The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 13, 17 January 1901, Page 4

The Boer War.

THE INVASION OF CAPE COLONY.

THE ENEMY ACTIVE

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright

London, Jan. IG. It is estimated there are two thousand Boers between .Clan William and Sutherland. Another commando is advancing from Beaufort West. All are splendidly mounted, with plenty of spare horses. They are extremely bitter at the refusal of the Cape Dutch to rise in rebellion. After the engagement at Belfast on the 7th seventy-two men belonging to the Boyal Irish and Shropshire were missing. A determined attack was made at the Blood river on a convoy proceeding to Vryheid, but it was repulsed. The Boers are raiding farms five miles out from Johannesburg. Lord Roberts has indefinitely postponed his reception of the freedom of London, owing to the present unhappy circumstances of the war.

Two hundred raiders at Damslaagte attacked a convoy and were repulsed. Rustenburg has been re-provisioned after the garrison had been on short rations for a month. The Cape Cyclist Corps are fighting like mounted infantry, and have proved themselves a most useful force.

A Kaffir led the Boers to the only entrance in the wire entanglements round Zuurfontein. Eight hundred suspects have been arrested at Vryburg and removed to Kimberley. Colonel De Lisle, with a strong column, including the New South Wales Mounteds, has arrived at Piquetberg, via 1 Sutherland. Many destitute foreigners from the'Transvaal are appealing to the Durban police for food and shelter. Their respective Consuls decline to help them. Colonel White on the 3rd sent. Colonel Laing, with 150 of Kitohsner’s Horse, attached to General Knox’s column, towards Reitz. While ascending a valley they experienced showers of explosive bullets from the kopjes six hundred yards on the right and left. The Boers numbered a thousand. The British, retiring and meeting five hundred Boers, galloped into a donga and fought from cover desperately. Colonel Laing was shot through the heart. The enemy surrounded the small force, which maintained a dogged resistance till the Boers threatened to kill the survivors. Lieutenant Bateson galloped through the Boers and informed Colonel White. \ Reinforcements were sent and shelled the disappearing enemy, killing 17. at one shot.