THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lake County Press, Issue 979, 12 September 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The magistrate at Prieska reports that the Boers captured and shot in cold blood two unarmed scouts at Harulkloof. There are persistent reports that De Wet is at Yryburg. Other commandants threaten to shoot armed Dutch colonials captured after Sept 15. Boer refugee camps are being established at Durban, Colonel Scobell captured Letter’s commando of 103 southwards of Petersburg. Letter lost 19 killed and 47 wounded ; 200 horses were also captured. Recruiting for irregular corps is being actively resumed at Durban. Vandenhoever, a Oape Legislative Councillor, has been arrested at Burghersdorp on a charge of concealing arms. Lady Dudley has made a special appeal for the sick and wouuded officers nurses’ fund of which £33,000 out of £37,000 has already been expended. Surgeon Bobardt, of the training ship Britannia complains that, as a result of his experience in the concentration camps in South Africa, the camps are inadequately guarded and escapes of surrenderors are fr iquent. Letter’s laager was completely surrounded and surprised at daybreak. The prisoners include Commandant Breedt and field cornets J. and W. Kru ger. 2500 rounds of ammunition were captured. The British casualties numbered 10 killed and 8 wounded. Major Rimington has captured a convoy in the Scnekal district, Orange River Colony, consisting of 3000 cattle, 22 prisoners and 110 waggons. Letter’s horses stampeding, the commando took refuge in a shed. After enduring a concentration rifle fire at short range for an hour, the white flag was hoisted. A Lancer who rode forward was shot at and slightly -.rounded after the enemy surrendered. Colonel Scobell was without cannon or convoy, and marched 40 miles in twelve hours to effect the surprise. Two Horstcrs, both notable rebels, were killed. Colin M'Donald, of the New Zealand Mounted Infantry, has died from enteric at Bloemfontein. Owing to the prevalence of trainwrecking it has been decided that prominent burghers of Pretoria shall accompany the Petersburg trains. Three hundred Boers crossed the Orange River and entered native territory at Herschel. The British pursuing, killed several and captured a nua.ber. Cjlonel Grenfell dispersed Beyers’ force, capturing some and harassing and preventing the fugitives reuniting. Boers are surrendering by twos aud

threes to the extent of about forty daily. Boers in cold blood shot another couple of unarmed native scouts at Steydenberg. Forty mercenaries have quitted commando and proceeded to Delagoa via Swaziland.