THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11579, 18 February 1901, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

INVASION OF CAPE COLONY,

FIGHTING AT PHILIPSTOWN.

BOERS ALIENATING THE CAPE

DUTCH.

DE WETS MOVEMENTS.

SOME SHARP ENGAGEMENTS.

By Telegraph.-Press Association.-Copyright

London, February 15De Wet, with 2000 men, crossed the Orange River at Zand's Drift on February 11 and proceeded west. On February 12 400 Boers attacked Philipstown. Several were killed and the rest returned to the north-east. Commandants Heron and Kriutzinger are endeavouring to join De Wet. LATER. Later. Three hundred and fifty men of De Wet's commando occupied Philipstown on Tuesday (February 12). The small garrison of Yeomanry defended the place gallantly, while Lieutenant Henniker and 60 Victorian Imperial Bushmen rushed and occupied a kopje commanding the town, firing continually all day. Major Granville Smith and two squadrons of Victorians, under Major L. E. Clarke, arrived in the evening, and the Boers retired to the north-east. De Wet's action in shooting the peace envoys, and the action of the raiders in looting their friends' property in Cape Colony is having the effect of alienating Dutch sympathy from the Boer cause. Before the Boers left Calvinia they flogged several officials for not revealing arms. They also flogged the magistrate at Buke and shot native drivers. A number of native drivers were also captured and shot elsewhere. London, February 16. The Daily Mail states that De Wet and Steyn crossed the railway between Hontkraal and Potfontein, north of De Aar, on February 14, destroying two culverts. Colonel Crabbe, following De Wet, captured 14 waggons and some prisoners. Haasbrock and Woest, commanding a portion of De Wet's force, crossed Zandrift on February 9. They were repulsed at Philipstown and Petrusville. Fighting on February 12 and 13 the British used a 15-pounder captured from the Boers, the British shrapnel bursting splendidly. Subsequently Colonel Plunder's force of Australian Bushmen arrived with a pom-pom and extricated 200 Imperial and South African Horse, who were hard-pressed by Haasbrock 20 miles west of Colesburg. The British casualties were light and the enemy's heavier. Colonel Plumer, pursuing the Boers westward, captured a Maxim and great portions of De Wet's ammunition train. The Boers who lately evacuated Calvinia are splendidly mounted and are travelling in the direction of Kenhardt at the rate of 60 miles daily.

Colonel De Lisle was given a frenzied welcome at Calvinia, where Boer cruelty, vindictive executions and wanton destruction recalled the worst scenes of the early campaign in Northern Natal.

LORD METHUEN'S COLUMN. GALLANT AUSTRALIAN BUSHMEN. SEVERAL CONVOYS CAPTURED. • London, February 16. The Australian Bushmen performed most of the fighting during the march of Lord Methuen's column between Kurum and the Transvaal border, capturing several convoys. They had much difficulty in capturing one, which had been entrusted to expert women drivers. BOTHA'S SECRETARY CAPTURED. London, February 16. General French has captured a number of Boers, including Botha's secretary. NINETEEN BOERS KILLED. London, February 16. Armoured trains, with a Maxim, killed 19 Boers who were trying to destroy the railway at Edenburgh, south of Bloemfoncein, during the night. AMSTERDAM OCCUPIED. . London, February 16. General Smith-Dorrien has occupied Amsterdam, in the Transvaal, near the Swaziland border. INVALIDED AUSTRALIANS RESUME DUTY. London, February 15. Colonel Aytoun, of the Queensland Bushmen, and Knight, of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, have been discharged from the hospital and have resumed duty.

EX-CONSUL POTTS. .London, February 15. Mr. Potts, the Consul for Holland at Delagoa Bay, whose exequatur was withdrawn by the Portuguese Government, returns to Delagoa Bay in a private capacity.

THE CORNWALL. Albany, February 16. The troopship Cornwall has arrived here with the Sixth New Zealand Contingent. Albany, February 17. With the exception of Wednesday night, when there was a heavy blow, and the horses were knocked about, the Cornwall had fine weather. Two horses died of pneumonia, but the rest are in fine condition. The troops came ashore, and the officers were entertained at the club. Troopers Butt and McCutcheon are invalided, and have been sent to the hospital. ANOTHER QUEENSLAND CONTINGENT. Brisbane, February 17. The Government has been unofficially, informed that the offer of another contingent has been accepted, the War Office greatly appreciating the offer. CONSTABULARY FOR SOUTH AFRICA. Sydney, February 17. Sir W. Lyne has informed the Imperial authorities that the Government could not agree to a proposal to recruit 1000 constabulary for South Africa. Victoria has sent a similar reply. The Queensland Government saw no objection to a quota being raised there.