THE BOER REBELLION.

Evening Star, Issue 5609, 1 March 1881, Page 3

THE BOER REBELLION.

[Run-nut's Taut"*** 8 -!

CRUSHING DEPE4T OF THE BRITISH.

SIR GEORGE COLLEY; ANO MO MEN KILLED AND WOUNOKD.

CAPE TOWN, Fkhuuary 2,6. Intelligence has been receive,! her. from Natal that a severe disaster bvu occurred in the Transvaal to a portion of the force under Sir George Colley. The news to band state* that he advance! from the bgogo■ wrth six companies of Infantry and ooeupiedl OpKBkook. The Boers, in great force mad* a strong attack on the position and derate fighting ensued. lMita« »J * he morß ' n £ The British troops suffered immense los , and were finally driven from the place. Sir George Colley and a number of officers were killed, and of the whole six corrpanies only 100 officers and men escaped.

THE BRITISH KOUT CONFIRMED.

FEBRUARY 28.

Farther telegrams to hand from Natal fully confirm the previous announcement of the disaster to British troops In the Transvaal The fighting was a* Spltaoof (not Oplt•kok, as stated in the first telegram), and was of a desperate and moat sanguinary character. The battle lasted for fullv seven hours. The British resisted the attaok ef the Boers until their ammunition was exhausted. The small foroe which was left was then compelled to retwat. The enemy followed In pursuit for seme distance, but were oheoked by the guns from the camp at Mount Proßpeot, where the stragglers from the defeated force are now arriving tafely.

At the present junoture the following cxt/aots from papers te hand by the Brtndisi mail will be read with Interest:—

Sir George Colley, on taking the field, IwHed an admirable addross to the troops, la which he says that the stain cart on cur ami must be quickly effaced, and the rebellion mint be put down ; but he trusts that officer* and men will not allow the soldierly spirit which prompt* them to gallant action to degenerate into a feeling of revenge. The task now forced on us by the unprovoked action of the Boers is a painful one in any circumstances, and the General oalls on all ranks to assist him In hit endeavors to mitigate ths sufferings it must entail. We must be careful to avoid punishing the innocent for the ifullty j and must remember that, though misled and deluded, the Boers are in the main a brave and high spirited people, and are actuated by feelings that are entitled to our respect. At ths outbreak of hostilities in Zululand, then Colonel Sir O. Pomeroy-Colley, C.R, C.M.G., was private secretary to Lord Lyrten, OoTomor-Oeueral of India, and in that capacity It w«s generally understood that he was largely responsible for the direotlon of the Viceroy's general policy, particularly in Afghanistan, and wa§ the guiding spirit of the military operations during the first campaign there After the Isandula disaster Colonel Pomeroy-Oolley volunteered for Bervioe In South Africa, and was appointed ohlel of Sir Garnet Wolsslay's staff, and served till the dose of the war in that oapacity. For his services he was made a KRL, and promoted Major-Gensral. In February of last year he was chosen to succeed Sir Garnet as Oevemor of lfatal, and Administrator of the Transvaal. The appointment was viewed with marked favor by the English, Indian, and Colonial Press Sir George's experience of Cape affairs was long and varied, He commenced his employment there as a subaltern of the Caps Frontier Rifles during the troubles with Kreli Is. 1868-0; and as a magistrate he was employed in conjunction with Colonel Gawler, of the7»rd Rwrlment, In suppressing a Bwuto revolt. Sine,} then he was twice In Natal-flrat with Bir G. Wolseley at the nme of tho Langellbele commotion; and last yoer, as before stated, as chief of Sir Garnet's staff. Writing on January 11 the ' Homo News' made these observations on the General's position j—"The military authorities are equally well satisfied to leave the command of the troops and the management of the campaign in bis hands. He ranks hteb among the meet promising officers in the service, and has a great reputation as a studious soldier, deeply versed in the science of war. But his capacity will be seriously tried. He will not bo too strong 1b cavalry, even when bis reinforcements reach him, and his enemy will be all horsemen to a man. N« doubt he will supplement his cavalry by m6untlng large numbers of his Infantry, and if these can only manago to stick to their saddles they will soon turn into a useful body of troops. His difficulties as to transport and supplies will be greater than Lord Chelmsford's, his Hue of ; communication longer, hj« roads worse." Tfr» rise of the rebellion is thus sketched in a despatohto the * Debata':-" The resolution of the Boers had long been taken, and the tram was fired by the sale, on the Jlth of November, at Potchcfawotoa, of a quantity of timber for the non-payment fcl tastes. Th» ownor f gored 27s to redeem It, the tax being" only l'*s, bur the: authorities refused, and bs underwent a fortnight's imprisonment. Jn his absence, and when his friends offered to pay the tax for him, tho sale was persisted in. One hundred arid thirty Boors came up on horseback, and protested against tho sale, but tho timber was sold. The Boors, however, prevented the" buyer "from taking it away. Information was sent by the authorities to Pretoria, while Pster Brouje, the leader'of the 139 B*ers, repaired to to report what JkeV occurred. Four days afterwards Captain Boof arrived with 800 Volunteers and two guns. %ho exasperation then i reached its heigh*-' Tho citizens proclaimed a revolt (against the British; M. Joubert wrqte a letter speaking of indopeudenco as Inevitable; and ex-President JJodensbeln charged the BriUah authorities \yith sendng mlsrepresontatijjhs to London. A committee mailed an appeal fur prayer* for deHireranpe. anfl Sunday, the 9tb of January, was fixed ior tils seryis*. The editor whs appended to this appeal an artlpla predicting a reyolt if the agitators were arrested was apprehended, but admitted to ball in L^OOO.'' The Trlnmvlrato declare that tha first shot was Bred by the British soldiers at potchefstroom. They liavo sent letters to Messrs Brand and Sprigg, claiming sympathy from tho former and intervention with the British Government from the latter, They charge Sir Owen Lanyon with a delltorate falsehood la saying that they have Incited tho Natives against tho Government, and retort that bo has armed tho Natives agdnst them. They appeal to Sir George Oolloy, and repeatedly speak of their respect for tho Queen and the people of England. In their address to Mr Sprigg they say i- " we are fully aware that tho political condition of the Colony prevents any act which might be in opposition to its noble loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, but a moral assistance, and perhaps intervention with tho Homo Government, will go a long way to prevent a mast wicked war between two nations, which will create an everlasting hatred between tho two white populations. We trust that the proclamation will convince everybody of our earnest wish to co-operate with the States and Colonies of South Africa for all purposes of general

\wlfaro" <- > • l ' ■'■ i' 1 ' f 'I w Jibe'proclamation Uraod by the Triumvirate ends in ' th«o teVfas >— "* Article" 84 All officials who Jter|» the GoVeriiment now; and who are able and w'lllinf to sorve under the altered circumstances of the country, Shall fe'aYe a fllaim toMtafa their places and such ad* wantages *s tyeir position now affqrds to them. 85. To the English OoTernment the right is reserved U maintain U our country a consul, or diplomatic agent, to represent the Interest* of British sub» Jecto. 88, The difference over boundaries with Natives shall be submitted to arbitration, IT, Vot the native policy the Government are prepared to accept general principles, to be decided upon after de. liberation with the oolonlos and states of South Africa. Sa The Republic Is prepared to ooifederate wlttt the eolouies and states of South Africa. Finally, we dee'are and make known to all and everybody that from this day the country is deolared to be in a state of siege and undsr the provisions of martial law." The staff officers despatched from England are Sir Evelyn Wood, second In command, but senior on the list of colonels to Sir George Colley, who as Governor held the local rank of general. Major Barrow, of the 10th Hussars, did excellent worl: with the Mounted Lifautry during the „iiulu war, and shovjed himself; Sfcond'onlß to Bfidv&s Boiler In X»l» &pttfu4e as i* loader of Irregular eavalry. Coloael Stewart, who was general ijarsh ill's brlgaderinajor, was a, very usefu.l ■t ifl offieer, The strength of the British foroes In South Afrloa in the middle of February was about 10,000 offleers and men, as follows :-Cav»lry.—Bth Ennlaklllen Dragoons, 15th Hu»mrs, Btn do, 10th do, 18th do, and 14th do; 1,121 sabres; under LieutenantColonel Guck. C.B. Engineers.—2nd and 6th Companies. Artillery.-Ist Brigade, Brd do, 6th do, and 7th do. Infantry.—list Royal Soots Fusiliers (under Brevet-Major P. H. B»rron, C M.0.), 608 ; 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment, 898; 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles, 018 ; Bre* Battalion do, 895-; 9tst Highlanders, 002 • !*nd Highlnnders, 921; C4th Regiment, &Bfc \ and Wth Rwlment, 688. Total, V,OW . , • ParAainlAmbart'sfull account of Captain Elliott's death pjnflrms the report that the Boer escort behaved with great treachery, forcing the two offleers to drive aoroes a raging, stream on a pitoh-dark night, and firing volley after volley when they were In the water. Both were on parole and were only eager to get away. The forty-eight survivors of the 04th Regiment are now In Natal, and they report havißg been treated by the Boers with great indignity. On January 11 It was reported that among tho beleaguered garrison were Calooel Winslow, Major Thornhlll, Commissioner Dunn, Dr Wallls, and ten lieutenants. It is estimated that 7,000 Boers aro under arms, of whom 8,000 are serving threugh foir of their superiors. .