BATTLE AT RIETVLEI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11431, 23 July 1900, Page 5

BATTLE AT RIETVLEI.

DISASTER TO NEW ZEALANDERS.

EIGHTEEN MISSING.

EARLY TERMINATION PREDICTED,

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—

London, July 21. General Pole-Carew fought a stiff action at Rietvlei.

The Boers had Creusot guns and pom-poms, and outflanked a party of New Zealanders on the right, capturing Sergeant Man Donald, Corporals Richardson and Davis, Privates Anderson, Cone, Cross, Lloyd, Hughes, Kennington, McLellan, McCulloch, Mackenzie, Peterson, R. D. Smith, Whitson, and Wright.

Capetown, July 20.

At the opening of the Cape Parliament Sir Alfred Milner said he anticipated an early close of the war. Sir Gordon Sprigg bas a majority of six in the House.

[iIY telegraph.—press association.]

Wellington, Saturday.

The Premier has rceivecl a cable from the High Commissioner in South Africa, reporting the following casualties among mounted infantry at Reitville on July 16: —" Severely wounded. Lieutenant John Findlav (Tennika). Hissing: Captain L. Bourne (Third Contingent, Timaru), Lieutenant J. Cameron (Second Contingent, Wauganui), Sergeant A. McDonald (Hastings), Corporal T. G. A. Richardson (Hawke's Bay), Corporal L. if. Davis (Hawke's Bay), Privates A. Cone (Rangiora), C. E. Cross (Fairlic), R. Lloyd (Hawera), J. C. Hughes (Napier), J. Kennington (Marlborough). R. McCulloch (Warpa wa), W. McLennan (Ruanui, Wanganui district), E. Peterson (Napier), R. D. Smith Waimate)', H. T. Whitson (Hawke's Bay), J, Wright (Wanganui), J. T. Anderaon, and F. E. McKenzie."

Troopei H. T. Whitson, who enrolled as a member of the Third Contingent, at Hawke's Bay, is an Auckland lad, son of the late Thomas Whitson. His mother resides in Parnell. He was a runholder in the Hawke's Bay district prioi to joining the contingent. Wellington, Sunday. The J. C. Hughes who was reported missing after the engagement at Reitville, must not be confounded with Lieutenant John G. Hughes, of the First Contingent. The similarity of the initials and the fact that both men hail from Najier, led to a mistaken impression here flat it was Lieutenant Hughes who was missing. James C. Hughes, the missing man, was a trooper in the Third Contingent. London, July 21. General Mcthuen has occupied Deckpoort unopposed. General Hamilton and Colonel ?Jahon ? forces are marching north of the Delagoa railway. General Hunter is reconnoitring between Bethlehem and Ficksburg.

SIR ALFRED MILNER ON THE WAR.