THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 7 December 1899, Page 20

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

Thanks to the Press Censor, an officer who has come recently into prominence m connection with the British army, our war news of late has been very scanty, uninteresting, and at times misleading. During the past week the outside world has been left in ignorance of what is transpiring at the seat of war. The cable messages have been devoted principally to details of battles which took place a fortnight ago. The only reliable news which comes to these colonies regarding events in South Africa is that which filters through the War Office. The messages of the various war correspondents, after being through the censorial mill, are so unconnected and apparently contradictory, that it ia very difficult for the ordinary newspaper reader to follow the sequence of events. According to the official report received here towards the end of last week the battle at Grass Pan on the Modder River was the most desperate fought during the war. General Lord Methuen states he encountered 8000 Boers on Tuesday week, and that after the most desperate fighting, lasting for 10 hour?, he defeated them. The General states that the battle was one of the hardest and most trying in the annals of the British Army. The Boers were again most strongly entrenched, and had a mujnber.of heavy guns, whioh were well served. The enemy's position was defended -stubbornly and with determination. It was impossible to out-flank them. The British Artillery and the Naval : Brigade . rendered . themselves especially conspicuous by their bravery, and were distinguished throughout the conflict. The Brigade anticipated an easy task, but B "fK ?D Ln c B i )erS ,' .u h0 remained hi <*cleh until the /sailors Were -vithin 200 yards of them, blazed away, a murderous fire eneirolin* the kopje, mowing Lieutenant Ethelstone and others down. Oat of 16 officers only three came through unscathed. It was a marvel how the Boers stood shell fire, motionless and silent, under their defences. Then a retreat was made without rout, the Boera taking their guns along with them. «»«"u K tnn h< ?,? r j tißl \ caßUalti e8 at the battle of Modder River totalled 482 — 100 killed and 382 wounded. T * h 5 i? ewa from Natal is of tbe meagrest description. It is reported that outpost fighting in connection with Ladysmith began last week, but no details have been received. It is said that General Sir Redvers Buller is at Frere with a British force of 18,000 men. The Boers are reported to be massing in the neighbourhood of Uolenßo.

The reinforcements that are being sent from England to South Atrica are the result of the dislocation of the original plane, and are necessitated by the isolated movements of troops. The original plan decided upon by General Buller for a concerted advance having gone to pieces, it has been abandoned. Lord Wolseley confirms the statement that a second army corps will be despatched to the scene of war. The second division of this corps leaves within a week General Buller commands 23,000 troops, ino'uding volunteers Major-general Methuen 10,000, Major-general Gatacre 6000, and Major-general French 3000. The maintenance of communication between De Aar and Grass Pan absorbs 8000.