RECORD OF FINE WORK.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18431, 15 March 1922, Page 5

RECORD OF FINE WORK.

ROUNDING UP THE REBELS. GALLANT FIGHTING BY POLICE. AEROPLANES PLAY IMPORTANT PART. (Reuter.) Received March 14, 9.30 p.m. CAPETOWN, March 14. An official communique states: In the central area our aeroplanes observed great activity at Fordsburg. The police who were relieved yesterday to-day captured twenty-four prisoners and arms and caused the enemy several casualties. The police examined the aeroplanes at Mulderdrift Road and tound one destroyed by fire and the others slightly injured. They found the police station at Newlands destroyed and a number of wounded revolutionaries in Newlands hospital. From •information received from natives it is clear that in yesterday’s bombing raid many revolutionaries were killed. Two of their leaders were seriously injured. The ’inspector of police and eightysix policemen who were captured were taken out during the night to Asvogelfontein and released. The eastern area garrison at Leiet and Benoni are busy sorting out prisoners. Over four thousand persons have been dealt with. These include a considerable number of individuals who could be trusted not to be revolutionaries, but who were being held in town against their will.

Van Deventer relieved the garrisons at Brakpan power station and the police station. The men at the latter showed particular gallantry in holding out without water or food for three days with their defences riddled by snipers. i Colonel Nussey has reached | Maraisburg. There was some snipi ing from kopjes north of the railway ' and Colonel Nussey is working to i clear his position. His dismounted ’ men are still at Florida. Later. ' Colonel Nussey has reached New- ‘ lands. A number of revolutionaries . were observed amongst the kopjes ahead of him. He came into touch at this point with a squadron of South African mounted rifles, the extreme left portion of the force under Generad Bebes. Another portion of the force junctioned at Durban with light infantry in the vicinity of Teewclare station. In the Pretoria-Germiston area, Van de Walts’ force has pushed out several miles eastward and westward of Rietfontein station. The high ground on both sides of the railway is now held by this force. Everything is quiet in this sector. A junction was effected with Van Deventer’s force. The general co-operation of our aeroplanes and forces has markedly improved, thus facilitating operations. Wherever there are large gatherings of the enemy in the vicinity of our troops the firing of red lights from aeroplanes has dispersed them. The encircling movement by the Government forces 'is now complete and the situation is well in hand, the eastern and western Pretoria-Ger-miston area being to all intents and purposes out of reckoning so that not only has recruiting stopped, but considerable forces are available as reserves. Certain portions of the central area still require to be cleared up.