OUR SIXTH CONTINGENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 June 1901, Page 3

OUR SIXTH CONTINGENT.

How Commandant was

Captured.

Writing from Silverton, near Pretoria, under date 12th May, the Post’s special correspondent with the Sixth Contingent gives an account of the operations of General Humer’s column (of which the New Zealanders formed part) in the country north of Pretoria at the end of April and the beginning of May for tbe purpose of enveloping tbe commandoes of Viljoen-Fourie, Trichaardt, and Scbroeder,

Sehroeder was captured on the 25th May by Lieut. Reid and Mr Brink (Intelligence Department) with 20 Australian Bushmen, Late the previous night they had heard voices on a kopje. Sergt. Stocker (a New Zealander) with nine Tasmanians climbed the kopje. Sehroeder withdrew his men to the further side of the kopje. By daybreak tbe little band of Australians had occupied posts surrounding the Boers. At the first streak of dawn they rushed the position with fixed bayonets. Commandant Schroder had his men drawn up in a semicircle. He himself had determined to surrender, thinking he was surrounded by an overwhelming force, and stood with folded arms, an orderly holding a white flag above his head. He had with him a Maxim gun (captured from Dr Jameson in the famous raid), eleven wagons, and several Cape caits. He handed over his sword and revolver to Lieut. Reid, and gave his word that none of his men would attempt to escape, Only on arrival at Major Viall’s camp did he realise that he had been “bluffed” by a party half his number.

On arrival at Captain Markham’s camp at 10 p.m. a large fire had been lighted. Lieut, Banks acted as guard over the prisoners with fifteen men with fixed bayonets. -Commandant Sehroeder, with his lieutenant and two nieces, were hospitably entertained, his men also receiving a cood meal. In connection with Sehroeder, who is a tall, handsome man, standing 6ft in his socks, with a fine military carriage, we were told that the previous day he had been harried considerably by Captain Markham’s party of New Zealanders. On more than one occassion he had trained his Maxim on them, but know that should he fire he would bring the whole column after him. The fate of tbe sniper at Pietersburg had taught them that the Bushmen showed no mercy when their officers were picked off.

Schroeder related how he had captured 6CO Yeomanry and marched them to Waterval between Roberts’s and Buller’s columns. He had been censured by the Boers for showing undue leniency to the “son of Admiral Goachen,” as he called the statesmen who was so long First Lord of the Admiralty. In the morning the prisoners were taken to General Plumer’s camp, where Lieut. Williams acted as their guardian; •On 26th April Lieut. Wood, with 40 New Zealand Mounted Eifles, was sent to reinforce Captain Markham. At 5 p.m., together with Mr Taylor and Sur-geon-Captain Purdy, this party started off after Trichaardt, under the guidance of Mr Taylor, They marched until 2 a.m. During the night they crossed a ravine which by daylight seemed impassable. At one time the party wore in a narrow kloof scrambling over rocks, horses going down, the men tattered and torn by the thick bush. Some of the men afterwards said they thanked God their horses kept up, and that they eventually reached the creek. After two hours’ rest they started once more at 4 am. At 6a m a hard trot brought them to the Boer position, only to find that they had trekked, simply leaving one old spring cart. However, at 7 o’clock we found their wagons safe in the hands of 1.L.H., who were an advance party for the Devons, under Major Davis. Though the wagons were taken, most of the enemy had.escaped. The chase was kept up, and on 3rd May a flying column was formed to pursue tho enemy. Two hundred and fifty of the best mounted men were sent, including Major Finlay, Captains Markham and Cameron, with Lieut Wallis, Lient. Banks acted as galloper. The first day they rode 23 miles, capturing 18 wagons, 35 Boers, and 1200 cattle. Next day (4th May) they reached Waterval at 9 a. m. Three hours previously a force of 300 Boers with several wagons and over 4000 cattle had crossed the railway two miles above the station, which was held by part of tho West Eiding Eegiment. On 6th May tho column reached Pienaar’s river at 8 a.m., having covered 135 miles in three and a-half days. Here the flying column remained in camp until the 11th May, when it entrained for Pretoria, whence it marched to join General Plumer’s force, which had been encamped for five days at Silverton, six miles from town.

Of the New Zealanders nearly 100 had to walk the last few days on trek owing to the loss of horses from horse-sickness and hard work. We are to move off egain on the 14th, taking eleven days’ rations, destination unknown. Owing to the lack of remounts several men were to bo sent into a resting camp until a fresh draft of horses arrives.

On Saturday, 11th May. the .Contingent defeated the Australian Bushmen at football by 20 points to nil. Dr O’Neil distinguished himself by dropping a goal and scoring a try.