THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12550, 11 July 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

A SMART ENGAGEMENT. '•' SUCCESS OF A BRITISH GARRISON. CAPTURED DOCUMENTS. SOME INTERESTING DISCLOSURES. United Press Association—By Electri-a Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 9. The " Daily News" reports a smart enl- - A British railway guard stationed at a place southwards of Kroonstad quitted its blockhouse to intercept a Boer convoy which was crossing the railway. Other Boers occupied the blockhouse, and the British were thus between two fires. The latter took cover and defended their position until the arrival of an armoured train, which emptied the blockhouse. Six Boers were killed and thirty wounded. The remainder and the convoy were captured. A Blue-Book has been issued dealing with a number of captured documents. One shows that General Botha, in an address which he delivered on March 15, told the burghers that he had informed Lord Kitchener that they were fighting for what they would never surrender—their independence. It also complains about the incomplete restoration of Boer independence in 1881. In October General Botha, in order to prevent surrenders, threatened to confiscate the property of surrenderors and burn their houses. In November it was propagated that France was ready to land troops in South Africa, and also that the Canadian and Australian troops were withdrawing. ' On May 10 Lord Kitchener, replying to General Botha's request to facilitate the despatch of envoys to Mr Kruger, declared that he recognised only the Boer officers in the field. MOVEMENTS OF FOUCHE'S RAIDERS. BRITISH CAPTURES. THE PATRIOTISM OF THE CITY OF LONDON. RECOGNITION BY THE KING. LONDON, July 9. Fouche's commando has returned to the" Barldey East district. Sine© July 1, forty Boers have been killed, twenty-seven wounded, and 182 captured; 312 waggons, 7000 cartridges and many horses and cattle have been captured, and twenty-one Boers have surrendered. The King intends to confer the South African medal on the City Corporation and City Companies in recognition of publ-o spirit in raising Imperial V-ohin- ; teers. , . j EMBEZZLEMENT OF PRO-BOER '' FUNDS. 1 VIENNA, July 9. Kapuscha, a' pro-Boer agitator at Vienna, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment for embezzling funds subscribed by sympathisers with the Boers. ANOTHER BOER PROCLAMATION. ILLUSIVE tPBOMitfJUS. LONDON, July 10. Dufloy, a Boer, escaped from Bermuda. On landing -from a steamer at New York he was detained on the ground of being a pauper. Schalkburgher and Steyn have issued a fresh proclamation,- promising eventual intervention hj the (Powers. MONEY EXTORTED FROM A BANK. LONDON, July 10. Commandant Schecper extorted money from the Standard Bank at Murrayburg. AN APPEAL. (Received July 11, 0.16 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. Duplessis, Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Lindley, has implored the moderator <jf the Synod of the Transvaal and Orange River Churches to send mediators'to Lord Kitchener and the Boer leaders. THE DEATH OF TROOPER WOOKEY. ! [Fnoii Otjb Coeeespondent.] WELLINGTON, July 10. The Governor has received the following message from Caps Town:—"Britannic left East London en July 7, having on board for Wellington Lieutenant Elder Ulbreck and twenty-seven men of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent." The-Premier has received a communication relating the circumstances under which Trooper Wookey m>eb his death, from Captain Denniston. The particulars show that Trooper Wookey..met his death whilst making a plucky attempt to escape after falling into the hand's of the Boers. Captain Tuckey, of the Fifth Contingent, was sent with the C Squadron to join a squadron of Cape Police and a ; Maxim to surround a farmhouse at Doornbut, in the Orange River Colony. ' Captain Tuckey' sent one troop, under Lieutenant White, to work around to the left of the house, one troop of the Gape police being sent to the right, -and the remaining two squadrons, with' the Maxims, being left to deliver a front attack. Owing to the flanking parties losing their way, Captain Tuckey's party did nob reach the •farmhouse till just at daybreak. The Boers sighted them, and made off, and the flanking parties found their way blocked by a barbed wire fence. . As soon as the' fence was cut down Trooper Wookey, .who rode a fast horse, dashed 'off without orders from Lieutenant White, who did not know he had gone. The matter was reported to captain Tuckey, who sent J out- a search party. This "party followed Wookey'* " spoor " till it ran into Boers' " spoor:'" They men returned. The remainder 'ft the narrative was picked up from the Boers. The Boer account states that a- soldier Tode right into them., thinking that they were the flanking , party from the right. They took him prisoner, and sent him off" with an escort of two men. They came to a wiie fence, and whilst they were getting through it Wookey suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot one through the body, 'and the other through the wrist. The one first wounded has since died. Wookey then started oft" to escape, but the Boer who was mortally wounded opened fire ufc him, but did not hit him, till he was over six hundred yards off, when- a bullet hit him in the head, killing 'him instantly. Captain Tuckey found the , body, and the Royal Engineers are la erect

the marble cross which trie New Zealand Government has thoughtfully provided for the graves of the New Zealanders who have fallen in South Africa. THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CONTINGENTS. ARRIVAL OF THE TAGUS. [Feom Our Special Cc-ebespondent.] WELLINGTON, July 10. When the Tagus, with the returning contingents, passed the Nuggets this morning she was' signalled to return, to the Bluff, but the notice was unheeded and she continued! her journey towards,the Qtago Heads. The Premier informs me that he is arranging for either the Westralia or the Te Anau to take the troopers to the Bluff, and possibly the Tutanekai will be availed of to effect the transhipment. At a, meeting of-citizens to-day it was resolved that the returning troopers of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents should: be welcomed on their arrival at the wharf, and afterwards entertained at luncheon. The Premier has jusb (1 p.m.) informed me that the Tagus will require to be quarantined for twenty-four hours, Albany being an infected port. The troopers will be transhipped to the Te Anau to-morrow afternoon, and landed at the Bluff on Friday morning. They will go overland to Dunedinon (Saturday, arriving there about half-past two o'clock. [Peh Pbess Association.] DUN'EDIN, July 10. The troopship Tagus, with imemters of the Fourth and Fifth' -Contingents, returning from South Africa, arrived outside the Heads at 2 p.m., and anchored. The Government steamer Tutanekai went alongside. Dr Hodges, Health Officer,' informed the captain of the Tagus that the vessel would he iwarde'd and inspected, and if all was well, ■admitted to pratique tomorrow afternoon. It is intended l to tranship the Otago and 'Southland men to the Tutanekai and Te Anau, and take them down to the Bluff. It was asce'rta|ned that Trooper A. Kendall, of Hokianga, died this morning. Death is believed to be due to peritonitis.' The list of those on board will not be available till to-moxTow. Later. His Excellency the' Governor, the Hon C. H. -Mills, Mr (Kanan, M.H.©., and Mr iM'ixah, M.H.R., came up to- iDunedire this afternoon. The Tagus is expected to be released from quarantine about 2.30 i tomorrow. Gunner A. Kendall, of the Fifth Contingent, died last night, not this morning. He will he buried with military honours to-morrow afternoon at Port Chalmers. Wreaths will 'be sent dowa from the Government, Colonel Penten and the New Zealand forces. The whole oil the troops on board the Tagus, with the exception, possibly, of five or six who are invalids, will be sent to the Bluff in the Tutanekai and Te Anau, not the Otago and Southland men only, as first stated. A meeting of residents was held in Ashburton last evening, to make laiTangeuients for the reception of the troopers returning by th& Tagus, the Mayor 'presiding. It Was decided to hold a thanksgiving; service and a conversazione in the Oddfellows' -Hall, a dance to follow in the hall at night. Two committees were appointed, and each was granted £lO from the War Fund to cover any deficiency. The committee; appointed for the afternoon function comprised the Mayor and Messrs Cox, Ferraban, Jones, Gates, and' the Rev T. Fee, and for the ' ball arrangements, Messrs Timmins, Clark, Garner and Nordon. It was,.decided, if possible, to hold.both on Thursday,, July 18.