The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 3

The Boer War.

SEDITION PROHIBITED. BOER LOSSES. AN OFFICER’S GARBLED LETTERS. By Telegraph —Press Association —Copyright . .London, Feb. 24. The Imperial Government supports a proclamation issued by Lord Kitchener prohibiting the circulation of newspapers and books calculated to encourage the Boers to continuing resistance. _ T) 1 L It is estimated that the Boers lost one thousand killed and •wounded prisoners during January, over two hundred dead being actually counted. The lossesin February up to the present are estimated at 800. ■ A miliary tribunal at Johannesburg sentenced two burghers captured attempting to enter Johannesburg to be shot for espionage. An explosion on tho track stopped a mail train bound from Natal to Johannesburg, near Heidleberg, on the 20th. ‘ , * Three hundred Boers, hiding, fired on tho train and wounded five passengers. Troops arrived and repulsed the enemy. . , The following casualties m recent engagements are reported: —-Severely ■ wounded: Lieutenant Mann, Sergeant Ross, Privates Garbide, Davis, Siddle, Stevens, Victorian Bushmen. Privates Strickland and Bolitso, , "Westralian Bushmen. Privato Bourkson, New South "Wales Bushmen. Corporal Mayne of Queensland Mountod. 1

Lieutenant Morrison, of tho Canadian Artillory, declares that tho New York Sun garbled his letters from the front. Pro-Boor journals in England copied tho garbled accounts, and the Conciliation Committee founded by Mr Leonard Courtney reproduced them. Tho Daily Ohroniclo exposure has led to tho withdrawal of the proBoor pamplilot and a promise to publish Lioutonant Morrison’s letters in oxtonso. FRENCH OCCUPIES RIETPETIEF. BOERS RETREATING. SCATTERED, DISORGANISED PARTIES. LIST OF LOSSES. London, Fob. 25. Goneral French reports that on Friday ho occupiod Riotrotief, the troops protecting the Swaziland frontier.

Five thousand Boors are retroating in scattered, disorganised mobs. - Tho pursuit is much hampered by continuous heavy rains. Ho gives the following list of losses inilictod up to tho 11th: — Two hundrod and eighty-two Boors ■ killod and woundod in action, 86 takon prisoners, and 183 surrendered. A 15-poundor, 462 rifles, 160,000 rounds of small ammunition, 35C0 horses, 74 mnlos, 3530 trek oxen, 18,700 cattle, 155,400 sheep, 1070 waggons and carts, wore capturod. Five British officers and 41 men wore killed. Four officers and 108 men were wounded.

INVASION OF CAPE COLONY,

A COMPLETE FAILURE,

DE WET ESCAPES IN A BOAT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, Fob. 25. Lord Kitchonor states that De Wet’s invasion of Capo Colony has completely failed. Reutor’s correspondent states that it is roportod at Capetown that after tho engagement at Diseilfontein, De Wet crossed tho Orange river in a boat, floeing with a handful of followers.

A SURPRISE FOR THE BOERS.

A STUBBORN DEFENCE,

FIGHTING AT CLOSE RANGE.

London, Fob. 25. Lord Methuen captured at Brakpan 1300 cattle and 1000 sheep. ; A party of Imperial Yeomanry surprised and captured a Boer post at Bothloham, bayoneting five. The Boers also stubbornly defended for six hours, a strongly fortified position at Partbeetsfontein, extending ten milos.

Much fighting at close range took place, and tho Boors only retired when both their flanks wore turned. All thoir cattle wore captured.

PLAGUE AT CAPETOWN.

A DEATH REPORTED. By Telegrrfph—Tress Assooiatioii—Copyright Capetown, Fob. 25. A white child has died of plague at Capetown, and three others are suffering.

GARRISON DUTY IN MEDITER * RANEAN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Fob. 25.

The War Office is raising from the infantry reserve battalions, regiments for solely garrison duty in the Mediterranean and other non-tropical stations.

CANADIAN OFFICERS ENTERTAINED.

SPEECH BY ME JOSEPH OHAftLBEELAIN.

“ENGLAND COULD DEFY THE FOUE COENEES OF THE EAETH.”

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Fob. 25.

Baron Strathcona entertained the officers of Strathcona’s Horse, who are en route to Canada. Lord Roberts, General Buller, Lord Lansdowne, and Mr Chamberlain were present. Mr Chamberlain, in the course of a speech, said that the colonists vplun-, teering for active service had had an enormously far-reaching result, and it was difficult to limit the number of colonials willing to serve.- While the Empire had such sons she could defy the four comers of the earth.

DE WET’S RETREAT. BOERS EVERYWHERE DISPERSING. FIFTY PRISONERS CAPTURED.. " By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Feb. 25. ' Colonel Plurner reports that Colonel Owen’s detachments of: the King’s Dragoons, the Victorian Imperial Bushmen, and. the Imperial Light Horse on Saturday captured Do Wet’s .fifteen pounder andjpom poms.

The Boers are in full retreat and dis persing. They are being vigorously pursued. Fifty prisoners and some carts of ammunition were captured. There were no British casualties.

Other reports state that De Wet thrice failed onFriday in his attempts to cross the Brak and Orange rivers.

DE WET PURSUED BY PLUMER.

HE AGAIN ESCAPES. LEAVES HORSES SADDLED AND COOKING POTS FULL. By Telegraph—Pres3 Assoeiaiion—Copyright London, Feb. 25. Colonel Plurner on Saturday chased De Wet from Kameldrift towards Hopetoun. Fancying tho British were exhausted, Do "Wot laagered in the evening. •Then Colonel Owen charged,"capturing the enemy’s artillory. Tho Boors fled, leaving their horses saddled and cooking pots full. Bonnett Burleigh, Telegraph eorres-' pondenfi states that Colonel Owen also captured a maxim. The Boors scattered in small bodies. De W et's party is reduced to three hundred. -Stoyn told the Boers, many of whom were dismounted and shoeless, to shift as best they could, and to' return to the Orange River Colony. He and Do Wot took three hundred of tho best horses, and crossed tho railroad at Kraakuil, 60 miles north of Do Aar early Sunday, going eastward. Colonel Thorneycroft and others, with fresh horsos, are closely pursuing the fugitives.