THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

A GALLANT EIGHT. BE WET’S MOVEMENTS. LONDON, FA 13. Details of the fight at Klipplaat Junction. 6n Feb. 6 show that twelve members of the Seventh Dragoon Guards, twelve Western \ Australians and three Mounted Police, carrying despatches, encountered several hundred Boers. The British occupied two small kopjes, and gallantly replied, to an hour’s heavy rifle'fire. Four Western Australians prevented a. flanking movement, until the Boers made a wide detour, and completely surrounded the party. At sunset two hundred of the enemy, under cover of a heavy fire from the main body, charged, and overpowering the British, captured them. The prisoners, after being stripped of their armh and other belongings, and complimented on their bravery, were released. The Boers admitted that they had five killed. It is reported in Cape Town that Do Wet has crossed the Orange River, and is proceeding to Phillipstown, DEATH OF A BUSHMAN. LONDON, Feb. 13. Corporal Chailie, of the New South! Wales'BUshmen, has died from enteric. t COMMANDEERED horses and MULES. (Received Feb. 14, 11.1 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15. The British have commandeered two thousand horses and mules in the Malmesbury district. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. HONOUR TO COLONIALS. (Received Feb. 14, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON., Feb. 13. In his despatches just published, Lord Roberts mentioned Colonel Robin, of New Zealand, as having distinguished himself. In addition to Colonel Robin, Lord Roberts mentions the following as having dis-: tinguished themselves: —Captain Anidll and Corporal English (New South Wales), Captains Reidi and Browne (Queensland). Ha also states that the assistance rendered by Major Fiaschi, of the New South Wales Medical Corps, to the sick and wounded, and the efficient condition of the New South Wales ambulance services, was most valuable, and deserved special mention.. THEFTS OP MILITARY STORES. (Received Feb. 14, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 13. ’ Extensive thefts of military stores have been discovered in Natal. Six railway employees have been arrested, and an hotelkeeper and several storekeepers are impliAN EXTENSIVE CAPTURE, • (Received Feb. 14, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 13. General French attacked’ the Boer laager afc'Ermclo last Week and killed forty, and captured two hundred prisoners, and 1 a great number of cattle. He also recovered some fifteen-pounder guns lost at the battle of Colenso. HEALTH OF CAPE COLONY. (Received Feb. 14, 11.1 p.m.) ' CAPE TOWN, Feb. 13. A deputation from a representative Congress of Cape Colony municipalities urged Sir Gordm Sprigg to constitute Boards of Health. Sir Gordon Sprigg, in. reply, said he recognised the gravity of the case, and would do his utmost to prevent an epidemic of enteric. f THE AUSTRALIAN REINFORCE- . • MENTS. MELBOURNE, Feb. 14. The transport Argus has sailed, with 500 ol the contingent’s horses. The men will get away on Friday. HOBART, Feb. 14. The Tasmanian Government’s offer of 120 additional mounted men for South Africa has been accepted. LieutenantColonel Watdhorn will command the contingent. PERTH, Feb. 14. The Western Australian Government has decided to send, a Sixth Contingent, of the same strength as the Fifth. ADELAIDE, Feb. 14. Replying to a query, Lord Kitchener has informed the South Australian Government that the service of the new contingents will be one year, or until tire end of tire war. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The Karamea, with a large party of returning troopers on board, arrived in the harbour early this afternoon, but has nob yet (2.15 p.m.) passed the Health Officer. SEVENTH CONTINGENT, [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The drafts for South Africa, to fill the vacancies in the contingents there will go without horses. The first draft will be of r 300 men, and uniforms are ordered for 1000. Applicants for service with the Seventh Contingent should 1 send! their offers for enrolment to- the officer commanding the district, whose duty it is to receive'them.' The Mayor has received a good many of We,; and handed them over to Colonel Gordon, 41 ' Time would be saved, and the work ed the Defence Office facilitated, if intending Y«K upteers for the front would remeinbet) this' regulation. RETURNING NEW ZEALANDERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb, 14. The steamer Karamea arrived herq from London to-day, via Cape Town end’ Hobart, and brought the invalided New Zealanders, whos names were telegraphed! oh Monday last. There was no demonstration. RETURNED TROOPERS. NEGLECTED IN NEW ZEALAND. A TIMELY REMINDER. Speaking at the Cmt&fewy Athletic and

Cycling Club’s “ social,” last evening, in responding to the toast of “ Our Boys at the Front,” Sergeant Wilkinson, of the Fourth Contingent, referred to the manner in which returning troopers were treated in Christchurch and other towns. These men, in most instances, he said, were invalided home. So long as they were physically able they had done their duty in South Africa. They had a pretty hard time out there, and it surely was not too much to expect that they should be looked after wherever they might happen to be in New Zealand. Yet, what were the facts. Many of them were walking about the streets strangers in the town, too proud to ask for anything, and no one took any notice of them. In some cases they were without money, having received no pay, in some instances, since April last. They talked -about the glorious deeds of “Our Boys” at the front, and they had their Patriotic Committees, but in this matter they showed very'great Other places where he had been, England, Ireland, Scotland and Australia, New Zealand troopers Lad received the utmost, kindness. In London, they had first-class railway passes, and trams, ’buses, cabs, and theatres were all free to them; why, then, could they not be similarly treated here, if the New Zealand public were as ‘proud of them as they professed to be. Such clubs as the Canterbury Athletic and Cycling -Club could do something to show kindness and attention, to returned troopers.