The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 4, 5 January 1901, Page 2

The Boer War.

GALLANTRY OF COLONIAL TROOPS. THE SITUATION IN CAPE COLONY. SERIOUS ANXIETY NOT JUSTIFIED. London, Jan. 4. Tho Standard correspondent, describing the fifteen hours’ fight at Rhenosterkop at the end of November, statGs that the behavior of the New Zealanders and Australians was one’of tho finest features of the campaign. Finer fighters, he said, never faced a foe. The Times states that though the Cape messages indicate nervousness, there is nothing to -justify tho serious anxiety.

The citizens at Capetown are volunteering almost en masse.

Finding Fraserberg garrisoned the Boers of the western commando diverged more north-westerly in two columns, with flanking parties, and cleared the country of everything in the way of eatables. Tho British have evacuated Jagersfontein and Fauresmith, and the Boers have re-occupied the same. Boer commandos have appeared in Bechuanaland.

Two thousand Boer prisoners at Green Point and Simonstown, near Capetown, havo been transferred to transports, enabling a thousand troops to proceed north. Private Sloan of the South Australian bushmen has died of a broken thigh. A loyalist defence corps in Capo Colony is enrolling briskly. Lord Kitchener urges Sir Gordon Sprigg to send well-mounted men. He says that the enemy are few but very mobile.

LORD ROBERTS’ ARRIVAL. 'HONOR TO FIELD-MARSHAL. EMPIRE AND THE COLONIES. Lord Roberts, in accepting the freedom of Southampton City, referred to the heavy debt of lovo and gratitude due to the colonists. .He highly praised Lord Kitchener’s wise counsel and ever ready help. There was a brilliant scene on Lord Roberts’s arrival at Paddington station. The Prince of Wales and the Dukes of York, Connaught, and Cambridge, Lord Wolseley, Sir Evelyn Wood, Earls of Lansdowne and Aldersae, and many other notables, welcomed him.

There was a triumphal progress to Buckingham Palace. The crowd was most orderly, and there were splendid decorations. Fifty guests were present at the Palace luncheon, at which the Princo of Wales referred to the very difficult and trying campaign, which was nearly concluded. He was heartily glad to welcome such a gallant soldier as the Field-Marshal.

Lord Roberts in reply said tliat ho was proud of the most unexpected and magnificent honor which had been conferred upon him by the Queen, and the splendid welcome the public had given him. Ho regretted that more comrades were not present, and much wished that the representatives of the great colonies could have accompanied him. The colonies which gave the bravest and best to fight for the motherland were signal proof of the unity of tho Empire, showing that they were under one flag and one sovereign.