DR JAMESON AND THE BOERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 32

DR JAMESON AND THE BOERS.

THE BA.TTLE AT KRUGER3DORP. FULL DETAILS. THE SPLENDID BRAVERY OF JAMESON'S MEN. DESERTED BY THEIR ALLIES. Pa.pers to hand by the Tongariro give full details of the engagement bat ween Dr Jameson's force and the Boers at Krugorsdorp. Jameson made three principal attacks, and the men dietinguijhed themselves -with great gallantry. The Boers during the night had been reinforced with men, artillery and Maxims. Their position was right-angled, and the Boers attacked in the re entering angle, thus having the lire both in front and flank. To attack this position Jameson's men had to advance over perfectly open, gently sloping grass, while the Boers lay behind rocks, and fired with rifles, Maxims and artillery upon their assailants, their position being absolutely unassailable. Jameson, after making desperate efforts to force liia way through, surrendered and stood still. The column fell back again to Krugersdorp without arms, and surrendered to the Beers. Later telegrams give the following particulars : The fight on the 2nd took place at Doomkop, on the farm Vlskfontem, and will be known in history as the battle of Doornkop. It is patent from the appearance of the

field that the Boers had carefully prepared, having dug trenches all over the place among the boulders for their own protection. Mining Commissioner Dreprink, who witnessed the battlo, says : Shortly before 9 o'clock the column crossed the Steyn Estate hills from Krugersdorp, thus getting to Johannesburg by crossing the Klip River. On getting to the hill near the Steyn mine the Boers appeared and opened fire, and then made off for kopjes. Dr Jameson, apparently under the impression that the Boers were running away, gave orders to follow.

A number of Boers fled to the entrenchments, others to kopjes. The column made for those behind the boulders, advancing to within a third of a mile, the cannon pouring on the retreating Boers a perfect hail of shot and shell from the Maxims and seven-pounders. The Boers did not reply for some time, and thus tempted, the advance guard of the column approached nearer, whereupon the Boer sharp-shooters replied, but at long range. The column then prepared to get through an opening in the hills. Heie again they were cut off, and a fight took place on the plain, all arms being called into play. The firing of the field guns and Maxims then became frightful, and the fusilade was kept up until Jameson had spenb his last shot. The column's batteries then became silent, and Jameson hoisted the flag of truce.

After a parley he was given five minutes to surrender unconditionally, and having regard to the absence of relief and the forlorn hope he led, Jameson surrendered with eight Maxims and three field guns. The whole of the Boer force, which is now said to number between four and five thousand, was not engaged. The majority occupied hills waiting for an opportunity to cut off the retreat. The field was strewn with the dead and wounded, whom Dreprink hxd immediately conveyed to Krugersdorp, and the Boers who carried them off the field comforted them as best they could. The dead men were buried at nightfall, all in one trench. The fighting order of the column was in skirmishing order, as follows : —First, scouting party; second, advanced guard, with Maxims ; third, main body with flanking parties ; fourth, rear guard with flanking parties. This was the order in Avhich they went into disastrous action.

The Boers speak in high terms of the splendid bravery of the column, but hold that Jameson attempted more than mortal man so situated could accomplish. A telegram on January 3rd says : In Krugersdorp there was wild excitement. The Boers' ammunition, Avhich had run short during the day, was replenished from Johannesbnrg, the Boers running with it to the scene of action. The sight was one never to be forgotten. The Boers galloping to and fro, officials serving out arms and ammunition, and the whole place generally in a state of intense tumult. When daylight came heavy firing again took place in the direction of Roodeport, thus showing that Jameson, despite terrible odds, pushed on towards Johannesburg. By this time Jameson had lost GO or 70 killed, wounded, or prisoners, while all were entirely worn out with hunger and fatigue. The Boers extended their force right across the position in a half-circle, and placed the six Maxims in position at long intervals. Jameson's men kept very close, thus exposing a better target for the deadly discharge from the machine guns; a fierce and determined battle took place at 11 o'clock in the morning. Jameson having spent his last shot, and the men almost dropping from their horses from fatigue, having fought almost for 24 hours on empty stomachs, waved a flag of truce, and the bra re fellows surrendered to an overwhelming force of quite six to one. By permission of the Commandant, Rsuter's correspondent was allowed to interview Dr Jameson and Sir John Willoughby. The doctor said little beyond that ho failed owing to lack of support expected when the Krugersdorp railway terminus from Johannesburg was reached.

Although assistance from his allies failed, he might have escaped if the rails had been destroyed, as the Boer force was without ammunition for some time until an express engine and truck arrived on the scone. There is a tremendous revulsion of popular feeling. The Johannesburg Times says : " The march will remain as a glorious tradition of the Anglo-Saxon race," and adds: " Dr Jameson was fighting two days without food, water, or sleep, against tremendous odds, hoping against hope for the help that never oame. He was practically trapped in the sight of 15,000 armed men of Johannesburg, whom lie came to help. So ends this desperate, glorious raid of lion-hearted Jameson, ignominious to others, but certainly not to him."

When the Star announced that Dr Jameson had been defeated by the Boers, a scene of wild excitement arose.

A mob of several thousands strong gathered in front of the Reform Committee Offices in the Consolidated Ofoldfields building at Johannesburg and demanded news of Jameson. By-and-bye a gentleman arrived at the upstairs window and made the astounding statement that President Kruger had granted all their demands.

Colonel Rhodes, wdio appeared greatly agitated, then addressed the crowd as to the relief of Jameson. They would believe him when he said if anything could have been done if. would have been done. It was only at the last moment Jameson was known to bo in the position he was. He thought that with the force Jameson had he would have come through without the slightest difficulty. If they thought ho (Colonel Rhodes) behaved like a cur lie was prepared to take penalty of their resentment. The moment 'he heard news of the Jameson disaster was|ohe bitterest of his life, and Dr Jameson and his men had been promised safety'. There were loud cries of " Why didn't you help them yesterday ?" A scene of great tumult ensued, and a general denunciation of the Reform Committee.

The crowd declared they had been " spoofed " long enough. They wanted the bitter truth.

Matters wore an ugly appearance, and there were fears throughout tho night that the building would be attacked. Inside tho building was held by a large force. Armed men lined up tho passages, stairs and corridors.

Early on the morning of January 3rd, the day after the battle, there was an ominous absence of the crowd and enthusiasm which have been the features of late.

About 9 o'clock people foregathered, and speeches wcro made denouncing the Reform Committee, and declaring the time had come to depose them and elect a people'ts coui-< mittee.

Later on the drilling of the raw recruits on the open squares recommenced.

The High Commissioner's proclamation was handed to Jameson by Mr Godfrey Lys, manager of the Crown Keef mine, whereupon Jameson cursed the men of Johannesburg' for a lot of cowards.

It seems he expected to be met at Krugersdorp by 2000 men from Johannesburg'. An eye-witness of the battle, and who journeyed with the wounded to Krugersdorp, gives particulars of an interview he had with one of the men.

The force had been three days without food, and had had no sleep since they started. This, together with their heroic march, had greatly emaciated them, and rendered them useless by the day of the battle for fighting purposes. The men were so weak that, having mounted, they were afraid to dismount, owing to their inability to get into the saddle again. Thus, being unable to pursue the usual methods of Boer warfare, they presented so many targets for the Boer marksmen.

When the men were given food at Krugorsdorp, they tore at it and devoured it like famished dogs.

The defeat and capture of Jameson's gallant little column having been confirmed by the Cape Times, an intense feeling showed itself in Capetown to make a counter demonstration to the anti-Jameson resolutions, &c, from elsewhere.

Every other consideration was lost in the pluck which he and his men had showed, and the heavy loss they had sustained contrasted with the complete apathy and inaction of those for whom they were fighting, and at whose suggestion they had plunged into their wild adventure. Tn the course of the afternoon the ing leaflet was issued from the Cape Times o flic 3 :

A movement is otic foot to call a public meeting for the purpose of oil ling on the High Commissioner to regard the full pardon of Jameson and his men as of more importance than any other condition President Kruger is asked to grant.

The feeling is that this is not the moment to express any opinion on "Dr Jim's " rash act, which is now known to have been taken on vacillating messages from Johannesburg; that the column has paid deirly for the bloodshed, happily very small, that it has caused to others; that English colonists would rather see the " Uitlanders " voteless for ever than a hair of Jameson's head touched ; while Dutch Afrikanders throughout South Africa, who L ove bravery, cherish no rancour whatever against Jameson, now that is all over.

Jameson has forfeited all ; but to enforce what the High Commissioner, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, described by proclamation as "the consequence of their illegal a;tion " would, it is felt in Capetown, kindle such a flaun as might never be put out. A clear expression of these feelings, carefully kept distinct from any approval of Dr 'Jameson's action as it originally stood, would strengthen the hands of the High Commissioner and create no race feeling whatever.

The result of the meeting was the adoption of the following petition, which received an immense number of signatures : —" We, the undersigned Cape colonists, desire earnestly to represent to Your Excellency that, in the interests of the general reconciliation and peaceful settlement now happily in progress after the late deplorable bloodshed, Your Excellency should treat the release of Dr Jameson and his comrades with full honours of war as of more importance than any other conditions which the Government South African Republic is asked to grant." Among the crowds of fugitives who have

reached Capetown during the past few days? are a number of extremely poor people, who lauded quite penniless, and are believed, some of them, to be without food or shelter. It has been suggested that a subscription should be raised to help them, and that the volunteers should lend them their tents to sleep in until some better arrangement can bo made.

A telegram from Johannesburg on January 2nd to the Cape Times states :

The battle of Krugersdorp to-day lasted from 3 in the afternoon until 11 at night. Jameson made three principal attacks, and the men distinguished themselves with great gallantry.

This morning the Boers took up the position at Vlakfontein, near George and May mines, two miles this side of Krugersdorp. The Boors during the night had been reinforced with men, artillery and Maxims. Their position was exceedingly strong on an open slope, but along a ridge of rocks cropping out.

The Boers, so far as one could see, were much superior in numbers to Jameson's column, but their position was absolutely unassailable, and Jameson, after making desperate attempts to force his way through, surrendered and stood still. TII9 column fell back again to Krugersdorp without arms, and surrendered to the Boers.

It is stated that irrespective of yesterday's casualties Fameson lost 28 men in the battle of Vlakfontein.

On arriving at Krugersdorp men fell down from sheer fatigue, having had not a wink of sleep for four days. Dr Jameson had, it is stated, been informed that no assistance was to bo expected from British troops, and it is thought this may have influenced him in surrendering to the Boers when he found the enemy's position too strong. Thus the desperate but magnificently heroic venture has come to disastrous end.

Colonel Gray was in military command of the column. The Boer commandants were Trichard, Cronjo, Malan, Bodenstein and Donthwaite. There is appalling depression here at Jameson's surrender. I venture to predict, adds the correspondent, that when the facts are published there will be a great outcry against those who held men in check here while Jameson's column was being butchered 15 miles away. The odd thing is that Bettington's company of horse was stationed but two miles distant from the scene of disaster.

The town is singularly quiet as the day

! wears on, and there is every prospect of a j quiet night. Arms are being taken by the j Reform Committee from all save those eni gaged on outpost duty, all the men engaged ] in the defence of the town, and the town guard j —and there are soveral thousands of them, who are provisioned by the committee. j Reports from the district state that several Kafirs engaged in looting stores have been shot. Business was resumed to a limited

extent to-day, and the railway contractor continued the delivery of goods on a small scale, but nearly all places of business are

j closed and barricaded. ! What will happen when everything is ; known it is impossible to predict, but the i chances are that widespread disgust, if

nothing more, will ensue. Meanwhile the Defence Committee are working for the protection of the town, and estimate that upon urgency 25,000 men would be available for the

purpose. The Hollander faction are aggressively jubilant at the turn matters have taken and are " wincing " in honour of the event.

London, January 29.

Cable messages to the Times from correspondents in the Jiand state that the arrogance of the Boers since tho defeat of Jameson's party is maddening, and that a

rising is imminent unless the system of serfdom is relaxed. Pretoria, January 30. . President Kruger has proclaimed his intention of closing the mines, his excuse being that this step is necessary owing to the continuance of coemption in the Transvaal. He pays the Government mil guarantee the protection of the industry, and facilitate' native labour. London, January 31. Mr Chamberlain has ordered Sir J. Dw Wet, the British agent at Pretoria, to enquire into alarming reports which are current as to disorder prevailing in Johannesburg. He expresses confidence that, if sum disorder exists, President Kruger will soon take steps to remedy the evil Mr Cecil Rhodes has instructed counsel for the defence of Dr Jameson and party and himself in connection with the Transvaa difficulty. The Time 3 states that in the course of an interview President Kruger said ho was willing to meet the Uitlandera over the questions of education and municipal government, but he would not promise that they would be extended the franchise. He expected them to remain loyal or otherwise be Bwamped. London, February 2. Mr Chamberlain discredits a telegram from Johannesburg published by the Times, te' the effect that the residents are reduced to a state of serfdom. Melbourne, Februarys. The cable news has made mention of the arrest and subsequent escape of Charles Leonard, who was concerned in the Transvaal difficulty. Mr Leonard's connection with the revolt is one which must lead to many serious complications. He was the foremost solicitor in the country, and in this capacity most of the principal transactions in the transfers of property passed through his hands. In addition, he represented all the principal mining companies, and was also solicitor to the Standard Bank of South Africa. If President Krugpr maintained tlfe position lie took up of. annexing, the personal property of the accused Uitlandera, the situation ,as regards Mr Leonard will give rise to most serious trouble. Ihere is no more popular man from Capetown to the Zambesi. If the other prisoners in the President's hands are of the same class, it can sately be taken that the principal citizens of Johannesburg: are amongst the prisoners Loonard is certain to use all his energy in pleading the Uitianders' cause with the Home authorities.