THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12569, 2 August 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

.. THE CRADQCR FIGHT. COLONEL CRABBE'S ESCAPE., - NETHERLANDS RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, NO RIGHT TO COMPENSATION United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 31. Details of the fight between Kruitzinger'* commando and Colonel Crabbe's force, on July 20, show that the latter, when it* . horses stampeded, was without guns, and surrounded. Although outnumbered by two . ■' to one, it crept in the dead of night throngfo the *nemy's lines. The South African Compensation Gun-. mission has decided that the employees of the Netherlands Railway forfeited thejr , right to be regarded' as neutrals, &ad tot . -- compensation. CAPTURES FROM' THE BOERS. (Received August 1, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. Colonel Charles Knox,, in iten. days' cleay* , ance of Berfrulie and Thabanchu, captured; - Field Comet Preterms, 126 waggons, 1625 cattle and 64,300 sheep. , ' Colonel Allender surprised *taa Boers 4| Wagooshtadlspruit, killing, six, voundiflf three, and capturing four. / Mr Steyn has ordered August 8 and 9 to be set apart for humiliation and prayer.. RAIDS IN CAPE COLONY. ■ , - ,: (Received August 1, 11.11 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. ' Many of the Cape "poor whites" ar» . joining commandos, in order to obtain Zi loot. The Standard Bank is closing its branch- ' es, owing to not being projected by the military against raiders. ' . ' Trooper Witty, 1.M.R., writing froin • Stajiderton on June 8, to Ms family in Christchurch, states that since his last letter his troop had Lake Chrissy , and to Ermelo. On the way back they met -; the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, who had - had four killed, and lost thirteen of their number in prisoners. The Boers, however, let all the prisoners go after stripping them ' of their Government kits. Tlie veldt was, > totally devoid! of grass, a»d dead cattle, -'■ horses and sheep lay everywhere. Tim British ti'oops commandeered all live stock. found on the veldt, and drove them along with them. The Kaffir camp followers cut •, the .throats of all sheep too weak to follow! the mob, and shot' ihe.cattle and horses • '[. that fell out. i'.The LM-R. lost 400 cattle *, in this way on ai two days' march. It had ; been reported- among'the troops that Db"-"', Wet was dead.'as he has not been beard of ' ; for some time.