WITH LORD ROBERTS IN THE TRANSVAAL.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 102, 27 October 1900, Page 5

WITH LORD ROBERTS IN THE TRANSVAAL.

NEW ZEALANDERS' MOVEMENTS. RETURN TO PRETORIA. (From Our Special War Correspondent with Lord Roberts's Column.) Camp near Daspoort, West of Pretoria, Ist August. The forward movement of the forces I under the command of Lord Roberts com- ' menced seven, daya back. The various divisions apparently working independent of each other, slowly but steadily advanced on Middlcbuvg,* north of the town named, and in the direction of Lvden- I burg. Licutenant-Goneral lan Hamilton's division — to Avhich part of the New Zejvlaridcrs were attached: under Captain

ITut^on, Lieutenants Hughes, SommervfLe, and Bradbourne— was almost the lirsL to move eastward aom Pretoria. Before many miles had been covered, the British forces came into touch with the Bcjfers, whereupon, artillery fire was exchanged, with tho result that tho Boers vacated their position, and continued to retire before the British advance. As the British Army occupied position after position vacated by the Boers, their ■laagers were found to bo dirtier and more insanitary than ever. LieutenanlrUeneral French, with his cavalry was rapidly advancing on tho southern Hank of the main column, the position veing — Lieu-tenant-Qoneral French on the south, Lieu-tenant-General Pole-Carew in the centre, and Major-Generals Mahon and Hamilton towards the .north. Whenever Iho British came within sight and made an attempt to halt and bring their giins into- action, the enemy fled, and Herman's Drift and Schoeman's Poort were crossed and passed without a single shot being fired. Tha main body of tho Boers moved towards Lydenourg, but some part of De La. Rey's and Botha's commando? moved almost north, and appeal cd as though they were preparing to move back on Pretoria. It was, in fact, .ascertained from a wounded Boer that the 'enemy' were north of Pretoria 111 considerable numbers, intending moving towards 'the assistance of tho commando still further "north. As a result about 800 men were despatched, from Pretoria, causing the Boers to disperse. General Pole-Carew found his division held in check by a large and stronglyentrenched force close to the Bronkhorst Spruit "railway station, and from there southwards. It was anticipated that a stubborn and lengthy encounter would take pmce, but after half an hour's fighting a flanking movement by General Hnmilton's division caused the enemy to suddenly abandon all resistance, and trek norLh-east, in the direction of Lydenburg. But it was not only the positions in front of the cavalry leaders that were vacated. From south to about sixteen miles north they fled, the only places in which they •decided to remain being, on -the northern sidß of the- bosohveldt. At Bronkhorst Spruit, which was the scene of the massa'cro of the 94th Foot, in 1881, the graves of the unfortunate officers and men who fell on that awful day were visited, and placed in decent order. As the advance proceeded Captain Hutson's New Zealanders junctured with the ma'ia- body under Lieutenant- Colonel Robin and Major Cradock, who were in Major-General --ahon's column, which had come Up with Lieutenant-General Pole-Carew's command. General lan Hamilton's division, of which they formed part, moved slowly eastward, having to cover a more extended area, and traverse very mountainous country than Generals French and Hutton, and consequently did not move parallel with what may be termed the advance guard of the mam body. The cavalry and mounted infantry, under Generals French and Hutton, made a dash upon Middleburg. The Boers had fled, but several prisoners were captured. It was ascertained that many of the prominent officials, including President Kruger anil so'ihe foreign Government officials had some days before visited Middelburg, and from there had proceeded to Machadodfirp. Lord Roberts, who had journeyed as far as Balmoral, on the Delagoa Bay line, expressed to Generals French and Hutton his complete satisfaction at the rasult of their operations, and highly commended Qenera.s Hamilton, Pole-Carew, and Maihon for the generalship shown in the carrying out of important movements that had a very close connection with the successos achieved. Orders were now issued by Lord Roberts that tho division under General lan Hamilton and mounted infantry brigads and General Mahon should return to Pretoria. A slow, tiring, aid uninteresting trek followed, and Pretoria was reached to-day. The Field Mai-shal expressed his desire that the whole division should march into the town of Pretoria, and through Church Square, where he, Lord Kitchener, and iho headquarters staff would assemble and watch the men as they' passed. The first" to enter the city were the mounted infantry brigade, under General Mahon, and Colonei Pilcher's mounted infantry. The Queenslanders (a small remnant of a useful contingent), the New bouth Welshmen, and the New Zealanders rode up Church-street from Arcadia, and, walking through tne southern side of Church Square, passed the Field Marshal, Chief of Staff and Headquarters Staff. • Both leaders inspected the colonials closely, particularly the Chief of Staff, who sat his horse like a statue. The colonials burst into cheers as they passed, and Lord Roberts smiled, 1 bowed, and raised his hand in acknowledgment. As the other regiments swung along it was a stirring spectacle, and being , really the first march pasfc of Ihe colonials, will long be remembered by the colonials who were privileged either to take part in or -witness the interesting event. The whole division marched through Pretoria, passing the cemetery, racecourse, and Kruger's residence as they moved west. They are now encamped in the. valley south- of Daspqort— a pretty smiling glade, with ample cl.e^n water and good grass, where, for the present, I leave them. . Mr. C. R. Neale, the New Zealand Government Veterinarian, who went away with the First Contingent^ has informed Mr. Gilruth, Government Bacteriologist, that the horses sent from the colony are doipg much better in South Africa than those from other parts of the British pominions. Of all the horses used on the march to Kimberley only those from New Zealand got through without casualty. Mr. Neale, a* the time of writing, had been under fire 54 times, and liad escaped unhurt.