AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1922, Page 2

AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

>U3TItAUAN AND N.Z. CAIII.E ASSOCIATION.

OFFICIAL REPORT. CAPETOWN, March 14. An official Union Government communique, in reference to the military operations on the Rand, is as follows: In the central area our aeroplanes have observed great activity at Forojjj burg. The police, who were relieved yesterday, to-day captured 24 prisoners and amis, and caused the enemy several casualties.

The police examined our aeroplanes at Mulderdrift Road. They found that one had been destroyed by fire. The others are slightly injured.

The police found that the police station at Newlands has been destroyed. There were a number of wounded revolutionaries found in the Newlands hospital. From information received from, natives, it is clear that in our yesterday’s bombing raid, many of the revolutionaries were killed, and two of their leaders were seriously wounded.

An inspector of police and 86 policemen, who were captured by the revolutionaries at Newlands were taken out during the night to Asvogelfontejn, and released.

In the eastern area, our garrison at Leiet and Beri&ni are busy sorting out prisoners. Over four thousand persons have been dealt with. These, However, include a considerable number of individuals who could be trusted not to.be revolutionaries, bat they are being held in ’-town against their will.

General Van Deventer has relieved the garrisons at Brakpan pdiver station and at the Brakpan police station.- 'The men at the latter station showed particular gallantry in holding out, they being without food or wate r for three days, with their defences riddled by snipers.

Colonel Nussey, with the leading troops of the forces under his command has reached Maraisbuxg. There is now some sniping going on from the kopjes north of the railway. Colonel Nussey is now working to clear his position. His dismounted men are still at Florida.

Later. —Colonel Nussey’s force lias i cached Newlands, but a number of revolutiouaries have been observed among the kopjes ahead of him. He came into touch at this point, however, with a squadron of the South African Mounted Rifles. The extreme left portion of this force is under General Behes. Another portion of the same fordS hag junctioned with the Durban Light Infantry, in the vicinity of Teewclare station.

In the Pretoria to Germdston area, leneral van De Valts has a force which

has been pushed out several miles to Aie eastward and the westward of Riet-

1 ontein station. High ground on both -ides of tile railway is now held by this force. Everything i s now quiet ■u this sector and a junction has been effected with General van Deventer’s orce The general co-operation of our aerol:\iies and other forces has now markedly improved. This is facilitating iur operations Wherever there are large gatherings of the enemy in the -*, vicinity of our troops, the firing of red 'ights from aeroplanes has dispersed them.

The encircling movement of the Gov--rnment forces is n°w complete, and the situation well in hand, the eastern western and Pretoria Germiston area being, to all intents and purpose,’out •onsiderable forces are available as re* serves. Certain portions of the central area till require to he cleared up.

NEARING THE END. 'Received This Day at 8 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 14 V is officially declared that all secions except Central Johannesburg, nn Ve regarded as cleared up. Revolting has been stopped.