THE TRANSVAAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2087, 23 July 1901, Page 6

THE TRANSVAAL.

LONDON, July 15. General Broadwood's Brigade surprised and captured the Orange State Government and papers, also ex-President Steyn's brother and others. Ex-President Steyn escaped, in his shirt sleeves with one other. . The 'Daily News's' Bloemfontein correspondent states that General Broadwood by a forced march surprised Reitz at dawn on the 11th, and took twenty-nine, prisoners, including Generals Clonive and Wessels, Commandant De Vaal, First Cornet Piet Steyn, , Brain (Secretary of the -Government), Eraser (private secretary), and De Villiers (Secretary to the Executive). Steyn escaped without his coat or boots. It is believed that De Wet was present at Reitz. Generals Scobeli, Crewe, Wyndham, and Doran have commenced a combined movement against Commandant Scheepers, who is located in a mountain, thirty miles from Graaf Reinet. ■

General Doran ambushed and captured seven Boers-who Lwere escorting a small convpv.

The columns of Generals Kitchener, Featherstone, and Dixon have reached Zeerust. They experienced 'opposition. Twenty-seven British were wounded and one killed.

General Elliott has reached Heilbron. The 'Daily News' states that Lord Kitchener suggests the withdrawal of the greater part of the unmounted troops, and applies for many more mounted men. The 'Standard's' Pretoria correspondent describes the recent mishap to Victorian troops as avertable if. the camp had been better protected against surprise. Major Morris, commanding 250 men. chiefly of the Fourth Contingent of Victorians, and 30 Royal Artillery, was encamped on the evening of June 12 at Groottifants River, between Bethel and Middelburg. Although numbers of Boers had been seen during the afternoon only four pickets of six each were posted, 700 yds apart. At nightffall a mist arose, and 180 'Boers, under Muller (Commandant Viljoen's most trusted lieutenant), attacked from the east between nine o'clock and ten o'clock, while 350 Boers were kept in reserve. A veldt-fire to the west threw the camp into relief, enabling the. Boers to see the Victorians sleeping and a few standing around the dying camp fire. Creeping between the pickets, the Boers reserved their fire until within 20yds of the camp. The Victorian Artillerymen rushed for the pompoms, hoping to turn the enemy back. They were killed or disabled as fast as they got to the guns. They fought for half an hour, though an easy target in the light, and killed seven Boers and wounded seven, though unable to locate the enemy through the mist. When the captain of the guns was killed the Victorians took refuge in a Kaffir kraal west of the camp, holding Ihe Boers at bay, and making the issue momentarily doubtful. 'they were ultimately compelled to surrender. The Boers captured 350 rifles, 15,000 rounds of ammunition, two pom-poms, with 1,000 rounds, also all the horses, and a quantity of foodstuff. By a sudden feint General Scobell's three other columns converged at Candaboo, and captured a laager, 31 prisoners, mgstly rebels; also Scheeper's adjutant, Liebentre. Lieutenant. Luy, 25 rifles, ammunition, stores, and 56 horses. Scheeper and his main body escaped by some precipitous paths.

A Boer doctor admitted that De Wet was twice wounded at Lindley.

Mr Kruger openly palliates the shooting of the wounded, alleging that it is a fit retaliation for the barbarous ill-treatment of the Boer women and children, and the execution of rebels.

General Baden-Powell's return to England for a trip is due to overwork, and an attack of fever.

Ben Viljoen's dash across the North Middleburg railway is believed to be undertaken for the purpose of replenishing his stock of ammunition. ' Buirick is at Zoutspanberg.

De la Rev and De" Wet degraded Piet Foui-ie for desiring to surrender, and appointed Kolbe commandant in succession.

Melbourne papers have the following details of the men who were killed or severely wounded in the engagement near Willman's Rust on June 12 : Surgeon-lieutenant H. D. Palmer was a Ballarat native, and at his death was twenty-seven years ot age. Until recently he was a, pupil at Trinity College, and his death is keenly regretted by his old comrades. Whilst at college "he carried off a, scholarship and achieved distinction as a medallist. He was also looked upon as one of the best all-round athletes amongst the collegians, being especially proficient in rowing, football, and cycling. He acted as; locum tenens at the Melbourne Hospital,

and also filled a similar position at Ballarat. His great desire was to see actual.warfare, so a£ to gain surgical knowledge, and with this purpose in view he enlisted : with the Sixth Victorian Contingent. Dr Palmer was unmarried.

Captain E. E. Righetti (severely wounded) was a storekeeper at Heywood. He was a married man of thirty-eight; his wife, Mrs Mary Righetti, still living at Heywood. One of the smartest men sent to the front. Captain Righetti joined the First Contingent as a private in 1899, he being then in the Victorian Mounted Rifles. His promotion was rapid. He was made lance-corporal in November 14, 1899, corporal on February 11, 1900, sergeant on May 1, and lieutenant on August 8. He returned to Melbourne by the Orient on January 5 this year, but only stayed a few days, rejoining his corps on January 8, and sailing for South Africa, Lieutenant J. H. Brabazon (severely wounded) was not a member of the Fifth Contingent when they left Victoria. He went to South Africa as a private from the Field Artillery Brigade with the Second Contingent last year, was promoted to the rank of lance-corporal on April 4, 1900, and became a lieutenant on March 29 this y' ear —probably at the time when he transferred to the Fifth Contingent. Lieutenant Brabazon lived at Moonee Ponds. Lieutenant Peter James Dallimore, a young officer of twenty-five (severely wounded), first went to South Africa as a private in the Second Contingent. He was made a sergeant on August 25 last year, and returned to Melbourne by the Harlech Castle early in December last, being Vfischarged on the 12th of that month. He joined, however, the Fifth Contingent on its formation, and received promotion to a lieutenancy. Before his military exploits Lieutenant Dallimore was a farmer at Allansford. near Warrnambool. Corporal H. Newlands (killed) was a volunteer from Prahran. He was single, aged twenty-three, and before residing in the metropolis worked on a country station. Fairier-sergeant J. F. Houlihan (killed) was a blacksmith at Collingwood. A young man of twenty-eight. Lance-corporal George Rowland Button (killed) was a State school teacher, of twenty-five years, from Anakie (near Geelong)/ when* he enlisted in the Fifth Contingent. Since joining, on February 14 this year, he was promoted from the rank of private to that of lance-corporal, Corporal H. Harrison (killed) was another young Collingwood volunteer. A timekeeper, of the age of twenty-five, he enlisted on January 31 this year.

Sergeant Alfred Hogarth Boake (severely wounded). Corporal A. W. Thomson (severely wounded) is' a single man, of twenty, who lived at St. Kilda. . Corporal Thomson joined the Fifth Contingent on February 1 this year. He was a surveyor prior to enlistment.

Sergeant William Martinson, who is fortunate enough to be only slightly wounded, was enrolled in Melbourne on January 28, 1901. He had previously been a cook at the Imperial Restaurant in Franklin street. He is a single man, forty years of age. Trooper George, William Stratton (killed) was a. farm hand, aged twenty-one years-, who lived at Mooroopna. Trooper Frederick James Smith (killed) was a farm hand, and hailed from Horton Vale, Anakie, near Geelong. Trooper Ernest Henry Blandford was a laborer, twenty-four years of age and single, from Huntly. near Bendigo, Trooper "Rupert Melbourne Thornton, single, aged twenty-four, was a farmer at Kilmore'.

Trooper Louis Bond was a horse-breaker before joining the Fifth Contingent. A single man of twenty-six, he , lived with his father, Mr William Bond, at Longwood, and .was a. native of the district. His brother, William Henry, was also a member of'the Fifth Contingent,

Trooper Stanley John Barnard was born in 1876, and for some time before enlisting was a tram conductor, living at North Brunswick.

Trooper Lawrence J. W. Goudie was a clerk in tlie employ of Mr Allard, auctioneer and estate agent, before joining the contingent. He was the only son of his widowed mother, who is residing at St. Kilda. Goudie was twenty-three years of age at his death. Trooper Ernest James Rowe was a. farmer, aged twenty-three, who lived at 19 Charles street, Elsternwick, prior to 'enlistment. •'■;,•'

Trooper Henry Herbert Hendy was a farmer from Lyndhurst, aged twenty-four. Prior to his departure he was engaged in farming and dairying pursuits with his father, and was highly esteemed in the district. He was a most unassuming and steady young man. and was a prominent member' of the local Wesleyan Church and Band of Hope. Trooper William Alexander vSmith was a farmer, aged twenty-two, single, who lived at Sutton Grange, near Elphinstone. Trooper Richard Topham was a boundary rider, aged thirty-four, a single man. His nearest "relative ".was his brother Charles, now living at Millers Flat, Otago. He was a membe rof the First Victorian Contingent, and on returning to Victoria was presented with a gold watch and chain. He had a feeling that he ought to see the campaign through, and he went back to South Africa with the later contingent.

Trooper James Collins was a single man, twenty-two years of age, also a boundary rider.

Trooper Archibald E. Mack, who died from wounds, was a, single man of twentysix years. He was at one time an accountant", living at Jolimont. Trooper Charles Wilson Mas an engineer, aged twenty-two, single, son of Mr C. Wilson, of 16 Curral road, Elsternwick.

Trooper Thomas M. George, aged twenty - two. single, was a station hand from Kyabram, whose next of kin, bis brother George, is now living at Berwick, Otago. Trooper John Fanning, aged twenty-four, single, was a waggon-driver, from Brunswick, whose nearest relative,, his father, Michael Fanning, resides near Sunbury.

NEW ZEALANDERS WOUNDED

WELLINGTON, July 16.

The Government have received advice that Trooper Geprge Geddes, of Waihao, near Timaru, was severely wounded at Lake Christie, and that Trooper W. Baker, Palmerston North, was severely wounded on the borderland. Both men belong to the Sixth Contingent.