THE BOTHASBERG FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 63, 6 March 1902, Page 2

THE BOTHASBERG FIGHT.

TELEGRAM FROM COLONEL PORTER. THE 7th NEW Z INLANDERS PARADED. EULOGISED BY LORD KITCHENER. HAD SET AN .EXAMPLE TO ALL THE FORCES. ALL HONOUR TO THE PEOPLE AND COUNTRY THEY REPRESENTED. Mr A. C. Fookes courteously handed us the following telegram, one of several he baa r?ceived from the Right Hon. the Premier, in reference to his sou George, who was wounded in that, 'memorable engagement:— I Albert Oiacroft Fookes, Esq. You will bs pleased to read the following telegram which I have just] received from Colonel Porter : i

' Capetown, Harris mith, Mai ch 1 We arrived here yesterday. Lord Kitchener met the columns and especially paraded the Seventh Regiment of Mew Zealanders and thanked them for their gallar.try at the midnight engagement of the 23rd February. Hs said " They had set an example to all the forces in the field, and ware an honour to the people and country they represented." He also said "That the repulse, with the heavy loss of the enemy, had caused nearly 600 to surrender, which contributed largely to the generally excellent results of the drive." The prisoners confirm the statement ihat De Wet and Steyn, with only 200 men, got through our I lines. We found 39 Boers killed also 1100 horses; numerous waggons, Cape carts and 6000 cattle were captured.! The Boers carried off their wouDded and j some dead, hut wdmit 70 casualties, i The Seventh's correct casualty list is' 23 killed and 40 wounded, all of latter I are doing well. The regiment, although low in str?ngth, will trek again on the 4th inst.—Colonel Porter, Officer Commanding.

Mr Seddon also very kindly gave permission to relatives of the wounded men to send a messaga to them through the Government, and Mr Fookes sont his sou a message through this channel. On Wednesday afternoon ho received the following brief reply: "DoUgi wall, George, South Africa," j