A BOER INCURSION ALONG THE TRUNK LINE.

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 140, 11 December 1899, Page 5

A BOER INCURSION ALONG THE TRUNK LINE.

THE RAILWAY TORN UP AT GRASSPAN. A SHARP ENGAGEMENT. CAPETOWN, 9th December. The Boers are making efforts to prevent the transport of reinforcements to Lord Methuen's column along the main railway line, which has only recently been repaired. Although the line is being carefully watched by patrol parties, a force of the enomy suddenly appealed yesterday at Grasspan — the scene of the recent desperate battle, ten miles north of Belmont — and destroyed a railway culvert, besides cutting the telegraph wires. The raiders consisted of a commando of Free State burghers, a thousand strong, with a big gun, under Commandant M. Prinsloo, who served in isatal at the outbreak of the war. As soon as the interruption in communication was discovered a body of infantry and an artillery corps with two guns, supported by a regiment of cavalry, were promptly sent northward from the Orange River towards the scene of the enemy's depredations. This force effected a junction with a battery of artillery and a battalion of infantry which had been sent down from the Modder River, and after a sharp fight the commando was expelled from its position. The telegraph and railway Tines were at once repaired. Fourteen of the British troops were wounded during the engagement. Four howitzers have reached Lord Methuen at Modder River.