THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12562, 25 July 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

ATTACKS ON A TOWN. THE ENEMI REPULSED. MRS KRUGER'S DEATH. HER MESSAGE TO THE EX-PRESIDEfIT. THE CAPTURED CORRESPONDENCE. THE LIBERAL POLICY. VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE WAR. PRO-BOER CAUSE DISCLAIMED. A TRAIN CAPTURED. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDOKt, July 23. A Boer force for two days made determined attacks on Aberdeen. The arrival of a detachment of Australians, with, a fif-teen-pounder, caused it to disperse. Mr F. Eloff, Kruger's son-in-law, cabled to the. ex-President, stating that Mrs Kruger's end wus peaceful and painless. Her dying message to her husband was that lie must place bis firm trust in God. In connection with the captured correspondence between Mr Reitz and Mr Steyn, Mr Reitz's reference to the final step in one letter is believed to foreshadow an application for an armistice by the Transvaal leaders, with the avowed' intention of consulting the burghers, and hoping to secure a settlement which will preserve the Boer nationality. ILLNESS OP GENERAL BADENPOWELL. LONDON, July 23. General Badeu-Powell is Eeriously ill, owing to prolonged strain. His doctors have ordered his entire cessation from work for three months. Mr Chamberlain, has stated that the wanton destruction at Murraysburg and elsewhere by Commandant Scb.eeper's raiders is mere brigandage. THE REITZ-STEYN CORRESPONDENCE. THE CAPE DUTCH IMPRESSED. CAPE TOWN, July 23.\ The Cape Dutch are profoundly impressed at tire revelation of the hopelessness of the position. They consider that. Mr Steyn's arguments are baseless. THE LIBERALS AND THE WAR. PRO-BOERS DISCLAIMED. {Received July 25, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. The Committee of the Imperial Liberal Council resolved in. favour of a vigorous prosecution of the* war. A generakamnesty to rebels was impossible until the- termination of hostilities. The charges of barbarity against the Britisih were unfounded. Pro-Boer demonstrations acted directly in prolonging the war, and the attempt to identify the Liberal party with the proBoer cause was dishonest. The committee and the resolutions adopted represent a majority of the Liberal party. A FIGHT NEAR CRADOCK. (Received July 25, 1.53 a.ni.) LONDON, July 24. Kruitsdnger, at dawn, on July 21, attacked Colonel Crabbe's force, numbering 300, in the Cradock Mountains. - Colonel Crabbe's horses stampeded. After . fighting all day Colonel Crabbe retired to Mortimer. His casualties were slight. BOERS NEAR KRUGERSDORP. AN INTENDED DASH SOUTH. LONDON, July 24. The " Times " states that Colonel Alenby reports the presence a few days ago, of a thousand Boers at Kroondvaal, near IVTUgsrsdbrp. Surrenderee confirm the report that all the Boer leaders intend making one more dash south. CAPTURE OF A TRAIN. LONDON, July 24. Lord Kitchener reports that Scheoper's commando, on July 21, captured' and burned a train bringing 113 details and stores from Cape Town, eight miles north of Beauforb East. Three British were killed and eighteen wounded. A full. inquiry into the incident is proceeding.

FUNERAL OP A TROOPER. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Juyl 24. Trooper M'Kechnie, who died in the hospital after returning by the Tagus frotm South. Africa, was buried to-day with full military honours. TJiero' was a large attendance of the public and a .good turnout o!f returned men and Volunteers.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Jidy 24. Twenty New Zealanders, who shave been fighting in South Africa, returned by the Westralia, to-day, in charge of Lieutenant Brebner, of Invereargill. Their names are:—New Zealand! Mounted Riiles—Privates Thompson, Wheeler, Topp, Ritter and Ferris; Kitchener's Horse—Sergeants M'Kay and Cook; Corporal Braddell, Privates Williams, M'G-rath, Cookson, Anderson, Wright, Miller, Bartlett, Spence, Todd, and Green ; Commander-in-Chief's Body Guard—Pi-irate Green. The men are from all parts of the ■colony.

The social in honour of Sergeant Hesp, of Tempk'ton, who recently returned from. South Africa, will be held in the Templeton Hotel, next Friday evening, when, on behalf of the subscribers, Mrs C. Dawson will present Sergeant Hesp with a, gold Maltese cross, suitably inscribed, The Timaru Port Guards, on Tuesday evening,' gave a welcome home social to Surgeon Captain Thomas, formerly their captain. . The gathering was ln-ld in St Mary's Schoolroom, which was very niceiy

decorated by the Guards. Colonel C.M.G., on behalf of Captain Raymond and the Port Guards, and the Mayor, MS Macintosh, and on behalf of the citizens, generally, welcomed Dr Thomas home again,: and eulogised his services ss medical officer to the Fourth Contingent. Dr Thomas, thanked the Port Guards and the public fo* the very kindly receptions they tod- given 'him. He spoke very.briefly and sympathetically of the companies he had been'ab.-, tacked to in South Africa, where he, lila., all others, had but tried to do his duty. ' A social was held at the Maori Hall', Little River, in honour of Trooper Reynolds, just returned from the front, who, : during the evening, was made the recipient of a purse of sovereigns, subscribed by residents of Little River. Trooper Reynolds who ha® been very ill since his return to the colony, was quite unable to speak, his voice having failed him, and Mr T. Nutt acknowledged the present for the returned trooper, and also read some interesting and exciting experiences from Trooper Reynolds' diary, after which dancing was resumed and kept up until break of day.