THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12620, 1 October 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SCHEEPER’S COMMANDO. KITCHENERS REPLY TO BOER OVERTURES. MAINTENANCE OF BURGHERS’ FAMILIES. United Press Association—By Eleclrie Telegraph—Copyright. ' LONDON, Sept. 29. Scheeper’s commando has crossed- Olif ant's .River, and is moving in a north, easterly direction. BOTHA’S FRUITLESS OPERATION. MAINTENANCE OF BURGHERS’ FAMILIES. BOER ATTACK ON THE (Received Sept. 30, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, Sept, 30. General Bruce Hamilton reports that 1500 men, commanded by General Louis Botha and Commandant Grofaelaar, attacked Forts Italia and Prospect. Nineteen of the enemy were killed, including two commandants, and numbers were wounded. The Boers retired north-east. Lord Milner has directed the disposal of the property of the burghers still in the field to maintain their families. The Boers attacked the Basutos on Sept. 24. There was severe fighting. Three Boers were killed. The Basutos retired.

A LETTER. jmOM SCHALKBURGER. LORD KITCHENER’S REPLY. GOVERNMENT FARMS. , LONDON, Sept, 50. Lord Kitchener, replying to Schalkburger’s letter expressing a desire for peace, -explained that Great Britain cannot abandon the annexation of the ex-Repnb-lics without breaking*faith withi the loyalists. He added, regarding the Cape,rebels and .traitors,, that the prerogative of clemency must be exercised with unlettered discretion. ' . .- Government farms, near all the principal Transvaal garrisons, are managed by two Australian and Cambridgeshire' farmers, and supply sufficient green fodder and vegetables: foil the local forces, CHRISTMAS COMFORTS. [Per Press Association^ WELLINGTON. Sept, 30. Considerable contributions id goods and cash have been received for the proposed Christmas hampers for the New Zealand troopers at the front. These’ will be sent* in’two lots, for the-Sixth and. Seventh Contingents. _

Surgeon-Colonel Burns is returning to the colony (says the “Otago Daily Times.”) He left the Caps,on Sept. 22 in charge of Or small draft, of invalided New Zealanders. Trooper 0. Howie, of the Auckland second company of the Sixth Contingent,; writing under date of .Bloemfontein, August 19, casts some interesting sidelights on the campaignHe - s-ayh;—A Just now- all thar troops and everyone else are discussing’ Kitcnener’s; latest proclamation, wondering, whether Botha or Stey-n, or both, will ah this juncture surrender, and if peace will be. proclaimed soon after this proclamation takes effect. - It is, I think, the desire of every soldier in South Africa that the war should come to -a speedy termination, so that they cam go heme or get away from military law. ,The number of petty regulations and unnecessary restrictions in all garrison -towns renders the existence of all except officers well- nigh unbearable. Ic is my opinion, and that of many others, that if the officers had to bear the hardships and trivial annoyances that Tommy has to put up with, without any chance of making complaint,, the war would, have been over many months ago a and the country spared a lot of expense. It is very hard on us, too, to see Boers comma; in off commando taking the' oath of allegiance and being allowed' all the privileges possible under martial law. '