THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 July 1901, Page 4

THE BOER WAR.

[by ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.]

[Per Press Association.]

The Victorians Surprised,

London, July 15,

Tho Standard’s Pretoria correspondent describes tho recent mishap of the Victorian troops as avertable if tho camp had been bettor protected against a surprise. Major Morris, commanding 350 men, chiefly of the Fourth Coating-nt Victorians and 30 Art IL-ry, were encamped on the evening of June 12th at Grootlitant’s River, between Bethel and Middloburg. Although numbers of tho Boers were seen during the afternoon, only four picquett of six each were posted 700 yards apart. At night,fa l a mist arose, and 180 Boers under Muller Viljoens, a most trusted IDutonant attack'd from the cast between 9 and 10 o ; olock, while 350 Boers were kept in reserve.

A veldt fire in tho west threw the camp i its relief, enabling the Boers to see the Victorians s'ooping .ml a few standing around tho dying camp fire. Creeping between the pisquets the Boers reserved their fire until 20 yards from the camp.

The Victorians’ artillerymen rushed for the pompoms, hoping to turn the enemy, but were killed or disabled as fast as they got to the guns. They fought half an hour, though they were an easy target in the light.

They killed 7 Boors and wounded 7, though they were unable to locate them through the mist. When tho Cip’am of tho guns was killod the Victorious refugod in a Kaffir Kraal, west of the camps and holding the Boers at bay, thus miking the issue momentarily doubtful. Bnt they ware ultimately compelled to surrender.

Too Boors captured 350 rifles and 15,000 rounds of ammunition, 2 pom-poms and 1,000 rounds, all tho horses, and a quantity of food stuffs. Grange Boar Government Captured Narrow Escape of Steyn. Kitchener’s, Featherstone’s, and Dixon’s columns have reached Zeerust. They experienced opposition, 27 British being wounded and one killed. Elliott reached Heilbron. Broadwood’s Brigade surprised the Boer?, capturing the Orange Government and its papers, also Steyn'a brother and others. Sceyn escaped in his shirt sleeves with One other. The Daily .News states that Lord Kitchener suggests the withdrawal of the greater part of the unmounteds and applies for many more mounted men,

Tho fall in consols is attributed to American and Continental investors in the War loan unloading. Scrobell, Crewe, Wyndham and Doran have commenced a combined movement against Commandant Scheepers, who *is located in the mountain 3 , 30 miles from Gaffreinet.

Doran ambushed and captured 7 Boers who were escorfchig a small convoy. The Daily News Bloemfontein correspondent stated that Broadwood by a forced march surprised Reitz at dawn on the 11th and took 19 prisoners, including Generals Clonive and Wessela, Commandant Dwaal, First Cornet Piet Steyn, Brain (Secretary to the Governmoni), Fraser, (Private S.cretary), Do Villtrs (Secretary of the Council). Sleyn escaped without a coat or boots. It is believed that Do Wet was present at Reiz.