SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2302, 9 November 1914, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

.SPREAD OP MOVEMENT NIPPED < MORE REBELS TAKEN Cape Town,' November 6. The Hon. J. G. Smuts, Minister of > Defence, says that the Durban rebollion is fizzling out, and the Maritz invasion I has been nipped. The Transvaal movement is insignificant, and has only as-sumed-certain dimensions in Northern Orangia. ' HARRISMITH LOOTED. (Rec. November 8, 5.5 p.m.) - Pretoria, 1 November. 7. .Rebels looted Harrismith, and others ; blew up the bridge over the Sand River, near Virginia;' General De Wet de- , stroycd the railway in the neighbour- ' hood of Lindley. Harrismith is in the Orange River Colony, on the railway line from Durban to Kroonstad. It is 250 miles from Durban by rail, and 150 from Kroonstad. The town, which has a population 1 of about' 7500,' is oiie of the ■most imSortant trading centies of the Orange liver Colony, and ono ot the leading health resorts of South Africa... Virginia is on the mam line of railw ay from Bloemtontoin to Pretoria, and is about 80 miles north, of Blocmfohtein. It is about 135 miles ■: west of • Harrismith. Lindley is on the railway from Kroonstad to Harrismith, from which latter place it is .101 miles distant by rail. ~SHARP FIGHT .NEAR PRETORIA. (Rcc. November 8, 3 p.m.) Cape Town; November. 7. A force ot police under Colonel Mertz had a shaip tight with the rebels under General' Muller at Bionkhurst Spruit, ] 6'miles cast of J'lctoria. Four rebels ■ were killed and 58 captured, together "with all the transport and spare ammunition. The Unionists loss was ono killed and three wounded. (Rec. November 8, 3 p.m.) Cape Town, November 7. Generals Delarey and Swaits engaged u rebel commando on Thursday near Blocmhof and captured five. Bloenihof is on the railway running from Johannesburg south-west to tho main Cape Town-Bulawayo line at Fourteen Streams. It is 110 miles cast of Kroonstad. ' DE WET RAIDS A TOWN. Cape Town, November 6. General Do Wet, with 150 armed hoiscnieu, raided Victle on October 28. A postal clerk, at much risk, named two postina.stei, wlio telegraphed the liewS'to Pretoria before the raiders smashed the telegraph instruments. Do Wet'seized the _ Magistrate, who had formerly fined him lor whipping a native. The.Magistrate was dragged to a public place, where tho inhabitants had been ordered to muster. Do,; Wet addressed the meeting. Ho proposed that the men present should join Mftritz, march on Pretoria, pull down the' British flag, and proclaim a South African republic. Referring to the "miserable, pestilential English, ho added: "King Edward promised to protect the Afrikanders, and failed." Vrede is a town of 1500 people in the • north-eastern corner of Orango River ;', Colony, 34 miles south of Standerton, and 58 miles north of Harrhimith. ';;'■;;;. GENERAL SMUTS'S ADVICE. ; ! (Rec. November 9, 1.10 a.m.) v- '• Cape Town, November 8. ■'■'■■'■ Roviewing a motor transport corps at Johannesburg, General Smuts emphu- :: sised the danger of having a neighbour 'such as the Germaai Empire. All loyal South Africans would certainly do their : best to see that the proximity was not : continued for long. 'Die rebels had ■ 'asked them to exchange tho free con- ) -Rtitutioh which General De Wet and I .-".''others'helped to' frame for a Republic i.'-'under the Prussian heel in accordance : with Colonel Maritz'e Treaty* but tho

vast, majority of the people were satisfied with the present conditions, and were prepared to give their lives to safeguard their liberties for themselves and their children. LABOUR LEADERS RETURN. .-. (Rec.' November 9, 1.10 a.m.) . Cape Town, November 8. It is reported that' the deported 'Labour leaders have returned'to South Africa unconditionally, hut have promised not .to embarrass the Government during the.war.