THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 October 1901, Page 3

THE BOER WAR.

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.] Proposals to Send Roberts Oat Again.

British Losses for September 3,107

British Casualties of the War 27,022 Dead.

§7,470 Invalided Home.

London, October 5. Four thousand attacked forts Itala and Prospect. The British after the fighting buried 382 Boers.

The enemy at Itala fought with dogged desperation, repeatedly charging the trenches.

The enemy’s fire early in tho fight damaged the two 15-pounders and a Maxim.

Lord Kitchener, in congratulating Major Chapman, • who was in command of Itala, said that but for the defenders’ fine stand the result would have been disastrous.

Of the outpost which made such a bravo resistance at Itala mountain, 14 escaped and 37 were captured.

The latter wore released after carrying the Boer wounded to Babawango.

A body of volunteers and scouts near Helpmakaar had a collision with the vanguard of 150 Boers,

Three hundred and fifty of the enemy looted a few head of cattle at Pietpotgiersrujt.

Two hundred Boers attacked the mission station at Boteabella, near Middleburg, with the view of obtaining provisions ; but they were repulsed. Major-General Stephenson has succeeded Beaton in command of the columns operating in the southern part of Cape Colony. Lieut, ’’ell (a Western Australian farrier) and Major Hardham (New Zealander) are mentioned as conspicuous in self-sacrificing acts of bravery at Brakpan and Naauwport. They were respectively awarded the Victoria Crosses.

Received this day at 8 36 a m. London, Oct. 6.

The Spectator suggests that Roberts should be sent out to finish the war, Kitchener being appointed temporary Commander-in-Chief or Robert’s chief of staff.

Wolmarans declares that Krnger is slowly growing weaker. His mental condition is unsatisfactory.

The military have commandeered all wagons and trek oxen in the Lower Tuegela. All suspected Dutchmen are removed from the district.

The natives defended the Bokbella mis sion station until relieved.

Kruitzingors force made three attempts to cross the Orange, but were repulsed owing to the efficiency of the block house system. The British casualties for September were 78 officers, 1,012 men killed, wounded and missing; 1986 invalided home, and 148 died of disease. Received this day at 8 49 a.m. London, October 6. Theron is at Co’oima and Scheeper’s commando at Calitzdorp. Colonel Munro defeated Myberg at Barkly East, killing eleven. Cole, captured twenty-two of Mariac’s commando at Wepener. The constabulary captured seventeen of Miwhoudts’ commando at Retrustsburg, including Adjutant Scheepers, field cornet of Vanderwalt.

The total British casualties during the war were 75,562 of which 824 were officers and 16,649 men, who died in South Africa, and 10,550 died of disease. But of 57,470 invalided home, the great majority recovered and rejoined their regiments.