THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Lake County Press, Issue 982, 3 October 1901, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

LONDON, September 26. General Botha, llie Boer Commander-m----t’liicf, with a large force, has quitted the vicinity of !)e .lager’s Drift and encamped on the Transvaal side of Nkandiii Hill. Boer advices state that Beyers and Vitjoen have joined Botha, who has a force of 6. COO. Ten Boer lead* rs captimd since the 16th have, bi.-n sentenced at Pretoria to pertainin', banishment. Bit uteiian! Grant, of the 12th Lamars, nfered Sehecpci's laager alone on the night of the 23rd. and summoned the Boers to surrender. Three complied with his demand. Brant then threw their titles into the river and filed from his revolver at two of (he enemy, hut in the confusion his shots went wide, and he wounded his own men. Complaints are made of the short supplies of foodstuffs at Bloemfontein. Dr I, eyds is engineering a great revival of Anglophobia on the Continent, and stimulating pro-Buer»siii hi Great Britain, coincident with a vigorous summer campaign by the Boevs.

IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD. TIMAKU, September 26. The memorial to local troopers —William Moffatt, T. L. Scott, and J. Butler—who died in South Africa, was unveiled in Pareora Cemetery yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of the settlers of the neighborhood. It consists of a marble column and urn, on a bluestone base, with a suitable inscription on a plate, ft was chiefly provided by shilling subscriptions. every household contributing. The memorial was unveiled by Mrs A. S. Elworthy. and among the speakers were Major Crawshaw, Captain Bourn (to whose company the deceased had belonged),'-’.and Archdeacon Harper. Colonel Jowsey was unable to attend. The memorial was handed over to the care of the Cemetery Trustees. THE BOER PRISONERS. “ The gross lies which have been circulated in the Continental papers about our treatment of the prisoners have aroused considerable indignation here, even amongfet the prisoners themselves.” In these words Mr R. A. Sterndale, Governor of St. Helena, ■ refers to the campaign which has been conducted abroad and in this country reflecting on the humanity of the administrators of this island, the famous place of confinement of Napoleon. Continuing his contradiction of these tales, Mr Sterndale states that ‘‘the Boer hospital in Jamestown is fitted up in a perfect manner, and tho patients when convalescent are loth to leave,” and he adds :

“ The fair and honest among the prisoners, whilst upholding their opinion that they were right to tight, and would fight again in the same cause, acknowledge that they are well treated, and there are a few who have expressed a wish to settle in the island after the war." To some extent life in St. Helena, has been revolutionised by the Boer incursion. The prisoners in the two camps have accepted their lot, as a rule, with a good spirit, and relieve their monotony of life with football and other occupations, and enjoy “ a large amount of liberty, a certain number being let out under passes every day." The Governor reports most satisfactorily as to their behaviour. " They have been hitherto very well behaved, and," Mr Sterndale remarks. “I have had no complaints from the people of the island regarding any misconduct ; a number of them have been allowed to take service with farmers and others who have made themselves responsible for their safety.’’

.V representative of the “ Times of Ceylon,’ who interviewed some Boer prisoners arriving in the island by the transport City of Cambridge, lias obtained unequivocal testimonies to the kindness of the British. In reply to a question as to how they had enjoyed the voyage. Landrost Munnik, speaking for his co-officers, was enthusiastic as to the treatment- received on board. "And it has been the same all through the war,” he added. “ Whenever wc have met the British soldier—officer or man—we have found him a perfect gentleman in his conduct towards us. We tire glad of this, because we consider that our quarrel is not with individuals.’' Asked as to his opinion of the fighting qualities of the British soldier, Munnik said: "They have done as no other nation would have done. They have fought .against difficulties which people in Europe never will understand, and never cun be made to understand. They are men. and you can take it from me that that is the opinion every man who has fought against them has of the British soldier. Magersfciitein showed ns what the bravery of the British soldier who walks calmly to his death was. It was grand. Our men mowed them down, hut it had no stopping effect : and if any man says the soldiers did not come, on he lies.”