The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-29 00:00:00

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SURRENDER OV LYDENBURG GARRISON.
The following telegraphic despatch has been received at
the War Office:—
From the General Officer Commanding, Natal and Transvaal,
to the Secretary of State for War :

"NEWCASTLE, Jan. 21
"Report from Delagoa Bay: garrison Lydenburg
surrendered 7th inst. Weather here unfavourable."
The garrison of Lydenburg is supposed to consist of
one company of the 94th Regiment.

The following has been sent for publication from the
Colonial Office :
Administrator Sir G. C. Strahan to Secretary of State:
"January 21st. From Kaffraria. Very large
capture of stock reported to-dity.
"Eight hundred Umditchwa's men surrendered.
"Basutoland as before.
" Pondoland all quiet."

The following telegram was received from the Premier at
the Cape, dated Cape Town, January 21 : •

"Within past week Pondomise Chief Umditchwa
and eight hundred men surrenderea. In Tembuland
about twenty thousand cattle, ten thousand sheep.,
and one thousand horses captured. One hundred and
fifty rebels killed. Pondoland reported quiet."

Under date Cape Town, Jan. 22, a Reuter's tele-
gram says that a sortie has been made by the British
force in camp at Potchefstroom, which resulted in
four Boers being killed. At attempt of the Boers to
mine the camp has been frustrated.

'The Standard, in noticing the surrender of Lydell-
burg, remarks :—The surrender of the garrison of
Lydenburg was so generally anticipated that it can
scarcely be considered as a new misfortune to our arms.
It might have to be announced a little sooner or a little
later. But it has from the commencement of the out-
break been regarded as almost certain that the isolated
garrisons of Lydenburg, Wakkerstroom, and Stan-
derton must surrender before help could arrive. The
commanders. of these posts had but a very short time
to prepare for a siege, and could not have collected
provisions for a three months' blockade; cattle could,
indeed, have been brought in in large numbers; but
cattle must be fed, and in a small town there would be
no accumulation of grain sufficient to keep them alive
for long. It is probable that the fall of Lydenburg
will ere long be followed by that of Wakkerstroom
and of Standerton, unless Sir G. Cooley feels strong
enough to advance from Newcastle to the relief of
these towns, situated as they are at a comparatively
short distance from the frontier.

Mader date Durban, Jan. 24, The Times of Tuesday
published the following :

A Caffre refugee in Newcastle reports that the Boers are
evacuating Utrecht, and concentrating at Wakkerstroom.
They destroy all property. The prisoners are in Joubert's
camp. The troops are building detached forts round New-
castle and the laager has been provisioned for fifteen
days. The troops marched for the Transvaal at daylight
to-day.
The Boers are still besieging Wakkerstroom and are
firing long shots. Two Boers have been shot, but there
have been no casualties on our side. It is untrue that the
Boers attacked the town on the 16th.
The length of the column from Newcastle is over four
miles. The 68th Regiment is in advance and the Rifles and
the Naval Brigade in the rear.

A general feeling of surprise is expressed here at Sir G. P.
Colley's advancing before reinforcements arrive, and it is
supposed that he has received special news. The strength
of the column, which is estimated at 1,300 men, contrasts
unfavourably with the length of the convoy. Natal is now
denuded of regular troops.
The Boers have made overtures to the Zulu chief Oham,
who, however, refused to desert the English. The Maquli-
sine tribe, who formerly under Umbeline were so largely
mixed up with the Zulu war, have joined the Boers, and
being notorious robbers and murderers may give some
trouble.

A detachment of the Natal Mounted Police is on its way
to Newcastle from the southern border because of a
Basuto raid after they had left the frontier.
It is believed that the Boers who return home to tramp
the corn are replaoed by others. About 6,000 arc supposed
to be in the field. The Beers have asked for three cannon
from the Free State, but have been refused.
Public opinion here is divided as to the Boer action in face
of Sir G. P. Colley's advance. Some think that they will
melt away; others that they will surprise and out-number
him.

DURBAN. Jan. 25.
The troopship Euphrates arrived here this morning with
1,400 troops, who will be landed to-day and to-morrow, and
will be sent forward at once. The troopship Crocodile is
expected on Saturday.
The news from Basutoland says that the Basutos are in
need of food and are getting tired of fighting. The enemy
are quiet, but are occupying a position to oppose our
advance.
NEWCASTLE, Jan 25.
The column is camped in sight, six miles distant. The
troops marched at daylight.
At Utrecht the Boers are "trekking "to the Staal River,
with their belongings,

The following telegram was received on Tuesday at the
War Mice from the leneral Officer Commanding, Natal and
Transvaal, January 24, 1881 :

"Short march; weather line. Boers reported assembling
to oppose me." ..

THE DISASTER TO THE 94th
REGIMENT.

The following account of the lamentable disaster to
the 94th Regiment is given in the Cape papers re-
ceived in England this week. It is the narrative of
Ralph Egerton, who was transport conductor to the
head-quarters of the 94th on their march from Leyden.
burg, via Middleburg to Pretoria.
Egerton states that on the 20th, at 1.20 p.m., he
was riding alongside the colonel, fifty yards ahead of
the column, to select a camping ground about one and
a half miles from Bronkers Spruit (38 miles from
Pretoria), when the band ceased playing. On turning
round to ascertain the reason, they saw 150 Boers on
the left of the road in formation, ten paces between
each horseman, and all mounted. The Boers were
about t.,00 yards from the column, and on the left
flank. The colonel galloped back and gave the word
to halt. The rear wagons and the men then closed up.
Egerton proceeds to say :

"I saw a flag of truce approaching, and rode to
meet it. The messenger gave me a sealed despatch,
which I handed to the colonel. There was only one
man with it. He was unarmed. The letter was in
English. The colonel read it out to me; the purport
was as follows:

"'The Republic having been declared at Heidelberg, and
the Dutch people being determined to maintain it, ally
movements of the English troops were prejudicial to their
Interest, and if the Colonel advanced beyond the Spruit
they should consider it a declaration of war, and he must
be responsible for the consequences.'

_
"The messenger said verbally that two minutes
were allowed for the colonel's decision. The colonel
replied that his orders were to march to Pretoria, and
hp should go there. Each party galloped back to his
own force, and no sooner had the Boer reached his
party than they commenced firing. The troops were
extended in skirmishing order in front of the wagons,
at about four paces interval. The firing lasted twenty
minutes. The officers all fell in the first ten minutes.
The Boers were behthd trees on rising ground above
our men, who were lying down on the grass.
The fire of the Boers were directed on the officers,
oxen and ammunition wagons, the latter being denoted
by a red flag. The ammunition was in the first wagon,
and the band and prisoners (?) were getting out the
reserve ammunition. All the officers were wounded.
Between 30 and 40 men were killed and 70 or 80 wounded.
The doctor told me that in killed and wounded he had
about 120. Dr. Ward was the doctor. He was not hurt.
When Colonel Anstruther saw that all the officers
were shot .and men falling fast, and that there was
no chance, he told them to throw up their hats and
wave their handkerchiefs as a signal of surrender.
There were 34 wagons and carts in all. The men
with wagons had not time to get up t., join the main
body. The rear-guard were then prisoners. At the
very commencement the Boers galloped up and took
them prisoners. The convoy extended about a half-a-
mile, and the rear-guard was in rear of all. They
were about 20 strong. Mr. Carter, of the Commis-
sariat and Transport staff, supposed to be with the
rear-guard, was missing when I left. I saw his
horse. The band were at the time of attack playing
the last piece they were to play on march,-as they
were to join the ranks on getting to camp. The
Boers took off • the arms and ammunition and the
three waggons. The remainder were stsnding there
when I left. The Boers formed a circle round the
regiment. Commandant P. G. Joubert gave leave
for the men to take what rations they pleased, and
pitch tents for wounded, and work the water-carts.
I heard the Boers talking about 'When we take
Middelburg and Lydenburg.' Toubert gave me per-
mission to come in for doctors and ambulances, but
allowed me to carry no weapon, and he would not give
me a horse. He allowed Sergeant Bradley to accom-
pany me. I took the colours of the 94th Regiment with
me, which some of the men tore off the poles and gave
-to me, I held them round my waist, under my coat.
Joubert asked for the guns and colours. I Old them
there were no guns, and not being in the 94th I did not
know where the colours were. I said I believed the
colours were secreted under Mrs. Fox, who wae,
wounded. I had ridden through the bush from where
the attack was made ten minutes before the column
reached the spot, and saw nothing. A mounted
infantry man pointed out to the colonel what he con-
sidered to be mounted men near tronker's Spruit, and
after looking through the glasses the colonel said they
were cattle, and handed the glasses to me. I looked,
and am sure they were cattle. This report was made
about 500 yards before we arrived at the place of
attack. The supposed mounted men reported were
about tweive miles distant. The Boers were hidden
from view in a valley on the distant side of the rising
ground from which they fired. When I first saw them
they were galloping at full speed towards the crest of
the rising ground.
"I estimate that about 300 Boers attacked the head
of the column. I only saw one dead and five
wounded on their side. Ido not think there were
any more. I believe the Boers were concealed in a
farmhouse behind the trees—willows and poplars;
and when they saw the mounted infantry returning
from their reconnoitring, they galloped on up the
valley before-mentioned. I heard some Boers say
that probably the prisoners would go te Heidelburg,
and the wounded be left on the ground for us to
fetch.

"The 94th men fought remarkably well, but their fire
did not seem to take effect. They did not seem to find
the range. All the officers were down. On my way I
was challenged several times, but they let me go on
hearing that I had a pass. The reason I was so long
on my way was that I was wounded, and kept off the
road, so that I might not be taken with the colours—
"RALPH EGERTON."

STORM WARNING.—The following cable message
has been received at the London offioe of the. New
York, Herald, from the Herald Weather Bureau, New
York :—"A dangerous storm will arrive on the
British, French, and Norwegian coasts between the
26th and 28th ; easterly, backing north-west gales;
sleet, snow in north; Atlantic very stormy north of
lat, 40,"

• t sw4-s

aiiOULO()