According to telegrams received on Friday, Lord Roberts has left
Johannesburg for Durban, and Lord Kitchener has now taken over the chief command of the forces in South Africa. The despatches of the week chronicle a number of minor successes and ono serious disaster; the garrison at Dewetedorp, consisting of about 400 of the Gloucestershires, Highland Light Infantry, and Irish Rifles, with 2 guns, having surrendered to De Wet after three days' siege on the 24th. The British losses are stated to have been 15 killed and 42 wounded. A column of 1,400 strong had been despatched from Edenbarg to relieve Dewetsdorp, but on reaching the town on the 26th General Charles Knox found it evacuated. Starting early next morning, General Knox surprised the Boers under De Wet near Vaalbank, breaking up his commando into three columns, and capturing 300 horses, and on the following day by a forced march of twenty-six miles to Smithfield has got to the Bonthward of De Wet and headed off his intended raid on the Colony. In these operations valuable assistance was given by Colonel Filcher, who distinguished himself early in the campaign by the capture of Sunnyside.
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