The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 13 November 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

FIGHTING WITH DE WET. Lord Roberts cables that MajorGenerals Le Gallais and Knox surprised and completely defeated one thousand Boers south of Bothaville on Monday, recapturing one 12-pounder belonging to the U Battery, a 15--pounder belonging to the 14th Battery, and capturing four Krupp guns, one pompom, one Maxim, all the enemy's ammunition and waggons, and one hundred prisoners. Twenty-five dead Boers were left on the field, and thirty were wounded. The British casualties were —ln Major-Generals Le Gallais's force, two officers and eight men killed, one officer and twenty-six men wounded. Ex-President Steyu and General De Wet escaped. It is stated that De Wet and ExPresident Steyn fled when the first shot was fired. Mr Steyn's secretary was taken prisoner. A Boer doctor, with the Red Cross badge on his arm, rifle in hand, and a half emptied bandolier across his shoulder was found among the dead. The British guns engaged the enemy at 400 yards range. The engagement lasted five hours. ' The Australian Bushmen did splendid work. Colonel De Lisle ably handled the firing line after General Le Gallais and Colonel Ross were disabled. The British guns were magnificently served. The Boers who were captured were sent to prison, as they had explosive bullets in their possession. The enemy's laagers were found to be full of provisions. GENERAL LE GALLAIS KILLED. Lord Roberts renorts to the War Office that Major-Genera- Le Gallais, cimmandingoneofthe British columns, was killed in the engagement with General De Wet's commando near Bothaville. Lord Roberts deeply regrets the doath of the general, who was a most gallant and capable cavalry leader. THE RENSBURG DRIFT AFFAIR. Further details have come to hand of thn engagement fought on October 31th by Major General Knox's troops with General De Wet at Rensburg Drut, sixty-five miles south west of Johannesburg. It appears that as De Wet was crossing the Vaal river, Colonel De Lisle's guns poured in a terrible fire, exploding an ammunition waggon and killing six Boers. The enemy abandoned five Krupp guns, and attempted to cross during the night, but a galling fire kept up by Major-General Le Gallais's column, which had arrived on the scene, drove them towards other British forces. A rain-storm coming on saved De Wet from capture. Natives reported that the latter was wounded in the leg. IN THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL. Major-General Smith-Dorrien, with 250 cavalry and o/>o of thr Suffolk and Shropshire regiments had twr» days' very hard fighting near the Komati river. The Suffolks and Canadian Mounted Infantry outflanked the Boers and compelled them to evacuate a strong position. Six British were killed and twenty wounded, chipfly Shropshires, who fought splendidly. When strongly reinforced the Boers attempted to recover the abandoned pjsition, but the Canadians, galloping twr> miles, cleverly forestalled them. The Canadian Dragoons and Artill«ry showed devoted gallantry in protecting the infantry convoyi.

On the afternoon of the 7th 200 Boers suddenly charged the British rearguard to within seventy yards, where they were stopped by the Canadian Dragoons. Lord Roberts considers this Boer charge to be unpre- j cedented. J Sixteen Canadians who were captured were kindly treated and released. They were made to lie on their faces till the Boers removed their own dead and wounded. The British casualties on the 7th \ were two killed and twelve wounded, all Canadians. A WARNING TO SEDITIONMONGERS. Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner of British South Africa, in the course of a speech at Claremont, said the manufacture of sedition at the Cape had been proceeding merrily, but would burn out despite the bellows of the blowers. In the meantime much havoc had been done, and it was his duty to quench the flame. There would be no compromise with seditionmongers. GENERAL BULLER'S RETURN. General Buller has arrived in England. He was enthusiastically welcomed at Southampton. In the course of a speech, he said that if Great Britain was ready to fight she would seldom be asked to do so. MISCELLANEOUS. Lord Kitchener is at Johannesburg. A portion of the Queensland Mounted Infantry left Pretoria on Thursday on their return to Australia. The Times foreshadows stern measures to crush oath-breaking tactics and treachery. The Guards Brigade will remain in South Africa. Boers are shooting natives wholesale. In one instance they threw a dead dog on the top of eight bodies at Commando Nek. which is interpreted as a device to provoke reprisals on the part of the natives, thus giving the Boers a chance of accusing the British of inciting the natives. A British proclamation has been issued at Pretoria stating that the gold and silver coins of the Boer Republics will be redeemed at their face value.