THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12429, 19 February 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

COMMANDEERING BOER HORSES. CONVALESCENT COLONIALS. HONOURS TO CANADIANS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 17. Four thousand horses have been commandeered at Harrismith, and two thousand at Standerton, for the purpose of remounting; the'British irregulars. The raiders possess splendid maps of Cape Colony, provided by Steyn before the war. Captain Berry, of the Queensland Bushmen and lieutenant Lewin, of the New Zealand Rough Riders, have been discharged from hospital, and have resumed duty. The following Western Australians were wounded in the fighting at Klipploat:— Captain Oliver and Privates Campbell and Flynn. The King and Queen inspected Strathcona’s Horse at Buckingham Palace, and presented the Canadians with medals set in the regimental colours. Earl Roberts and Sir Redvers Bullet were present. TURNING THE TABLES. A PARTY OF BOERS AMBUSHED. LONDON, Feb. 17. While one hundred Boers were conveying a quantity of forage through Giringspoort, they were ambushed by a detachment of the recently-formed Cape Cyclist Corps, which was entrenched upon a kopje. The cyclists killed seventeen of the enemy. All the male inhabitants of Grasfontein have been arrested on a charge of assisting the invaders. Three Boers were killed and twenty-three wounded while attempting to cut the railway at Bank Station, near Johannesburg. THE ENGAGEMENT AT HOUTKRAAL. / CHASING DE WET. (Received Feb. 18, 10.16 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 18. Details of recent encounters with Do Wet show that Colonel Plumer’s force of Australian and New Zealand Bushmen followed sections of De Wet’s commando from Phillip stown to Hout-kraal, until darkness stopped them. Friends and foes were both exhausted, and the horses were knee-deep in mud. * Lord Kitchener witnessed the action, which took place north-west of Houtkraal. . . De Wet and Steyn, with between 2000 and 3000 men, crossed the railway between Houtkraal and Potfoatein before daybreak on Feb 15, and Colonel Crabbe left Houtkraal in pursuit at daybreak, using two fifteen pounders, the shells frequently scattering the enemy. De Wet did not attempt to use his guns, and was surprised by an armoured train, which arrived from the north, opening with two naval twelve-pounders. This facilitated the capture of practically the whole of De Wet’s convoy, including the ambulance waggon, laden with ammunition, and nineteen other waggons, six hundred shells, and half-a-million cartridges. Fifty Boers were captured, mostly ragged and bootless, and a hundred hones. De Wet lost sixty-five killed and wounded. The Boers broke into sections and fled, sniping occasionally, towards Britstown. Colonels Plumer and Crabbe are pursuing, and General Knox, General Bruce-Hamilton and Colonel White have joined the chase. BOTHA’S FORCE RETREATING AND DISORGANISED. (Received Feb. 19, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 18. General French is still driving all Botha’s force before him, excepting the Carolina commando, which broke through, going westward. It has since become disorganised. DE WET’S RECEPTION IN CAPE COLONY. (Received Feb. 19, 12.10 a.m.) . LONDON, Feb. 18. General Brace Hamilton, by zigzag matches, followed De Wet for three weeks. De Wet, at the moment 1 of invading Cape Colony, forbade his followers looting. The Dutch received him unwillingly, declaring that his presence would only cause ruin to them. Many of his followers have since deserted him and his horses are badly fed. The force is mainly armed with LeeMetford rifles and is now being greatly harassed. Kraitzinger’s, Hertzog’s and other commandos are being prevented from joining ■ De Wet. LORD KITCHENER’S FINANCIAL ADVISER. Lord Kitchener, in view of the heavy expenditure in South Africa, has asked for financial assistance and Mr Brodrick is sending Mr C. D. Fleetwqod-Wilson, Assis-tant-Under-Secretary of the War Depart-