THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 378, 1 April 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SWEEP. A THOUSAND BOERS IN THE NET. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Londoo, March 29. Details of the last drive show that owing to the enormous area to be covered and incompleteness of the blockhouse lines, Lord Kitchener adopted new tactics. The bulk of the enemy were at Hartbeestfontein. The British columns marched in bright moonlight a considerable distance westward of the enemy’s position. Colonel Rawlinson, from Klerksdorp, and other columns, moving in parallel lines, rode forty miles, straight through the enemy’s lines. The boldness of the move puzzled the enemy, whose sniping was unheeded.

At dawn, the column was deployed, and faced eastwards. The ends of the columns met, encircling the Boers with a view of driving them towards the Vaal, Klerksdorp, Sehonespruit, and Lichtonburg blockhouse lines. The rapidity of the movement came as a surprise.

A thousand Boers were caught within the net.

They were unprecedentedly hustled and driven, without fighting, from the guns by the Scottish Horse. They rushed in various directions. The extreme width of the British front caused one or two gaps while forming the line, and the hilliness of the country also facilitated tlie Boers' escape southwards. Dc la Rey and a number of Boers were on the extreme west, outside of the eastward sweep of the drive. Commandant Liobenburg and several men escaped by imitating the formation of tho Britith moving column. Commandant Kemp escaped through a gap on the British right flank. Only twelve Boers were killed. The prisoners, who includo Landdrost Meethling, declared that DeWet and Steyn secretly visited and conferred with De la Rey.