EXCITING TIMES RECALLED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20906, 21 December 1929, Page 23

EXCITING TIMES RECALLED.

[COPTSIGHX.]

NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE BOER WAR.

By J. A. Shako, New Zealand War Correspondent, Boer Campaign.

11. Before the New Zealandera left the vicinity of Coleaberg, in Northern Cape Colony, pn their sensational advance northwards, one of the highest compli ments ever paid to overseas mounted forces was their inclusion in General French's "Flying Cavalry Brigade," ■when they were associated •with such famous cavalry regiments as the Ist Life Guards, Household Cavalry, 6th Dragoons, 6tli Dragoon Guards, 10th Hussars, Scots Greys, and 16th (Queen's) Lancers. The New South Wales Lancers and some of the Queensland Mounted Riflea were also included in this composite cavalry brigade, which was to be engaged in one of the most important missions of the campaign, the relief of Kimberley. Few knew that the besieged "diamond city" was the goal; the sec ret was well kept. It was on the cards that there was to be a movement towards the north, but the general opinion was that Hopestown and Magersfontein were the ultimate destinations. Christmas of 1899 and the New Year of 1900 proved uneventful, but the following months were full of sensational happenings. On February 9, 1900, the New Zealanders bade farewell to Arun del and Slingersfontein, and with some of the best cavalry regiments in the world set out on the great adventure. It proved successful. - The' Boers ■ were taken by surprise, and with the assist ance of the troops under General Lord Jlethuen (who had previously met with reverses at Modder River and Magersfontein) which engaged the enemy simultaneously with the advance of the cavalry on Kimberley, General' Frenoh was enabled to carry 'lout &■ splendid flanking movement; then, by clever strategy and. faultless disposition of hi<» forces. da3h on and relieve the belea gucred city on the evening of Thursday. February 15. The'relieving forces were received with frenzied enthusiasm, the New Zealanders Bharing in the honours General Methuen's forces were quickly on the heels of the mounted men, and the* subsequent meeting with the great Cecil Rhodes and Colonel Kekewich (who was in command'of the defending forces) was one of the most dramatic episodes of the campaign. ■'■ t CRONJE'S SURRENDER AT ■ ; I PAARDEBERG. -, ■'

There had also been sensational happenings in another sector of the campaign, close to where the Now Zealanders were operating. After inflicting heavy losses on the British forces at Modder

River and Magersfontein, the Boers, miller General Cropje, had taken up strong positions along the banks of the Modder River. The famous Highland Brigade, under, General Sir Hector Mae donald (“ Fighting Mac,” ■ as men loved to call him), had • suffered many casualties, and the enemy, stimulated by its successes, was confidently waiting for the attack, relying on its apparently impregnable position protect it from shell and rifle fire. An Overseas

force—the gallant .Canadians—hpweyer, Jielpcd, materially, to force, the issue, for overnight, almicfst' dh their own responsibility, they crept to' a dangerous vantage point, and when the general attack was made in the morning they were in such a commanding position that they raked the Boers with deadly fire. The • British .troops displayed "unexampled bravery in this desperate engagement, aml 'Crpnje, realising that defeat was inevitable, surrendered on February* 27, 1000, with the best part of *BOOO burghers. “It is fate,” he said vosigjD&Uy j:"*ti»’.better "to surrender than see ‘my men feeding the vultures of the Veldt.” - This great British victory, together , with the relief of Kimberley, had a farreaching effect. The Boers now realised

that their immense fighting front, once an advantage, bad become a menace. Imperial and colonial; troops were pouring into various portp. , British troops, including New Zealand contingents (the Second, with Major Cradock in command, had arrived), were disposed .north, south, and west, and their activities / were sueli that the enemy’s intelligence department, formerly effective, became a negligible qudntity. i General Buller. on the Ladysmith ■ side, made a deter- 1 mined attack on the Boer positions, raised'the siege of Ladysmith, and drove the enemy from the heights of the Drakensburg ranges. This was on February 28, 1900. , -

Grange free state capital CAPTURED., The New Zealand troops which took f»art in the - relief of Kimberley were not ong, to. remain inactive. . Soon the forces under General French Turned their faces eastward, and the advance towards Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State, began. The surrender of the Boer forces under Cronje left the 100 miles between the city of diamonds and the capital comparatively free of cnertiy troops, and there was no serious opposition to the British troops until they were within striking distance of Bloemfontein. Just prior to the occupation of the city, the New Zealanders dropped in for a rather warm time, and again gained unstinted praise, not only for the manner in which they fought, but for the skilful manner in which they extricated themselves from most dangerous positions. At Osfontein before Bloemfontein, they succeeded in outflanking a large Boer force; while at Driefcntcin they were subjected to heavy shell fire, but bravely “ stuck it ” , until cavalry under General French succeeded in turning the enemy’s position. It was subsequently learned that in this engagement the Boers numbered 8000, and the Nfcw Zealanders were exceedingly lucky in escaping with but few casualties. Other colonial forces were not so fortunate, for the Victorians lost heavily. Colonel Umphelby, a splendid officer, being one of those who were mortally wounded. The Second New Zealand Contingent, under Major Cradock, was about this time engaging the Boer forces in the centre of Cap* Colony, while working np to the .main column. IV hen close to Bloemfontein some big guns and “pompon” batteries (the latter guns throwing lib shells) came into action, but were soon silenced, and the city capitulated. Some of the \ “ pompom ” gunners, on being captured, proved to be mere boys, and had evidently been detailed to “man” the guns while their elders made good their escape. The man who officially handed the keys of Bloemfontein to Lord Roberts (who with Kitchener had taken the supreme command) was the Hon. George Fraser, a native of South Africa, who had been educated at the Inverness (Scotland) Free Church Institution, and later at Marischal and King’s Colleges, Aberdeen. He was a son of the Rev. Colin M’Kenzie Fraser, and had married a relation of President Steyn (Orange Free State), but had little enthusiasm for the Boers’ cause. He informed me that he had relations in New Zealand, and was curious to know if any of them were members of our forces in South Africa. If there were, they chose to remain silent on the subject.

After the formal occupation of Bloemfontein Lord Roberts despatched the following typical cable message to the British Government: “By the help of God and the bravery -» Her soldiers I jiave taken possession of Bloemfontein.

SEVENTEEN NEW ZEALANDERS CAPTURED. Shortly after the occupation of Bloemfontein the New Zealanders met with disaster, due to faulty scouting of those ■ at the head of a valuable convoy in command of Prince Adolphus of Teck (a captain in the Life Guards), a brother of our present Queen Mary. Major-general Broadwood had ordered the convoy to proceed to a given destination. Mounted troops acted as escort, and four batteries of Royal Horse Artillery were with the column. When Koomspruit, Bloemfontein, was reached a withering fire came from three sides, and it was apparent that the British troops had walked into another ambuscade. With Roberts’ Horse the New Zealanders bought gallantly, though outnumbered b> about six to one, and taking advantage o! whatever cover whs available, managed to hold off the main body of the enemy until troops under Major-general Colville arrived Another portion of the New Zealanders was not so fortunate, being completely surrounded and eventually captured, 17 n.c.o.’s and men falling into the Boers’ hands. Sergeant (now Captain) “ Billy ” Pitt managed to get some of the New Zealanders awa* in a Cape cart; he also saved some important Headquarters correspondence. Many gallant deeds were done that day, by both officers and men. The New Zealand and other prisoners were taken first to Winbnrg, 60 miles north that of Bloemfontein, and then to Pretoria. The captured men were: Quartermaster Borland (Christchurch), Sergeant Harris (Wellington), Privates Claud Jewell (Auckland), Miller (Heretaunga), Pope (Waikato), Tarrant (Auckland), Valentine' (Hawera), Wyllie (Alexandra), Butters (Welling ton), Catherall (Hastings), Cossar (Canterbury), Franklin (Rdngitikei), Hcc nan (Southland), Prosser (Ellesmere) Palmer (Hawera), Waldie (Welling ton), and Powell (Wanganui). In jus tice to the New Zealand forces engaged it should be stated that the disaster was due to imperfect scouting, for which none of the oversea forces were held responsible, 'Before the general advance northward commenced, there was a -long and irritating delay, due to the Boers again concentrating in the . vicinity of Wepcner, and making determined attacks on Colonel Dalgety’s portion of the Colonial Division ; (commanded 1 by General Brabant) penned up in that town.' Here the Third Contingent (“Rough-riders”) under Major Jowsey, had'their baptism of fire. It was on Sunday, April . 22, 1900, at Boeaman’s Kop, where the New Zealanders carried out a clevcrly-cxe cuted flanking movement, the success of which greatly assisting the advance of General Brabant's column moving up on the relief of Wepencn. Together with some of Brabant’s Horses they succeeded in outflanking the enemy on the eastern slopes of kopjes almost on the Basutoland border. The Boevs opened up a heavy fire on the New Zealanders, who, however, showed cleverness, and gallantry, and their attack was so determined that the Boers were routed. Genoval Brabant \\ l as thus enabled to push on with more expedition, and when Wcpener was relieved, and Colonel Dalgety?s bravo little band liberated. Gene, ral Brabant complimented MajoV Jowsey and his men on their splendid work. THE GREAT ADVANCE NORTHWARDS. ' .The flight of the Boers northwards after -the relief , of Wepcner' opened up the way - for • the -great ■ advance northwards from Bloemfontein. This commenced on May i). 1000, when the Third Division, under Lieutenant-general Pole Carew, the Seventh Division under Lieu-tenant-general Tucker, and the Colonial Brigade (which included the New Zealanders). under Major-gefleral Hutton, New 'Zealahders Mverc entrusted with some important work on this occasion, and never made a mistake. They were the first troops to enter Brandfort on i May -2, and the next morning saw’ them ! off to the Vet River, whore the Boers ; were reported to lie . concentrating. ! Here,the enemy opened up heavy artil- | levy fire, and the general advance was 1 momentarily checked. Again the Colonial Brigade was to the fore, and dashing to the right, they succeeded in again turning the Boer’s flank, while the Imperial and other troops 1 struck at the centre ■ and left. The Zand River was reached, | the New Zealanders, New South Wales mounted men, and the Canadians again 1 winning high commendation from Lord I Roberts for their dashing and daring j exploits,- On again, position after position being won until the country north of the Zand River was, occupied bv the j British forces, and on May 12,‘Lord I Roberts made a victorious entry into Kroonstadt. The days passed quickly, for the advance was so rapid that time, as well as the Boers, seemed to be on the wing. The southern bank of the Vaal River j was reached on the night of May 24 (the Queen’s Birthday) after the hardest trek of the campaign—from Kroonstadt which was captured after: some fighting—and Johannesburg, the golden city of the Rand, became the next - objective br the victorious British forces. From this point the Boer’s opposition strengthened, and some determined fighting ensued 5h the direction of Eotchesstroom on the left, in. the centre, while the , cavalry and mounted infantry executed cleverly planned flanking movements. When- the scarped sides of the Magaliesberg Ranges came, into view we all knew that before us lay the famous Witwaters Rand, the richest goldfields.in the world, and its wonder city Johannesburg. On the evening of May 30 we saw the rugged lines of the mountains fringed with smoke from the British lyddite shells, and noted the steadily decreasing opposition from the Boer artillery. The attack was pressed home, and the 'following day saw the formal occupation of the splendid city by the British forces under the great leaders. Lord Roberts and his Chief of Staff, Lord Kitchener, In these latter operations the New Zealanders (First, Second and Third Contingents) played well their part; they had proved themselves to be true soldiers of the Queen. They were selfreliant, courageous, and wonderfully resourceful in every emergency. Indeed, so valuable had the colonials proved themselves—this, of course, applied to all the overseas forces—that the Imperial Government offered to bear pori rion of the expense of equipping other contingents. It was with pride, therefore/ that we received news that New Zealand was sending more'men, and that the Fourth and Fifth Contingents had already departed from bur island home across the seas. But there were stirring times ahead. The British troops were held in Johannesburg only long-enough to allow the necessary formalities in connection with the occupation to be concluded and dis position of forces arranged; then on to Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, the home of the President, Paul Kruger (who had fled the country with, it was reported, three millions in gold, and sailed for Holland from Lorenzo Marquez, the port of Portuguese East Africa), and the seat of the Radzaal, the Boers’ stately House of Parliament. Standing on one of the commanding* heights of the Magaliesberg ranges one witnessed heartstirring scenes as the victorious British army, now truly representative of the great Empire on which the sun never sets, poured out from the northern entrances of the handsome city. Scouts, cavalry screens, mounted infantry, artillery (heavy and light), more cavalry, more mounted infantry, divisions of infantry, ammunition and supply columns —no wonder the astonished Boers shouted: “Almighty, all is lost; they coipe from the four corners of the earth.” THE FALL OF PRETORIA. But though the British army moved rapidly towards its goal, the Boers moved faster. While they had no heart

for close combat with the advancing thousands who spread over the veldt like vast swarms of locusts, they were by no means defeated. There were the wild bush veldt, .the open spaces, the sluits, dongas, kopjes, and bergs, from which they could still fight. The siege of Pretoria was scarcely worthy of the name. The, guns on the forts offered but feeble resistance to the great army which enveloped Pretoria. Thousands of burghers had streamed through the valleys on the north and north-east; most of the available food had been commandeered, field commissariats hastily but capably arranged; money and valuables had been either removed or secreted. The British army swept aside all 'opposition as one would brush off insects with a fly-whisk, . and moved steadily towards its objective. Longrange guns spoke at intervals; some of the more fanatical commandos stuck to their posts; there was desultory firing from some of the protecting kopjes.

But Pretoria did not lend itself well to a long-sustained resistance, and on June 5, 1900, the white flag appeared, and, capitulating, the pretty little city was spared from bombardment. Thus three important cities of varying but undoubted beauty had been captured within the short space of three months, viz., Bloemfontein, on March 13; Johannesburg, on May 31; and Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal on June 5. Kimberley, Ladysmith, Wepener, and-Matc-hing had in turn been relieved, so that the year 1900 had opened most auspiciously for the British Empire and its army. That great little leader. Lord Roberts (“ Our Bobs,” as his men loved to call him), and his herculean, taciturn Chief of Staff, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, had changed the whole complexion of the war, and the British nation was shouting as with one voice: “ Victory is ours.”

But it was to be sadly disillusioned. The end was not yet. Many weavy and disappointing months o! fighting were ahead—a guerilla campaign which was to cost millions before the stubborn foe threw down his well-worn arms and cried “ Enough.” ‘ And in this extraordinary scries of “ partridge drives,” as they wjeve aptly termed, the gallant New Zealanders were to experience their greatest disaster on the' South African fields of battle.