THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 8

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE BRITISH RIFLE FIRE. CRITICISMS BY GENERAL BULLER. THE PRO-BOER AGITATION. REMARES BY MR BALFOUR. PLAIN SPEAKING BY MR ASQUITH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ' LONDON, June 20. General Buller declares that the campaign shewed , the want of accuracy of the British rifle fire at short ranges, thus allowing one foe to escape with insufficient punishment after positions ’had been gained. Mr Balfour, addressing the Conservative agents, at, the Holborn. Restaurant, said that Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman’s assertion that the war had been conducted barbarously, was a scandalous and shocking statement, gince no war had ever been conducted with equal humanity. . Several indignation'meetings were held outside the Queen’s Hall, and resolutions were passed condemning the pro-Boer campaign, and it was enthusiastically resolved to support the Government. De Wet; and Steyn recently made , unsuccessful attempts to cross the line ait Standerton and Heidelberg. SLOTHFUL SENTRIES PARDONED. COMMANDANT VENTER’S ATTEMPT TO SURRENDER. LONDON, June 20. ;, Earl Roberta has pardoned ‘ several Volunteers who were sentenced to penal servitude for sleeping at their posts. . Commandant Barraud Venter had arranged with his commando of one hundred to surrender, but one of his mm informed General Badenhans, who imprisoned’ Commamdiant Venter. The latter and his two sons, however, escaped to the British lines at Memo. CLEARING THE TRANSVAAL. LONDON, June 20. Colonel Golenbrander’s scouts are clearing the north-east Transvaal, and are taking many prisoners and waggons, while many Boers ax© surrendering. The Boers are trying to, break through the cordons and join Commandant Beyers’ force.

AN EFFECTIVE REPLY TO “LITTLE ENGLANDERS,”

SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. (Received June 22, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, Juiie 21,

Mr Asquith, addressing ■ the Essex Liberal Federation, protested against Liberal Imperialists being denounced as schismatics. They neither repented nor recanted their view that the war was forced upon ' Great Britain, without adequate reason, and entirely against. Britain’s : will. No, authority in the Liberal Party, pontifical or otherwise, was empowered to excommunicate the holders of that view. The resolution passed at the Queen’s Hall, inculcating unconditional surrender to the Boers, was not an authoritative exposition; of the Liberal opinion.

THE REFUGEE; GAMPS. THE MORTALITY. LONDON, June 21. Four Boer refugees’ camps, in tihe Orange Colony, besides nine for tbe. natives, are requiring a weekly importation of 88 tons of foodstuffs. The average mortality in these camps is 116 per thousand: per annum, largely the result of the Boers’ disregard of sanitation and the women's neglect of their children, RESULT OF PRO-BOER CLAMOUR. DISPLAY OF CONTINENTAL HOSTILITY. LONDON, June 21. The Queen’s Hall meeting has revived the, Continental clamour against England. French newspapers % urge a boycott of British goods until the independence of South African . ‘ Republics is conceded. MR AfISQUITH’S SPEECH. (Received June 21, 11.57 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. In his address to the Essex Liberal Federation, Mr Asquith declared that the South, African wax was most humanely conducted. No man in the Empire was more penetrated with a spirit off humanity than Lord Milner, It was impossible to restore the status of the Republics, hut he hoped to see a free federated dominion on the model of Canada or Australia. 'Mr Austin Chamberlain, squeaking at a Conservative luncheon in London, declared that the meanest scribblers in the meanest joupial never made a more infamous or unfounded chairge than that made by Si" Henry Campbell' Bannerman, alleging the barbarity of Lord! Kitchener or tbs Army. RETURNING CONTINGENTS. [Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, June 21. At a meeting of forty citizens to-night it was resolved to make preparations for the' proper reception of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, which the Premier states .will disembark from the s.s. Tagus at the Bluff. Committees were set’ up for various departments, and matters.have 'been started with a swing that augurs a great reception. THE RETURNED ‘ TROOPERS. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 21. At the luncheon to the returned troopers to-day, the Premier : announced wait, through the Governor, he had' asked the Duka of Cornwall that, on the formation of the first Imperial reserve, the men, of the New Zealand Contingents who had served in South Africa should take first place. His Royal Highness had also been asked-bo allow the first battalion of reservists to be called the Duke of Cornwall’s Own, and that the second battalion should be called the Duchess of Cornwall’s Own. “I have little doubt,” concluded Mr Seddon, “ that the request ydU be compiled with.”