THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

DE WET'S INVASION. AN ATTACK REPULSED. BOER BRUTALITY. United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. • LONDON, Feb. 15. De Wet, with two thousand men, crossed the Orange River at Zands Drift on Beb. 11, and proceeded west. On Feb. 12, 400 Boers attacked Philipstown. Several were killed, and the rest returned to the north-east. Commandants Hertzon and Kruitzenger are endeavouring to join De Wet. Mr Potts, who was formerly the Netherlands Consul at Delagoa Bay, and whose exequatur was taken away by the- Portuguese Government, is returning to Delagoa Bay in a private capacity. Colonels Aytoun, of the Queensland Bushmen, and knight, of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, have been discharged from hospital, and have resumed duty. DE WET'S BRUTALITY. ALIENATING THE SYMPATHY OF ' THE CAPE DUTCH. LONDON, Feb. 15. De Wet's action in shooting the PeaOfc Envoys and the raiders' behaviour in looking their friends in Cape Colony air© having the effect of alienating Dutch sympathy from the Boer cause. Before the Boers left Calvinia they flogged several officials for not revealing the places where arms were secreted, and they also flogged the Magistrate, Mr Buk, and, shot, his native drivers. . A number of native drivers were captured and shot elsewhere. >■ MOVEMENTS OF BOERS. FIGHTING BUSHMEN. WOMEN DRIVERS. (Received Feb. 17, 5.12 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. The Boer's,: who lately evacuated Calvinia, were splendidly mounted, and are now travelling in the direction of Kenhaidt, at the rate of sixty miles a day. General French has captured a number of Boers, including Botha's Secretary. General Smith-Dorrien has occupied' Amsterdam. The Australian Bushmen did most of the fighting during the march of Lord Metheuni's column between Kuruman and the Transvaal border, capturing several convoys. They had much difficulty in capturing one which had been entrusted to expert women drivers. i. ■ " PLUCKY DEFENCE. .(Received Feb. 17, 4.53 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. Three hundred and fifty men of De Wet's commando occupied Philipstown on Tuesday. The small garrison of Yeomanry defended the gaol while Lieutenant Heaniker and sixty Victoria Imperial Bushmen rushed and occupied a kopje commanding the town. Fling continued all day, and Major Gran-ville-Smith and two squadrons of Victorians, under Major L. E. Clarke, arrived in the evening. The Boers then, retired to the north-east. REPULSE OF THE BOERS. (Received Feb. 17, 5.1 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. Haasbroek and Woest, commanding portion of De Wet's force, with two hundred vehicles, crossed the Zanddrift on Feb. 9. They were repulsed at Philipstown and Petrusville, after brisk fighting on Feb. 12 and 13. The enemy used a fifteen-pounder captured from the British, the shrapnel bursting splendidly. Subsequently Colonel Plumer's force of Australian Bushmen arrived with a ; pom-pom, and extricated two hundred Imperial and South African Horse who were hard pressed ■by Haasbroek twenty miles w : est of Colesburg. The British casualties were light, but the enemy's were heavier. Colonel Plumer pursuing the Boers westward captured a Maxim, and great portions of De Wet's ammunition train. CAPTURE OF DE WET'S WAGGONS. EFFECT OF BOER CRUELTY. (Received Feb. 17, 5.12 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. The "Daily Mail" states that De Wet and Steyn crossed the railway between Hontkraal and Potfonlein, north of De Aar, Feb. 14, and destroyed two culverts. Colonel Crabbe, following De Wet, captured fourteen waggons and some prisoners. Colonel De Lisle was given a frenzied welcome in Calvinia, where the Boer cruelty, vindictive exactions, and wanton destruction recalled the worst scenes in the early part of the campaign in. Northern Natal. An armoured train, with a Maxim, killed nineteen, Boers who were trying to destroy the railway at Edenbjirg, south of Bloem* fontein during the night. , PENSIONS FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. (Received Feb. 18, 12.9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 17. In 1 lie Hou,-c of Commons, Mr Balfour Said thai ihe Government intended to appoint a. Committee of both Houses of Parliament, to enquire int<> the question of pensions for the widows and orphans of the soldiers who have lost their lives in the South African War. _,.- >7 —-> recruiting for south africa, the Queensland contingent. /' (Reerive.l Feb. 18 1.3 a.m.) / \ SYDNEY, -Feb. 17. Sir William Lyne has informed the Im- . Bexinl- r aiith.orities that the Government can^ ■ "J* '

n6t agree. to the proposal to recruit a thousand constabulary for South Africa. Victoria has sent a similar reply. The Queensland Government saw no objection to its quota being raised in the colony. BRISBANE, Feb. 17. The Government has been, unofficially in* formed that its offer of another coirtiftgent his bfeet)' accepted, the War Office greatly appreciating the offer. THE CORNWALL AT ALBANY. ALBANY, Feb. 16. The troopship Cornwall has arrived here. ALBANY, Feb. 17. Except on Wednesday night, when there was a • he&Vy blow, and the hordes were knocked about, the Coi*nwall had fine weather 6n her passage here. Two horses died from pneumonia, but the rest are iri fine condition. The troops came ashore, and the officers were entertained at the club. Troopers Butt and 1 M'Cuteheon have been invalided, and sent to the hospital. A cable message received from Mr M'Eachrau, the veterinary officer to the Sixth Contingent, announces the arrival of the Cornwall at Albany. The vessel encountered a heavy sea in the Great Australian Bight, and two horses were lost from pneumonia. NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. THEIR PRESENT STRENGTH. The "Post" gives the following' details of tire changes! which' 'have taken place in the various contingents despatched from. New- Zealand to South Africa': •FiMrt Contingent—Original strength, 9 officer* and 204 men; died or killed, 14 ffifeft j discharged, 1 officer 53 men • transferred, 2 officers; on leave in New 'Zealand, 5 officers, 125 men; present strength in South Africa (including men on the way home or on the way to South Africa), 5 officers, 12. men. • . Second Contingent—Original strength, 12 officers, 254 men; died or killed,-19 men; discharged, 2 officers, 22 men; transferred, 1; on leave in New Zealand, 1 officer, 43 men ; dismissed, 1 man ; present strength, 9 officers, 168 men. Third Contingent—Original strength, 10 officers, 252 men ; died or killed, 3 officers, 20 men; discharged, 12; on leave in New Zealand, 25 men; dismissed, 1; present strength, 7 officers, 194 men. Fourth Contingent—Original strength, 20 officers, 442 men; died or killed, 1 Officer, 8 men; discharged, 9 men; on leave in New Zealand, 3 officers, 16 men; present strength, 16 officers, 409 men. Fifth. Contingent—Original strength, 20 officers, 571 men ; died or killed, 8 men; discharged: 5 men; resigned, 1 officer; on leaVe in New Zealand, 2 officers, 14 men; present strength, 17 officers, 544 men. 'Sixth Contingent (now on the way to South Africa in the troopship Cornwall) —Original strength, 18 officers, 560 men. From the above figures, it will be seen that the original strength of the forces sent to South Africa from New Zealand totalled 89 officers and 2284 men. Four officers and 69 men have died or been killed; 3 officers and 101 men have been discharged; 1 officer has resigned"; 2 officers and 1 man have been transferred l ; there are on leave in New Zealand 11 officers and 223 mien; and 2 have be«n dismissed. The forces have thus been decreased by 21 officers and 396 men, and the present strength is 68 officers and 1888 men.