MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 85, 12 April 1901, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LONDON^ 11th April. Corporal' Borwick . (Victorian) and Privates Andel and Thomas, of the Australian Bushmen, were severely wounded in recent engagements. (Received,. April 12, 9.21 a.m.) LONDON, 11th April. The Bushman's Land rebels have occupied the towns of Brandvlei and Nelskop, in North Western Cape Colony. Two special Criminal Courts to deal with serious offences haye been established in the Transvaal. The English language will be used in Court proceedings. PRO-BOER LITERATURE. THE GARBLED CANADIAN LETTER The methods of the Boer Conciliation Committee ' continue (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) to be' one of the topics of the day. Lieutenant Morrison, editor of the Ottawa Citizen, served' at the Cape, and wrote a long story of his experiences. The New York Sun published garbled extracts eliminating every phrase whioh discredited the Boers. For instance, Lieutenant Morrison wrote that it was revolting to witness fcue farm burning until they saw the roofs- blown off by concealed ammunition, and then he could not help approving the policy. The Sun refrained from publishing the sentences about the concealed * ammunition and the writer's approval. There were a dozen other instances of garbling as bad as this, and o- perfeotly fair record was thus turned into a pro-Boer atrocity screed. The Manchester Guardian reproduced tho version of the New York Sun, makings deal of capital out of it to the discredit of the British commanders ; and the pro-Boer Conciliation Committee published the story of the Manchester Guardian in one of its stop-the-war leaflets. 'The Daily Chronicle last week reproduced the leaflet and the original Ottawa lettor side by side. Mr. Balfour's attention had previously been called to the subject in the House of Commons, and he had promised to enquire into Lieutenant Morrison's "charges." This undertaking was cabled as a piece of news to Canada, and led Lieutenant Morrison to -wire back to . England an explanation of the' origin and liistory of this remarkable forgery. Then began a series of recantations. The Manchester Guardian published the full and true version of the Morrison letter. The Daily News coolly remarked •tuot now "Lieutenant Morrison's letter had been explained away > by the author," etc., the Conciliation Committee's defence was put forth by Mr. Swinney, the Secretary, who considered that his committee was "perfectly innocent." They would, however, withdraw their leaflet, and print the true version in full. He considered it was all the fault of the New York Sun, upon which ther Pall Mall Gazette remarks: — "These are insistent upon absolute proof. They will not take the word of Sir A. Milner or a British General ; it must be proved to the hilt, but let them get hold of what seems to be evidence against any British soldier, and there is no such caution, but they rush with the 'stream, of facts.'" Of the eight members of the Literature Committee who seleoted this forgery for the Conciliation leaflet, four are ladies. The other , principal member is Mr. •Molteno, the publisher of an interview with Sir Alfred Milner which Sir Alfred repudiated. [We have I learned, by cable that the New York Sun dismissed its Ottawa correspondent over this matter.] | BRITISH SURRENDERS. i ENQUIRY TO BE THOROUGH. The Government have this week (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, on Ist March) given a public assurance of their intention to afford the fullest possible publicity, to the circumstances attending the surrender of British troop? in Africa. In reply to enquiries in Parliament,' Mr. Brodrick and Mr. Balfour have explained that the War Office have decided to follow the 'practice of the Admiralty. It was intended to hold Courts of Enquiry, and where these Courts established a prima-facie case against an officer he would be publicly tried by court-martial. Discretion would be left with tho Com-

mander-in-Chief and the Secretary of ! State as to what, if anything, should be made public as a res-ult of the Courts of Enquiry. Already there had been 99 Courts of Enquiry with regard to kiU operations ; ten officers had been dismissed from the army or put upon halfpay, and penalties had been imposed on others. In some cases officers had been given to understand that their chances of promotion had been impaired. Mr. Brodrick further announced that within a fortnight of his entering on the duties of Secretary of State ho had resolved that no officer, whatever his rank or ,previous record, would be employed in any Home command "from Africa-, except on' tho direct recommendation of Lord Roberts or Lord Kitchener. While prompt punishment would follow misconduct, merit would be promptly rewarded, and lie had already asked for the names of deserving officers. Mr. Balfour added that there would be a general enquiry when tho war was over, and the committee would have power to send for witnesses and documents. There would be no attempt at concealment in any matter which, in the interest of the public, the committee desired to investigate. The Opposition front bench appear to have been satisfied with these declarations of the Wai- Secretary and tHe Leader of the House ; and the public are gratified that it is Mr. Brodrick's intention to inaugurate a policy of "thorough."