At the same time tussles innumerable were going forward in various regions. Lord Methuen, near Ottoshoop, was harassing Snyman with success, and the 3rd Royal Rifle corps near Heidelberg repulsed a party of raiders without loss. Phillipolis was occupied by Major MacIntosh (Seaforth Highlanders) with loss in wounded of several gallant Scotsmen and Surgeon Hartley of Lovat's Scouts, and in the neighbourhood of Lydenburg a party of the 19th Hussars and Manchester Mounted Infantry distinguished themselves mightily, the troopers under Captain Chetwode charging by moonlight into the midst of the enemy, who were finally routed by the artillery and mounted infantry. The redoubtable Plumer also repulsed an attack of 400 men under Delarey, and elsewhere--at Vrede, Reitz, Harrismith, Pienaar's River--parties of guerillas, driven desperate by famine, were beaten off with more or less ease. While the affair at Bothaville was demonstrating the cool courage and tenacity of our troops, General Smith-Dorrien's much-embattled braves were again displaying devoted gallantry in the country between Belfast and Komati River. The force consisted of 250 mounted men from the 5th Lancers, Canadian Dragoons, and Mounted Rifles, two guns of the Canadian Royal Horse Artillery, and four of the 84th Battery. With them were 900 of the Suffolks and Shropshires. The Boers hung upon the front, flanks, and rear of the troops from Belfast to Komati River, but here they established themselves in a species of stronghold whence they thought they could not be dislodged. Nevertheless the Suffolks and Canadian Rifles, creeping round their flank, showed them their mistake, and caused them to retire. The next day, reinforced, the Dutchmen returned and endeavoured again to seize their lost ground, but Colonel Evans, with the Canadians and two guns of the 84th Battery, had the legs of them, and after a two-mile race disappointed the nimble ones and established themselves at the goal. But all this activity was no child's play. On the 6th the smart force lost six killed and twenty wounded, mostly gallant Shropshires, and on the following day two were killed and twelve wounded of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, whose splendid energy in keeping the enemy off the infantry and convoys was highly extolled by the general. The fighting at one time took place at extremely close quarters, for the Boers, contrary to custom, charged the rearguard to within seventy yards, and were only repulsed by the magnificent dash of the Canadian Dragoons, sixteen of whom fell into the hands of the Boers. These were afterwards released. Three plucky Canadian subalterns were among the wounded--Lieutenants Elmsley, Turner, and Cockburn. Desultory fighting went on in various directions, the Boers near Wepener, Standerton, and elsewhere maintaining persistent activity, which did credit to their tenacity if not to their common sense.