A SULLEN CAPITULATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11440, 2 August 1900, Page 5

A SULLEN CAPITULATION

HORSES, RIFLES, AND GUNS SURRENDERED, PEINSLOO'S COMMANDO. A SCENE THAT RECALLED CROWE'S SUBMISSION. THE SIEGE OF RUSTENBEK& LORD KITCHENER ORGANISING RELIEF By Telegraph— Association—Copyright.

Lonoon, August 1. Commandants Prinsloo, Villiers, and Crowther, with 986 men, chiefly belonging to the Ficksburg and Lodybrancl commandos, together with 1482 horses, 915 rifles, a Krupp nine-pounder, and 50 waggons, surrendered to General Hunter in the Bethlehem district of the Orange River Colony. The scene recalled the surrender of Cronje's laager. The Boers, laden with blanket? and camp utensils, rode sullenly between two long lines of British troops, and threw down their rifles. They declared they were surrounded, otherwise they would never have surrendered. Some of the leaders were at first recalcitrant, claiming to act independently of Prinsloo, whereupon Lord Roberts ordered the resumption of hostilities, warning Prinsloo that he would be personally responsible for the delivery of every gun. Some have surrendered to General Hector Macdonald at Naauwpoort Nt>k. The Harrifmith and Vrede commandos are still uncaptured, large numbers escaping out of the Cale-. donian Valley at night. London, July 31. Lord Roberts reports that General Hector Macdonald, on the 26th, fought a rearguard action among the hills in the vicinity of Bethlehem, in the east of Orange River Colony. The fighting lasted from -early morning till night. Part of General Macdonald's forces blocked Naauwpoort Nek to waggon, traffic. The enemy occupying two other neks close by twice checked the advance. Major-General Hunter's division of Scots Greys, Guards, Royal Irish, Wiltshires, and Leinsters, took one nek. The casualties of the division in effecting the capture were practically nominal, and the Scots Guards moving on to the second nek occupied it entirely unopposed. Commandant Prinsloo, the Free State general at the head of the beaten force, applied for a four days' armistice, to allow of negotiations being carried on. General Hunter replied that he could only accept unconditional surrender, and that unless his demand was acceded to hostilities would have to continue. Later Commandant Prinsloo suggested that his men should surrender with their arms, but should retain their horses, saddles, and other property, and that when disarmed should be allowed to return to their homes. • "This offer," says Lord Roberts, " was communicated to me, and I insisted upon the delivery of everything. The total surrender of Prinsloo followed."