THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10998, 22 June 1901, Page 10

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

BRITISH RIFLE SHOOTING. : LORD ROBERTS'S CLEMENCY. THE ENGLISH PRO-BOERS. RESULT OF QUEEN'S HALL MEETING. SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 21st, 8.55 am.) LONDON, June 20. Sir Redvers Buller declares the South African campaign showed the want of accuracy of the British rifle fire at short ranges, allowing the foe to escape with insufficient punishment after positions were gained. — De Wet and Steyn recently made unsuccessful attempts to cross the line from Standsrton to Heidelberg. A COMMANDANT JOINS THE BRITISH. Lord Roberts has pardoned several volunteers sentenced to penal servitude for sleeping at their posts. Commandant Barraud Venter had arranged witb his commando of a hundred men to surrender, but one of his men informed General Badenhaus, who imprisoned Venter. He and two sons,' however, escaped to British lines at Mermo. , | CLEARING THE NORTH-EAST TRANSVAAL. Colenbraaider's Scouts are clearing the North-East Transvaal. They have taken many prisoners and waggons, and there hay« been many surrenders. The Boers aro trying to break through the cordons, and join Beyer's force. THE PRO-BOER CAMPAIGN.

STRONG SPEECHES BY PARTY LEADERS.

(Received June -21st, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, Jun« 20. Mr Balfour, addressing the Conservative agents at the Holborn Restaurant, said Sir H. Oampbell-Banaerman's assertion that tke war had been conducted barbarously ■was a scandalous and shocking statement, since nons had ever been conducted with equal (humanity. '

Several indignation meetings -were held outside the Queen's Hail. Resolutions condemning the pro-Boer campaign were carried, and it was enthusiastically resolved to support the Government. (Received June 21st, 11.52 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. Mr Asquith, addressing the Essex Liberal Federation, protested against the Liberal Imperialists being denounced ac schismatics.: They neither repented nor recanted their view that the war was forced upon Great Britain without adequate' reason, and entirely against; our will. There was no authority in the Liberal party, pontifical or otherwise, empowered to excommunicate the holders of that view. The resolution passed at tie Queen's HaM inculcating unconditional surrender to the Boers was not an authoritative exposition, of the Liberal opinion. Mr Asquith declared that the South African war was most humanely conducted. No man in the Empire was more penetrated with the spirit of humanity than Lord Milner. It was impossible to restore the status of the Republics, but he hoped to 33e a free federated Dominion on the model of Canada or Australia.

Mr Austen Chamberlain, speaking at a Conservative luncheon in London, declared that the meanest scribblers in the meanest journal never made a more infamous or unfounded charge than that made by Sir H. Campbeilil-Baimerniaii, alleging barbarity on the part of Lord Kitchener and the Army. The Queen's Hall meeting has revived the Continental clamour against England. The French are urged to boycott British goods until the independence of the South African Republics is conceded. BOER REFUGEE CAMPS. The Boer refugees' camp 3in the Orange River Colony, besides nine for natives, require a weekly importation of eighty-eight tons of food et/uffs. The average mortality in theee camps is 116 per 1000 j*ar annum, largely the result of ths Boers' disregard of sanitation and the women's neglect of the i children.