THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lake County Press, Issue 977, 29 August 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Three rebels were executed at Graaf lleinet and 10 were sentenced to penal servitude for life in Bermudas. Colonel Featherstonhaugh, near Klerksdorp, captured a convoy of 86 waggons and 9000 rounds of ammunition. A number of Boer sympathisers at Swellendhara have been arrested. Commandant Smutz, with 120 men, has trekked 30 miles south of Edenburg across the railway in the direction of Basutoland. General Kitchener has permitted the immediate return of 300 refugees to the Rand beyond the usual monthly number. General Kitchener has sent back 200 Yeomanry recruits as radically unfit as they are suffering from varicocele, heart disease and deafness. He complains bitterly of the slipshod examination of recruits in England. The Times, in view of the speedy termination of the campaign, urges the employment of seasoned British troops from India prior to their return to England, tried South African campaigners replacing them in India.

Owing to a diffimlty in obtaining a representative gathering of members and the dang< r of inflammatory speeches, it is not expected that the Cape P.u 1 iamei;t will assemble even by October, unless the situation changes. The Governor of the C >lony will meantime issue warrants for expendit ore.

The three rebels executed at Graaf Roinet belonged to Aberdeen, Jansenville, and Victoria West. DrTewator, ex-member of the Cape Ministry, and other members of the Afrikander Bond were present and forty civilians attended voluntarily. Tewater and two other members of the Bond refuse to contribute to the expenses of Pastor Murray’s self-im-posed journey to persuade De Wet to recall and disband the invaders of Cape Colony. Colonel Featherstonnaught’s captures were effected by Colonel Williams’ column, including the second N.S.W. Mounted Infantry, third N S.W, bushmen and a battery of the Royal Australian Artillery with two guns Finding traces of a big trek near Kalksenplaats, in Staat Valley, Colonel Williams’ column pursued, and after a hard gallop of twelve miles and sharp fighting, captured the convoy ; accomplishing the return journey of sixty miles to camp with all the serviceable captures, in twenty-seven hours. The fact that the convoy was able to maintain a lead from the pursuers so long is ascribed to contributions, voluntarily made or extorted from farmers. Daring the trek the majority of the Boers escorting the waggons fled. Eighteen were captured, including the landdrost Bloemhof and Dutoit, a telegraphist, in possession of a wire-tapping apparatus. Kruger, replying to a German proBoer Society’s address, says General Kitchener’s proclamation showed that he recognised the impossibility of subduing Boers by arms It is officially reported that De La Rey has issued a proclamation warning the Boers against General Kitchener’s proclamation, adding that they will continue the struggle.

Kruger, in the course of an interview, said the Boers will disappear if God wills it, but man will never conquer them. The Daily Mail’s Brussels correspondent states that Botha has decide;! to keep British prisoners as hostages in the event of General Kitchener’s proclamation being enforced.

A detachment of tiie 10 Hussars had a sharp fight with Scheeper’s commando south of Uniondule. The British had four killed and 11 wounded. Commandant Vandermere and Field Cornet Duplessis are amongst the Boer wounded.

The Standard’s Pretoria correspondent reports that Col. Williams’ column escaped scathless in connection with the capture of the convoy near Klerksdorp. The prisoners include Miss Steyn, the ex-President’s niece, and Commandant D ; La R-y’s mother. Steyn and De Wet are reported to be near Basutoland. Haasbrock’s captured correspondei ce shows that he icceived Steyn’s lost (last ?) dynamite and ammunition. Three British officers and G5 men on Elliott’s right, northward of Ladybrand, were surrounded on unfavorable ground, captured by a sup rior force, but afterwards released. One was killed and four wounded during the action. An enquiry into the matter is being opened. The Daily Express’ conespondent slates that 400 burghers have surreni e ed at Middleburg.