RAND FIGHTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1922, Page 5

RAND FIGHTING

MANY REBELS CAPTURED i j it 0 ■ DESPERATE ENCOUNTERS D □ i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.' s> t

CAPETOWN, Marell 12. It is expected to take a few days to complete the Government plans for fighting the Rand strikers. These plans involve a great encircling movement embracing the whole Reef. Casualty lists show that many spectators were hit in the earlier fighting, but people arc now realising the seriousness of the position and taking more caution. After curfew was begun in Johannesburg, there were empty streets, as if the city were dead. The only life now moving there at night is the troops. Another murder is reported. Two military officers were motoring two youthful strikers to the police station to be gaoled. They stopped to mend a puncture, ami were fatally shot by a mob at Jeppe. The two youths, ... „ .d L. .. 4 1 . . . - . . . . .. .1 . . »» itrnu,’. c- . . Il APVU

reporting the murder, were so horrified at the cold-blooded outrage that they offered to join up. The power station at Johannesburg is now being manned by volunteers, instead of the usual workers, who have struck, the city is again lighted. The latest official announcement slates that as a result of military operations in the Sophia Town Briaten Ridge area, 1500 prisoners have been captured. The ridges in tho neighbourhood were cleared. This is considered of great importance, as the presence of a strong rebel force tlierc constituted a grave menace. SNIPERS’ TACTICS. CAPETOWN Alarch 12. Tho difficulty of the Government's repressive operations against the strikers is enhanced by constant sniping at the troops in uniform, or those wearing the insignia of civic guards, or the members of motor corps. At one moment gunmen are potting at 1 passing military details. The next ' moment they are walking about among the crowd with nothing io show that they are combatants. Detectives * however, are gradually gathering in the strikers. 1 I OFFICIAL REPORT. < l A GENERAL ADVANCE. 1 CAPETOWN, Alarch 13. f An official communique states that t the central area operations were en- c tirelv satisfatcory. Two squadrons of t

police besieged Braktoii and Auckland Park was relieved. Our forces pushed well forward to the high ground at Westcliffe, with slight casualties. Au aeroplane operating against the rebels was forced to land, and a second airman attempting a- rescue was stranded. A third machine then landed, and took olf successfully with two of the stranded aviators, of the remaining three one managed to reach (he house of friends, and tile othertwo took refuge in a plantation, where they were attacked by a mounted revolutionary. One aviator was wounded but the revolutionary was killed. The. two aviators escaped and readied <i hospital. In the eastern area, Van Deventers forces heavily engaged the revolutionaries who retired into Benoni. (Hit forces now occupy the position P>eviously held by rebels. In the western area, largo numbers of our force reached Krugrsdorp late iu the afternoon, and are now pushing ea st ward. Operations continued all day long in the vicinity of the Pretoria-Germis-ton railway line. The revolutionaries were heavily bombed, but persisted in attempting to damage the line, having already done so twice. On both occasions, the line was repaired. The forces under Colonel Breyten'bach occupied Reitfontein. HERTZOG ’ S ATJ.TT U DE. CAPETOWN, March 13. Arededorp is reported surrounded by Government' troops. The revolutionaries are said to be under command of Commandant Erasmus Tielman. Air. Roos, chairman of the Transvaal Nationalists has returned to Pretoria. He did not visit the revolutionary headquarters. General Hertzog and other prominent Free State Nationalists strongly condemn the movement to form commandoes at Bloemfontein. Government forces arc making headway and 2200 rebels were captured in the central area with slight Government casualties. It is estimated that the Government have six thousand men concentrated along the reef, and other loyal commandoes are on the way. It is believed that the revolution will be over in a few days. There arc many instances of abuse of the Red Cross by the rebels. The gallant stand made by ahandful of police at Fordsburg probably saved the heart of t,hc town and the best residental area being overrun, by revoluntionaries. Fordsburg is the key to the position. If it had been forced, the consequences would have been serious and the difficulty of the Government’s task enormously increased. There is general testimony to Gio magnificent behaviour of the police, and also of the Citizen Defence force, many of whom arc young lads.

TRENCHES IN STREETS. Reea 1 p.m. CAPETOWN, March J 3. • Motor transport in Johannesburg is r.gain running freely, but normal activities are almost, at a standstill. I ne police are drafting the male pomda t.’.-ci of some disaffected areas into .on vcii.cnt locations, and combi ig out th. se .varied. At Lordsburg, revolutionary filers dug themsi lves in the streets, and are wvikmg ha-d entrenching street comci’i. Tbev displayed notices declaring martial law. A few police are still held prisoners in the. schoolroom. Roads leading from the town are effectively barricaded. A thousand prisoners were taken in tho capture of Benoni. The arrests include a number of strike leaders. The beleaguered police released at Brix-

ton were in an exhausted condition, being kept without food for three days. Boy Scouts attempting to relieve them were sniped at. CAPTI RE OR VREDEDORP. PREM 1 ER'S CONFIDENCE. Recd. 1 p.m. CAPETOWN, March 13. Details of the lighting show that the engagement with the Vrededorp commando was of a most desperate character. After aeroplanes had bombed for an hour, big guns came into play, while machineguns and rifles kept up a continuous fusilade. The Reds were well armed and defended the position with the utmost vigour. It is believed that the slaughter was heavy. Over a thousand Red prisoners were captured. A thousand spectators watched the advance of the Government forces. Soon after the artillery commenced shelling the ridges where the Reds were entrenched, they began to retreat in good order, but the retreat quickly swelled into a continuous stream. It is now stated that the money to finance the revolution came from abroad. Premier Smuts, interviewed, declared that the position was in every way satisfactory. 'The response of the Government commandoes was magnificent. He was confident that the revolution would soon be . utterly crushed. Mr Malan, outlining the. progress of events in the Legislative Assembly, said that (he Government felt it had the hearty co-operation of all true-minded citizens in this crisis.

FURTHER ADVANCE. CAPETOWN, Alarch 13. Colonel Nuss'ey’s force occupied Roodepomt and Florida, and is marching on Alaiaisburg. where the Reds occupy a strong position. The Government forces sustained only twenty-live casualties in the capture of Benoni. In connection with the reported murder of two officers at Jeppes, it now transpires that one, Captain Ironside, was twice wounded, robbed and threatened lie would be shot, but- was rescued by some of the strikers and sent to hospital. Nothing has been beard regarding the other officer. RED CROSS FIRED ON. CAPETOWN, Alarch 13. Ou Saturday afternoon three Red Cross motor cars carrying (he Red Cross Hag, were despatched to Auckland Park to bring back nurses for service. The cars were subjected to a heavy lire from the rebels and obliged to pull up. The nurses Jav down. Attempted rescuers under a white fla gwerc fired on. It was almost three hours before the cars succeeded in escaping, riddled with bullets. Officials of the Industrial Federation maintain that they had no knowledge of the commandoes’ intention to attack the police. The Chamber of Alines adheres to its previous position that while it is prepared to discuss questions with trades unions, it will refuse to recognise the Federation. IN SOUTHERN CENTRES. CAPETOWN, Alarch 13. Capetown communists passed a resolution in favour of a general strike, but there is no prospect of success. The military authorities do not anticipate trouble in Capetown, but are fully prepared for anv contingency. They have no intention of calling up the local defence units. The power-station at Durban is guarded by police. Most of the members affiliated with the union arc on strike. A meeting of the Railwaymen’s -Union passed a resolution calling on the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament and appeal to prevent further bloodshed; also demanding a ballot for a general strike. gananawwi