THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE REINFORCEMENTS. BOOSRS UNDER BRITISH PROTECTION. THE CAPE RAIDERS. EFFICACY*OF MARTLAL LAW. United 3?ress Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 6. Mr Rudyard Kipling has given the Western Province (South Africa) Mounted Infan&ry a Maxim gun. Of the seven thousand regular mounted troops ."Which it is intended, to send to the Cape, the Second Dragoon Guards, the 7th Hussars-and 'the* 21st .Lcincers are readyto leave.. There " are now / . sixty thousand Boer refugees under British protection. Small bodies of raiders continue to enter Cape Colony, and are appearing in the Colesbtirg and Richmond districts. The Cape Town correspondent of the "Times'" states that the operation of/martial law in Cape Colony has proved agreeably disappointing to these who feared a rising. When the Dutch know they nvusb obey they do so cheerfully. CONVALESCENT OFFICERS. FRENCH INVESTORS AND THE MINES. PLAGUE AT CAEE TOWN. (Received Feb. 10,. 5.30 p.m.) • LOUDON, Feb. 9. The following colonial officers have recovered from their wounds : —Colonel Wallack (Tasmania), Lieutenants Neywood, Moore (Victoria), W. King (Queensland), J. Montgomerie (New Zealand). French investors holding Transvaal bonds have protested to Dr Lsyds against the Boers destroying the mines. Two cases of bubonic plague are reported at Cape Town; Major Yarra expert, and Colonel Mackay (New South Wales) have been summoned from Pretoria, and are consulting and advising the authorities. Every precaution and rigorous preventive measures are being taken, and the outbreak has caused no alarm. WAR LOAN, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH. The British Government is issuing eleven million 3 per cent .exchequer bonds, repayable in 1905, ranking with the issue of December last. The bank opens the tenders on Monday. The despatches issued by the War Office show that General Buller doubted the possibility of being able to relieve Lady smith. He telegraphed to Lord Roberts on Feb.,; 6 asking whether he ought to risk the sacrifice of two or three thousand men to gain access to the plain 'within ten miles of Sir George White's position, adding that the success of the movement was doubtful. Lord Roberts replied that Ladysmith must be relieved even at the cost anticipated, and urged General Buller to persevere. General Buller, on Feb. 9 asked for reinforcements! FAULTY MAPS AND DEFECTIVE GUNS. Major-General Hunter's despatches stated that the war maps were a positive danger, and delusion. The guns and not the gunners were at fault. '^ LORD ROBERTS DESPATCHES. DISORGANISED ARMY CORPS. NECESSARY RISKS. THE ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT. (Received Feb. 10, 5.47 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. The War Office has issued two volumes of despatches coveting the period of Lord Roberts's command. They graphically reveal -the terrible drawbacks encountered. The Army Corps organisation was disintegrated. At the first contact with the enemy in reality there was no organised transport corps. After this had been organised, Lord) Roberts consciously encountered the risk of a rising in Cape Colony and the danger/ of having ■ his lines of communication cut, rather than forego the enormous advantage of striking the enemy's capital.

Lord Roberts pathetically laments the subsequent condition of the mounted forces preventing any operation, demanding rapidity of movement. H« pays 'a tribute to General Buller and his subordinate officers and brave soldiers, who were marching and fighting almost incessantly from Jan. 15 to Feb. 28 last year.

Finally, Lord Roberts emphatically declares that the permanent tranquility of the annexed colonies is dependent on the complete disarmament of the inhabitants. He admits that this task is difficult, yet one to be accomplished by time and patience. BOERS HOLD UP A TRAIN. DE WET'S MOVEMENTS. REPULSE OF THE ENEMY. (Received Feb. 10, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. The 1 Boers on Feb. 6 held up and looted the GreylingsitadrVlaklaagte train, six civiiliang being -wounded. De Wet was northwards of Smithfield on Thursday, moving eastwards. Part of his force ig advancing on Philippolis, but many of his followers are deserting, and are inclined to accept Lord Kitchener's terms. The Boer force moving south has been repulsed near Reddersburg. MURDERING AND ROBBING. (Received Feb. 11, 12.24 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. ■-■ Q&i)3iima^aat c Meius^siai^bke(i*'e«,d2^en(;

shot four Boers ab Standerton for refusing to fight. Sturgeon 'Walker, was thrd'ee wounded l alt Modderifontein,'' , and a Boer Üben (battered his heaidl with a stone, killing him. The Boers robbed the passengers of the Grey-limgsitad-Vla-lilaag'te train, relieving a nurse of £25. FALSE ACCUSATIONS. Mr Bosnian, a leading Dutch pastor, at Pretoria, who was afforded opportunities to investigate the charges of 'British ill-treat-ment of Boer women, reports them to 'be baseless. RETURN OF NETHERLANDS CONSUL. (Received Feb. 11, 12.24 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9, The Portuguese Government has agreed to the return to Delagoa Bay of Mr S. Potts, whose exequator as Netherlands Consul was recently withdrawn, the King of Portugal at the time alleging that there were grave reasons for the step. BRITISH SUCCESSES. Received Feb. 11, 12.29 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10. The enemy violently attacked General Smith-Dorrien's outposts at Bothwell, near Rietretief. The British suffered severely, but repulsed and inflicted heavy losses on the Boeors. General French occupied Emxelo, when 6000 Boers retired towards. Amsterdam. FURTHER AUSTRALIAN CON- . TINGENTS. (Received Feb. 11, 1.10 a.m.) ADELAIDE, Feb. 10. Tile Fifth Contingent of 300 boarded the Ormazan yesterday and sailed for Cape Town to-day. There was a large crowd on the wharf, and the Governor visited the troops on board. The men paraded the streets and were entertained! on the previous day. The Teviotdale, with horses, accompanies the OrawzanL ■'-'' MELBOURNE, Feb. 10. ' The City of Lincoln, with 624 hoT«es, has sailed for Cape Town. Fifty men accompany the horses. MORE NEW ZEALANDERS WANTED. A SEVENTH CONTINGENT. [From Otto Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. Mr Chamberlain's gentle hint that he would like more New Zealanders at the front was much discussed this morning. A feAV of the " dry sort" think the hint rather too 'early after the departure of the Sixth Contingent, but the majority decidedly favour the idea. The Government is to put on its- considering cap presently, but the " tip " in,' well-informed circles is that a Seventh Contingent will go like a shot. First, it is a point of honour to beat the Cornstalks, and, secondly, we must relieve our comrades that have had about enough of it. When the Seventh Contingent embarks, it will, I have reason to believe, be bigger than anything that has sailed. As for quality, it is hoped it will contain more men from the country, that is, riders and shots. When it reaches South Africa we shall probably find that the masterly dispositions made by Lord Kitchener to catch De Wet and Co. will require the old contingents to stay.till the end, but this will n.ot make'any difference to the Cabinet deliberations.

RETURNING NEW' ZEALAND TROOPS. [From Our Correspondent^] WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. The following cablegram lias just been received by the Premier, from Hobart: "The foll'oVing members of the New Zealand Fourth and Fifth Contingents arrived at this port this morning by the s.s. Karamea, Lieutenant-Colonel Newall, Sergeants Ross and. Gregg, Privates Brown, Cook, Clunie, Canieron, Dormer, Gill, Harris, Home, Hopkins, Hunter, Hay ward, Hintzell, Jackson, Lean, Morrison, Moo-ret, M'DougaJl, M'Cauley, Popham, Riddel, Ruddell, Regan, Retter, Smith, Sommerville, Stevens and Valentine. These are all well. Sergeant Chajlis and Private Searelle, suffering from pneumonia, have been received into the Hobarfc Hospital, at the request of the Medical Officer. The following New Zealand irregulars are also on board, Privates Tait, Rowland, M'Donald (Brabant's Horse), Private Keane (Roberts's Horse), Private Gibson (B.S.A. Police). The Karaanea leaves for New Zealand this evening. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. News has been received that the troopship Chicago left Cape Town on Feb. 7, having on board Surgeon H. T. D. Aclajid and the New Zealand troopers Wallace, Spain, Spencer, Warren, Dignan, M'Kay, Wise, Brown, Woodward, Mat son, Farrell, Watt and Tover. SURGEONS REQUIRED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. [From Our Correspondent.] The military authorities in South Africa have asked for four additional surgeons to be sent from Australasia in addition to those accompanying the contingents. When the request arrived Mr Sedidon wrote to Australia- requesting that New Zealand: Should) have the honour of supplying one of the extra four surgeons required. Ho has received ai reply from the Defence Minister at Brisbane to the effect that he is fa- : veurable and will use his influence with the rest in the desired direction. WELCOME TO TROOPER HODGEN. •On Friday evening the residents of Prebbleton and surrounding districts herd a social gathering in honour of Trooper E. Hodgen, of the First New Zealand Contingent. The gathering took place in the Prebbleton Town Hall, which was tastefully and appropriately decorated for the occasion. There were not less than two 'hundred and fifty persons present. Mr W. Haden, on behalf of the residents, presented Trooper Hodgen with a very handsome illuminated address, suitably-framed, a watch and chain, and 1 a pocket knife. The guest of the evening, who met with the warmest possible reception, said that he would sooner face his enemies, the Boers, on the veldt than stand before his friends upon a platform on such an occasion and attempt to express his thanks. Indeed, if he had known What was in store for him on his return he was not sure that he would not have remained in South Africa. Short speeches were also made by Messrs G..W. Russell, M.H.R., and C. Lewis, M.H.R., and songs were given by Messrs J, Prebble and L. Harper.