The Washington herald., 1922-03-14
Troops Encrcling City of
johannesburg Likely
To Trap Insurgents.
MINERS FIGHTING
IN ENTERTAINMENTS
FOrdsburg, Stronghold of
Revolutionary Forces,
Ready for Battle.

Gen. Jan Smuts arrived at Johan-
nesburg at IL o'clock saturday night
after an exciting dash through the
rcvolutionaries' lines. Tna situation
is still one of widespread and ac-
tive lighting. but tho government
forces are steadily pressing IN from
Bcnomi, Brakpan and springs in
the east and from KruSersdorp in
the west while the strikers a-e fall
ing back stubbornly. but SURELY
An official communique mad. rub
lie this morning states that 200
strikers have been captured and the
casualties have not been deter
Ttned. The excitement il. st,ll at
fever heat at Johannesburg. where
the erection of barricades and
the organization of Iha citizenry
for defense are proceeding.
Bullet Pierces Tire.
Gen. Smuts' journey was the most
thrilling incident of the insurreC-
tion. He arrived at Kimberly from
Capetown by special train. At Kim
berly three high-puwercl automO-
biIes were awaiting him. In .hese
his party raced by roads and across
open country as far As POtChafcs-
trOom without opposition. Near
BoOysens they were me. ''Y 4 strong
mounted escort which mad managed
to pierce the rebels lines. The es-
cort reported that there WAS a sin
gle bridge leading into Booyscns
and this was closely guarded by
strikers who were stopp' nS and eH-
amininG all passers.
1t was moonlight when Gen
Smuts ordered his escort to take
up a position on an eminence a
short distance from the bridge and
to be ready to fire on order. The
first car then dashed at breaknecL
speed over the bridge and got
through safely. The second. where
in Gen. Smuts sat, was shot al
when it approached the bridge
when the car did not stop the
strikers opened a heavy fire. Al
the same time the escort opened on
the strikers and the bridge became
the center of a hail of bullet.
through which the automobile sped
to safety. 4 tire was pierced by
a bullet but none Of the occupants
was hit.
Planes Bomb strikers.
The firing is stcadiest at Fords-
burg. which remains the cockpit OF
the revolution. AirpIanes are busy
CncirClinE over the entrenChed
strikers and dropping bombs. which
evidently are effective for numer-
GUS Red Cross units can be seen
moving about continually.
Yesterday morning a large COM
mando of strikers was repulsed al
Ellis Park. with many killed
wounded and captured, when it was
surprised and attacked by de-
tachment Of imperial light horse
There was heavy action throughout
the day at Rraamfontein. where tho
Durham light infantry was hard
pressing the strikers. The infan'
try was supported by howitzers
which dropped a rain of shells into
the strikers positions forcing the
latter to retreat slowly to the ne"
school a Nrededrop. The strikers
maintained a stout defense in the
school. employing Lewis machine
guns against the attackers and to
worry the cncircling airplanes
which operated at a dangerously
low altitude in an effort to cut of
the rebels retreat. The action
ragged for more than an hour and
the casualties were heavy. In the
end the strikers were forced to
capitulatc. more than 1000 prison
ers being taken. The tide has now
turned in the governments favor in
the entire locality.
Army Tanks Arrive.
There were two successful at
tempts by the strikers to blow up
the tracks of the Pretoria-Germis- s.
ton Railway. but both times the
damage was speedily repaired. The
severe bombing has weakened the
determination of the rebels COM
mandos in this quarter and the gov
ernment forces are advancing SLOW
ly from Krugersdorp. The forces
under Col. Breytenback have occu-
pied ReitfOntein.
In the east the forces under Gen
Van Deventer are heavily engaged
with the revolutionaries. who have
retired to Benoni. Most OF the po-
sitions in this sector which were
held by the strikers at dawn today
are now in the hands of the gov
ernment forces.
Army tanks arrived at Johannes
burg this morning from Pretoria by
railway despite the efforts of the
strikers to cut the line. A tank
unloaded under Gen. SHUTS per-
sonal supervision. will be placed in
operation Immediately.
1000