THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 5 November 1901, Page 3

THE BOER WAR.

(pee prkss association —copybight)

London, November 4. Botha, in retreating northwards, joined a big commando entrenching at Brakenlaagte. Benson, while marching on the 30th, " was attacked and mortally wounded. The force were deprived of guns, which neither side was able to secure. Major Wools Sampson' an intelligence officer, assumed command, collected the convoy and took up-the defensive within 500 yards of the entrenchments. " The Boers repeatedly charged up to .the British lines, but were repulsed with great slaughter. 0T The defence was maintained with uninterrupted stubbornness iintil Barter, at Bushmanskop, sent up reinforcements on Friday, when the Boers retired.

Their losses were 375. ' De Lisle during the last fortnight has been in the Harrismith and Bethlehem districts. •He captured 18 Boers, 3,255 horses, 15,000 sheep, and 1000 trek oxen; while Holmes on the 29th surrounded a laager in the Kroonstadt district. Two hundred escaped and six were captured including Field-Cornet Odenaal. Fourteen of Kruitzinger's and Spamiesberg's commandos were captured in the vicinity of Winburg. Beoeived this day at 9 11 a.m. London, November 4. Commandants Bothas' attack at Brakenalaagte was opened in a blinding rain and storm from good cover and from trenches overlooking Samson's improvised camp. The chief British casualties occurred while gathering the convoy under Brow Hill. The British rallied splendidly.

' The Boers failing to carry the position by assault, entrenched round it with a view of sapping and preventing retreat. Benson has been co-operating with others between Bethel and Brokhortep. Chris Botha, the Generals cousiD, a prominent rebel and formerly in the Na'al Civil Service, was captured at Volksrust.

The Queen is sending silver mounted briar pipes to South Africa for the troops for Xmas.

It is intended to erect statues of Buller at Exeter and Plymouth.