THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 158, 16 July 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

A GALLANT BAND OF SCOUTS.

By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright London, July 14. Of eight scouts engaged at Smalldeel in frustrating a Boer cattle raid, three were killed and five wounded. Tho latter lay on the ground firing until tho Royal Scouts came up and cleared away tho enemy.

Tho Boers attempted to raid a big cattle herd near Pretoria. After a sharp tight at close quarters, they were ropulsed with loss.

A rebel riarnod Coctzie, a farmer at Mafeking, has been sentenced to bo hanged publicly as a warning to others. Accused harbored Boors, who surrendered and then killed a number of British. Tho steamer Waimato has been chartered to convey remounts to South Africa. SURPRISED BOERS. IMPORTANT PRISONERS TAKEN. STEYN ESCAPES WITHOUT COAT OR BOOTS. By Telegraph—Tress Association—Copyright I. indor., July 15. The Daily News correspondent at Bloemfontein, states that General Broadwood, in a forced march, surprised Reitz at dawn on the 11th. lie took 29 prisoners, including General Clonike ; Wessels, commandant ; Dwaal, first cornet ; Piet Steyn, Secretary to the Government : Fraser, Private Secretary ; Dc Villiers, Secretary of the Council. Steyn escaped without coat or boots. It is behoved that Do Wet is at present at Reitz.

COMBINED MOVEMENT. ATTEMPT TO DISLODGE SCIIKEPER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 15. Generals Strobell, Crowe, Wyndham, and Doran have commenced a combined movement against Commandant Schecper, who is located on a mountain 30 miles from Grorffrinet.

Doran ambushed and capturod seven Beers who wore escorting a small convoy. A GRAVE BLUNDER, A DEFEAT THROUGH LACK OF PRECAUTIONS. A SO-CALLED MISHAP.’

Received July 15,10.45 p.m. By Telograph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 15. The Standard’s Pretoria correspondent describes tho recent mishap to tho Victorian troops as avertable if the camp had boon better protected against a surprise. Major Morris, commanding 250 men, chiefly of tho Fourth Contingent of Victorians, and 30 Royal Artillery, encamped on the ovoning of June 11th at Groottifants river, between Bethal and Middleburg. Although numbers of Boers were soon during the afternoon, only four piequots, of six each, were posted, at 700 yards apart. At nightfall a mist arose, and 180 Boers, under Muller, Viljoen’s most trustod lieutenant, made an attack from tho east, between 9 and 10, while 350 Boors were kept in reserve. A veldt fire in the west threw the camp into relief, enabling tho Boers to see tho Victorians sleeping and a few standing around tho dying camp fire. Creeping between tho piequots tho Boors reserved their fire until 20 yards from the camp. The Victorians and artillerymen rushed for the pompoms, hoping to turn tho enemy, but were killed or disabled os fast as they got to tho guns. They fought for half-an-hour, though they woro an easy target in the light, They killed seven Boers and wounded seven, though unable to loeato the enemy through the mist. When tho captain of tho guns was killed, the Victorians refuged in a Kaffir kraal, west of the camp, holding the Boers at bay and making the issuo momentarily doubtful, but they wore ultimately compelled to surrender. Tho Boers captured 350 rifles and 150,000 rounds of ammunition, two pompoms and a thousand rounds of ammunition, all the horses, and a quantity of foodstuff's.

MOVEMENTS OF BRITISHERS. STEYN’S BROTHER CArTURED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 15. Kitchener’s, Fethcrstone’s, and Dixon's columns have reached Zecrust. They experienced opposition, and 27 British woro wounded and one killed. Elliott has reached Heilbron. Broadwood’s brigade surprised and captured the Orange Government papers, also Stoyn’s brother and others. Steyn escaped in his shirt sloovcs, with ono other. The Daily Nows states that Kitchener suggests the withdrawal of ths greater part of the unmounted troops, and applies for many more mounted men.