THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4310, 20 March 1901, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

CABLE NEWS.

UNITED PEES 3 ASSOCIATION; —BX ELEOTKIO TBUSOEAPH.—OOPYBIGHT.

MR STEYN. (Received March 20, 1.."! a.in.) LONDON, March 10. Mr Stcyn is near Paanlchurg, sulforin;.r, from, dysentery. AN ENCOUNTER WITH DK LA - " KEY. A UST l!A I , IA NS~VN I) NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED. Tim following extracts are taken froin a let for published in, the “Sydney Morning Herald" : --It was on January did, some three miles out- of Venter.sdorp, Unit the- romour first gained currency in onr column, which consisted of 200 ef tli r , Sixth Regiment of Imperial Rushmen. a hoof ,‘ioo of the Eoimth New Zealand Regiment, about 400 infantry, a. eoeplo of Jo.pounders and pompoms ami other troops, aggregating about 1059 troops, that a- decisive meeting with the redoubtable Do La. Key was imminent. Our next day’s trek was about twentylive miles, and during the whole of the day’s march, as with empty stomach* we floundered along the slippery road drenched to the skin, the prospect el a halt lo kept, our spirits in a state ol exultant buoyancy, which was somewhat accentuated! in cases by a. rum issue at Ihe half-way halt. We reached the camp at Reitfontein, some five miles from, the Magalioslmrg ranges, about ■l.of) p.m., and) found that General Babington’s' column had already arrived, also I hat General Gordon was some four miles away, reach' to co-operate. Wo felt, that at last- the hour was at hand, and that we were to share the honour of dealing a deathblow lo this interminable struggleThe theatre of operations being the high ground to the south of the Miigaliesbi.rg Range and west of Witwatersbarg Range, the Imperial Bushmen and 4th New'Zealand Regiment formed the advanced line; the Imperial Bushmen. A, C, E, and E squadrons, under Major Lo Mesnricr, on the left; the 4th New Zealand on the right, each with two squadrons extended,, formed tho attacking line, and two squadrons in support, covering a front of about six miles, followed by General Babington’s column with tho guns, etc, The infantry had been left behind at Reitfontein, with lour convoy for its protection. Genera« Gordon was to move round our Front and operate in tho rough country on our left. We had only moved forward about a mile when a dense fog descended, obscuring everything beyond a few yards. Tins, of course, seriously militated against effective scouting. As onr loft squadron extended heavy firing evidenced their touch with tho enemy. A troop of E Squadron had just been sent in ■support when the whole front became engaged, the firing being so heavy as lo induce, tho despatch of supports to that point. This proved - to ibo Gordon's column, who immediately upon our force appearing on tho sky lino -opened lire on theiii, and was at once taken for tho enemy, the fog being to.some extent responsible for tho mistake, which was soon discovered by ns, and efforts made by signal and otherwise to let Hicm, know who we were ; but as our messengers went foi ward they wore treated to volleys. This blunder continued for quite half- an hour. Meanwhile the rest of E Squadvan hurl occupied and hold a kopje to the left, where wo were, and continued to be holly engaged, during which tho Boers Lo tho number of 500 or 600 were observed descending froqi the high ground to the north-west, and distant about fo'ur miles. They moved down to a clear valley dotted with a few scattered farms, being concealed from us by tho intervening grassy ridge. Thinking they might attack our rear, I sent a troop to a strong covered position commanding the bare slope on the side of our ridge in case they crossed in this direction, also sending scouts forward to discover what was transpiring beyond. I then noticed two squadrons of the Imperial Light Horse moving towards the ridge in close formation. They were accosted by ray scouts, who advised care, as they thought Boors wore on tho other side. However, no change was made, and a few moments later, shots were fired on the men on tho left. Tho order was given -‘right shoulder’ (being round tho right), which brought them right on to the sky line on the crest of tho ridge. Immediately a rippling fire ran along the whole front (an absolute surprise had been effected). ‘‘Dismount’’ was ordered by tho officers, who at once realised the imminent danger, for not 50 yards in front, lying in the grass, wore over 150 Boors, whilst behind them again were another 250 levelled rifles. About half the men had complied with the order, when magazines were opened, and the ripple of fire became a continuous roar, the reports being too rapid for tho ear and sense to follow as separate explosions, tho whole of this solid shower of lead being directed against (lie doomed men clustered together on (ho crest of the ridge. "Retire” was tho next order; but, alas, many a brave spirit had in those few moments retired to wnore words and war wore alike unknown, whilst t,he remainder, struggling with maddened and wounded horses, strove to obey tho command, only to find their movements impeded by the wild plunging of tho horses, which their comrades behind vainly tried to quieten and direct. Still, men and horses withered under that terrible fire, and many a stalwart fellow, clinging to Ids horse as to an ark of safety, felt the pitiless tear of the bullet, followed by a sudden numb collapse, and relaxed the hold of Korso and life together, whilst others dropped to tho ground writhing in their agony. At last, with desperate haste, the remnant succeeded in escaping from tho carnage, and moved down the slope out,of fire, leaving 20 of their number dead, two officers and over 40 wounded on the field; they also lost about 60 horses. The enemy eventually retired.

DECEASED OFFICERS’ ESTATES. Somo remarkable figures have come to light regarding the value of the estates of officers who have been killed iu Soutli Africa. The aggregate gross value of the estates of 107 of the officers who have died in South Africa since the war began in October, 1899, is a little over 1:3,000,000, with an average of about ,128,350 each. Six estates account for 11,(M3,901 of the ,total of £3,000.000. Among the 107 officers were eight under twenty-five years of ago and six over fifty. The oldest was General Sir William Penn Symons, whose ago was flftvnine. Sccond-Liouts. Eric Fraser and Douglas Blackwell Monypeuny were only twenty-one. Twenty-four of the 107 officers were between twenty-five and thirty year's old, forty-two between thirty-ono and forty, and twonty-one between forty-one and fifty. There have been very few cases—perhaps not more “than five or six, if so many—in ■which it seemed likely that any claim would be made for the remission of duty which the Commissioners have power under the f inance Act of 1900 to allow when the

estate of an officer dying on the battle field or within a year and leaving a

widow or children is under £SOOO. On the other hand, there are in each year many instances, and the number appears to be increasing, in which veterans who had served with distinction in India, in tho Crimea, and other campaigns, and had been wounded perhaps in more than one action, leave as provision for a widow and daughters, a far less sum than (bat which now gives a claim to remission of duty in the event ef death within the period mamed in the Act. Most of the estates under £IOOO of officers who have died in tho present war appear lo be those of young unmarried men win were in receipt of allowances from parents or other relations. Taking ihe auirage of tho ago of 107 principal officers, the expectation of life would lo probably more than, twenty years, so that in effect property to the value of over £.4.000,000 -contributes to the revenue from the death duties, and is'distributed at least twenty years earlier Ilian hut for tho war would have the case. A few estates of from £SOOO to £35,000 have boon reported of men serving in tho ranks with tho Imperial Yeomanry, but the idea that in this force in the City Volunteers, “some of them are millionaires’’ is quite erroneous, even if “millionaire” be taken to mean the possessor of a quarter or a sixth of a million. To give an idea of the value of some of tho estates distributed as a result of the war it may lay mentioned that tho late Marquis of Winchester left £377,156; Major Chiklc, £108,236; Lieut. McCorquodalo, £123,373; Major Blount, £63,000; Lieut, tho lion Hugh Lygon, £43,501; Captain Buchan, £211,982; Bn ron Kensington, I £711.218; and Major-General Wanehope £82,742.

The Premier has received cable adv ee that Colonel Cradock has arrived at Brandfort, Orange River Colony, forty miles north of Bloemfontein. Ho has resigned tho command of tho Second New Zealand Contingent, and has handed it ever to Colonel Robin. He states that he regrets severing bis connection with such gallant warriors. The Government has, through his Excellency the Governor, asked Lbrd Kitchen'er to convoy to Colonel Cradock its best thanks for the valuable services rendered to the cohny and the Empire in South Africa. Tho following interesting persona! paragraphs are clipped from the first “Bulletin” issued to members of the First Contingent: —Major Madocks has resumed his duties on the headquarters staff. Lieutenant Hughes has been appointed a captain, on the staff, and will probably resume his position of adjutant to the Hawke’s Bay Rifle Battalion. Surgeon - Major Burns, who has been appointed F.M.O. to tho New Zealand Forces, is attached to the Seventh Contingent, and will proceed to. Capetown, where he will be located. Sergeant-Major Cardale has been appointed instructor to the Otago Mounted Rifle Battalion. Staff-Sergeant-Major Tuck has been appointed instructor to the Seventh Contingent. Sergeant-Major Burr has been appointed Staff-Sergca'nt-Major. Li du tenant-Colo-nel Davies is now in command of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents. Corporal Hogg has left for Johannesburg, whore ho intends to. settle. Lieutenant Ohaytor commands the Marlborough Mounted Rifle, Battalion. Privates Crump and Wolfcnclau have received appointments in the Government Railway Department. The following will return to the front as officers with tho Seventh Contingent: Lieutenant Johnston and Corporal Cnutts.as captains; Sergeant L’Estrange Corporals Emerson and Gaue, Privates Dickenson, Joyce and.' Cameron, as lieutenants. The following have also joined tho Seventh, and are acting-sergeants : Sergeant Price, Privates Lockett, McPherson and Whyte.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 19. Tho second draft of Canterbury men for tho Seventh Contingent loft for Wellington to-night. • Tho North Canterbury squad, numbering twenty-mio, was briefly addressed by Colonels Gordon and Slater before leaving the* drillshed for the railway station. The South Canterbury men, twenty-two in number, came from Timaru by tho express, and the two lots went on together. Everything was very quiet, and there was no display of any kir*l, except a few cheers as the train moved off.