itre
discovered the enemy in the neighbourhood of Spyfontein. A proclamation
having been issued by the Boers at Vryburg annexing Bechuanaland, most
probably for the purpose of impressing the disloyal Dutch, Colonel
Kekewich forthwith issued another, threatening that British subjects
found assisting the Queen's enemies would be summarily dealt with as
base rebels. He also declared that, in spite of the hoisting of the
Vierkleur in Vryburg, the status of British subjects in Griqualand and
Bechuanaland would remain unaltered. An armoured train was again engaged
on this date, but only one man was killed. Two trucks of dynamite,
however, which had been safely removed, were blown up by the Boers. The
town was now completely isolated, the railway line being cut north and
south.

On the 24th inst. the garrison, supported by two armoured trains, had a
fresh and an exceedingly animated encounter with the enemy. Colonel
Scott Turner and 270 mounted volunteers marched north to Macfarlane's
Farm. There they off-saddled and kept a look-out for the Boers. Soon
afterwards they appeared, and Colonel Turner opened fire. The Boers
promptly intrenched themselves behind a sandheap, and from thence kept
up a hot fusilade. To Colonel Turner's assistance there came the Loyal
North Lancashire Regiment, followed at noon by their Colonel--Colonel
Murray--with two guns, two Maxims, and 70 mounted men.

[Illustration: AN ARMOURED TRAIN]

The Boers advanced on Colonel Murray and tried to cut off the party, and
in endeavouring to frustrate their efforts Colonel Turner found himself
in the thick of a furious fire which burst from a dam wall 500 yards on
his left.

The British guns promptly began to blaze on the enemy, who very briskly
responded. In the end, however, they were compelled to fall back. At
this juncture the Lancashires, whose pluck and dexterity were
magnificent throughout, hastily occupied the position, fixed bayonets,
and gallantly drove off the enemy whenever he turned to make a stand.
The fight, which was in every way a brilliant success, lasted four long
hours. The British loss was three killed and twenty-one wounded, while
that of the Boers was considerable. Commandant Botha was said to be
among the killed. During this engagement Kimberley, as may be imagined,
was in a state of frantic excitement, and the return of the troops was
looked for by swarms of people, including women, who crowded the
trenches and received the gallant