BENONI AND BRAKPAN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18430, 14 March 1922, Page 5

BENONI AND BRAKPAN.

GOVERNMENT FORCES UNDER VANDERVENTER. [van der Venter] REBELS BOMBED. BURGHERS TAKE BRAKPAN. CAPETOWN, March 13. Official.—The Government forces commenced planned operations against strikers in the central area. In the Brixton area, where the Reds were surrounding two squadrons of police, they were heavily bombed, causing a large number of casualties. Many Reds surrendered, other took refuge in a native location. A commando, five hundred strong, in a plantation near New Kleinfonten, was also bombed. Operations in the Benoni and Brakpan areas, under General Vanderventer, are proceeding satisfactorily along the railway in the Eastern area. It is now ascertained that a few officials, forming a guard at the Brakpan mine, were clubbed to death after surrendering when their ammunition was exhausted. The situation in Johannesburg is well in hand. The springs at Brakpan have been taken by Government burgher forces. Benoni is holding out, but the Government position Is good. Krugersdorp is in possession of the Government burgher forces. Three thousands rebels were located entrenched at Newlands, and bombed by aeroplanes. The forces are converging on Fordsburg. A communique states that the rebels are most active. Considerable fighting took place. The ’planes were active all day.