlj. The enemy were then entirely hemmed in.

After a time the Boers were driven back and compelled to take shelter between the river's banks. From here they subjected the attacker to a hail of bullets, but'they were on the other hand, equally pi evented from escaping.

Details of the battle of Koodoorsrand show that General Kelly-Kenny's column enveloped the Boers on both banks of the Modder River, compelling the main body to hide in the river bed, where they entrenched themselves. The British artillery and infantry enclosing the bed formed a death trap.

The Seaforth Highlanders, Black Watch, and Argyle Highlanders advanced on Sunday from the south bank of tbe river. The Bsspx and Yorkshire Eegiments and the Welsh Fusiliers formed a line whose left rested on the river bank, with the Welsh Fusiliers on the extreme right.

The Fusiliers seized Koodoorsand .Drift. The firing soon became deadly on the open ground, the , Boers fighting with desperate courage. They occupied a splendid position, facing the Highlanders, who advanced, partly in the river bed and partly in the open. They were compelled to lie shooting all day, amul thunderstorms and terrible heat.

Lieutenant-colonel Smith Dorrien's force, iucluding the Canadians, attacked a laager to the north, encountering a vigorous shell fire from the enemy, who, with Yickers-Maxims and 'other guns, held a kopje on the south bank of the river between the attacking British forces.

The British batteries caused great havoc in the enemy's laager. Their ammunition waggons were set on fire by the shells. The enemy in the river bed were closed in a limited area. The musketry fire on both sides during the engagement was fierce.

General Cronj 3 was surrounded for three days at Koodoosrand. Very heavy fighting took place all day Sunday and Monday. The Britith used 50 guns. On Tuesday General Oron'je asked, for an armistice.

Lord Kitchener replied that not a minute would be granted, but that he must fight or surrender unconditionally, General Cronje leplied that he would fight until he was dead.

Lord Kitchener thereupon concen' rated an "awful file from his howitzers and lyddite shells on the spot held by the lloers, which was only a mile square.

A secend message was received later from the Boer camp suggesting surrender.

Lord Kitchener at once invited General •-lonje into the British camp to arrange for his capitulation.

General Cronje replied that the message was a mistake, and that be had not the slightest intention of surrendering.

Lord Roberts then decided to crush resistance, and directed a terrific fire at a distance of 2000 yards, enfilading the river bed and banks.

The Boers have an abundant supply of water, but they find it difficult to get food into their trenches except at night.

On Tuesday three field batteries, two naval 12-pounders from the south bank of the river, a howitzer, three field batteries, and three 4.7 in guns from the north bank poured shot and shell into' General Cronje's position.

On Wednesday additional guns were brought to bear, and a continuous devasting fire was kept up. The green fumes from the bursting lyddite shells were seen rising along the gully where, the Boers were entrapped, while shrapnel swept the edges of the river bank, and shells the ravines and bushes.

Deserters from the laager describe Cronje's grim determination as overmastering the wishes of his followers' fighting frenzy and tragic courage.

The Boer laager being one mass of flames, Cronje's wife on Tuesday night pleaded with him to capitulate, aud thus save the lives of his men, but he was deaf to her entreaties. The battle was therefore continued, and on Thursday the cordon was drawn tighter, the Shropshives having advanced 200 yards nearer.

The prisoners captured by Lcrd Roberts in the fighting include a part of Commandant Louis Botha's commando recently engaged •against the British, un^er General Bailor, <H Spion Kop. Botha, with 500 men, was rout- d from a kopje a mile to the south-east of Cronje's laager.

General French and the Field Avtill<-ry are scouring the country towards Bloemfositein, and have destroyed approaching Boer reinforcements piecemeal.

Lord Roberts recognising the necessity of rapid movements, has altered the plan of the whole campaign. Prisoners declare that his unexpected mobility has dealt a death blow to the Free State's resistance, and is spoiling Cronje's and Joubert's proposed combinations. The British, in consequence of their rapid movements and the excessive heat, have exhausted a terrible number of horaes,. General French alone had hundreds disabled.