THE WAR IN SOUTH. AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12621, 2 October 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH. AFRICA.

_. « . A REBEL'S DISCLOSURES. AN OFFER BY BOER PRISONERS, . BOER MOVEMENTS. MUTINOUS VICTORIANS. HEAVY SENTENCES. United Press.." Association Electno Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, Sept- 30. A rebel named Wolfaardb lias been tried at Graaf Reinet. He blames Dr Do Water, formerly a Gape' Minister, raid Mips Olive Schreiner for inciting tie rebellion. Two hundred''Boers on parole at Ceylon have offered to .serve in the British Army outside South' Africa.. MOVEMENTS. OF TaE GArE . ;RAIDERS. ! LONDON', Sept. 30. Commandant; Theron is endeavouring to join Commandants Louw, Maritz and others, whose commandoes total 700 men, northwards of Clamvdlliam, in Cape Colony. DEATH OF KRUGER'S SON. THE ATTACK ON A FORT. HEAVY LOSSES. (Received Oct. 1, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. Mr Kruger's son, Tgaard, who recently surrendered, died after a short illness.

Later details oi' the attack on Fort Italia ihow that) the British casualties were » lieutenant and 1 eleven men, killed and liveofficers, including Major Chapman, and thirty-eight men wounded, and sixty-three men missing. It is now stated that two hundred Boers were killed and over three hundred -wounded or captured. General Botha lias moved east of Vryteld, trying to regain Pif'l Relief. LORD KITCHENER AND THE WAR OFFICE. {Received Oct. 2, ~1 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. Commandant Souls' force crossed the line at Sheldon, proceeding west.

Apropos of ,the War Office denial that friction existed with Lord Kitchener, the "Standard" declares that it is intolerable that a ruinously expensive war is not ended. VICTORIANS INj TROUBLE. SENTENCES FOR MUTINY AND SURRENDERING. MELBOURNE, Oob. 1. • Information has been received that three members .of thei Fifth Victorian Contingent in- South Africa, were: sentenced to be shot for inciting a -mutiny. Lord Kitchener commuted the --'sentences; The chief offender was sentenced to ten;years' penal servitude, andthe two others to one year's imprisonment. two members of the- contingent had been sentenced to two years' imprisonment each for surrender■■ing- ' .',;■] .'■■"■ ; DEATH. OF A TROOPER., « [Per Phkss Association.] , DUNEDIN, Oct, 1. . .' Trooper Peter Nelson, of tie Fifth, Contingent, died in the hospital, at midnight. He-returned-by/-the Tagus, aad belongs-to the: Bluff. The news of the death of Trooper Peter Nelson will- be received by his comrades with deep regret. ■ Trooper Nelson belonged to the Ota.go Squadron.of the Fifth New Zealand Regiment, and embarked for South Africa in the ■ Gym-eric; His health was somewhat delicate on the voyage, and! on going into camp at Beira he' suffered. from' a severe attack el 'fever. He was able, however, to entrain with the'regiment'.'through the Portuguese' territory to Marandallas, and join, in the march- through Rhodesia. On arrival at Buluwayo he had a relapse, and other complications setting, in, he was strongly urged by his commanding officer to apply to be invalided 'home. He stoutly refused' to go back unless he was forced, and his health improving, under treatment at the Buluwaj-o ] Hospital, he rejoined' his' company while en route for Mafeking. He stuck to them right through the campaign, and! al'thc-ugh he was subject to periodical recurrences of fever, and was in. and out of tho field hospitals very frequently, he managed to participate, in most of the fighting which fell'to the lot of his troop. .He was ■several times given an opportunity of being invalided home, : ; but his wish, that he should put in his period'of service with the ethers was respited,-and his application to business when he got within striking distance! of the 'enemy was a complete justification of 'his presence in the fighting strength of Ms squadron. When the Fifth Regiment was mobilising for home he had another' severe attack, of his former complaint, from which. he never quite recovered.

THE '■ FOURTH CONTINGENT HORSES. (By a Eetuh.\-rd Teoopee.) The', discussion in the House ;of Representatives , on Friday in- reference -to the claims, for payment; for the Fourth Con-, tingenfc 'horses' has been widely read .and commented upon by the men interented; and much disappointment is '■■ expressed at thet attitude of lhe; : New Zealand 'Govemniient on the -question. From ■fab? tima of «n----ha.rkation for Africa until orders for, borne were received, when the 'horses had /to. 'be given up, the Contingent 'had the idea that those animals? Supplied by troopers were, their own property, to be'sold 1 or retained a.s it pleased them. This 'idea was encouraged,, or practically confirmed •■n 'the mail's minds by what",'Major Davis said just Iwfcre the Contingent starfrd for hom?, and many of them parted with their minimis before leaving fora monetary consideration on (hisunderctauding. 'Tihrfe who could not; find a- : purchaser, or who were unwilling ; to sell,-.rested c-;on£id-*n't in the assurance they -would bs recv.npensed in full when th'eyrf turned to New Zealand, and sent their Jrorses-into-' the remount depot without;*- any appi-t:hcn:skm. Their dismay >vhen tihey found t.bii't the New Zealand Government disclaimed any liability in. the matter ccrn be imagined, and they are now wondering whether th'sy have any claim upon' the 'lmperial. Government fcr tlis' - value of the horses which they

left in the army in South Africa.. ■ :Ti ;1 ;.\i 'do thio New'Zedaind. Government they made 'it very clear: at 'the' st^rfc;:to':; "I : |! candidates, for enrolment in thfe. Fourth- CContingent that they must." supply their; : ' ; ; r own horses, which, on approTOd,; would; be-* '{■_■■.. come the property of the Imperial: Govern- '-/'V;|. m-ent, for the use of, the regiment : i in, : " / South Africa, and how the;'idea; t&nk root that payment. ..would .be made, for the, ■;: ■ animals'is hard to say. Certain it-'.is that.'; the men had the idea,'-'Mid' right 1 through |, they, tech .extraordinary pains to bring their : f mounts, which, .by the l way, were re-y '.;,..:' garded as a first-grade' 1 stamp, of,:: troop- / ; horse, safely ; through the many : ills that,,.';. barse-fiesh is heir to in South Africa,: to. ' , ensure their qualification • for.-'.reanuQsra7■.y'\/ ;: ' tion. . ,":':';,, t ; ' : {