South African War

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2293, 5 January 1900, Page 5

South African War

[CONTINCKD FROM PAGE 2.] London, Jan. 1. The British volunteer movement has received an anonymous gift of a fullyequipped field hospital, while Colonel the fourth bat. West Yorkshire militia mid Colonel Watts First Northumbtdyqffiaye each donated a splendid

The capture of the steamer Rundesrath at Delagoa Bay by a British warship is calmly commented on in Germaby. Durban, Jan. 1. The enemy fired unloaded shells into Ladysmith, containing the compliments of the season and a plum pudding. Capetown, Jan. 2. General French, by a rapid night advance of infantry, riding in waggons, found the enemy, at dawn, on Monday, stretching six miles along the hills round Colesburg. The infantry, supported by ten guns, opened a feint attack on the enemy's front, doing much execution and silencing the Boer guns. Meanwhile cavaliy and light artillery turned the Boer right flank. The enemy were surprised and dismaved lest their retreat should be cut off, and fled eastward. General French

then occupied Colesburg. N.S.W. and New Zealand men participated in the engagement Major-General French's casualties at Rensburg were three killed and seven wounded. The Queensland and Victorian troops took part in hot engagement at Sunnysiae, twenty miles north-west of Belmont, yesterday. 'Agymkhana was held in Modder River camp yesterday, despite the Boers' bombardment London, Jan. 2. Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley, replying to recent criticisms, declared that the British field guns are equal to any in Europe, while the Boers are using heavy siege guns in fixed positions. The ruler of nearly every Native State in India offers horses fot South Africa. Capetown, Jan. 3. The Sunnyside kopjes range north and south, and, leaving the natives guarded in order to prevent their divulging the movements of the British, Colonel Pilcher, of the Northumberland's, the Queenslanders under Major Ricardo, with 200 Canadians and two guns, a horse battery, and 40 mounted inen, inarched to within four miles 4? the kopjes. The Canadian guns "wfere ordered to attack a laager at the foot of 'thfj * northern spur, while £n8 f .tie Queenslanders jporked. splendidly on the'left, taking advantage of every cover. ' Two shells at 1500 yards' range, landed amongst the tents in the laager and were the first'intimation the enemy had of the presence of the British. The Boers hurriedlv ascended and lined the kopjeas, Volleying liotly, but their fire was soon subdued. At 1000 yards' range the Canadian* shelled with wonderful accuracy. The Boers' laager, with 40 prisoners, was captured, besides their dead and wounded. The Boers routed at Colesburg numbered 4000. They used a British 15 pounder, probably one of Qatacre's, with Woolwich ammunition. Durban, Jan. 3. A British warship has seized the Ham* burg steamer. Hans Wagner at Dalagoa Bay. -* London, Jan. 3. Lieut Pingleton (New Zealand) has been ordered to South Africa. The Hotchkiss battery presented to New Zealand by the Armstrong Co. leaves in three weeks. Twenty-five English-speaking foreigners, supposed to be lißyd's spies; endeavoured to enrol in Lord Chesham's yeomanry, but being unable to prove their naturalisation, were turned away.