THE REFUGEE CAMPS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE REFUGEE CAMPS.

Three thousand Boers resident in the Petersburg refugee camp were last month removed in a body to Colenso. During the previous three weeks transferences, from the different camps in the Transvnal to the coast towns of Natal had been going on at the rate of about 1000 a week. There are now more than 60,000 men, women, and children in the Transvaal camps, and more than 45,000 in those of Orange River Colony. The increase in numbers during the last few months has been small, the columns<.jj»ot having brought in fresh families. One* hundred and fifty persons escaped in February from the Pietersburg canipi" oonsequence of Commandant Beyer's Aid in that distri*,*. As a rule escapes from tho cam-.J are infrequent. Those who got away vere mostly young men. The inmates of tho camp are reported by a press correspondent? to be becoming more contented. They ore more orderly and

aro learning to carry out necessary hygienic niles. The deuth rate is now practically noiiii.il. Largo numbers of uudoairablo iamilies havo beau sent to Natal, where there aro now 18 camps, each one" virtually a village. Thoy contain 26,000 ; children, the majority of whom aro receiving etludation. They show eagerness to kurn, and the authorities are pressed to ilnd accommodation fast enough. Each camp employs on aa average 20"-Dut</n girls in hospital work. These are getting" good training under qualified hogpitaS nurses. They are paid t» small stilary,. and receive rations and uniforms free of cost. A> number of them have turned out exceedingly well.