868 THE LONDON GAZETTE, FEBKUABY 8, 1901. were found on the kopje, and their pompom Buller. Ian Hamilton reached Swartkopjes, was captured. The success of this attack was on the Dullstroom road, meeting with but decisive. It was carried out in view of the slight opposition. On the 4bh, he entered main Boer position, and the effecb of it was such, Dullstroom—the enemy, with two guns, fight- that the enemy gave way at all points, flying in ing a real-guard action, and disputing every confusion to the north and east. Next morning yard of the way—and on the same day con- Buller was able to occupy Machadodorp almost tinued his march to Palmietfontein. During without opposition. On this day, the 28th, his march he was joined by Brocklehurst's Dundonald's Cavalry pushed on to Helvetia, Cavalry Brigade from Buller's column. On where they came into touch with the enemy's the samo day, French occupied the bridge rearguard. French's Cavalry and the llth over the Komati River between Machadodorp Division moved due east to Elandsfontein, 8 and Carolina, while Mahon's mounted troops miles west of Helvetia. On the 29th August, reached Wonderfoutein, and Cunningham's leaving garrisons at Dalmanutha and Machado- Brigade reached Balmoral. At "Wonderfontein, dorp, Buller marched to Helvetia and occupied the 76th Battery Royal Field Artillery and the Waterval Boven with his advanced troops. 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment were placed Pole-Carew sent on three battalions to support under Mahon's orders, and he was directed to French, remaining himself with the restaof the join French at Carolina on 6th September. On llth Division near Helvetia. On the 30th, the 5th September, Ian Hamilton advanced French, supported by the Guards Brigade, about 12 miles to Wemershoek, whence, by a occupied Waterval Onder, while Bullcr reported night march, he occupied Zwagershoek with from Weltevrdden that Nooitgedacbt had been the Royal Scots, thus securing 1 he debouchment vacated by the Boers, and that ihe British througli the defile into the Lydenburg Valley, prisoners confined there were to be seen moving and threatening the right rear of tho Boer along the road to "Waterval Onder. By night- position at Badfontein. The same day Buller fall the prisoners, numbering 1,800, and in- demonstrated strongly against the enemy's left cluding seven Officers, reached our camp at flank, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment Waterval Onder, and were subseqnenfly and the 1st Batralion King's Royal Rifle Corps sent by rail to Pretoria. The remainder dragg'ng the guns of a Field battery up a steep of the officers had been removed to Bar- hill, whence a heavy lire was brought to bear berton. The prisoners stated that Presi- on the Boer.s. dent Kruger, ex-President, Steyu, and Com- 35. On the 6th, owing to the right flank of mandant-General Botha had left for Nelsprnit their position having been turned, nnd to the on the 29th August. On the 31st August, pressure on their left flank, the Boers evacuated Bnller fell back to Helvetia, preparatory io their sironghold at Badfontein, and fell back marching on Ljdenburg, Pole-Carew, with the through Lydenburg, some going to Krnger's llth Division holding Waterval Onder, and Post, but the majority with two 6-inch guns, Henry's corps of Mounted Infantry occupying taking up another formidable position at Paar- Waterval Boven. French returned with the deplaats on the mountains overlooking the 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigades to Machadodorp, town, and 7 miles to tho east of it. On the whence I directed him to move, v,a Carolina, same day, Dundonald's mounted brigade and on Barberton, thero being no practicable road to the Cavalry attached to Ian Hamilton's force the latter place, from the railway east of occupied Ljdenburg, Buller's and Hamilton's Machadodorp. Infantry halting 5 miles in rear. French In the meantime reinforcements had been reached Carolina on this date, and he was moving up from the west. A brigade, under joined there by Mahon's column, and tho 2nd Smitu-Dorrien,* haJ. been railed to Belfast Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry. Cun- between the 26th and 29th August. Mahout ningham's Brigade airived at Pan Station, and marched from Pretoria on the 30th August. Hutton began to concentrate Alderson's Corps He was followed the next day by Cunningham's of Mounted Infantry from the line of communi- Brigade. J cation preparatory to marching from Machado- 34. On the 1st September, I issued a procla- dorp along tho heights sonth of the railway mation annexing the Transvaal under the orders towards Tafelkop. On the 6th September, of Her Majesty's Government. On this day Buller attacked the enemy at Paardeplaats, Buller moved from Helvetia to Elandspruit on whence, with their 6-inch guns, they were the Crocodile River. Next morning his firing into the camp and town of Lydenburg. advance was opposed by the enemy, who The Boers held a precipitous ridge, 1,800 feet were holding a strong position at Badfontein, above the valley, horse shoe in shape and only and had with them three 6-inch guns. Buller easily approachable by paths which were com- described the position as resembling Laing's pletely commanded from the crest. One great Nek, and I agreed with him that it would be i'eature of the attack was the skill {with which wiser to defer his attack until I could send him the guns were pushed forward from point to assistance. Accordingly, on the 3rd September, point until they reached positions from which I despatched Ian Hamilton from Belfast§ to they silenced the enemy's artillery, and greatly turn the right flank of Boer force in front of subdued the ril'.e fire. Another was the dash with which the Infantry pressed forward over * 20th Battery, Eoyal Field Artillery; Mounted In- rocks and across ravines, and other apparently fantry of the City Imperial Volunteer?, 2nd Bn. West impracticable ground until they carried tho Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Bn. Eoyal Scots, 1st Ba. Eo^ol ridge. A third was the simultaneous arrival of Irish Regiment, and 1st Bn. Gordon Highlanders. t "M" Battery, Eoyal llorse Artillery; 3rd Corps of the right, left, and centre of the attack, namely, Mounted Infantry, Queensland Mounted Infanlry, and the Royal Scots, the Rojal Irish, and tho 1st New Zealand Mounted Eifles, 79th Company of Imperial Battalion Devonshire Regiment in the enemy's Yeomanry, Imperial Light Horse, and Lumsden's Horse. position. The Boers lost considerably, but I "D" Field Battery, Canadian Artillery; Elswick then retreat was concealed by heavy misr. Battery, 1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd Bn. 'Berkshire Regiment, 2nd Bn. Shropshire Light Infantry, Our casualties amounted to 13 killed and 25 and 1st Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. wounded, three of the former and 16 of the § 10 Field g ins, Royal Scots, Eoyal Irish, and Gordon latter belonging to the Volunteer Company ot Highlan lers. the Gordon Highlanders, which came under.