SUNNYSIDE ENGAGEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 5

SUNNYSIDE ENGAGEMENT.

PARTICULARS OF QUEENSLAND GALLANTRY. CAPETOWN, 4th January. With reference to the defeat of the Boers at Sunnyside by the Canadian and Queensland infantry and the "Fighting Fifth " (Northumberland Fusiliers), under Lieut. -Colonel Pilcher, it has been ascertained that the occupants of the laager consisted mostly of colonial Dutch. During the British advance four Queenslanders were patrolling under Lieutenant A. G. Adie, when suddenly they were confronted by fourteen Boers, who wounded the Lieutenant in their first volley. Private Butler gave the officer his horse, and Private Rose, whose horse bolted, returned to Adie's help, but received a bullet in the calf of one of his legs. He was, however, not killed, as previously reported. When Colonel Pilcher ordered a general advance the enemy's sustained fire was ineffectual. At two o'clock in the afternoon a company under Captain P. W. Pinnock (of the Queensland troop) worked completely round on the left, and the enemy's fire ceased, a white flag being hoisted. Thirty-five of the enemy surrendered to Captain H. C. Chauvel (Queensland). The bulk of the commando fled, and the position formerly held by them was oc-^ cupied by the victorious British, who on" Tuesday entered the town of Douglas, Major Ricardo, of the Queensland force, • leading. The inhabitants of the place were frenzied with delight, shaking hands with the soldiers all round. Their enthusiasm in- < creased when they learned that their deliverers were Australians and Canadians, besides Imperial troops. No Victorians were engaged in the action. ' The Queenslanders behaved magnificently while under fire, chatting and laughing together. A machine gun in charge of Captain Cecil Pelham, of Queensland, did excellent work. [Captain Pelham, mentioned in the above message, was first A.D.O. to Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland, and is a cousin of Mr. Hill-Trevor, of Lord Ranfiirly's staff.] (Received January 5, 9.20 a.m.) CAPETOWN, 4th January. Six Boerß were killed and twelve wounded in the engagement at Sunnyside. A number of incriminating documents were found in one of the laagers captured from them. Lieut.-Col. Pilcher having accomplished his object in repressing the threatened Boer raid, withdrew nis force from the town of Douglas, of which he had taken possession. In leaving, the troops escorted a great procession of the residents. Many of the colonial troops carried the children of the withdrawing townspeople. LONDON, 4th January. The Modder- River correspondent of The Times says that the prisoners taken at Sunnyside ought tq be punished as rebels, and an example made of them. The military officials are delighted that the colonials should luvve struck the first blow delivered from the British side since the check to Lieut. -General Lord Methuen's column at Magersfontein. LONDON, 4th January. The Secretary of Slate for the Colonies has congratulated Canada on the success attained by her troops at Sunnyside.

(Received January 5, 9.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, 4 tli January. Lieut. -Colonel Pilcher' s advance from Belmont to Sunnyside was covered by v, movement of a pbrtion of Lieut.-Gene-ral Lord Methuen's cavalry from the camp beyond Modder river. . This force operated to the northward of the infantry, and thus prevented the Uoers from sending reinforcements to Hunnyside, or seeking to intercept the withdrawal of the inhabitants from Douglas.