THE KAFFIR WAR.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1088, 24 December 1877, Page 3

THE KAFFIR WAR.

We have received Capo of G-ood Hope papers to the 18th October, from -which we obtain intelligence respecting the Kaffir outbreak. The operations of the British regulars and the volunteers sent to the front from Cape Town against the enemy, the Galokas, had been uniformly successful. The principal engagement occurred at a place called Ibeka, and the following account of it is given by one who was present: — On Saturday, 29th September, [the attack which we had been expecting for some days was made upon us. It began with a slight skirmish between some outlying parties of Fingoes and Galekas, but very soon the enemy came in our sight front and right, in a perfect cloud of skirmishers.- They were met at once by the Fingoes, some two thousand of whom had assembled round the post, but the onset of the Galekas was so determined, and was made in such force, that the Fingoes soon began to give way before them. We then opened fire with shrapnel and rockets, as well as musketry, and then the Galekas began to givo way in their turn, but not until they had Buffered heavy loss. Once the Gralekas were checked, the Fingoes took heart and attacked again, and then the Galekas began to run, and soon cleared out over the ridge. This attack had hardly been repulsed when the enemy, in six er seven dense columns, looking like close columns of battalions, appeared marching steadily up a ridge which runs from the direction

of Kreli's kraal to the Ibeka. Their intention evidently was to attack our front and left flank this time. We wired in with shells and rockets as soon as they came within range, but their advance was not checked for a mom°nt, and soon the shoulder of a hill hid them from us. We knew that they would appear next on the top of a rocky rise about 500 yards off on our left, and the guns and rockets were laid ready for tliem. The Fingoes were massed in rear of the post facing the left. As soon as the G-alekas showed themselves the artillery opened on them. A shell burst beautifully in the midst of one of their columns, and at that moment sub-inspector Allan Maclean, who was in charge of the Fingo levies here, led the Fingoes on most gallantly, and they went in with a will. We policemen blazed away with our carbines, and in a few minutes the grand army was routed and went pellmell back down the ridge up which they had advanced to the attack. One body, however, that had apparently been held in reserve, appeared in the valley in front of the post, and made a feeble attack on our front, but a few shells and rockets with the steady and well-sustained lire of the skirmishers of the frontier police soon drove them off. By this time it was dark, and the action came to an end. Only a very few Fingoes were killed and wounded, and not one of the frontier police hurt, although every man was hotly engaged. One artilleryman was struck in the neck, but it was a mere contusion. Next morning, Sunday, the 30th, at daybreak, we found a body of G-alekas trying to get round our left Hank in a thick fog. We opened on them at once with shells and rockets. The second 'shell fired killed eight men and two horses on the spot. The Fingoes, again led by Allan Maclean, and supported by about sixty of the frontier police, pursued the enemy down the ridge towards Kreli's kraal for about two miles, killing about thirty and burning huts right and left. Since then we have not been attacked, although we have made several raids on the Galekas. We are now only waiting for the whole of our reinforcements and supplies to come up (and most of them are already heve) to make a forward movement. The first thing to do will be to burn Kreli's " Great Place," after which we will proceed to sweep the country from Kei to the Bashee.

The following telegram from the scene of the war, dated October 9th, is published in the "Standard " and "Mail " :--

" Three different engagements were fought in the Transkei yesterday. Commandant Griffith, with a body of the F. M. M. Police, took the enemy by surprise at Kreli's great place. They burnt his kraal, Sigau's kraal, and every other kraal within a radius of several miles. About thirty Galekas were killed, twenty horses captured, and a number of ploughs, with a quantity of miscellaneous loot, taken. No casualties whatever on our side. Captain Gray with the Gonubie and King William's Town men, advancing from Springs, crossed the Butterworth River, and met a considerable number of the enemy. A sharp struggle ensued, resulting in a loss to the enemy of fifty killed. On our side, Private Wainwright is wounded in the head, and Private Cogho in the thigh, neither seriously. Two horses were killed, and three wounded. Major Elliott reports that he advanced yesterday into the enemy's territory, meeting with only slight resistance. He burnt Sitchaka's great place and many other kraals. No casualty amongst his own forces.