LATE WAR NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7374, 28 January 1902, Page 2

LATE WAR NEWS.

(PBB PRESS ASBOOATTION.)

Wellington, January 28. The troopship Surrey is to leave: Wellington at foar o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and is expected to get away from Auckland en Saturday evening. She will call at Sydney and Albany, and finally land the troops at Durban. The Cornwalf, with tbe South Island battalion, is expected to leave Lyttelton on Wednesday of next week, and go direct to Albany, probably arriving there about the same time a3 the Surrey.

Colonel Dayies, commander of tbe Contingent, will travel on the Surrey with his staff.

COLONEL DAVIES BANQUETTED.

Auckland, January 28. Colonel Davies was entertained at 9* banquet. In responding to the toast of bis health, he said there were those who belittled the British officer, but his personal experience had proved them to be fine fellows. The time was, no doubt, not far distant when greater responsibility would be thrown upon officers commanding small units when they bad to act on their own initiative. This loose fighting needed a higher training system. Muoh had been 'said of the cruel treatment of Boer women and children, but while at the front he never saw one woman or child harshly treated by soldiers, whether Imperial or colonial. It was rather the other way about; troopers felt for the poor women, and, while carrying out their duty, assisted them in any way in their power.

Received January 28, 12.54 a.m. Melbourne, January 27. The Australian Natives' luncheon was made the occasion of strongly patriotic speeches by Lord Hopetoun and Messrs Barton and Reid. Lord Hopetoun, referring to the accusation of backwardness in offering troops on the part of the Federal Government, desired to take a share of the blame, if any. Mr Barton and he for several months before had anxiously discussed the question whether more troops should be offered. No one could accuse him of being a pro-Boer. They were under the impression that offers of further assistance from other parts of the Empire had been declined, and this decided them to tako up the position they did.