THE BOER WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11794, 25 July 1900, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

A MINOR DISASTER

BRITISH SUPPLY TRAIN

CAPTURED.

ONE HUNDRED HIGHLANDERS MADE PRISONERS.

GENERAL BROADWOOD MEETS THE BOERS.

STKYN TAKES THE FIELD.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, July 25. (Received July 24, at 10.50 p.m.) The Boers destroyed the telegraph wires and railway north of Honing Spruit. A British supply train with 100 Highlanders was captured. A battle is impending. ... July 24. General Broadwood had ai sharp encounter at Walmeilfohteih. on • the lQtli with a commando of 2000 Boers with four guns, commanded by'Steyn and the two De Wets. Darkness prevented pursuit. Major Moor, a Western Australian, and four men were killed. , Lieutenant Stanley, of tho 10th Hussars, Lieutenant Tooth, of New-South Wales, and 14. men were wounded. Eight Boers were buried. A MISTAKE SOMEWHERE. WELLINGTON, July 24. Sir Alfred Milner cables that lie* rcrets to report that Lieutenant D. K. L. Tooth, of the New Zealand contingent, was wounded at Palmliefqntein on Jnlv 19. No officer, however, of this ■name can. be j found on the. ]'&'::<. ■ ■ : j

NOTES ON THE WAR.

By Major, K.isnnedy

Despatches from the Transvaal stale that on Saturday, the 21st"inst., the Boers made an attack on the railway near, Heidelberg, supported by four guns.. Their attack was delivered in a 'most determined manner, but was as gallantly resisted by detachments of the Dublin-Fusiliers, the Royal Engineers, and the Imperial Yeomanry. General Hart, of Colenso fame, who is in command of the. troops guarding the lines of communication in the Heidelberg district, sent reinforcements to. the assistance of the troops at the place attacked, but before the reinforcements arrived the Boers had been repulsed.

Professor Watson Cheyne's criticisms on the absence of independent transport, for the use of the Royal Army Medical ■ Corps are just in every sense of the wordi but lie might have gone further and thrown the onus of blame where it should rest, and, having done so, he should have inf.;i-me,l the British public what class of wairgons and the number of such waggons that ought to be kept in'stock ready to be bolted together if at any time the outlook fnr -wix should make it advisable to have everylh'ng ready for immediate service. Professor Cheyne only tells a story which every medical officer in the army has known for years, but what the army surgeon cannot .md dare not point out Professor Choyiie can do if he will, and Ids statement 'will receive a great deal more consideration than would the allegations of the combined medical corps concerning the unfitne.ss of the present system to cope with the work that is thrown on the medical department whenever the army takes the. field. There is every reason to believe -; that the present unsatisfactory^ state of affairs, would not exist if Parliament would ■'■l: provide the means, but as the Chancellor" of the Exchequer is not disposed.to provide funds to build waggonls to be stored-.n-way in lime of peace tlie.ro is little use in the Army Medical department trying to secure a sepa-. rate transport train that will prove equal to the task the department would be culled oil to perform when the army is ordered on actjve service. The British army is immeasurably worse off regarding transport of every description than any other nrmv. This is entirely owing to the refusal of Parliament to vote the funds necessary to provide proper equipment1. The total" strength ,o£ the Army Service Corps, including its reserve, is only 7484 officers and men, divided into 38 service, companies and two remount companies. . A single army corps of throe divisions comprises about' 34,500 men of al] ranks and arms, absorb 22 companies of the Army Service Corps, and these have to be supplemented by hired transports ; so that, a*s in the present war, when about six army corps are oil active service, there are not .enough men, horses, and I waggons attached .to the Army Service ' Corps to provide transports for 70,000 troops. ; Two army corps require 664 two-horsed ' carte, 1956 four-horsed waggons, and 656 ] six-horsed waggons,. or 11.088 horses, ex-; elusive of officers, chargers, and remounts | for non-commissioned officers. The actual number of horses (attached or provided for the. Army Service Corps on a war footing is 13,110, and there are 152 two-horsed carts and 2356 four-horsed waggons provided,; and, although- 656 six-horsed waggons, are required on .service, yet no provision is made to supply these or any portion of them as a part of the Army Service Corps equipment.

FROM.THE CAPE PAPERS

THE OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA

Router's correspondent at Pretoria, describing the inarch past after the occupation of the town, says: — The Canadian Infantry marched, to the tune of "The Boys of the Old Brigade." They looked fit aiid strong, carried themselves straight, and marched with a grand swing. They were received with cheer after cheer. The City Imperial Volunteers made an inspiriting display. Headed by Colonel Mackinnin. they strode through the square with grand step, fit and strong, proud to participate in the historic occupation. The artillery, perhaps the finest arm of our service, came past, both' horse'arid field, with drawn swords, in an otherwise) swordless army, flashing an they saluted the Fieldmarshal. They, were cheered to the echo by the vast crowd. The sapperß, too, menders of drifts and smoothers of roads, marched through with the knowledge. that their arduous work had contributed not a littie to the success. From 2 till nearly 5 the force marohed past Lord Roberts, who, sealed on his Aral) horse, returned every salute. AVhon all the marching was over, General PoleOarew called for three cheers for the Queen, which were given with heartiness, making the square resound again. The troops then gave three cheers for Lord Roberts, and again the officers and soldiers and crowd burst into a veritable roar of cheers. Lord Roberts then rode to the British Residency, where he sleeps to-night. .'['lie prospect of further fighting depends upon ex-President Kruger. Over 2000 burghers have refused to follow, most of thorn being convinced that Kruger is preparing to leave the country. A strong feeling existed • against thn Hollanders. The Government, during the war, commandeered two and a-half millions of- gold fro:s the mines, but UiO action which disgusted all the people was the secret flight and the barefaced robbery of £300,000 from the National Bank. The "other banks lost nothing.

I'HE FTGHTINC NEAR PRETORIA

DESPATCHES FROM LORD ROBERTS. The following despatches from Lord Roberts dated Pretoria, .lime 12, are published:— .Pretoria and Johannesburg are perfectly quiet, and several of the inhabitants have expressed their gratitude at the peace and order which prevail. After surrendering the city, Jiolha retired (o a place about 15 mile* nasl, on the. Middelburiy road. He had a small force at first, but during the last few days the numbers increased, and this being bo near the town, kept up excitement in the country, prevented bur-

I ghers from laying down their arms, and intertered with the collection of supplies. it, therefore, became necessary to attack them. This I did yesterday. He held a very strong position, practically unassailable in front, which enabled him to place the main portion of his troops on his Hanks, which he knew from former experience wore his vulnerable parts.

I sent French with Porter's and Dicksou's Cavalry Brigades and Hutton's Mounted infantry round by our left; lan Hamilton, with Broadwood and Gordon's Cavalry Brigade, Kidney's Mounted Infantry, and Bruce Hamilton's Infantry Brigade, round by our right. Both columns met with great opposition. Both French and Broadwood reported they wero afraid they would not be able to carry out the duties assigned to them.

About 3 in the afternoon I saw two of Hamilton's infantry battalions advancing to what appeared to bo the key of the enemy's dfiFenco on the left Hank. Thin was almost gained before dark, and 1 ordered the force to bivouac on the ground they had won. Pole-Carew, with his division, occupied one centre. As I have explained, ho could not attack, but he gradually advanced so as to support lan Hamilton, and when I left the field was on the line held by the enemy's outposts in the morning. I hurried back to get news of Methuen's movements. On , hearing that the Free Staters had taken advantage of our crossing the Vaal to interrupt our line of communication, I sent Kitchener with such troops as could then be spared to Vereeniging. with orders to push south and communicate with Mothuen, who, I knew, had a very compact force in the vicinity of Heilbron. I also despatched a special messenger to Methuen to push on with all speed to the main Jine of railway. These two officers met at Vredefort station on the evening of tho 10th. They maiched yesterday to the Kheuoster "River, where Methuen gained a complete victory over De Wet, took possewion of.his camp, and scattered ins troops in all directions. He and Kitchener marched to-day towards Kroonstad. I have no certain information as to whether the enemy arc in possession of that place, but if they are it will assuredly be recaptured to-morrow. 1 don't think it is possible that any prisoners that may have been taken can have been removed far away, us the Boers are cut off from railway communication, except in the most eastern corner of the Orange River Colony. Her Majesty's Government need have no apprehension as to the security of tho army in fciouth Africa. The enemy gained a slight success, which it; unfortunate, but this will be remedied very shortly, and it will not take long to repair the damage done to the railway, as the diversions are all in existence. 1 am now able 'to hold the line between this and Rheno=ter in strength, and Mothuen will arrange to guard it onwards as he advances. Hunter will be at I'olchefstroom to-day, and

will thence move on to .Johannesburg. I have communicated with Buller, who will no doubt soon make the presence 'of his force in the field felt. Our losses yesterday were not, I trust, serious; but I deplore the death of that gallant soldier, the Earl of Airlie. The only other casualties reported as yet are:—l7th"Lancers: Major the Hon. L. l''or-tc-sque and "Lieutenant the Hon. C. Cavendish, both killed.

June 13, 11 a.m.—The enem,, evacuated their strong position during the night, and have retired eastwards.

June lo.—We were engaged all yesterday with Botha's army. The enemy fought witli considerable determination, and held our cavalry on both flanks, but lan Ifumilton, assisted by the Guards' Brigade of Pole-Carev/s Division, pushed forward and.took the hill in his front, which caused the enemy to fall back on a second position eastward. This they are still holding, and it is slightly higher than the ono we have captured.

The great extent of country which has to be covered under modern conditions of warfare renders progress very slow, and the Boers are so mobile and enterprising that' despite our front extending over a distance of 25 miles, they attempted yesterday to turn our flanks.

Details of the casualties have not reached me, but 1 understand that they are moderate in number. The only furthor casualties reported up to date arc: —-Wounded : Bth Hussars, Lieutenant O'Brien, shoulder; Royal Army Medical Corps, Major Holloway, abdomen (both severe). Mcthucn inarched to Honing Spruit yesterday, and found all quiet. Kroon&tad is strongly held, and tho reports which reach mo that it had been occupied by the Boers prove to be false, as I expected. Methuen returns to-day to the Ehenostcr River.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT J. It. MAODONALD. Mr J. Waddell Smith has received from Lieutenant J. it. MV.cdonald, of the fourth contingent, a letter dated Maranclellas, Juno 4, which is a few days later than those published yeHtorday. We ore permitted to make the following extracts: — Monday Morning.—l arrived here a week ago after a.-18 hours' journey by train from Bamboo Creek, and have had rather a good week—an agreeable change after Beira and Bamboo Cietk. .Tlie clays here are simply perfect, a little too warm perhaps for New Zcalanders, but I like the heat. The nights^ however, are jolly cold. The men are improving in health in this .climate, but the horses are going off fast. Every morning the question is, " How many horses dead this morning?" Wo arc losing an average of about two a day in the for.rth contingent. There seems to be no cure for " bine tongue," and no precautions avail against it. A horse is apparently quite well at evening stables, and at morning stables you find him stretched out dead. Both my mounts are gone, :n;d- each of the other officers has lost one, except Tiibman, whose luck is beginning to become proverbial. I don't know what sort of remounts will be supplied to us, but I expect they will be the Hungarian ponies. We hope to get away in a few days on our ROO-rniJo march to Bulawayo, but by the time this reaches you you will know by wire of our whereabouts.

Our camp is situated on the top of a gentle slope, commanding an extensive view to the southward. The country.far and wide is dotted over with huge heaps of rocks. On one of these heaps or mounds, about a. mile from the camp, are the remains of the breastworks built by the natives in, the war of 1890. I had a look over it the other day, and found it very interesting, their defences being remarkably well constructed. About half a mile further on is a little? cemetery containing the graves of women and children murdered by the Maslionns in June,' 180G, and also the graves of those killed in action in August, 189G—quite a pathetic little group of tombstones, surrounded by a low wall built of rough stones.

Yesterday being Sunday, we had three church parades and a race meeting. None of our horses were entered, as we cannot run any risks with them. We want to get to the front, and are chafing at the enforced delay. If we can't get horses we'll be content with mules, and if we can't get mules we'll walk.

Great quantities of military stores arrive daily by train, and are being sent on by bullock waggons. The bullocks have enormous horns, from 4ft to 6ft from tip to tip.

We have kad'no mail since leaving New Zealand, 10 weeks ago, and once we leave hero we doin't expect to get a mail for weeks. Some of our mails will probably never overtake us. ~\Ye see no papers, and hear no news.' You know far more of the progress of the war in New Zealand to-day than wo do. However, we don't mind that or anything else so long as we get to the front in time to take part in the '• fair."

Mr .T. W. Smith has also received a chatt}"letter From Lieutenant Tubmtin, but as it appears to have been delayed in transit, being dated Beira. Mnv 13. most of his news has been forestalled by letters already published. Lieutenant Tubman had been laid up for a week with dysentery, but had recovered. His two horses, he states, are both doing well. Lieutenant Tubman concludes:—" 'When at the next meeting of the branch at which you are present, woukl J'ou convey my kind regards to all present. Tell them Dominie is in great form, and like myself, imnatient at the inactivity we arc experiencing."

GENERAL NOTES. Major-general Baden-Powell has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general, and h:is been appointed to the staff of Lord Roberts. Mrs I']. AVilliamson, of tko Kaikorai, has received a cable message from her son, who is o. member of the volunteer corps serving fit Shiinfifhai, reporting his personal* safety, and tbnt that city was " all safe." The message was despatched from Shanghai at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, and received here at 5 p.m. the same day.

Trooper li. E. Sniith. son of Mr J. Smith, blacksmith, of Tima.rn, writes to his brother in Timn.ru. from Potohefslroom prison, as follows:—"T am writing these few lines

IT IS AX" AHONT OF AOONIKS ; a torture of tortures. It is an itching and burning of t)ie skin almost beyond endurance. It is thousands of pin-headed \resicles filled with an acrid fluid, ever forming, ever burstine-, ever flowing upon the raw, excoriated skin. No part of the human skin is exempt. It tortures, disfigures, and humiliates more than all other skin diseases combined. Tender babies nre among its most 7iumercus victims. They are often born with it. Sleep and rest arc out of the question. TiTosl remedies and the best physicians generally fail, even to relieve. Such is Eczema, the. greatest skin humour of modern times. If Cutieura did no more Ilian relieve Eczema it would bo entitled to the .qrntitude of mankind. It not only relieves, but relieves instantly. A warm bath with Culicura Son]), to cleanse, the skin of crusts and scales, a single anointing -willi Caticura Ointment, the great skin cure find yiurPßt of emollients, to instantly allay itcliiusf and irritation, followed by n, frill do 86 of Cuticura. Ttesolvent, to cool the blood, will afford instant relief, permit rest and sleep, and point to :i speedy, permanent, and economical euro, when nil else fails. Price, the Set, Gs; or, Soap, .Is: Ointment, 2s 6i3; Resolvent, s>». Gd; all chemists. <£

to let you know (hat. I am alive and well. Ju?t now lam a prisoner. I was taken last evening by two of-the Frefi Sinters. It happeucd this way: About 5 o'clock in the morning we had just started to inarch, when J was sent back with a u;e.-?-sgfi about two miles, and I never caught sight of the troop again. But I have boon vfry kindly treated —could not bo better; plenty to eat and drink. To-morrow I shall be scut to Pretoria. I shall be very plen~cd when the war is over." Trooper Smith concludes by wishing to be remembered to all. and adds a postscript: "Don't let mother know where f. am ; just tell her I'm all right."—Mornins? Vd'.l.

Tim xVehburton Mail learns that Mr T. A. Gates has just received a letter from his brother 'in South Africa staling that his nephew. Sergeant W. Loyd Gates, had. been killed during the relief of Mafeking. He was in the Rhodesian corps. Tlsc Southland News states that the sum of £100 was forwarded on Monday by the secretary of the Invercargill patriotic fund, through the Premier, to Mr Pilcher, South Africa, to provide for the wants of invalided Southlanders.