IN THE FREE STATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 27

IN THE FREE STATE.

LONDON, April 24.

The bulk of the besiegers at Wepener are concentrating against General Bundle's

The latter are enti<#nched at Dewelsdorp awaiting the arrival of Generals French and Pole-Carew.

A force of Boers, who were posted at Thabanchu for the purpose of keeping their retreat open, are likely to delay General French's arrival.

April 25.

Generals Pole-Carew and French reached Tweedpluk, five miles south of Leexuv Kop, on Monday, with little opposition. Heliogram messages have been exchanged with General Rundle.

■ The missing Guard?, with the exception of two, returned safely. / Brigadier lan Hamilton's division, of which the Colonial Brigade, under General Hutton, forms a part, advanced eastward from. Sloemfontein, and occupied the waterworks.

As the Boers hold the neighbouring hills, Major-generals Smith-Dorrien and Hector Macdonald have been despatched to the support of Brigadier lan Hamilton.

Brigadier Maxwell's 14th Brigade, belonging to General Tucker's division, have marched eastward from Glen Siding, eight miles north of Bloemfontein, and seized the hills covering Kranz Kraal and the waggon bridge over the Modeler , River.

This movement cuts off both lines of the enemy's retreat northward of that point. When Brigadier lan Hamilton decided to advance on Sannas Post he ordered a detachment of 140 New South Wales Lancers to occupy a square kopje situated a mile from and overlooking Water Vaal Drift. The New South Wales men accomplished their task after some sniping. Only one casualty happened to the column, the capture of Private Braun, of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

In connection with Brigadier Hamilton's advance to the eastward, Lieutenant-colonel Alderson, commanding the first corps of General Hufcton's brigade, advanced southward to Leeuw Kop, whilst Brigadier Dickson, with the Fourth Cavalry Brigade, a battery of the Royal" Horse Artillery and the New South Wales ambulance moved from Springfield against the Boers in. the neighbouring hills. The battery shelled -the Boei- force which held the kopje to the south-west of the Bloemfontein waterworks, and the enemy •were dislodged. Brigadier Dickson's column also participated in the operations further south. As a result of Brigadier Hamilton's advance to the eastward the enemy have been e-veiywhere defeated, and they retreated still further to the east, towards the Basutoland frontier. The Standard's correspondent estimates that a force of 3000 Boers is entrenched among the hills to the south-east of Bloemtein.

Under cover of a heavy shrapnel fire from foun guns, the Boer forces were engaged in besieging Wepener throughout yesterday. The enemy made a determined attempt to storm Colonel Dalgety's northern position.

The Cape Mounted Rifles and other South African troops successfully repelledthe Boer attack.

When the Boers were foiled in their desperate attempt tc storm the garrison's northern position they recoiled, and, extending in open order across lie flat country, kept up a heavy rifle fire at lo'-g range, the fusilade lasting some hours.

General Hart's brigade forms the advance portion of General Brabant's division.

Th© latter is immediately confronted with a force of 8000 Boers, in addition to which there are 13,000 Boers elsewhere in the Wepener district. A later message slates that the Boers at Wepener and the surrounding district are so numerous that it took them two days to cross the Caledon River.

- General Brabant has lost 25 in wounded during his advance towards Wepener. The relief columns are steadily advancing on Wepener. Lord Roberts reports that General PoleCarew has occupied Roode Kopje. The enemy's loss is heavy. General French has compelled the Boei'9 to evacuate their position at Dewetsdorp. - Forty- thousand British are now _ enveloping the .forces under Commandants De Wet and Olivier. The New Zealand third contingent, under Major Jowsey, received their baptismal fire" while making a clever flanking movement on Sunday at Boesman Kop. i The colonials expressed great delight at participating in an engagement. April 26. Brigadier lan Hamilton cleared all the kopjes in the neighbourhood of Bloemfontein waterworks. General French, in pursuance of Lord Roberts's instructions to si* astride" the , enemy's line of retreat, crossed the Mod- . der at Vaalsbank. The Boers, meanwhile having been alarmed, quitted Dewetsdorp, General Chcrmside occupying the town unopposed. The Boers round Wepener, numbering45C0, fled by the Ladybrand ' road to the north-eastward -with ox waggons, General French racing to intercept them. General Brabant's advance to Wepener was unopposed. (Received April 27, at 12.25 a.m.) Colonel Dalgety's total losses .were 33 killed and 132 wounded. Brigadier lan Hamilton is now nearing Thabanchu. A mysterious attempt to destroy thtj railway bridge at Komatipoort haJ scared the Boers, who are strongly guard, ing the neighbourhood. When appro_aching Roode Kop Genera-'. French's troops encountered some opposi tion from a small body of the enemy. The cavalry dismounted, and with an effective carbine fire drove the Boers across the plain, where they suffered heavily from five machine guns which were promptly brought to bear on them. General French then continued the pursu--". General French had a sharp engagement with the enemy and defeated 1600 Beers under XJommandants Botha and De Wet. The cavalry are in hot pursuit, thougL the ground is favourable for defensiva tactics. From these rearguard actions it is feared j that the Boe s' divisions are converging on Thabanchu and Ladybrand. Lord Roberts reports that Brigadb* Hamilton on Wednesday expelled the enemy, from a strong position at Israel's Poort^ General Ridley, with the 2nd Mour.'eds, and General Dorien, r mn nding the 18tb Brigiu ©, admirably executing a well-con-ceived .arnir.g movement. The losses were slight. Both columns are ad^neing to Tha«. bane^u. . Several F-se S'.ete homesteada have been burned by the British authorities, owing to their ofcv^ints abusing the \vVtt fiajs

by sheltering- combatants and concealing '.ammunition

The Boers captured and sentenced to death. Mr Vanderhousen, the British landdrost at Wepener.

April 27. Brigadier .lan 'Hamilton, Tvith naval guns ■and howitzers, occupied a mountain dominating the Ladybrand district.

General French, with the cavalry, and General Rundle, with the Yeomanry, are closely following the enemy in the direction -Ladybrand.

General Brabant -on Wednesday found the Boers occupying a kopje commanding the eastern road from Wepener. He posted 100 New Zealand Rough Riders on the •kopje in front of the enemy, and then the New Zealand contingent, with Brabant's Horse and a couple of guns, made a wide detour from the East and outflanked the enemy's left and gained the eastern slope of >a kopje adjoining the Basutoland border, on the south-west. The enemy subjected the colonials to a terrific fire. General Brabant, plaping men' .under cover in a mcalie field, shelled the enemy at a range Df 700 yds, ousting- them from their stronghold, and .shelling them again as .they recreated with' deadly effect

The result of the engagement opened Ihe road for miles.

General Pole-Carew, northward of Dewetsdorp, punitively seized cattle and. horses belonging to Free Staters who had surrendered and then, broken their oath ,of allegiance. Prisoners admit that -this is the only -method to crush risings. Numerous small commandos met with in Ms advance have melted away, and the farmers are slinking home.

" General lan Hamilton's Mounted Infantry are straining every nerve to reach Ladybrand first. Commandants Botha's and De Wet's columns are retreating through the ranges dividing Dewetsdorp from Wepener. April 28.

Lord Roberts reports that General French on Friday morning effected a junction with Brigadier Hamilton and General Smith Dcrrien at Thabanchu. They combine with the intention of immediately ousting the enemy from the eastern outlet of the town.

General Rundle on Thursday evening was eight miles south. The Boers at Thabancmi are the rear-

.guard of the main body.

General Brabazon's _ Yeomanry reconnoitred 'Wepener, and returned to Dewetsdorp.

Correspondents' reports show that " the Dewetsdorp Boers altered their course between several British columns and made a running fight," narrowly escaping capture. A. patrol at Bethulie skirmished with the enemy on the Smithfield road. One private was killed and two captured.

April 29,

The British at "Glen Camp, eight miles north of Bloemfontein, have been considerably reinforced, and there are other indications of an imminent advance.

General Hamilton defeated a considerable force oi the enemy before the latter succeeded in x'eaching Thabancliu

The prompt evacuation of Dewetsdorp was due ta Commandant Botha's orders.

The Boers, numbering 6000, with four 9-pounders and two Vickers-Maxim guns, withdrew.

Privates Provis (of the South Australian contingent) and Breen (of the New South Wales contingent), were captured afc Karriefontein. "

A Boer commando from Swaziland has been sent to the front.

April 30. - General Brabant is advancing on Ladybrand.