THE BOER WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 8

THE BOER WAR.

SURPRISING DE WET'S LAAGER,

NARROW ESCAPE OF MR STEYN.

CAPTURE OF BOERS AND GUNS,

One of the most important fights of the campaign, inasmuch as the Boers lost seven snms, is described by the correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, writing from Kroonsatad on November 9. The troops, concerned were the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, the Wet .Australians, the 6th M.1., and Kitchener's Horse, comprising Colonel De Lisle a Corps, which, with Dalgetty's Colonial Division and Le Gallais's Corps, were working under General Knox to bring about the capture of De Wet. The correspondent wraps : — Tuesday November 6. was destined to be one fraught with immense importanceRoverely disastrous for the enemy and full ot honour for our own troops. We moved out at 6 o'clock, and very shortly afterwards the sound of artillery was heard coming from he direction of Bothaville. Then we knew that Lo Gallais's Corp.?, which the previous day had camped within a few miles of us and moved during the night, was m contact with the? enemy, and when wo got the order to eallop we'felt pretty certain that we were to take part in something more than a mere brush. Off we started at a sharp pace, and though some of our horses after a lontr spell of hard work were not by any means in the best of condition, we got over the ground remarkably well, fie country that wo had to ti-iver*c hVinc for the greater part the open ve!<H Wo forded the VaUeh River, and dashed through Bothaville, which a week or (.wo previously had been raml to I he. ground by Lc Gallais, and were ascending a^hill when a rider nnlloped past, calling om, -Oy God! it's lerrible: we've lost one of our (runs, and both Colonel Le Gallais and Colonel Ross are wounded." Naturally, this information -.Hrl'.od us considerably, and when we mot Le .Gnllais's convoy returning in order to --eek the shelter afforded by the slope, the fonr impressed itself unon all that the report we had W honrd might prove io be actually true, instead of one of those founchitionless rumour.? which daily, almost hourly, circulate among the troops, originating goodnerf knows how. On wo mished, and very shortly afterwards were in view of the Br.tish force. - The run has been recovered," we heard as wo "alloped along, but it transpired that ithail'never actually been captured though > was duo only to brilliant heroism that it did not fill: into tbe hands of the eiimny.. J.lvj roport concerning Colonel Le Galhis and Colonel IW. unhappily, prove.l oniy too true. _

DE WKT'S LAAGER

Colonel Lo Ciallais, moving curly that morn in" somewhat unexpectedly fume upon lJc Wet's laager. Tl was known tlmt a considerahlc forco of Boers was in the vicinity, but iti exact whereabouts was not known. And il was as much a surprise lo the British when they found themselves, right on top of the laager as it must have been to the Kocrs to discover that "wing, as il was afterwards learned, to their outposts sleeping instead ot keepinc watch, they wore face to face with their foe*. Tim Boers numbered fully 1500 cowvrWnsr lliroc co-nmandoc-, which nacl joined forces under Dc Wet, and had with them seven guns. Lc ttallais immediately sol his guns to work, one being parcel on the left not more than POO yards from Hie laager, and two being as clow a? 300 yards. Vigorous shell and ride five at oner- began, many of the Boers taking shelter behind stone walls i.nd kraal? close liy, and keeping up a withering fire. With splendid accuracy one party oAkcm directed their fire upon the big gun, 800 yards away. Iv.ery gunner iva« shot down pave one, who nobly stood to the Kirn, and actually fired several rounds unaided, until he. too, fell wounded. It was at that moment, that the gun was in extreme danger of being taken but half v dozen men of the Suffolk Mounted Infantry, under a lieutenant, dashed up to the rescue. They dismounted, and took such cover as the gun itself afforded, but thenhorses being fully exposed were inslnntly shot down. Several 'times a party of the enemy ventured out in the direction of the gun, but ept-h lime the ritics of the brave handful of ir.on told with final effect, and when at last they fixed bayonets and waited ready to die, if need be. not a V.c.cv attempted to advance again, but the rule fire' wns continued from behind cover. On the other side also,the British were being sorely pressed, for they were outnumbered, and it was just at tins stn<*e that De Lisle"? Corps, with the New South Wales Mounted Rifle in the advance, led by Colonel Knight, appeared on the scene. " Where is the colonel of the Australians?" shouted out a staff officer. "Here you are I" and the messenger informed Colonel KnHit rhst Colonel Le Gallais having been wounded, and Colonel Dc Lisle not having yet come up! the command of the troops would temporarily devolve upon him. It was a splendid opportunity for the commanding officer of the Xcw South Wales troops, and he did not fail to make the most of it. We continued our gallop in extended order across a level piece of country right in face of the fire that was being directed upon the oim (o which reference lias been made, and as the Boers quickly turned their attention to the reinforcing party the bullets—Ml)'of them explosive—crackled and pinged all round us, but fortunately without striking any. and we soon readied a high aloe fence, behind which we were comparatively safe. Very little time sufficed for Colonel Kniffht lo decide upon his plan of action, and when Colonel De Lisle ramo up he warmly approved of what had been done. A Hanking movement war. Colonel Knight's device, and the disposition of the troops so as to drive, off Ihe Boers, who, having escaped from the laager, lined the ridge on either side, and at Ihe same time 'encircled tho laager itself, was most admirably effected. The men bohnvrd with great coolness, (hiring, and dnsli. and though subjected at times to heavy shell fire, wavered not m the slightest degree, but,' moving along stcflily, accomplished the various tasks that had been set them. The iirliileiy on our side continued to pour in its deathdealing missiles, both shrapnel and case shot being used, and for some time the din of warfare was terrific. Certainly never during the campaign-never, at any lime in any war. according lo one authority—has artillery been fired ai such short range as on this occasion—3oo yards. Of course, surrounded as they were, those who had remained in the laager were in an entirely boneless condition. Tho Wcsten; Australians and other troops were ordered to fix bayonets, fire 10 volleys., and then rush the la'.v'er: but they had only hred eight volleys when up went I he white, (lag, and the Boers came running towards the attacking party with arms upraised, a tremendous state of confusion prevailing among them. Then—about ll.SC—the dash upon the laager took" place, and it was soon ascertained that the caniure was indeed a most important one. Certainly the majority ol the Boer force managed to effect their escape early in I he proceeding.-:—when they realised that the approach of lie Lisle s force meant defeat for them,—still we captured over 100 prisoners, the whole of the transport, including some 15 waggons, 10 or ]?. Cape enrts, and many horses and mules, a considerable quantity of ammunition, and Iho whole of the gnus, comprising three Krupps. a 12-pounder that the British had lo«t at Colenso. a 15-nounder that had been taken from the British at Sanuah's Post (thus completing the recovery of the hnllci-v lost on that occasion), a pnm-yiom, and a Maxim. When they saw that (heir case was hopeless the Boers made t>. mad rush for escape and. seizing any horse they came across, saddled, jumped oil it and rode off. many of them being killed or wounded in the attempt. 4mong those who thus escaped was ex-Presi-dent Slcyn, whose valise, documents, clothinn' etc.. were found in tho laager. Jt was very evident that those who got away escaped with their bare lives, leaving behind everything of personal property that they possessed nave what they happened to have on when they were so completely surprised.

SCKNNS ON THE BATTLEFIICLD

The stale of the battlefield almost beggars description. Dead and dying, and others more or less wounded, lay round in all direclions, many being surrounded by pools ot lilood. Here lay one man with half Ins face blown away, there another literally riddled with bullet?; others with limbs misting, and scores otherwise horridly disfigured, while the air was rent with shrieks and groans of the unfortunates. Dead horses and mules added to the gruesomencss of the scene', winch was indeed one never to be forgotten bj those of us who witnessed it. Thirty Boers were killed, and a considerable number wounded, while the British had six killed (including Colonel Le liallaix.. who died that night from the wound he had received in the morning, and two other officers, and about 20 wounded). Ml these lay within a radius of a few hundred 'yards, aid burying parties were busy for some hours, while Captain' Cortis. who came out with the second contingent, and is now Acting PMO of Ccneral Knox's force, superintended the ci.re of the wounded. Many in tercsting and valuable article? were found in the laager, the various Cape carts and waggons containing goods of almost every conceivable description. Apparently the Boers Imd been doing some commandeering in tlie neHibourinq townships, and carrying their loot with tiiem from place to place in the hope that when Do Wet's and Stoyn s promises of early victory should be fulfilled they would be able to enjoy them. Some of the waggons presented the appearance of hawkers' runs, so varied were their contents,, while in

the matter of provisions, which we had been led to believe were very scarce with the Boers, tiiero were stacks and stacks of meal, and flour, and sugar,., etc. We found many pots and kettles on fires, and steaks and chops' on gridirons, allowing that when the battle began breakfast preparations were being made. All round in quite thick profusion lay shrapnel bullets, while the empty cases of shells were much more numerous probably than has been the case in any other engagement during the war—that is. within a similar radius. I Now, where was De Wet all (his time? Ihc ' moment he scented danger, we learned from | the prisoners, he cleared out with a few men, j ostensibly to seek for reinforcements; and the , comments of the burghers on his conduct, as well as that of Stcyn. were very bitter. Perhaps it will be found, after all, that the great j D., Wet, successful though he has been m eluding capture and in working mischief, is yet not a brave man. His force is now seat- , tered in all directions, and, without supplies, without transport, and without guns, surely ho. and Steyn will at last see the hopelessness of continuing the war. One prisoner who, with two others, was captured by four iNew South Wales men two or three miles from the l'lpgor declared that they were all heartily , sick of the war, and when he and his two companions saw Steyn and De Wet leaving they thought it time for them to go also.

MAGNIFICENT WORK.

Having chosen the best of the waggons and , Capo carts for our own use, the remainder were burned, and a quantity of dynamite and ; other explosives destroyed. That night we j camped a few miles from the scene ot I ho fHit. and next day trekked in the direction of Kroonstad, our supplies having about become exhausted. The prisoners and guns were brought with us, and In-day these were token through the town, creating great interest. General Knox took an opportunity on the march of addressing De Lisle s corps, congratulating them in the warmest terms on their "magnificent work" of the previous day, the success of which, ho said, was due rot to any general's tactics, hut to the commanders of units and the men themselves. \t the batrinmn"? of the war. lie remarked, ho =aw a. good deal of mounted infantry work, little of it indeed ;—but he thanked the men but ho did not admire it-he thought very litte! of it indeed ;-but he thanked the men before him for the opportunity they had given him of seeing how mounted infantry work should be'properly performed. It would perhaps be invidious to make distinctions where all had done so well, yet he must say tkil the chief honours of the day rested with the New South Wales Mounted Rifles and (he 6th M.I. Needless to say. our men were qrnHfifid to hear such words of praise. On arriving at TCroonstad Colonel De Lisle informed us that he had received n reply from Lord Roberts to his telegram askme for permission for the Now South A^nle* Mounted Rifles (o take home with them the Krupp (run canhiretl by them "'out a fortnHit before The reply was to the following n ff' cc \ .__"T have much pelasure m acceding to the leanest that tbn Krupp gun may be taken to .Sydney and presented to the >ew South Wales Government, nnd I hope they mnv en-Mure mnnv more." To that Colonel De' Lisle said he bad replied, thnnkiua the Field-marehal and informing linn further int "il -van amatlv nwinjr to the dash of this regiment that Do Wet's Inagcr P.nd seven guns were captured at Bolhaville yesterday.