THE RAND FIGHTING.

Wairarapa Age, 14 March 1922, Page 5

THE RAND FIGHTING.

STATE FORCES IN ACTION. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED. (Press Association—Copyright.) Capetown, March 12.—Official: The Government forces have commenced tl.eir planned operations against the. strikers in the central area. In the Erixton area, where the Reds were sut rounding two squadrons of police, they were heavily bombed, and suffered a large number of casualties. Many of the Reds surrendered and the others took refuge. A cofnmando, 500 strong, in a plantation near New Kleinfontein, was also bombed.

Operations in the Benoni and Brakpan areas, under General Sir L. J. Van Deventer, are proceeding satisfac torily. General Brifc', is moving along the railway in the eastern urea. It is now ascertained that a few officials who formed a guard at the Brak pan mine were clubbed to death after surrendering when their ammunition was exhausted.

Other reports give details of the fight at the Newlands police station on Friday. It was defended by 48 men, who were attacked by an overwhelm ing number of strikers. The telephone wires were cut, and there were no means for securing support. The w attackers threw bombs over the roofs of the houses into the station, and kept up a hot fusilade to which the defenders replied. The fight continued for an hour and a half before the defenders surrendered. When the news of the fight reached the town,’ a motor lorry with 40 men was despatched, but they drove into a carefully-prepared ambush, and a pitched battle followed. A doctor arrived under a white flag, and while this Was still flying the rebels rushed in and further fighting followed, during which several of the police escaped; but 35 were surround cd. Eventually an armistie was arranged, and the fighting ceased. It is estimated that during Saturday’s fighting, over 100 were killed. General Van Deventer holds .supreme command of the Government forces and burghers. Boer commandoes are mustering at Krugersdorp. It is reported that one Boer was murdered by the strikers in cold blood. This has increased the bitterness of the Boers towards the strikers.

ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT. Capetown, March 12.—1 t will take a few days to complette the Govern ment’s plans, which involve a great encircling movement, embracing the whole of the Reef. The casualty lists show that many spectators were hit in the earlier fighting. The latest official report announced the result of the operations in the Sophiatown-Brixton Ridge area. Fifteen hundred prisoners were captured on the ridges, and the neighbourhood was cleared. This is of great importance, as the presence of a strong rebel force in the area constituted a grave menace. ANONYMOUS SNIPERS. Capetown, March 12.—The difficulty of the repressive operation is enhanced by constant sniping at men in uniform or wearing the insignia of the Civie Guard or motor corps. At one moment gunmen, arc potting at passing details, and the next they are walking about ii! the crowd, with nothing to show' that they are combatants. The detectives are, however, gradually gathering them in. Another dastardly murder is reported. Tw'o military officers who were taking two youthful strikers in a motor car to the police station stopped to mend a and were fatally shot by a mob at Jeppe. The two youths, in reporting the murder, were so horrified by the cold-blooded outrage that they offered to join up. The power station is now manned by volunteers, and the city is again lighted. GENERAL SMUTS TAKES CHARGE AN EXCITING JOURNEY. Capetown, March 12. — General Smuts arrived at Johannesburg after an exciting journey. A wheel of his motor car. was hit by a bullet. He took charge immediately on his arrival. His presence has given the greatest satisfaction at a critical juncture, and immediately strengthened the co-ordi-nation of the forces. A “Red Revolutionary” menace is attemping to plunge Witwatersrand in(o a chaos of terror and anarchy. 2200 REBELS CAPTURED. END OF OUTBREAK EXPECTED. (Received 1.20 a.m.) Capetown, March 13.—Vrededofp ?s reported to be surrounded by Govern ment troops. The revolutionaries are said to be under the command of Commandant Erasmus Tickman. Hertzog and other prominent Free Station Nationalists strongly condemned the movement to form com mands at Bloemionvcin. The Government forces are making headway, 2200 rebels being captured in the central area, with slight Government casualties. It is estimated that the Government Fave 6000 men concentrated along flie Reef, and other loyal commandoes are on the way. It is believed that the. revolution vrill be over in a few days. There were many instances of the • abuse of the Red Cross by the rebels A gallant stand made by a handful of police at Fordsburg probably saved tho heart of the town and the best

residential area from being overrun by revolutionaries. Fordsburg is the key to the position. If it had been forced, the consequences would have been serious, and the difficulty of the Government’s task enormously increased. There is general testimony to rhe magnificent behaviour of the police, also of the citizen defence force, many cf whom are young and N.Z.)

AEROPLANES’ ADVENTURES. (Received 1.20 a.m.) Capetown, March 13. —An official message states that in the central area the operations are entirely satisfactory.; Two squadrons of police besieged Brixton and Auckland Park was relieved. Our forces pushed well forward to high ground at Westcliffe, with slight casualties. An aeroplane operating against the rebels was forced to land. A second airman, in attempting a rescue, was stranded, but a third machine then landed and tooff off successfully with two of the stranded aviators. Of the remaining three, one managed to reach the house of friends and the other two took refuge in a plantation, where they w'ere attacked by a mounted revolutionary. One aviator was w'ound<d, but the revolutionary was killed The two aviators escaped and reached a hospital. In the eastern area, General Vandeventer’s forces heavily engaged the revolutionaries, who retired into Bencni. Our forces are now occupying the position held by the rebels. In the western area large numberof our forces reached Krugersdorp late In the afternoon and are now pushing eastward. The operations continued all day long. In the vicinity of the Pretoria-Ger-miston railway line the revolutionaries were heavily bombed, but persisted in attempting to damage the line, having already done so twice. On both occa sions the line was repaired. Forces under Colonel Breytenbach have occupied Rictfonteim—(Reuter.)