THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 February 1901, Page 4

THE BOER WAR.

(BY ELECTRICS TEIHGHAPH —COPXEIGHT.)

(PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

The Boars being driven to great

extremities,

Londox, February 18,

The details of the rscent encounters with De Wet show, that Colonel Plumea's force of Australian and New Zealand Bushmen followed sections of Do Wet's commando at Phillipstown to Houtkraal until darkness stopped them. Friends and foes were aliko exhausted and the horses were knee deep in mud.

Lord Kitchener witnessed tho action which took placo northwest of Houfckraal.

De Wet and Steyn, with between 2000 and 3000 men, crossed the railway between Houtkraaland Poifontein before daybreak on tho 15 th.

Crabbo left Houtkraal in pursuit at daybreak, using two Impounders, the shells frequently scattering tho enemy. De Wet did not attempt to use his guns.

He was surprised by an armoured train which arrived from tho north opening with two Naval 12-pounders. Thi3 facilitated the capture practically of the whole of Do Wet's convoy, including an ambulance wagon laden with ammunition.

19 other waggons, 600 shells, and half a million of cartridges and 50 Boers were captured, mostly ragged and bootless, and 100 horses. De Wet lost 65 killed and wounded. The Boers broke into sections and fled, sniping occasionally, towards Britstown. Colonel riumber and Crabbe are pursuing.

Generals Knox, Bruce-Hamilton, and Colonel Whito, have joined the chase. General Bruce-Hamilton, by marches has followed Do Wet for three weeks.

De Wet, at tho moment of invading Cape Colony, forbade his followers looting.

Tho Dutch received h'm unwillingly, declaring that ho only came to ruin them.

Many of his followers havo since deserted him.

De Wet, whose horses are badly fed, and his forces mainly armed with LecMetfords, is now greatly harassed. Kruitzinger.s Hertzog's and other commandos arj being prevented junetioning with De Wet.

Lord Kitchener in view of tho heavy expenditure in South Africa, his asked for financial assistance.

Mr Brodrick is sending C. D. Fleetwood Wilson, Assistant Under-Secretary of tho War Department, temporarily as Kitchener's financial adviser.

General French is still driving all Botha's force before him excepting the Carolina commando, which broke through westwards, but has since become disorganised.