THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10995, 19 June 1901, Page 8

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

DISPERSING COMMANDOS. -^

THE ENEMY WELL-FOUND. THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS.' WARM DISCUSSION IN THE HOUBE OF COMMONS. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. • (Received June ls|h, 8.59 a.m.) , " LONDON, June It, Colonels ScobeU and Gorringe foroefl - Kruitzinger's, Fouche's, and MyburghY * commandos across the borders of Kuffraria. The commandos dispersed, broke back, and having reunited, crossed the railway line at Molteno on the 13th. They are well clad, have several horses each and plenty of ammunition. After Colonel Sladen's mounted troops had captured the convoy tut Reitz on til» ' 6th, De Wet sent help. A hot engagement followed. Colonel Elliott .despatched Colonel 3>e Lisle's mounted troops to Sladetfa assistance, and the Boers were routed. The list of killed included 'Lieutenant John Mair, late of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, Corporals Hamp and Barrow, and sb men of the South Australian Bushmen. A BOER LAAGER SURPRISED. Reuters Durban corresDoadenfc etAt**

that Kitchener's Scouts and the Bushveldt Carbineers on May 13th surprised a laager at I'ienaar's Rlvei\ capturing forty prisoners, all the waggons, and 7000 cattle. Twenty-seven Boers Avere killed and eighty: six wounded, while five British were killed' and twenty wounded. This intelligence is considered to be a confirmation of the engagement at Warmbaths, catfied on May 6th. SIR D. BARBOUR'S REPORT.. (Received June 18th, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 18, Mr Chamberlain, in the House of 0om« mans, sarid the Government generally agreed with the principles of Sir David Baxbour's report, though he -did not guarantee the* Lord Milner would apply them all. BOERS LOOT A TOWN. Soheeper'a force partially looted Murraysburg. Tite Boars made a debermaned effort to recapture tlna convoy at Reitz, and charged right up to the mounted infantry. : SPEECH BY MR RHODES. Mr Rhodes, addressing. o> gathering of 3000 at Bukwayo, estimated! that therewere 9000 Boers in the field. It would he nonsense to concede ©elf-government to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony until the federation of South African States. When that was achieved Natal and the Northern States would , not sympathise trtth the Cape, which encouraged rebellion. LORD KITCHENER'S REPORT. Lord Kitchener advises that since his last report twenty-four Boers have been killed, fourteen wounded, 265 made prisoners, and 165 have surrendered; while 3000 cattle, 1500 ihorses, 198 waggons, 137 rifles, and 8200 rounds of ammunition have been captured, apart from Colonel Elliot's opera-' tions. CONDITION OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. : (Received June 19th, 1.6 a.mj LONDON, June 18. In the House of Commons Mr Broderick stated that there were 37,738 persons in the Transvaal Concantration Camps, including natives, 2524 in Natal, a0,37< in 'the Orange River Colony, and 2490 in Cape Colony. Mr Lloyd George moved the adjournment of the House, and complained that the refugees were not treated with consideration. Sir H. Campbell Bannerman declared that concentration was barbarous. . /Mr Brodnick hotly denied any .inhumanity. Extreme leniency had protracted the war. The high mortality in the Johannesburg camp m May was owing to measles. The women refused to follow dietary directions. Every mail brought .complaints that, injudicious pro-Boer speeches were encouraging resistance.

Mr j-.aldane, amid Liberal interruptions, declareu that the Government was showing all possible humanity. The adjournment was negatived by 253 to 134. Fifty Liberal Imperialists abstained from voting, including Mr Asquith, Sir E, Grey, Messrs Haldaae, McArthur. Fiftysix Irish, Sir W. V. Harcourt, nnd Sir W. Campbell-Bannennan voted with the minority.