THE FOURTH CONTINGENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12036, 7 May 1901, Page 5

THE FOURTH CONTINGENT

(Frou Our Special Cohkksposdist.J (Delayed in Transmission.)

CIFERFONTEIX, Januaiy 31. After our '.c-occupation of Ventersdorp, ami subsequent cooperation with General Gordon in the vicinity of Oliphant's A'ck, we cxpeoted to return to Klerksdorp, our base, which is tho centre of the district assigned to our column. However, strong commandos of Iloers under Generals Siiuuz, l'otgietor. and Liehcnberir. numbering in all about. 800 men, with one gmi, continued laagered in the Schoon spruit Valley, about s-oven miles south-west of Ventersdorp, and showed no disposition to leave that comparatively open country. This, wo rather wondered at, ppcing that the Tioer prefers to operate in hilly country. The came of their remaining there, however, was the abundance- of food in the locality. When we passed south on our way to Klerksdorp about three months ago, the fields were green, but on our return nt Xnias all tlic corn was cut, and cither in stack, or being carted a.way (Inily by tlic Doors to a flour mill, at which it was ctated they had been getting 60 sacks of wheat and mealies ground weekly for some ('Oiifittcralilo time. Our first duty then wni to destroy the mill, and "mop up" the valley. We moved out on the afternoon of January 12, our objective being the above-men-tioned mill, which lay at tlio tout-hern end of the valley, and about nine miles from Ventersdorp. We brought with in a large number of empty waggons for the purpose of bringing back the women and children. "A" squaJron of our regiment formed the advance guard, while "B" and "C" operated on the flunks. The liocrs were evidently aware of the object of our expedition, and opposed nw -advance with the whole of their available force, which, us a matter of fact, exceeded ours in number?. One position, an isolated stony kopje, they held very ctrongly. as it was the key lei any positions they might tnkc up if forced to retire. On the'apprcieh of tiic advance party, the licerc opened with a brisk fire, but our men boldly galloped at the position, fixing bayonets as they rude. The charge was completely successful, fur Hip I'ora at (lie sight of the bayonet* , rriroulcd at ton epeed to a position rome distance back, but woro peppered a? they rotli" away, with tlic result that two nf them wcro li'it. Ami hero it wa« that liicitenant Keddell was wounded. Alter wo had takjn po-FPFsinn of the kopjo. he stepped m|t into the open to have a ?liot at the retreating enemy, and was immediately f.tnir!.- in the left arm iicsr ilio shoulder. Tho wound was ,i sovwe one, as the bone was badly thaltercd. but tho latc?t accounts received from I'otcliefelrnni (whilher he Wa? wnt to hospital) us that tl'.cre is no daiißi'i , of Ihn loss of his arm. The rain position of the Beer? thus being Vken, our Kim* came up. and phelled them fui t-lifr and further back, with tlio lwull that we reached tho mill annul 1.33 p.m.. anil bivoiuckcd them ioi- tlw nigM. The galbiit charge made by "A" squadron, moniitfil. as Ihny wt-r-', aiid liavinß aWolntr-ly w> over when llifv were appniat-hiiit; tin* kopje, u;is the gewWnl fubj'.'ct of couver=.jtion among all r.in!;< thiit wciiing. .arid was reicned to ill milium ordf-rs ?.s fol'.ov.f.— - "The con-.miinding oilierr dofires tfl cx-prf-s hi-- prc:;( j-atiffnetion nt tii" iiMEcr in which 'A' led by it-! squadron crimnnnder. advanced on the kopje this afternoon under a heavy fire." The dawn of next mnrnin;,' nr; the .mill I destroyed, and the .wl:e from dozens'of statks of oats and wheat .wndinj? to the sky. Tiio liners were early r.n the alert, too, and made a dcicrmined al'-.u-k on tlm mitpnsts, but wer" driven off by our kuus. Durinit the who!" of the forenoon our comruanoVerins party was hard at work destroyin; food-iuiVs ami cnllr.p'v.iv iho famiiic. l . fihorlly after I'lonn we hall"?! for |!ip liny, lad, luiwevcr, imdt-r-istinialfd Ihe population h:nl. however. um!<T<vtim;ihd (!■■■ pcpvilation of the valley, for all mir wa»«uns v.ere alrenily ealli'd into n-e for.liriir n 'injt the womm'and cliiKlron alonir. 'fl'p-'f were therefore despaldiPtl into under e.«port o[ "A" and "1!" Hjuatiron?. v<-ho relm-neil with more wnßpins parly the fmluwinf! morninsr. The wcirl: of mrippinß up tlio v."llcy wa« ci.ncluiled t'-nt i!:iy. \ritli tl"; roj-nlt that not a pintle ii;!>aliiti-.nt v.t.f left, and every %'f?ti™p of fontlsti'tf.- ciliifi- deklrcyed or liroujht info (snip.

After resting a day, we lmne:l our atlcnI'oil to tin , Boms. A rrronnai'nnen in force was made liy the- wlin! , . , "f our mountec! brieade, supported by one sun. We found the ■;„„„,,., ;,, «i,,.in;l!> ahmit SCO, which wr.s pvobaMy nliont t'irir total force, but did not locate their laajjer. Affr iniwin" them fm- iilioul two hours, wo retired to cnnip, Iravitic; three liners (Kid on the field, \vonm)iii!» eh more, and taking one prisoner. Our loss wa« one killed—a Kißiia'lor liclonßin* to the Imperial Bu-!im*n. The unfortunate bit was ?!io( in four nlncep at only a few yard/ distance, nnd diet! won after we reached ramp. Tlio raptured Boer was a veldt cornet, who, wit'n two otliT*. rods up to the Bushmen, thinking they were (heir own men. The fonnrr was disarmed and miuW priFonri;: but his comrades in attempting to escape, when they discovered (heir mistake, were killed. The following day our native front? brought in word that tli" liopm lia'l trekked ?>vsj- m a north-cart direction dvr'.BK tlio nirjht. with the intention of crossing tlio railway line somewhere north of l'otcheNrom. Taking three day*'- provisions, we lia-=lilv followed I hem, nnd found them occupying a'stromr position on our rinht, between us and I'otchefstrotn. Thinking H probaolc that we should have a few days' fi»Ming. a despatch was «cr.t to Yoirter=.-)nrp askinsr for reinforcements and provision*. TVh* fet out tho following mornina to join us. while we advanced to altar: the Boer position, with the object of driving the enemy towards Potrhefstrom. where there was a column ojier.it- j ing under fJcncra-1 ''reneb. We all rxpcdnd a heavy day's fiahtbt:, f«r (he approach to the ISoer position lay over perfectly open country, which afforded nl>?olu*i-lv no cover. But the unexpected frequently happen.'. The Boers hfid evneuated during the mpht. and wo could find no tr.ico of them. Xcthiiiß remained but to march liaek to Ventersdorp, pickini? ur> our reintoiceincnls on the way. The previous evenine a patrol party, numbering 11 men nf the 14th IFu«ar*. was •on 1 , oul in a north-cant tlireetion. and was fill 'off by the Bows. The following mornin:; we fmird one of the unforlur.ate fellows wandering about 0:1 the veldt barefooted ami almost naked. He had ken made prisoner, and hid lwen sent bad; to m after he had been disarmed and almost entirely denuded. Three other.', with the Dutch guide who accompanied t!ie party, turned ii|) in Vcntcr*dorp the day after our return, but fo for nothing has'been heard of the remaining seven. Our district being thus comparatively clear of the enemy, we reckoned on having a fendays' rest, for both men p.nd hones were' beginning to (eel the remits of the recent heavy work. But there proved to be more work in store (or in. Wo received word in the afternoon of the 27th to march, but our destination was kept secret. Two forced marches brought us to the southern e-.id of Oliphant'H Nek, in Hie Magalicrbcrc; Kmw. It appears that Smut;: and Potiricter had joined De. la Ray. and surrounded General Cunningham ju?t inside the Xck. The day before, wo arrived very heavy lii'hting had taken place from daylight to dark. i'lie Boers had an overwhelming force, and made desperate attempt;' to taVe the convoy. So clow did they frequently approach that General Cunninshamf guns were shelling them from the middle of his convoy, and at a distance, at times, of not more than 400 yd?. Hie casualties (or the day were nine killed and 60 wounded. Hip men inform u? that they have never been in eiich :i light corner, and ooiwidei , that it was only our timely approach that saved them disaster. Oil our arrival the Boers withdrew, and General Cunningham's column joined ours. T'.vo days, after his relief the latter proceeded, to Krut:&r;dorr> for ammunition and supplies. Our ■column moved west along the southern ridge of range which overlook.* the 110k. and met with considerable opmi-itio'i all the way, with the result that our guns were in action the whole day. In the first skirmish a Hussar was shot dead and two other* wounded. Then four Imrcria! Birlimen wore hit. though not severely. Justly, our regiment had it? turn. "C" squadron was in the advance at the lime, and on mafcins for some stone cattle kraals at the farther end of a ridge received a heavy and welldirected fire from some half dozen Boers who were hiding therein. Two men were liit—Trooner Jl'Fhce. severely in the le;r by an expanding bullet. Trooper M'liae, pithily in the foot; while, both their hows were killed, one of them liMing rceivml no fewer than seven shots. Farrier llarclhani. seeing that M'Ruo via? wounded, and that his hone was killed, pluekily da>!nd out to his assistance, placed !iis wounded comrade onjiis (flardhamV) horse, and ran hack nl the "fide of the horse until they both reached cover. We bivouacked for the night on the same ground as we had driven the Bock from a fortnight ago, and have binec continued to occupy the position, wl-.ieh is one of great strategic importance, nvcrjooking, as itdocs, probably the roughest part' of the Mnnaliesber? Hills. Our prejcncc-Jiere also prevents the Bocra from trekking foiith again into the comparatively open country round Vcntcrsdorp, Potchofetrom, and Klerksdorp. It was General Cunningham's intention to return as booh as po3siblo from Krugersdorp, and to bring us sufficient supplies to enable us to co-operate •with him in this district. On his arrival at Krugersdorp (January 29) wo found that Generals Botha and Sehlak -.Bitter jvere jn the vicinity of, J^jn.Uique,

which is situated cm tie Vaal Biver, stout 20 milc3 south-east of Potouefstrom, ana tflat five British potamns were endewwirmg to surround tW General Cuimmgham Mβ■timed to participate in the movement, bo we had tosond oar ox wajgons, under -a. mounted escort, to Krogcredorp tor rap■plies.- Bomonr hath it that Wβ shall sit tight here tmta some of the colnmns a* P, reßen jf operating around Lindique aro released, ana enabled to co-operate with us. One-, thing, however, is cortsriiu that wo «liall not attack the Boors in the positions they.are at. present occupying. A reconnairance in forcer - penetrated into the hilb yesterday for a distance of about four mites, and found the enemy in strong force, occapyinj* almost impassable country. Their numbers tiro w onsly estimated from two to seven thousand; but it is probable three thousand is their limit. They aro the commandos of De i» ( Ray, Smutz, Poigietcr, Licbenberg, and another, whose unpronounceable name I have never heard before. Our regiment took a prominent position, the above-mentioned reconnaisanco supplying the advance guard. The Boere indulged in a good deal of longrange sniping at times, and threw a strong force on our left flank, but the timely arrival of reinforcements enabled Uβ to retire to camp without any casualties. ■ Our ranlw are steadily decreasing in numbers, we can now parado only ISO men, which is exactly one-third of our strength on leaving:. ■ New Zealand. The arerago strength of each, squadron was thu3 reduced to about 40, including ■ officers. Colonel Davics deemed it advisable to combine "A" and "B" squadrons, and place them under the command of, Captain Nicholson, who, by the way, returned to tho regiment on January 21,, while "0" and "D" squadrons wcro also united under command of Captain Pringle. Captain Walker proceeded to Mafeking on rogi- ■ mental business on the 22nd inst. Lieutenants J'ollcston and •Tic-hell, too, who have re- ' ooivcil commteionß in tlie Imperial army,. have left us—the former to join a foot regiment at present in Pretoria; the lattef to proceed to England for garrison artillery duty. Regimental Sergeant-major Dawson, '"V " squadron. Km of the lato Dr Dawson, of Auckland, has left to fako up a com-, mission in the Ilorder regiment, and Cor-" poral Hewitt, too, who was appointed tt» the Lancashire*, has by thin time taken, up his now duties.

We rcquifitiuned about a month ago foe complete outfits for our men; but-these, although sorely needed, had not come tohand when we lelt VeutcHrffirp. Sonie of the men, I am afraid, would present but sony in the py&i of the proud parents and,friends who equipped them, for many are verily shabbier than the shatibiestt swasscr in New Zealand. The hcad-drcsfei pref«iH. perhaps, the greatest variety, ninginc front the regulation helmet (uaed bj night as: a pillow) and a soft hat, picked up, perhaps, in a Boer farm house. As for such a. luxury as roap—well, we have not seen swell p. thing for nrarly s month now.'AVo believe there is none in .Tohanncsberg, but' are assured the authorities have sent' to Capetown for some. One hears but few cony plaint;, ihntigh, for pprsona) appcawnce 'a a, secondary consideration when on active servirc. It is a eve of every man for himself oul here. It has been raid of "Tommy." that after t'lav'mf your cominundccrcl iowl at the close of a hard day's fighting, he will quietly lift your i-purs or legßingj when l>id(ling you goral niglit. \\Vll,l am afraid utir men tiro no better, fur if a man is in realir urgent need of a thing, he generally "finds' it f.oßiehov. , , which,- of coureo, like many oilier things done in the field, is quite, pardonable. ■; , •Speaking of fowls, orders were issued epniß time ago forbidding men to plunder thc<hea roosts of Kni-lish residents or friendly Boers. Ilrenng one nipjlit an extraordinary cabkling br-nde the house of a friendly Boer. I hurried out. and found .1 burly sergeant , of the Minuter lAieilier.; making away with two fowl?. I stopped him, and asked him what •explanation he gave for his ditohediencc of orders. " .Sir," he replied, "lam a naturalist." Hi« wit saved him. One thing none of us is ablo to understand i* how it is the Boers are able to continue fighting. Certain it is that their supplier, .01 ammunition are running short, and a? far as we knov, , they have no means of obtaiuing fresh mipplics. Their food consists entirely of mealies and beef, without Bait, and further, they are in rags. Under ■ all these circumstances it ie perfectly marvellous how they Etill continue under arms. Their prisnoers affirm that fighting will continue as long as the ammunition lasts. I think the fact is that they truly retoiiuise that everything 16 lost, but arc cnntinimig in the vain hope that we shall tira of t!ii> war. aud leove them to themselves, or that in some Heaven-sent mysterious way ''European intervention will secure, them then , iadepen'.lencc. Xo doubt they are inspired by eitraorilinary tales of disasters to our arn.f. . Yesterday ono of »ur men picked up a letter written by a Boer on commando In !iis mfc, in which he stated that in the fight Tvith General Clements at Xmas, tiicy (tha Boers) had lost 82. while the Roois had lost , 4100 men! A prisoner we took last week asked us if it were true .Tohannesberg had been reteken. for such, he affirmed, w»s generally believed by Ms comrades ill commando. Tbese are fair samples of the stories circulated by Boer commnndaiHs for the ' purpose of keeping their commandos to.getlier. February 7. Still at Ciferfontcin, doing little else , than garrkon duty, and a small amount of patrol work. The position we are holding .is being daily strengthened by the construction of stone breastworks and trenches. At this work, too, our regiment takes its turn. Tin , nearest point in the railway line to our proscut position is Krugersdorp, which. is about 30 milea away, and it u from that tomi that we obtain our supplies. A convoy left here on January 30 to bring provisions anil forage from KrurjorEclorp. Tlio presence of ii comparatively large, body of the enemy in the neighbourhood necessitated our regiment, together with the Imperial Bushmen and two guns, going out to meet it on its ; return, in case of its being attacked. Very few liocrs were teen, however, but we believe, an attack was premeditated, but not carried out owing tD tlio cscor.t being strengthened. Our column bar, lately been placed under t!h! command of Majnr-Bcncml Babillglon. Yfltfii we were at Klerksdorp he was in charge of a force having I'otchnfstmm as a base." When, linwvcr, we left the fifth contingent at "Klorksriorp, and a permanent .garriii'in at Vcnlcfidoi'p. our column was rendered too weak to continue independent operations The result was that we were' takca over !>y General Buhingion. the combined forces being known as the " Soutliojni I Ccliimn." Our brigade was thus strenuthcued by the addition of three Fquadrons 14th Hussars, one squadron Imperial Light Horse, an , ', a small comno r ite regiment numbering about 200. '