RAND REVOLT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2074, 15 March 1922, Page 5

RAND REVOLT.

SITUATION IN HAND. i JUNCTIONS OF TROOPS EFFECTED. SNIPERS DISLODGED. [By Electric Cable— Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z, Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday 10 p.m.) CAPETOWN, March 14. An official communique states; "D the Central Area our aeroplanes observed great avtivity at Fordburg Police who were relieved yesterday captured seventy-four prisoners and arms, and caused the enemy severa casualties. Police , examined some abandoned aeroplanes at Mulderdrifl Road, and found one destroyed by fire and others slightly injured. Thej found the police station at Newlands destroyed, and a number of wounded revolutionaries in the Newlands hospital. From information received from natives, it is clear that in yesterday's bombing raid many revolutionaries were killed and two of their leaders seriously injured. The Inspectoi of Police and eighty-six policemen who had been captured, were taker out during the night to Asvogelfonteir and released. The Eastern Area garrison at Leu and Bcnoni is busy sorting out prisoners. Over 4,000 persons have beer dealt with, and these include a considerable number of individuals who could be trusted not to join the revolutionaries and who were being held in the town against .their will. Colonel Van Deventer relieved the garrisons at Brakpan Power station, and Police station. The men at the latter showed particular gallantry in holding out without water or food for three days, with their defences riddled by snipers. Colonel Nussy with leading troops under his command reached Maraisburg. There was some sniping from kopjes north of railway and Colonel Nussey in working to clear his position. His dismounted men aie still at Florida. Later, Nussey has reached Nowlands. A number of revolutionaries were observed amongst the kopjes ahead of him. Ho came into touch a! this point with a squardon of the South African Mounted Rifles and extreme left' portion of force under General Bebes. Another portion ot this force has junctioned at Dunbar with Light Infantry, in the vicinity of Teewelare station, Pretoria. In the Germiston area, Van De Ewait’s force pushed out several miles eastward and westward.of Reitfonteir station to high ground on both sides of the valley which is now held by this force and everything is quiet ir this sector. A junction has been effected with Van Deventer’s force. General co-operation between our aeroplanes and land forces has markedly improved, thus facilitating operations, Whenever there are large gatherings of the enemy in the vicinity our troops guided by the firing of red lights from aeroplanes have dispersed them. The encircling movement of the Government forces is now complete and the situation is well in hand, the Eastern, Western, Pretoria and Germiston areas being to all and • purposes out of reckoning to such an extent that not only has recruiting been stopped, but considerable forces are available as reserves. Certain portions of the Central area, however still require to be cleared up. LATEST FROM THE FRONT. ((Received Wednesday, - a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 14. It is officially declared that all secI tors except Central Johannesburg car be regarded as cleared up. Recruiting has been stopped. SMUTS IS CONFIDENT. CAPETOWN, March 13. General Smuts, in an interview, declared that the position was in every way satisfactory. The response of the Government commandos is magnificent. and he was confident that the revolution will soon be utterly crushed. Mr 3lalan, in outlining the progress of events in the Legislative Assembly, said the Government felt that it had the hearty co-operation of all trueminded citizens in this crisis.