KITCHENER'S SECOND GREAT DRIVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 27

KITCHEN ER'S SECOND GRE AT DRIVE.

THE BOTHASBERa FIOHT. PARTICULARS (JF THE MOVEMENT A CORDON OF 130 MILES. SEARCHING PRECIPICES AND MOUNTAINS. Writing horn Vlaalq^aate, near Hum smith, on February 27, Router's special cor respondent give? the following graphic description of the movement which culminated at Bothasberg : — The second of the- i;reat drives organised by Lord Kitchener commenced about the 16th of February, when the columns oporat ing in the last drive mo\ed in different directions, giving the enemy no indication of tho new combination. Colonels Rawhn=on, Byng, and Rimington readied the main railway line between Vcreeuigiug and Kl'p River, and moved due c-ast, with Co'onel Rawlinson's left on the Standerton line, and Colouel Rimington's iiglii, on the Heilbn-n-Vredf line. On February 19 the movement began to take definite shape. The idea of the whole movement, necessitated opeiatious of a vast extent, which were to enclose the enemy within the line and the Wilge River, and the Vaal and Klip Rivers, on the Natal frontier, and drive them eventually on Ham smith. The dri\e differed from the former, inasmuch as the line held wah almost twice the length, and the count! y east was teinbly cut by deep vallej> and precipitous mountains On the night <>f Fehiuary 21 it is estimate. l that an extended line of 120 milecwas held by the operating columns. On the morning ot .Februaiy 20 tho eiulc \\n- comi-lete. The extreme left was li«*ld by Colonel Nixon, resting on Paardekop. on the Natal line. Next came Colonel" Rawhufon, Byng. and Riinington, Colonel KrirHorse Artillery and Mounted Rifles. The Lenii-ter Regirn°nt < xtendod tho line up tho Wilge Ri\er to Sticydpooit, where f.Vnornl Elliott took up the hue -onth as far as Majoor's Drift. Tlhmkp to Ilairismith the line was held by troop* belc.ij.ing to the, Harrisniith command. On February 22 the northern portion of the line wheeled lound. pi>otnig upon Colonel Ken There w.i.s ;> further wheel forwaid. Colonel Kerr being still the pi\oT, and remai'-img stationary Colonel Ni\oii n'-ted f<>: the night on tin-Diaken-sbeig, Natal ficntie; The- coiniuy wa h lullv and bioUn. and the weat'iei wet and cold. In -unw < a-«" the -' outs chmhid liii,'h mountains light into tho clouds, and r.ot a hill or kloof was loft uri'-iMn In d. On Februaiy 23 Colonil Kerr niowtl f ()! waid along tho Wi'gc Rum to a junction with Holspnut, Colonel* Rimington. Bynp. | Rhwlhisoii. and Nixon holding a huge -cmi ( ire le, the last two < o'miin* < amping on the Vred< Botha's Pas-, bloekhoiw lm<Here we learned that on tin- night of the 21st Februaiy s O me 200 Boer- hail bioktn through rhe line, accompanied by cattle, in tho midst of which they r. mainrd hiddi n. and ha\ing cut the hiic had galloitc-cl through a hot fire from the bleukhou-' s \ number of horses and cuttle were killed mid two r.a'nes urn 1< ft wounded, so it it- ugh' to infer that they liail not pass.d tliM.iik'b without loss Name- ~tat<- that tl" llo'ian'iounci rl their intention of X" "^ "''' .Kloss the V. llge Ki\e: It is o\ul<-nt that tin i noun wi' mid. i the ini|ir.--l«ii that tl-< ohp < I ol tli. <ln\'' wa-> to fone them on to tin- \nd. Hotha - Pa-s blotklujusi -„ not ie ali-mg thai Cnei.il Elliott held the \\ ilgc l'vi\<i. mul that th-j were lon.nloteK .nc iclecl Tiic 80. i•■ in front <> f Cinera! Elliott, lm\\o\«i. lcah-iug their pli^'it, made plan- foi a poit ion of their fold to attempt to i;.t round oni 1« ft. poisiblj thioiu,h Natal, while the r. -t should" trj to foue Ccihi.'l Elliott's l.n. an.,-, ih." Wilge Ri\»i On tlie 24th F. lmiai\ a halt w,i - made, and C'.'iontl K.iwhn-on (ii<ingxl placi- with Co'oncl Ni\"n. taking the ixtieme 1 « ft while Coloni 1 Bjii'jf ie»t<d on Wittekopje = au 9lii eUimaUoW oi tke iiueirf. Colonel*

P.immgton and Keir held thrs line £:*cdi 1 Holspnut to the Wilge River. The line moved forward, wheeling to thei right over the worst country yet experienced. Precipices barred the progress, and deep valley» made it very difficult to keep touch. On the night of February 20 a party of 200 Boers made a gallant attempt to pass Cole«el Nixon, who. with the 3rd Hussars, held part of the line on Colonel Rawlinson's right. They rode through, losing, however. fi\e killed, two prisoners, ancl nine wounded, and climbed the precipitous face of tho mountains, leading their horses, and then made a dash. The next day the line ecutinued its course through terrible country. Colonel ■Scott, on the Natal border, was much beset with difficulties. Indeed, his mounted infantry p^iyed the part of alpine climbers as well as soldiers. Colonel Rawlinson's line that night reached from the Natal frontier to the left of Mai hie Hock, where Colonel Brigg-;. with the Ist Imperial Light Horse, held a \ery strong; position. Before camping, a large body of Boers was observed • off-sa,ddled about two miles on our front, j =o it was- expected there would be either an ! attempt to cross dunng the night, or a fight next day j The rc<-t of Colonel Rawlinson's column, under Colonels Dawkins and Scott, discarded their transport, the country being too difficult, and everything promised well for the morrow. The mc«, who had been undergoing g-rcat hardships, immediately they heard that the Boers were in front, were , in wonderful spirits, and kept the picket \ linen with extra zeal. The nature of the J country was such that it often took the | whole day to cover 12 miles. Immediately they arrived in camp the men were marched out to the tops of high hills or down deep '. dongas, where they remained all night, i showing a splendid example of endurance. Few men on picket duty slept more than two or three houra that night. At 6 o'clock on the morning of the 27th February (Mujuba Day), the line moved for- ( ■ward. Everybody was on the alert, know- , ing the preoence of the enemy in front. Suddenly a troop of the Imperial Horse j pounced upon two Boers, who rode over j the rise, carrying a white flag, but pro- j tested that they were envoys coining to ne- | gotiate terms eif ourrender for Jan Meyers's commando, which was laagered a few miles ahead. Terms wero given, which allowed them to keep their personal effects, otherwise unconditional surrender. Truter and De Jagcr. the two envoys, were given one hour in which to arrange matterb in the htager. Captain Watson, fetaff officer, accompanied the envoys, and I rode with him. On entering the laager we found the Boers gathering in a close crowd in a garden. Truter mounted a horse, and rode into their mickt, calling the burghers together. ; When they were assembled he addressed them, stating the terms of surrender, and ordering them to pile their rifles and sadI die". In a short time there were a hundred ! largo pile<= of rifles, bandoliers, masses of saddles and bridles, and other gear. What struck liio most was the cheerfulno-3, almost | gaiety, of the rank and Pie. Some of the leadei-, appeared ?nd and depressed, but theirs wore the only faces showing regret. ' Most of the commando were Transvaalers. 1 A number hyd been dm en before us from Zuikerboschrand, near Heidelberg, where \ they had boon present at the engagement with the 28th Mounted Infantry- At the end of an hour the Light Horse, which crowned the hughts all round, arrived. The | total number captured was 500, but the | figures arc not absolutely correct yet. J From a conversation with the prisoners , it is evident that the system of great drives la destined to end the war quickly Although many managed to cross the warm reception they met with acted as a great , deterrent. Truter, one of the convoys, , crossed with De Wut past, Colonel Garrctt. ' and stayed on the other side. He returned ( alone, lode back into this district, and broke through Colonel Nixon's line; but, hearing that his son was wounded, he icturned. He is, a man of great influence, and his capture is a most important one — [ perhaps the most important of a\\. De , Wet's son. a young man covered with Free j State emblems, broke through the Lindley- j Kroonstad blockhouse lino with lm father • on tho night of the 10t!i February, losing • fi\e men. but remained with the commando j hcie. Tho whole c anturc was the biggest since Prinsloo's Mil-render. ' A hi eat number of hor<=e>s and aboi-t 4000 ; h»-.id of cattle v.pre taken to-day. ' 1 Ve-iPi ilav's total bag by our column- was | about 500. but other canture^ ha\e not vet j I 1-pei! rr-'iM'^e'!. (""olonel Nixon accountrd for ' ; 60. j I It >s impo"-i'rt!p not to admire the -ple-n ' did sijint shown by our mm The weather | I on the mountain top* las b^en teinbly cold, j With ln-r.w work '\"i duv. the men have > ' be.-n obliged '.» kc-p watch al! through the , niftlit. often en-lmned in <lmin« tloud.s of ■ mist Tl,« ciinmaiHlinv ofliren and staff , I .-I-o lia.l linn woik, \>c<n<z obliged to »oe ' I the line i.rketcel out during the night, and 't< uch kept during the day. Everybody, j I rom Uir c oimuandt r-i to rhe nri\ :ite-. I winked with admirable smnt and preat /o.il. a-icl tin Min-es- of the piesent elmo ua- th- iohl'liN deMi-\c-'l