BOER WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 888, 25 February 1901, Page 2

BOER WAR.

LORD METHUEN'S OPEBATIONS.

SEVERE FIGHTING AT HAARTE-

BEESTFONTEIN

[ONITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT;

(Received February 23, 9.2 a.m.) London, February 22. Lord Kitchener telegraphed from Klerksdorp that Lord Methueu, operating in the south-western Transvaal, had cleared that part of the country and was marching through Wolrnaranstad to Klerksdorp. Generals De Yilliers and Liebenberg, with fourteen hundred men, obstinately held a strong position at Haurteboestfontein, twenty miles west of Klerksdorp, whence they were expelled after severe righting. The Tenth Yeomanry, Victorians, Bethuen's Horse, and the Royal North Lanaashires rendered distinguised service.

The British losses were three officers and 29 men wounded. The Boers suffered severely and left eighteen dead. The Daily Mail states that De Wet is depressed, having to operate in unknown country. He is seldom in the fighting line, and Commandant Fronwan directs the fighting and also the line of flight. De Wet, who said ho was frightened, was beading on Tuesday towards Read’s Drift, and intended to re-cross the Orange River, He wept at the doggedness and nearness of the pursuing British. One commando was unable to cross the swollen Brake River, and turned west. PART OF DE WET’S FORCE CORNERED, CHECKING BOTHA’S RETREAT. Received February 25, 9 9 a.m. London, February 22. Later reports state that part of Do Wet’s force has been driven into the triangle formed by the junction of the Orange and Brake rivers, which are flooded. _ , Their horses were unable to swim and the rains continue. The Standard states that a big force including a naval detatchmeut and a volunteer composite regiment, is operating in the vicinity of Vryheid, with the object of checking Botha’s retreat. BURGHERS DESERTING DE WET. THE COST OP THE WAR. (Received February 2d, 5.19 p-m.) London, February 23. Four hundred burghers have de» sart3d De Wet. They report that Lord Kitchener’s proclamations of December 20lh with reference to surrendering are now reaching the commandos. Fronwan, with a thousand men, went north, while De Wet moved towards Prieska to await Hertzog who is bringing him a thousand remounts. Lord Methuen, on the 14th, captured a laager at Brokpan, and took 40 waggons and carts, a quantity of stock and 40 prisoners. Amongst the number of the colonial forces several}' wounded at Wolvenhuileu on the 14th were J. Guldsone and H. G. Heywood, New Zealand mounteds. In the Commons Sir M. HicksBeach said the cost of the South African war heretofore bad been eighty one and a-half millions, and it was now costing one to one and a quarter million weekly. CASUALTIES TO COLONIALS. (Received February 25, 12.33 a.m.) London, February 23. rr UD casulties at Hartbeestfonteiu include Victoria Bushmen ; >Sergear.t Vaughan, Privates Johnson and Heskett killed ; Private Small dangerously wounded ; Colonel N. Kelly Lieutenant Parker and Private Lancaster severely wounded. Privates Oshea and Ward slightly Wounded. New South Wales Bushmen : private Trainer, severely wounded. The casualties at Reitfontein in dude ; —New South Wales mounted. Sergeant Barrett mortally wounded ; Private Clements severely wounded. South Australia : Captain Argus and Lieutenant Collis slightly wounded ; Private Rutherford severely wounded.