KIMBERLEY.

Manawatu Herald, 2 December 1899, Page 2

KIMBERLEY.

The forward march of the Kimberley relief column, under Lieut-General

Lord Methuen, ha 9 lead to increased activity on the part of the Boers. Some natives have informed Colonel Kekewich, who is in charge of the beleaguered garrison, that the enemy have vacated their camp to the southward, and that Commandant Cronje, with 3000 men, is marching south. A Reuter despatch received here states that Commandant Cronje was present in person at the recent battle at Grasspan (Draspan), fought near Belmont, on Friday last, when, after six hours' furious fighting' the Boers' attack on the relieving army was repulsed. The anxiety felt for the safety of the Ninth Lancers has been allayed by the return of the troops to the main column. After the battle at Graspan the Lancers attempted to cut off the retreat of the enemy, but were unsuccessful, the heavy firing from the" surrounding kopjes compelling then to return. SYDNEY LANCERS. A despatch to the " Daily Chronicle" states that a detachment of the New South Wales Lancers* under Lieutenant Osbofne< took part in the Grasspan fight, and killed several retreating Boers. Trooper Byrne, one of the corps, is among the missing. Among those kilted flt GraSpan was one Hdddart, a son of Mr parties Huddaft, well-known in shipping circles, THE CONTINGENT, - Part of the New Zealand contingent have left Capetown for the British military base at De Air, in the northern part of the colony near the Orange river. A PRO-BdE~F£ LEGION. The Dutchess De Urares^— who was patroness of the late General Boulanger — has raised a pro-Boer legion in New York to start for the Transvaal unarmed. Great Britain has called the attention of the authorities to this act. DR LEYDS. ' Dr Leyds, the Transvaal Plenij&ten* tiary in Europe* is again circulating false and rofsdhieVoUs accusations against the British forces. Amongst his statements are that the British have employed native auxiliaries ; that they have fired upon the Boer ambulances ; that they have abused the white flag ; and that they are showing cruelty to their prisoners. MORE OFFICERS. Forty of the senior cadets in the Royal Miliary College at Sandhurst, are to be given commissions immediately. PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF GRASSPAN. The onward march of LieutenantGeneral Lord Methuen's Kimberley relief column, consisting of 10,000 men, is being strenuously opposed by the Boers under Commandant Cronje. Three times within six days have the enemy ' offered battle to the advancing army, on each occasion victory resting with the imperial troops aiter furious fightiug. On Thursday last Lord Methuen engaged the burghers near Belmont, the English finally winning the day after a series of brilliant infantry charges by the Guards Brigade. The Boers, however, steadily retreated a few miles northward to Grasspan, where they attacked the British with great determination, but were at last repulsed after heavy fighting for six hours. The British shell fire was, it is stated, delivered with terrific effect on the enemy's position. Under the heavy bombardment the enemy's fire died away, and deeming the moment opportune, Lord Methuen ordered the seizure of the central position. The Naval Brigade were detailed for the work, which it was anticipated would be an easy task. The sailors went on at the charge unharmed until they were within 3QQ yards of the enemy, when suddenly there blazed out a murderous fire from the encircling kopje, along which the Boers had remained hidden. The Brigade suffered heavily under this blow. Of sixteen naval officers who went m *° action only three came through unscathed. Their conspicuous uniforms offered prominent marks for the sharpshooters on the hillside. So withering was the fire poured into the advancing ranks that they were effectually staggered for a time, and many of the bluejackets sought cover. The " charge," however, again rang out frdm the bugles, and the .tars collecting themselves once more, went on through the raging storm of bullets until the foot of the kopje was reached. Then another and a final dash was made, in which the man-o'-warsmen came to close quarters with the enemy who eventually fled. The resolution shown by the Boers during the engagement was remarkable. "It was a marvel " says the report of the battle, "how they stood up to the shell fire hurled against them — motionless and silent under their defences. Their retreat to the M odder river was conducted steadily and without rout, all of their guns being taken away. MODDER RIVER BATTLE. The commandoes then retreated, and having been in the meantime reinforced from the forces around Kimberley, again awaited the British advance. Numbering eight thousand men, the enemy took up a strongly entrenched position twenty-four miles south of Kimberley, on the Modder river, their laagers being defended with a number ofteavy guns. Later information shows that Lord Methuen, with seyen thousand men under his command, discovered the enemy entrenched near the Modder river, which is in a flooded state, and on the north bank ot which two large guns and four Krupp quick-firing cannon were concealed in position. After a cannonading duel for about an hour, a battalion of the 3rd Grenadier Guards, a battalion of the Scots Guards, and two battalions of the Coldstreams on the right, while the Northumberland, the and West Yorkshire, the Northampton and Lanca- v

shire regiments and Light Infantry, forming the left attacked in widely extended formation. * This movement was supported by a heavy artillery fire, the Naval Brigade on the railway rendering great assistance. All the troops fought for ten hours j without food or water, under a burn. I ing sun, and exposed to a biting fire from the enemy's sharpshooters. The British troops displayed undaunted valour, and finally compelled the enemy to quit their position. , Apparently the victory was due to gun and rifle fire alone. During the struggle three hundred sappers assisted Lieutenant-Colonel PoleCarew (who has succeeded General Featherstonhaugh, killed recently near Belmont) to land a small force on the other side of the river. Lord Methuen in his despatch eulogises all the troops engaged, particularly the two batteries of artillery. As a result of this action it is probable that the Boers will be caught between two forces at Spvfontein. I Lord Methuen in his official report recounting the above facts, describes I the battle as " one of the hardest and 1 most trying fights in the annals of the British army." | LADYSMITH. General Sir Redvers Buller who left here on Saturday for Estcourt, will personally conduct the operations for the relief of Ladysmith. An additional supply of artillery has been sent from Capetown to Natal. The total number of guns now available there is seventy-two. GENERAL GAtACRE'S COLUMN. Major General Sir W. F. Gatacre, who is gradually working his way northward from Naauwpoort to Coles* berg, in the north of Cape Colony, south of the Orange river, has now reached Bushman's Hock. REINFORCEMENTS. The Government is increasing the force in South Africa to ninety thousand tffen. FUTURfe OF SOUTH AFRICA. In cdfedfudingj his address in the West Riding of Yorkshire Mr Balfour Said :— " We will never more allow to grpw up in our midst communities of our own creation which will be able to Use the liberties we have conferred upon them to arm themselves against us. Freedom and equality will be bestowed upon all white residents, and we will show the Boers' children that this war was a blessing to them." The Hon. J. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, speaking at Leicester, said, " The Boer.s will have given us a clean slate whereon to write what we please." The Hon. gentleman went on to remark the Boers had torn and scattered the Conventions of 1881 and 1884, to the winds. The supremacy of the flag was the only durable solution — the guarantee of peace and justice.