THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Lake County Press, Issue 978, 5 September 1901, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

LONDON, August 29. Lord Kitchener has forwarded to Mr Steyn and General Botha the sworn evidence taken before General Elliott, showing that Lieutenant John Mair, of the New South Wales Artillery, and Privates Harvey and Blunt, were shot down on June 6 last after surrendering at Graspan, near Reitz, when Elliott engaged De Wet. Commandant Lotter has reappeared in the vicinity of Cradock. Colonel Scobell is pursuing him. Mr Brodrick yesterday stated that, in view of the absence of a satisfactory assurance on the part of the Boers respecting the murder of the wounded at the battle of Vlakfontein. and in view of the occurrences at Graspan, he had cabled Lord Kitchener the substance of a proposed proclamation declaring that the members of any commando committing such an outrage shall, after a trial proving that they were present, be deemed guilty, and the leader of the commando sentenced to death, and other members of the commando sentenced to death, or a lesser sentence, according to their degree of complicity. Great indignation prevails over the Graspan murders.

The newspapers regret the delay in announcing one of the worst and saddest episodes of the campaign. The principle of applying collective responsibility to any force guilty of such outrages is generally approved, provided the proclamation contains certain necessary safeguards. The issue and final terms of the proclamation are dependent upon Lord Kitchener's judgment. The ' Standard.' referring to the proclamation, says that Great Britain has humanely resolved to bring home the guilt to individuals before punishing them. ' The Times' doubts the utility of formally proclaiming what the enemy are aware they must expect if they allow the war to degenerate into murder. A number of sharpshooters in the north of Ladybrand captured five Boers and many horses at a farmhouse used as a Boer remount depot. In connection with Lord Kitchener's complaints regarding the selection of members of the Yeomanry force, it is stated that several substitutes underwent the riding and firing tests in place of the incompetent yeomen who were enrolled. Lieutenant D. G. Turleston, of the New Zealand Seventh Contingent, has died from pneumonia at Losberg.

THE AMENITIES OF WARFARE. After the Yeomanry's Buffelsdoorn fight Commandant Fouche", addressing Captain Clark, said:—"You are a brave man, and have a brave lot under you; I agree to your terms of surrender, and will see that they are observed." Fouche thereupon waved his hat, and the Boers came trooping down, Commandant Kruitzinger amongst, the number. Upon hearing the terms of surrender, Kruitzinger waxed very indignant, and, addressing Captain Clark, said: " You arc the who wanted to bring the Kaffirs to murder us at Labuschagnesnek." Captain Clark—cool, calm, and collected—retorted : " You are an infernal liar." Waving his huge sjambok, with which he is used to flog his burghers in order to urge them on to fight, Kruitzinger roared : " Say that again ! " I repeat," calmly and deliberately replied Captain Clark, "that you are an infernal liar, and if you strike me with that sjambok, I will pull you from your horse and trample the vitals" out of you." .The blusterer was awed and amazed at the bravery of a British captain and a mere handful of meD bearding him in this manner in his den. Commandant Fouche interposed, saying : " Captain Clark surrendered to me upon certain conditions, and those conditions must be respected." Turning to Kruitzinger, Captain Clark said: " We'll meet again upon more equal terms, and then you'll be my prisoner." Captain Clark's horse, saddle, and bridle were taken from him, but Fouche returned the saddle, keeping the silverplated stirrup irons and valise, the latter of which had been perforated by bullets during the action. " I will keep these," he jocularly remarked to Captain Clark, "as mementoes of your capture, but when the war is over, if I am alive, I will visit your farm, spend a fewdays with you, and then return you the articles." Captain Clark said to Commandant Fouche: "You have treated me fairly and honorably ; you have had the best of it this time, but when I go home I will reorganise my force, and chase, capture, or kill every man of your commando. It is only a question of time."