THE REVERSE IN NAMAQUALAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 92, 15 October 1914, Page 7

THE REVERSE IN NAMAQUALAND

DUE TO TREACHERY. LONDON, 13th October. The Daily Telegraph's Johannesburg correspondent states that the surrender of two squadrons of the South African Mounted Rifles and a section of the Transvaal Artillery in ISfamaqualand, details of which were cabled on 6th October, was due to the treachery of Colonel Maritz's accomplice. [Reufer's correspondent with the Namaqualand expedition (stated the cable message mentioned) gave the details of the figliting leading to the surrender of two squadrons of the South African Mounted Rifles and a section of the Transvaal Artillery. ' The advance guard of the force occupied a water-hole, which was approached through a narrow defile. The Germans had apparently retired, but when the party outspanned for the night two thousand Germans, with ten guns, attacked 'them from the surrounding kopjes and seized the defile. The fight was continued the following movn-

ing, and every Transvaal gunner was killed or wounded. Meanwhile, the main force made desperate efforts to rescue the advance guard, and two squadrons suffered heavy casualties from' machine guns in attempting to force a encond entrance into the valley. By noon the British ammunition was exhausted ; the party destroyed the guns, while the riflemen kept down the enemy's fire. The British then hoisted the white flag. The German commander complimented the South Africans on their gallantry and the accuracy Ofg the gunfire. They treated the prisoners well and buried the British dead with the honours of war.]