OUR SIXTH CONTINGENT. ITS ADVANCE TO PIETERSBURG.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 30

OUR SIXTH CONTINGENT. ITS ADVANCE TO PIETERSBURG.

(Fkou Oue Special Corbespoxdext.) PIETERSBURG, April 12. On Saturday, the 6th inst , wo left Fiet Potgieters Rust as part of Colonel Colvm's flying column to seize De Berg Nek. The seizing of this pa=s, enormously strong for defensive purposes, was absolutely essential for the successful completion of our march to Pietersburg. The journey wa> uneventful imtil we entered the final stage of the pass (in all eight miles long), when the Austiahan Third Regiment, under Major Vyles, encountered a heavy fire from the enemy, and lost three men and several horoes in a few minutes. The pom-pom under Captain Rotten galloped into action, and speedily dispersed the enemy, who consisted of a rearguard of General Byre's commando. The New Zealanders occupied the heights on each side of the pa**. The Australians had several \ery narrow shave.-, and one man had a piece taken out of the butt of hio rifle. Another had a tin of jam in his haversack shot through. Trooper Angel, a "Western Australian, was shot through both lungs, and is not expected to recover. Thomas, also- a Western Australian, was shot through the fiikle. Another had a wound «n the hand. The wounded were attended on the field by Surgeons-major Green and Sherman and Captain Purdy, who were with the advance supports. The remainder of the column -with General Plumer reached De Berg's Nek at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and our march was resumed at 1.30. Early in the morning two of our men were captured. They had been out on patrol, and, getting lost, came upon a party of the enemy. After a desperate re ; sistance, m which Corporal JLoree was slightly wounded and both horses were killed, they were forced to surrender. Their captivity, however, was of short duration, as the Boers, owing to their hasty retreat on Pietersburg, had to leave them behind. To the credit of the enemy, be it said, they were botli very kindly treated. The Australians were less fortunate, as they lost two men on the flanks, who were wounded, captured, and taken on in their flight. We camped for the night at a Milage nine miles from> Pietersburg. We entered Pieleisburg on Monday, Bth hist., at 9.30 a.m. The Australians formed the advanced screen, eng-aging the enemy in a desultory mannei the whole way. On the slopes at the back of the town it was thought that a more obstinate resistance was offered. The New Zealauders were galloped up to the centre of the firing line. Up to this there had only been one casualty this morning, one Bushman having been shot on entering the town. But now occurred one of those dastardly outrages which have done so much to damage the reputation of the Boer. The local r.ohoolmaster, e^ idently a man of fanatical disposition, having carefully prepared a large molehill to conceal him, permitted the Imperial Bush contingent to come within 50 yards of him, and then commenced tiring on them. Owing to the noise caused by the desultory firing all round, the parly were unable to locate whence the effective firing came. Within a few seconds Lieutenants Walters and Sayle and one trooper fell. The fh&t was shot through the heart ; the other two were mortally wounded, and have since died. Seven horses were afco shot by this Boer before he was discovered, when he immediately threw up his hat and offered to surrender. A Bushman, however, rushed in. and, infuriated by his conduct, shot and bayoneted liijn. Two t-quadrons of New Zealanders, uiider Major Finlay and Captain Matthews, pursued the Boers for seven milen, but were unable to overtake them. , Colonel Colvin's division, consisting- of the T.B.C. (Australian*-), New Zealanders. .and one pom-pom, went out about eig-hfc miles to the south-east on Tuesday on recomiaipsance. There was a r.harp brush with the enemy. One Australian was shot through the hand. One Boer was blown to piece? by the pompom, and a few prisoners were taken. Colonel Jeffries's division, out oh reconnaissance to the south-west on Wednesday. 10 th April, dtd not encourifrr the enemy. 1 The reconnaissance in force was made on Tiuir.-day. Moet of the New Zealandere had been on picket duty all night. By 8 a.m.. 1 ovrever, all had returned to camp. At 9 a.m. nearly the whole column, with three spins and two pom-pom', marched out. We were told to strip our saddles, so most of the men were Riding merely in their shirtsleeves, having left tunic*, great ooa^?., blankets, waterproof sheets, etc.. behind. We inarched 26 miles to the south-east, only to find that the BopiV Long Tom had been reri.o\ed 24 liour-i previously. After four horns' slepp for thc-o who could rest in i-pito of the bitter cold, wo trekked back to camp, starling at 4 a.m., and arriving at 12 noon to day. Oar future movement aie unknown tn u--. One Ihing i^ certain — if we arc marched , day after day. we shall ioon bo an infantry j tc/tps, as tlie Iwrte* a'v beginning' to break j c'oYwi tnvlcr lUe strain. The poor b^Ms- ■ have never had a day's re-- 1 b nee leaving iN'rw Zealand. A mepsaoe was lead to the troop* from Lord Kil( honor, conqralu l at:ns>- them on the ' s-uecesi'ul termination of their arduous march to Pieteribuig. In the town large quantities of air.mimit'c.n were captured. For five or six hours a continuous f unlade was heard of the aminui.ition. which was burned. Also a large f-tock of dynamite was blown up. The inhabitant, of Petersburg who surlendercd ai- being token down to the re- ' msec camp at Pretoria. Tli<|m have been 'fel'iiigeuX nidf'ia agani't looting, us many J *aluablo articles had been taken fiom the ! Aio\:se% and stoics. No doubt EOme of our 1 men will havo souvenirs of our occupation ! o! Pieieisbur" on then return to New 2k:abi d. For stamp collectors this is a veritable Paradise. Some enthusiasts succeeded in geihng some of the " S.A. Republic, 1901." stamps, which aie considered of great value by philatelists. The town itself appears to have been fairly prosperous, and though of recent ifi I " o^.^ l = f lettilj laid o\.u^ jtiiii ififijc fjiir^r

good buildings and hotels. This district seems to ha\ c been beginning to attract muting prospectors, agriculturists, and fruitgrowers prior to the outbreak of the war. The importance of the Pretoria to Pietersburg railway as opening up the Northern Transvaal, so rich in mineral wealth and with siich great prospects as an agricultural area, cannot be over-estimated. An amusing incident occurred during the inarch. The Bushveldt Carbineers captured 11 Boers who were attempting to wreck our constructive tram. These Boers were placed on a truck m front of the train and sent along the line, which it was understood thes' had mined. Hardly had they gone two miles when an explosion occurred, and the truck and its. Boer freight were flying in the air. Most of the passengers weie damaged, though not seriously injured, except by the shock. Our contingent once more is nearly fall strength. Captain-. C'ajneion and Stevenson and Lieutenants Nelson. Harper, and Ryan havo lomed us. Lieutenant Clark is al-o with us until the arrival of the seventh. The health of the men is good on the whole, and most of those left at Eas* London and Pretoria have rejoined. A. most minresiive sight, and one ineffaceable from the memory of the particiuators in th-e mournful -spectacle, was the funeral of the Australians. Most of the men not on 'duty, with the officers, and also General PUnner and jtaff, followed the hearse, which consisted of on ambulance waggon. The chaplain read, the service at the grave-side. The Union .Tacks were removed, ami the bodies, wrapped each in a blanket, lowered mio ihe graves. One can never forget the expression on the faces of the Bushmen as they saw their comrades lowered into cold earth. Certainly war makes the face.-, of men hard and stern, but Death is ever impressive, and in this case, associated as it was in the minds of most of us with the memorj of what can only be termed a cold-blooded outrage, it made the funeral rites doably solemn. Though the Bushmen have only iwo more months to serve they pre as keen as ever, and Mai or Yyles, their leader, maintains his reputation a« a fighter. So far, our men have not had a c erious brush with the enemy, though thrice we have beard the pom-pom bark; yet should opportunity offer, no doubt we will be able to give a good account of ourselves. Messrs Bennet Burleissh and Mitford (war correspondents; are with General Plumer's column. Four prisoners taken by the Boers — two Imperial Yeomanry and two men of the Intelligence department — escaped on our entry, and mae'e their way into the New Zealand picket lines during the night.

ADVENTURES BY THE WAY.