THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12571, 5 August 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SURPRISE OF A LAAGER, " THE MURDER OF NATIVES- -t KRUITZINGER'S THREATS. STERN MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH. SPEECH BY MR CHAMBER-K LAIN. ;f| SUCCESS OF KITCHENER'S; * METHODS. United Press Association—By Eleotri* Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 2. .'■:; There is widespread indignation in land at the shooting of natives and atni Kruitzinger's threats. •.;.,'•*. A laager at Joubert's farm was • >tuv 7 > prised on July 29, and seven Boers \yext ■■•/.• killed and seven captured. Two hundred cattle and sixty, horses were taken, Th»% British came off scaithless. ' 3 Surgeon-Major Thomas Burns, of New ■■■• Zealand, is convalescent, and has resumed ;;, duty. t ; ; 2 C J

THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR SURREN. « DER. KRUGER'S STUBBORNNESS. (Received August 4, 4.54 p.m.) i LONDON, August 3. " The Censor stopped the following Reu- .' ter s message; from Standerton on July 5: —Driving in, as prearranged, in a cart - with four greys* General Botha and hit - secretary recently brought to Colonel Wal- .- ter Kitchener at Platrand Mr Kruger's reply to General Botha's proposal for sur-- " render, as follows, addressed to Botha, D« Wet, De La Rey and Steyn:—"Continue fighting. Alleviation will be sent whe* • •needed." ; THE MURDERS OF NATIVES. SPEECH BY MR CHAMBERLAIN. : SEVERE MEASURES PROMISED. '• LONDON, August 3. ' . Lord Stanley, Financial Secretary of ton*. War Office, -Stated that natives were «ffir ployed?- on both sides scouting. He presumed that they ■were -unarmed. If they. - were armed on the occasion, mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatch, it was contrary; to all instructions. (Received August 4, 5.10 p.sn.l _^ Sir Henry Campbell-Bannennsn', dealing, with the Colonial Office vote, closely ia«." quired regarding, the South African, situ** > tion. Mr Chamberlain, in a wedgjlrty, speech, mid that the angular war and guerilla war had been succeeded by a thirS stage of ruffianism, brigandage and out-" rage, requiring a change in the attitude toi* wards ,s.ie authors. Lord Kitchener's aeitf , policy of estabhshing blockhouses on ih« lines of communication, separating fighters- J from surrenderers and re-establishing conditions of peace ill protected district!*, . was so successful that the Commander believed that it would bei possible to send,"home a considerable number of troops by, the end of September. Mr Chamberlain a proceeded to announce severe methods of dealing with incursions into protected areas. . Regarding Kruitzinger's threats, the Government had telegraphed to Lord ; Kitchener that such acts and the killing of wounded were contrary, to civilised warfare, that those committing or authorising them ?were to be court-martialled, and, if . found guilty, suffer the penalty of death. (Loud cheers.)' General French had been . instructed to-inforniKruitziinger of this decision. Mr Chamberlain added that the military situation was more hopeful than for a long tirno past. ' The speech provoked intense hostility oa - the part of the Irish Party. Mr Chamberlain's crushing retorts to their interruptions greatly aggravated Mr Murphy, mem- . ber for Kerry East, who declared that Mr- ' Chamberlain had shed enough blood to,» swim in. Obstructionist tactics were maintained until six o'clock in the morning. GENERAL ELLIOTT'S MARCH. LONDON, August 3, . General Elliott's column was frequently ■[ sniped at on the march from Bethlehem, Reitz and Frankfort to Klerksdorp. Farming everywhere was in evidence, but the : majority of the farmers deserted their homes on the news that the British were • advancing, and preceded the columns under. ■ Voster's command. The captures included)"" sixty prisoners, many cattle, thousands pi t horses and arms, and a great quantity of ammunition. Some of the ammunition was found buried. Troopers Simpson and Mounsey weira given-a hearty welcome by a large party, assembled at the View Hill .Schoolroom, or - Thursday evening, at which Mr „ Frank Fitch presided, and made the presentations. To Trooper Simpson a valuable sporting gun was presented, and to Trooper Mounsey a travelling bag and other souvenirs, which, were acknowledged by the recipient?, after which dancing and music were indulged in. A " social" -was tendered to the returned ■ Troopers cf the Third, Fourth and Fifth Contingents, at the Darfield School yesterday evening. The" leading feature of the proceedings was the presentations of a gold. Maltese cross, suitably inscribed to the following officors and troopers: —Captain D. Poison, D.C0.,-Lieutenant J. D. M&nson, Sergeant Hight, Corporal Kaine, Troopers Rae, Berry, Bull and Hankiris, also a gold brooch, suitably inscribed, as a rnemonaia, - to Mrs Atkinsoni mother of. the late Trooper Atkinson, who lost his life »4fc : Paai'deburg, on April 29. The officers and troopers suitably replied. Songs -art®* given by-several ladies and gentlemen, and speeches by Revs Maxwell, Whitehead, and" Reader, Lieutenant J. Dean*, of the Malvern Mounted Rifles, 'and the Chairman, Mr Reed. Cheers were given for the troopers, and the committee, and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the first part of the programme to a close.. Supper was provided by the committee, , aftftK vrViinh dancing engaged in.