THE INVASION OF THE CAPE. SURPRISING A COMMANDO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 26

THE INVASION OF THE CAPE. SURPRISING A COMMANDO.

Hamelfontein was used as a depot by the British, the garrison being 20 Yeomanry and 9 Grenadier Guards. When the Boers fired the first volley from the neighbouring hill the garrison had no idea that the enemy were near. The men were cleaning their accoutrements, washing, etc. The pickets only were then under arms, but very soon every man was at his post. The enemy attacked from all sides, so as to be able to enfilade the breastworks from behind. Nevertheless the garrison kept the enemy at bay for 11 hours, until finally they withdrew Ten minutes after the attack opened a messenger came demanding surrender, which was refused. Lieutenant Fletcher, who commanded, and who showed courage and ability, was most active throughout the attack, and deserves great credit for saving the stores, in the face of such odds.

Captain Casgrain. R.E., who was surveying the Philip's Town district, rode into Philip's Town unconscious of the invasion. The first intimation he had was "Hands up'" He was not warned that the enemy were in possession of the town. They took his charts, theodolite, etc., and burned them. George Brand asked him to have a drink, and gave him the choice of the direction he would like to go. He was escorted out of town in the direction of Colesberg, and released on foot.

On Saturday night, December 22, a mounted force of 19th Hussars, Town Guard, and D.M.R., under the able command of Major Burrows, proceeded in the direction of Venterstad, and at 5 o'clock next morning surprised Kritzinger's commando, from two to three hundred strong, at Rooipoort, 15 miles from Burghersdorp. The scouts unfortunately mistook the enemy for Brabant's Horse, who were expected to join our force in that neighbourhood, a,n4 the " CeM* £**"

was ordered. This gave the enemy time to occupy aU the commanding position's and they tried to outflank our ht'lo band at three different points, but Major Burrow_s withdrew Ims men out of a mo«t difficult portion will t^o loss of one Hussar wounded slight I,},1 ,}, one prisoner, and six horses. The enemy is sjid to ha^e lost a good many hordes and a good few killed and wounded. Lieutenant Stefanus Strydom, in charge of a scouting party, lias been taken prisoner by the Boers.

Steynsburg was occupied by a strong British force on Wednesday. December 19 Tho Boers were shelled out of a strong posi tion fue miles outside Venterstad on the previous Sunday, and another fight took place on Tuesday, but the severest fight cccured about 11 miles out from Steynsburg, on the Colesberg road, when the Boers were shelled out of the kopjes by seven guns, the shrapnel bursting exactly in the right places. The Cape Police and O V G. cleared the kopje, while the Lancers and Brabants al=o worked well. The Boers retreated to Zuurberg during a heavy thunderstorm. Th 9 British loss was four wounded. The Boers left several dead behind Colonel Oriville's force is now commandeering horses for remounts.