ADVANCE GUARD ATTACKED IN A DEFILE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13594, 8 October 1914, Page 5

ADVANCE GUARD ATTACKED IN A DEFILE.

T>Vo SQUADRONS COMPELLED TO SURRENDER.

ALL THE GUNNERS KILLED OR

WOUNDED

AMMUNITION EXHAUSTED

(Ileceived Oct. 7, 11.15 p.m.)

London, Oct. 6

Renter's correspondent with the Namaqualand expedition cabled on October Ist details of the fighting leading to the surrender of two squadrons of the First South African Mounted Rifles and a section of the Transvaal Ai-til-lery. , * '

An advance guard had occupied a water hole approached through a narrow defile. The Germans had apparently retired, but when the party outspanned for the night 2000 Germans with ten guns attacked from the surrounding kopjes and seized the de-file.

The fight continued on the following morning. Every Transvaal gunner was killed or wounded.

Meanwhile the main force made desperate efforts to rescue the advance guard, and two squadrons suffered heavy casualties from machine guns in attempting to force a second entrance to the valley.

By noon the British ammunition was exhausted. A party destroyed the guns while riflemen kept down the enemy's fire. Then they hoisted the white flag. The German commander complimented the South Africans upon their gallantry and the accuracy of their gunfire. He treated his prisoners well, and buried the British dead with the honours of war.