Latest.

Southland Times, Issue 14816, 18 December 1900, Page 2

Latest.

FERKIERA'S FORCE SUFFERED HEAVILY A REPUTATION WRECKED: CLEMENTS CAMPED IN A HOLE : HOW HE WAS SURPRISED: _*. BOERS DISGUISED AS BRITISH THE NORTHUMBERLAND** ON A SECOND MAJUBA : FORCED .TO THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE : THEY DIE HARD JOUBBRTS SON AMONG THE BOER KILLED MINOR DISASTER IN CAPE COLONY: 107 BRITISH SURRENDER London, Pec. 17. Heceived 18th, 12.10 a.m. Ferriera's force numbered 1200 and their casualties! wen) 100. The British lost sevun killed, 22 wounded and 30 captured. Subsequently- Bloemfield, escorting a convoy, reached Vryhdd after dislodging 600 Boers at Sehloporouck, killing and wounding 30. The British lo:»t two killed. Five thousand fionth African constabulary are recrui ting in England. Received 18th, 1.25 a.m. The Standard's correspondent, describing the recent reverse near Nooitgedaeht, sa*ss that in a horseshoe-shaped depression tad Northumberlands occupied the centre of the position ; General Clements' camp was 1000 yards lower to the eastward, : ,-.'v and Lejfge's force was within 800 ;.. ■'", :, i yards. Commandunt Beyer's force of 3000 . during the night reinforced. Delaret^B^ : 1200. Leggos pickets, under a flatttih spur, saw what was apparently a inw British force eighty yards away. Theie were in ideality 401) B*otfe dressed in khaki with alouuh huts with black ostrich featheiS. : : A challenge elwiteda volley, and Leggn'a '-;■■) Mounted Yeomanry am) Clements' staff were " ; soon furiously engaged. Meanwhile suddin deafening volleys were heard ou the plateau above, but General Clements, being coavinced that the Northumberlands would hold their own, protected his flauks and tHe rear ot the camps. Then, learning that tiae enemy were in overwhelming numbers, lie* sent up detaclimunts of yeomanry who lo- ' came entangled in the bushes and bouldem, the Boers volleying them meanwhile, Tte ' Boers declared that the Northumberland maintained a magnificent dogged defence, and that a numbei , after using up their amtntuiition, died fighting, The Morning Post states that the main body of the Boers crept up to the plateau and drove the Northnmberlan Js to tlio edge of a precipice, enclosing them on every side. Joubert'fc son was lulled. ClonjontJi with the remnant of seven hundred, retired undw a galling fire. Received 18th, 1.40 ft.m. While mounted troops from Aliwdl and Rouxville were opposing two commandos near Zestron on Friday a party of Brabant's Horse,- mostly raw reoruite, got detached and wero snn-ouiided in a defile, 107 stir- ' rendering to the Boers after 7 had been killed and 13 wounded.