The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-07
BOER EFFORTS FOR PEACE
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 contingent and were galloping across
 the open plain with the intention of cap
 turing a Boer convoy which had been
 discovered five miles ahead. The Brit
 ish retired steadily and, having dis mounted, opened a return fusilade on
 the Boers.
 While the baggage in charge of the
 Canadians was sent for the British l formed a camp and started digging l trenches. The shelling of the Boers
 stampeded the mules carrying provls-
 ions and caused confusion. But other
 wise it was not very effective, as many 1 shells failed to explode.
 | The Boer attack was very bold and determined. The Canadians in front were attacked in strong numbers and gallantly repelled every attempt made l by the Boers to break through them. | One party of the Canadians fought un- | til all were killed or wounded, and the ! last man of this party, although mor- tally wounded, emptied two bandoliers of cartridges at the enemy and then broke his rifle.
 The fighting was severe and general lOI Iuly lIItc llouloJ but e'AtNi tAiN British had formed their camp and started the trenches and the guns got into action the British forces, in close order, repelled numerous and determin- ed attacks made under the personal ex- hortations of the Boer leaders,
 Towards night the fire gradually ceas- ed and the Boers retired. The British then telegraphed for aid and further entrenched their camp for the night to await the arrival of General Kitchener, but the Boers made no attempt to re- new the attack.
 Pretoria, April 6.-Careful computa- ton gives the total strength of the scat tered Boer commandos at between s. 900 and 5000 men.
 Pretoria, April 6.-Details received here of the rear-guard action during the night of March 31 between the Second Dragoon Guards of Colonel Lawley's column and the Boers near Boschman's $ Kop, show that a force of two hundred British, while endeavoring to surprise a Boer laager on a dark night, rode straight into a force of five hundred Boers. The Boers were hidden in a llll anu Optlleu lire lIulli dlIllooL uIbCl the legs of the British horses. A fierce hand-to-hand struggle ensued in which both sides freely used the butt ends of their rifles. The British regained the ridge they had just left and commenced a rear-guard action.
 In the meantime strong force of Boers had barred the road back to the British camp. The coming of daylight enabled Colonel Lawley to see that the guards were hard pressed and he dis patched endorsements, with two guns, to their assistance. The endorsements soon compelled the Boers to retreat.
 The guards had had very hard fight and were ordered to retire by squadron. The Boers disputed every inch of the road with the guards and continually attempted to rush them, shouting Hands up'' at each successive position taken up. the British appeared in diminished numbers for as it grew lighter the aim of the Boers improved 
 The following incident of the fighting is reported:
 Commandant Pretorius, who was cap tured the previous day in a Cape cart, was III charge Ol SOIlle INdliOIldl SCOutS. The scouts rode into a party of Boers dressed in khaki supposing them to be British troops. The Boers opened fire and Pretorious escaped in the confu sion. One report says he was shot as he fled.
 Commandant Prinzloo is also report ed to have been killed in the fighting as we'll as other Boer officers.