SOME RECENT FIGHTING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 18 January 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

SOME RECENT FIGHTING.

A CONVOY CAPTURE

DESCRIBED.

CLAN WILLIAM (Western Cape Col 0113'), November 4.

Much to the astonishment of its inhabitants Clanwilliam has again during the past few weeks been swept up in the whirlpool of active rebellion and hostile operations. I say "again," because, as will be easily remembered . the bands of Hertzog and Brand threatened the town in January last; but whereas at that stage of the war they saw fit to come only as far as he Pakhuis Pass — 12 miles north — they have in these, the last flickering clays of the rebellion, passed even down to the Berg River, and eastward to Portervjille and Twenty-four Rivers, leaving the Clanwilliam garrison, too weak for offensive operations, on their left flank. The advance of dohimps under Wyndham, Copper, and Wormold, caused them to retire hm-riedly along the Zandvekl, the broad sandy track skirting the const, but they appear to have had a \ery »-ood time in the rich vallej r of the Great Berg, where they revelled in broad acres of green pastures, ilHmitnble fields of hay, and among — it must be added — friends, who were without stint in their hospitable welcome.

One of theineidents of this raid was the gallant defence of a barn at Twenty-four Rivers by some of the Wellington D.M.T. and the death of Captain Bellew, of the 16th Lancers, in relieving them.

When the advance of our columns took place it was expected that the enemy, swelled in numbers and encouraged by the inhabitants, would make a stand, probably at Twentyfour Rivers, a position peculiarly suited to their methods of defence and" retreat.

WARM TIME FOR LOOTERS.

At Grey's Pass, The Rest, a store in the southern end of the pass, was found to have been looted, though the Boers had lost several wounded in the process, the garrison on the heights above having fired down on them. The northern entrance of the pass is guarded by a large fortified stone house owned by a Mr McGregor.

The day before Capper's guns had been heard booming over Piquetberg way, but the engagement did not amount to anything, for the simple reason that there must be two parties to a fight, and the commando would

have none of it. Far off, westward,

the Piquetberg dips, aud there is a gap where it, with a disloyalty for which there is apparently no remedy,

even under martial law, refuses to join the Olifant's Mountains, and through that, we are told, the Boers have escaped.

Wyndham's column consists of the 16th Lancers, a regiment which Lord Roberts insisted on having in SouthAfrica when he assumed command. Since that compliment was paid it it has shared the extreme labours that have been imposed on nearly all the crack rejiments of ihe regular army. There are also some Yeomanry and some Prince Alfred's Guards. Col. Wyndham, who has twice been wounded during the war, is a brother of the late Under-Secretary for War. His staff officer is Captain Chetwode.

The three columns of Wyndham, Capper and Wormold converged between Clanwilliam and Lambert's Bay. and a new sweeping movement northwards was entered upon. Wyndham moved across Doom River towards Calvinia, threading with impunity the difficult Botha's Pass, where, to the lay mind, it might seem that a few riflemen could inflict serious loss oh, if not actually hold at bay, a- whole column, guns and all. But even this kind dispensation of nature •* could not tempt the Boer to fight.

The movement Calvinia-wards was, however, temporarily checked by the news that Maritz had doubled back and captured a convoy moving from Lambert's Bay to Clanwilliam, thus rendering acute the all-important question of supplies, foi* columns cannot do without convoys.

THE CAPTURED CONVOY.

The story ol this ill-fated convoy is full of the tragic incidents usual to this -kind of affair, of brave, but unavailing resistance, death, wounds, surrender and spoliation, and may bear a fuller description than has been accorded over the wires. Consisting of sixteen mule-waggons and ten ox-waggons, the convoy moved from the Bay on Tuesday, and though the country had been supposed clear of Boers, solitary horsemen began to appear \at intervals early in the afternoon, like aasvogels circling round a derelict animal, waiting i'or the moment to pounce. Later on these became so daring that they occasionally rode close enough to the caravan to make themselves heard. "Come out; come out!" they called continuously in Dutch. Knowing the danger of delay, and fearing that these men were simply trying to hamper them as long as possible, pending the arrival of a larger body, Lieutenants de Kock and Atwell, who were in charge, restrained their men from firing, and pushed on as rapidly as possible,' and safely reached the farm Bovendam with the mule-wag-gons, the ox-waggons, which had left Lambert's Bay later, being still on the road. A laager was formed, the mules being corralled between the wagg-ons, while the horses were placed in the stable and coach-house. Hasty fortifications were quickly erected by means of biscuit boxes, which, however, proved of little use, being- pervious to bullets. The defenders numbered fewer than forty men, comprising Clanwilliam Convoy Guards and Scouts. At daylight, as was expected, firing began, and it soon became apparent that the enemy was in considerable force. As a matter of fact, Maritz was himself present with the bulk of his commando; while Theron was also said to be there.

THE . ONLY POSSIBLE END.

It soon became evident that there was to be only one ending to the affair, unless — and it was a faint hope indeed— help should arrive. The Jjoers crept nearer and nearer. Lieutenant de Kock was shot through the heart before an hour was. over, and men began to fall rapidly. Still, the defenders held on desperately, the coloured men fighting, as »they thought, for their lives, for they had scant hopes of surviving if the Boers got hold of them.

At about 7 o'clock the defenders were absolutely at the mercy of the enenvy, who had gradually wormed themselves into positions commanding the laager, and to avoid a massacre Lieutenant Atwell/ at last agreed to surrender. Luckily there was no ammunition in the waggons, but the foodstuffs were of importance to the enemy, who piled all they cquld on eight waggons, and burnt the remainder. The prisoners were released, with the exception of*some coloured men, who were commandeered to drive the mules.

A doctor went out from Clanwilliam to attend the wounded, and was the subject of disagreeable attention, a rebel commandeering his legging-s — brand new ones, I am told. The wounded are now in hospital here, and are all doing well. The casualties amounted to four killed and ten wounded on our side, -while, according- to prisoners' stories, the Boers admitted fourteen killed and wounded.