LATE NEWS RED REVOLT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 79, 13 March 1922, Page 5

LATE NEWS RED REVOLT.

The Rand War

■PLANES BOMB REBELS. MINE GUARD CLUBBED TO DEATH. THE FIGHT AT NEWLANDS. BOERS AND BRITISH VOLUNTEER. t ßy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.] (Received 13, 11.50 a.m.) Official:—The Government forces have commenced planned operations against the strikers in the central area. In the Brixton area, where the Reds were surroundihg two squadrons of police, they were heavily bombed, causing a large number of casualties. Many Reds surrendered and others took refuge J n the native area. A commando of five hundred strong in a planation near New •Kloinfontein was also bombed. Operations in Benoni and Brakpan areas, under General Vandeveter, are proceeding 'satisfactorily. General Britz is moving along the railway in. the eastern area, it is now ascertain that a few officials forming a guard at Brakpan mine were clubbed to death after surrendering •when their ammounition was exhausted. Later.

. Krugersdorp reports that the situation is satisfactory. Rations and supplies have been dropped from aeroplanes to detached police forces besieged by rvolutionari.es.

Other reports give details of the fight at Newlands’ police station on Friday. The station was defended by fifty-eight men and attacked in overwhelming numbers. Telephones were cut, and there were no means of securing support. The attackers threw bombs over roofs of houses into the station and kept up a hot fusilade, to which the defenders replied. The fight continued one and a half hours before the defenders surrendered. When news of the fip ,^z z reached the town a motor lorry w ; a 40 men was despatched, but drov*’ into a carefully prepared ambush. pitched battle ensued. A doctor 'drived under a white flag, and while >fns was flying the rebels rushed in. 'Further fighting followed, during yfiich several police escaped, but were surrounded. Eventv vily an armistice was arranged and fighting ceased. It is estimated tfiat during Saturday’s lighting over a hundred were killed.

General Vandevonser holds supreme command of the Government forces.

The burghers’ response to the call for volunteers has been satisfactory. No forces are being commandeered.

Boer commandos arc mustering at Krugersdorp. It is reported that one Boer was murdered by the strikers in cold blood. This increased the bitterness of the Boers towards the strikers. Other commandos are expected to-day. Meanwhile the erection of barricades is proceeding. British volunteers are enrolling in large numbers.—(A. and N.Z.) SNIPING AND POT SHOTTING. GUNMEN MINGLE WITH CROWD. (Received 13, 2.45 p.m.) Capetown, Mar. 12. The difficulty of repressive operations is enhanced by constant sniping at men in uniform or wearing the insignia of the Civil Guard or Motor Corps. Ono moment gunmen are potting at passing details and the next walking about in the crowd with nothing to show that they are combatants. Detectives, however, are gradually gathering them in.—(A. and N.Z.) ROUND UP OF REBELS ANOTHER DASTARDLY MURDER. POWER STATION AGAIN MANNED. Capetown, March 12. It will take a few days to complete the Government plans which involve a great encircling movement embracing the whole reef. The casualty lists show that many spectators were hit in the earlier fighting, but now realising the seriousness of the position are taking more caution. After Curfew Johannesburg with empty streets is like a city of the dead. The only life moving is troops. Another dastardly murder is reported. Two military officers were motoring two youthful strikers to the police station. They stopped to mend a puncture and were fatally shot by the mob at Jeppe. The two youths reporting the murder were so horrified at the cold blooded outrage that they offered to join. up. The power station is now manned by volunteers and the city is again lighted.

The latest official announcement states that the result of operations in Topllia town and Brixton ridge area fifteen hundred prisoners have been captured and ridges in the neighbourhood cleared. This is of a great importance as the presence of a strong rebel force in the area constituted a grave menace. —(A. and N.Z.)