THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 367, 18 March 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

METHUEN’S REPORT, HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED. TIIE CONDUCT OF THE MOUNTED MEN. A BRITISH HERO-LIEUTENANT NESHAM. MOUNTED MEN SWEPT OFF BY PANIC. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copy igh LONDON, Mar. 17.

Lord Methuen reports that the rear screen of the mounted infantry column were rushed and overwhelmed at dawn.

The ox and mule convoys were then miles apart. While tiiey were closing up without disorder the rear screen, which were reinforced with all the available mounted men and section of the -ISth Battery, maintained their position for an hour. Meanwhile two hundred infantry being disposed so as to resist an attempt to outflank the left of the rearguard, the Boers pressed the attack hard. The mounteds. in attempting to fail back to the infantry got completely out of hand, carrying with them in their rout the bulk oi the remaining mounteds.

Two guns of the 38th Battery were left unprotected, hut continued in action until everyone excepting Lieutenant Nesham was hit. When called upon to surrender Lieutenant Nesham refused, and was killed.

Lord Methuen, with two hundred Northumberland Fusiliers and two guns of the Fourth Battery, though isolated, fought on for three bouts. A hundred North Lancashires, with forty Cape Police, occupied a kraal in the rear of the waggons, repelling repeated attacks. When Lord Methuen was -wounded, the casualties becoming exceedingly heavy and the ammunition mostly expended, the Northumberland Fusiliers surrendered at 9.30.

The party in the kraal resisted until 10, when two guns and pompoms rendered their position untenable., Most of the Boers were clad in khaki, many wearing the British badge of rank, undistinguishablc from the British even at close quarters.

Lord Methuen’s report states that the infantry and artillery fought well. ' A few parties of the Imperial Yeomanry and Cape Police continued to resist after the panic had swept the bulk of the mounted men oil the battle field.

DAILY MAIL'S ACCOUNT OF AFFAIR, BOER GENERALS HAVE A DISPUTE, BURGHERS BRING METHUEN BACK TO CAPTIVITY, DE LA KEY GAINS HIS POINT, SCHALKBURGER’S OPPOSITION

I3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl LONDON, Mar. 17..

The Daily Mail states .that Lord Methuen was about to ride a distance to rally the mounteds when he received his wound, the bullet killing his horse j Genera) De la Rey sent Methuen to Klerksdorp, in care of his nephew. Schalkburger was bitterly opposed to De la Rey’s action, and sent a party of burghers, who brought Lord Methuen back.

De la Rey persisted in liberating Methuen, and overbore the opposition.

The hero of the engagement—Lieutenant Nesham—is a first cousin of Mrs (Dr.). Craig, of Gisborne. He was the only son of the late Admiral Nesham, who was in New Zealand as captain of H.M.S. Tauranga. Lieutenant Nesham was about 28 years of age..

THE BOER GOVERNMENT. STEYN AND DkWET. By Telegraph—Press Aesoeiation—Copyrigh London, March 17.

Schalkburger and the members of the Boer Government are north of Balmoral.

Steyn and DeWet are at Parys, west of Vereeinging. Malan passed Willakop on the 12th. General Dorien is closely pursuing him. The recent loss of two convoys in the north-west of Cape Colony is delaying operations against Commandant Maritz. Between Harrismith and Hebron Colonel Garrett captured 46 Boers, including Celliers, who was wounded in the Boschkopje’s fight. Colonel Gordon captured twelve others.

By telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 16.

Colonel Parks’ mounted column has captured two laagers aud twenty-four Boers north of Middleburg as the outcome of long night marches. The Natal Treason Committee has completed its sittings. It tried five hundred out of an estimated eight hundred Natal rebels. The aggregated fines amounted to L’22,000. A court-martial will deal with future cases of treason.

Arrangements are progressing which indicate that the 21st Lancers and 11th Hussars will accompany six thousand Yeomanry, starting for South Africa in April.

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Wellington, last night. The troopship Surrey, with the North

Island battalion of the Eighth Contingent, arrived at Durban on Saturday. The Cornwall, with the South Island section, was expected last night. The Surrey reports that the troopers are all well. Only nine horses died, or lj per cent. She last saw the Cornwall on the 7th.

The Premier has received the following cable from Lord Kitchener : “ Referring to your telegram re the Tenth Contingent, I cannot express sufficient thanks for the great help given and offered. There are none 1 would sooner have with me in the field than the gallant New Zealanders.”

With reference to certain statements recently published in New Zealand to the effect that something approaching a mutiny occurred in one of the New Zealand regiments in South Africa, and that certain members had been trussed to gun wheels as a punishment, the Premier communicated with Lord Kitchener on the subject, and the latter cables that the sensational reports were unfounded, and he intimates that a full report is following-