THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 317, 18 January 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Jan. 17. The Guards Brigade were given a great public farewell. Viscount Northland and Lord Valconer accompanied them. Commandants Kemp and Belliers raided a thousand cattle in Mafeking district. Predikant Slooter’s statements were contained in a pamphlet published in America. LONDON. Jan.nary 16.

The Daily News correspondent who accompanied Major Vallentine’s expedition near Amerspoort. which ended so seriously to the Britisii column, gives a vivid description of the lighting.

Major Vallentine, with 230 men, was sent- to hustle the Boers northwards from Plumer’s column. Pulteney's column acted as a support, while Colonel Colvin’s New Zealanders held the reserve. Major Toll’s Queenslanders made a brilliant charge upon the highest eminence, and the enemy fled. The march was resumed shortly afterwards.

The Hampshire men, forming part of Major Vallentine’s command, rested for dinner in the corner of the evacuated plateau, when suddenly a swarm of Boers sprang up in front and on both flanks, and taking advantage of good cover, poured in volleys, disabling the men right and left. Lieutenant Wilson, who had charge of the pom-pom, the Hampshires, and Mounted Queenslanders vied with each other -in the stubbornness, of their resistance. but were outnumbered by as many as three to one. and they had no cover. The British right retreated under a murderous fire. Captain Johnstone, formerly belonging to Slrathcona’s Horse, fell mortally wounded, vainly trying to rally the men. Major Vallentine fell while issuing orders, which Major Toll executed. His dying injunctions were : “We must stand, Toll, to the last." Hundreds of Boers charged within eighty yards of the Britisii. Lieutenant Wilson’s pom-pom, with its last shell, mowed down live of the enemy, and the lieutenant and his plucky gunners, limbering up the gun, galloped back to shelter and re-orga-nised the scattered remnants of the force.

Meanwhile the gallant Queenslanders and Hampshires were overwhelmed, but Major Pulteney, at this stage arriving with his guns, checked the advance against Wilson, whom mounted infantry on a kopje supported. The Boer detachment attacking Pulteney's left found themselves confronted by two companies of Victorians, who seized the kopje. The New Zealanders also appearing caused the enemy to retire.

The Daily Telegraph correspondent mentions that General Opperman was killed by a shell during the engagement. His death is expected to lead to the desertion and surrender of many Boers.

Lieut.-Colonel Vialls, of the Westralians, greatly distinguished himself ‘in the engagement, seizing a number of positions and repelling the enemy from all points. Kruger’s latest advices are to the effect that the Boer Afrikander recruits are rapidly dwindling. Other advices state that Kemp’s and Delarey’s men are clamouring for surrender.

General Smuts recently seized papers which show that the Swazis supplied the Boers with information, provisions and munitions of war.

A Colonial Office Blue Book contains an intercepted letter from Schalkburger to Steyn, stating that the condition is daily becoming more serious. The Boers have lately suffered and lost much. Scluilkburger adds “If we are convinced that our resources are exhausted and our last strength broken, we must bow down and surrender. We cannot do better.” Schalkburger’s letter is dated March 21st last.

Slooten, lately a Predikant of the Transvaal, created a sensation in America, where he asserted that the Boers aimed at the expulsion of the iffttish from South Africa, and that Kruger was divinely commanded to declare war.