PROSPECTS OF PEACE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVII, Issue 12819, 26 May 1902, Page 7

PROSPECTS OF PEACE.

'United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 23. There is a widespread belief that peace is practically assured, and that the Boers, recognising that annexation, is irrevocable, are seeking certain assurances on minor points.

The “ Standard ” says that Lord Milner would scarcely have consented to submit proposals to the Cabinet which in his judgment would be wholly inadmissible. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the Secretary of State for Scotland, in a speech at a meeting at Edinburgh prior to receiving a summons to the Cabinet meeting, declared that he expected to be summoned to London very specially for an important purpose. A REASON FOE, THE DELAY OP NEGOTIATIONS. BOERS DETERMINED TO SURRENDER. LONDON, May 23. The “St James’s Gazette” states that the Cabinet’s decision has probably been delayed owing to the controversial character of the cable messages from Pretoria, Four hundred Middleburg Boers have determined to surrender in any event. THE CHIEF POINTS SETTLED, A FINAL VOTE IN A FEW DAYS. (Received 1 May’24, 6.54 p.m.) LONDON, May 23. The chief points have been satisfactorily settled at Pretoria. The Cabinet sat for two hours considering questions of detail. A final vote on the entire scheme will be, taken at Vereeniging in a few days. THE VEREENIGING CONFERENCE. FREE STATE RECRIMINATIONS. STATEMENTS IN BERLIN. MR SEDDON’S SIGNIFICANT ' ' MESSAGE. (Received May 25, 4.47 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. The “ Standard’s ” Pretoria correspondent states that up to Saturday the proceedings consisted rather of Free State recrimination than discussion on the lines tentatively agreed on by the Boer leaders and laid down by Lord Kitchener in April. Calmer counsels prevailed on Sunday. The Free Staters suggested points, offering agreement on their part if these were formulated. Tho leaders came to Pretoria, where the final agreement was drafted. If, as is hoped, it is ''signed, the decision will be a step to .general submission. Officially inspired! paragraphs have appeared in the Berlin Ine wspapers stating that beyond a doubt tho Coronation will be celebrated amidst the chinigs of bolls for peace. The “Morning Post” declares 1 that Mr Sedd’on is the last man to wish for peace except on the basis of absolute paramountcy, therefore his cablegram as regards the Tenth Contingent is significant and l hopeful.

THE BOER PROPOSALS,

INDEPENDENCE ABANDONED. (Received May 25, 5 pan.) LONDON, May 24. The Cabinet’s decision has been cabled to Lord Milner and communicated to the dele-

gates. Mr Chamberlain had an audience with the King after the Cabinet meeting. \ Ministers have returned to the country. The ‘‘ Standard ” states that, the Boers have abandoned their demand for independence and restricted themselves to raising questions of amnesty, expenses of rebuilding and restocking of farms, adjustment of debts, and of statutes affecting burghers prior to the initiation of representative government. An agreement was drafted at the military convention to surrender or disperse ion becoming Britishers, but the question of amnesty rests with the King. None of the details offer an insuperable barrier to the early .declaration of peace. EREE state IRRECONCILABLES. SPEECH BY' THE SECRETARY' OP WAR. FIRMNESS OP THE GOVERNMENT. LORD ROSEBERY'S VIEWS. (Received May 25, 4.47 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. The Transvaalo.rs, in sending representatives to Verennigiug, left , matters to them, but the Free State representatives did not obtain equally full powers. Those representatives at Verceniging favouring peace without independence wore subjected to bitter taupts. , Mr Brodrick, speaking at the Volunteer Service Companies’ dinner, said that everybody hoped that the communications passing would b e a prelude to the Boers’ surrender. AH he. could , say was that the

FEELING IN ENGLAND, "PEACE PRACTICALLY ASSURED.” NEWSPAPER SPECULATIONS. DISCORD AT VEREENIGIN6. FINAL VOTE IN A FEW DAYS.

to purchase a temporary immunity from trouble by sacrificing anything tending to the permanent security of peace. The war had shown that the Empire was an association for mutual support and confidence, and had made the dream of colonial federation a reality. “ The colonial Ministers Conference would consider how we could put the enthusiasm which brought the colonics into the field with ns on a permanent basis. The war would give freedom and establish a great Empire in South Africa.”

Lord Rosebery, addressing the National Liberal Club, said that he never had a doubt since the present movement, practically on the basis of the Boers surrendering their independence, had been initiated, that peace was certain, but the declaration of peace was only the beginning of the pacification period', which would require patience and statesmanship.

HOW THE NEWS WILL BE PROCLAIMED. [Pee Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, May 24. Arrangements are being made by the Government in case of the receipt of news of peace for the immediate ringing of the bells on the Government buildings, the firing of guns at the forts and similar demonstraitions. Mr Seddon cabled to Sir Joseph. Ward last night that he does not think that any more Contingents will be needed for South Africa. THE HUMOURS OF PEACE. HOW THEY WERE RECEIVED. A most circumstantial rumour spread through the city shortly after nine o’clock on Saturday night to the effect that peace bad been declared, and! the announcement was made at the various places of public amusement, ■where the audiences rose en masse and cheered vociferously. At a mass meeting in Cathedral Square, the same news 'was announced 1 , and the meeting speedily dispersed. Several publicans and others* believing the story to be authentic, illuminated their premises. Numbers of people flocked around the Poet Office and the Cathedral, expecting the bells to ring, but in this they were disappointed, and by ten o’clock most of those who were in the streets had come to the conclusion that they had been hoaxed. However, a great many young fellows appeared bent on celebrating the conclusion of peace, and would not listen to reason. The result was that some of them celebrated rather too freely, and about midnight ’several guns were discharged l in the eastern portion of the city. About nine of the Jingoists found their way to the police cells during the night, and will have an opportunity of explaining their conduct at the Police Court this morning. A rumour that peace, had been proclaimed reached Lyttelton about half-past ten o’clock on Saturday night, and some slight attempts' at premature rejoicing resulted. A lew rockets and fog signals -were let off, and; a. locomotive engine indulged in a little cock-crowing. The residents of Lyttelton were thrown into a state of mild excitement by the reports that pence was at last within the range of probability. People of Ml sorts and condition?, even small boys, kept asking the question, “Is peace .declared yet?” The matter was- referred to in the churches. In one, special prayer was offered for the guidance of those engaged in the peace negotiations. One clergyman declared his intention of having a Te Leu nr .sung if the news was confirmed, and another clerical gentleman declared 1 that when he heard the announcement of peace, even if it was in the midst of his sermon, he would call on his congregation to sing the “ Old Hundredth ” in thanksgiving. Arrangements are being made for holding a united service- of thanksgiving in Lyttelton on receipt of the news that peace has been declared. The representatives of the various religious bodied in that town—Anglican, Roman. Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and Salvation Army—have been invited to participate. The service will probably take place in the drillshed, and it is intended to endeavour to secure the attendance of Volunteers in uniform and members of Societies in regalia. The Mayor (Mr J. Grubb) and Mr G. Laumison, M.H.R., are supervising the preliminary arrangements.

( At ;h,c Cathedral yesterday morning Canon Harper, before the .service beeaa, ■road a. cablegram' regarding the peace negotiations. He said that there had been rumours afloat the previous night, and that morning to the effect that peace had been declared. He had no authoritative information on the subject, and until such was received be could say nothing regardino- the fixing of a lima for holding a thanksgiving service, and therefore all the Cathedral services for that day would be of the ordinary character.

At St- Mary’s Church, Addington, last evening, in the absence of the "vicar, the Rev W. S. Bean, the Rev A. 11. Norris, who conducted the service, announced that pence was now practically assured, and called upon the congregation to sing a hymn of thanksgiving.

The Rev A. W. Avcrill, during the course of his sermon, read a, telegram he had received, stating that peace had been declared, and expressed his thankfulness at the news. He intends to hold a thanksgiving service next Sunday. At St John’s, the Rev R. A. Woodthorpo said, that he was pleased to see that the main points of the peace proposals had been accepted, and lie was deeply thankful that peace had practically been declared. Hymn No. 379, “ Now Thank We All Our God,” was' sung by the congregation. At Durham Street Wesleyan Church (lie Rev C. H. Laws made reference in the prayers to the imminence of peace, expressing deep gratitude at 1 he prospect of a speedy settlement of the Avar. At Avonside the vicar, the Rev Canon Pascne, mentioned, before proceeding rvith his sermon, that peace had been proclaimed. At the gathering of old Canterbury Volunteers in the Garrison baudroom on Saturday evening. Major SteAvard 1 , who presided, read the cablegram announcing that peace would probably be declared soon. He said that the announcement was an exceedingly pleasing one. After the expenditure of nearly throe hundred millions of money and a. considerable quantity of blood, the old flag had triumphed, and peace’was at hand. It was not, that the

furled to protect those who needed protection, and the Boers would bo infinitely better off under British rule than under their own. He went on to predict that the day would! come when there would be a grand! dominion in South Africa, . and the inhabitants of the vast territory there would be as proud of the British flag as they were of the old “ vierkleur.” (Applause.) Later on, Major Steward, .in proposing the toast of “The Young Brigade on active service in South Africa,” said it seemed likely that the services of the contingents would not bo needed much longer. But when peace was absolutely declared ho did not suppose that Britain would dispense) with a. force in South Africa, as probably there would be some irreconcilables to bo dealt with. New Zealand, ho continued, might well bei proud of, the men it had sent to the war. He had had two sons: and three there, and he knew at least one gentleman, Major Keddeli, who: had four sons at tha front. They knew that the Now Zealand lads had behaved 1 in a/ manner which reflected credit on the Old Country, from which they had all descended, as well as on this colony. It would always redound to the credit of this colony, with'a population of about 800,000, that it had sent 6000 men to fight alongside the troops of the Old Country, and win encomiums under Britain’s best generals. It had been said that colonials were in tha habit of “ blowing,” yet facts spoke lor themselves, they were “duels that winna ding, and daurna bo disputed.” If people read an article in that morning’s “ Lyttelton Times ” they would see that the speaker’s statements were borne out by an impartial judge, who said that on no occasion had the New Zealanders .failed when asked to discharge a duty. Major Steward’s remarks, and his announcement that peace was within, easy sight, were received with henrtv cheers.

At Ivaiapoi the news of the bright peace prospects was received at about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday, and the people immediately began to fittingly celebrate the occasion, a procession headed by the brass band, parading the streets, while bells rang and whistles blew. All business was ■ suspended, rockets and guns were fired, and it was not until the small hours of Sunday morning had arrived that the. town began to regain its normal sober state.

The receipt of the news that peace seemed practically assured, was hailed with delight at Rangiora-. Flags were flying all’ over the town yesterday, and the church 1 and fire-bells were ringing almost continuously for some hours. Announcements' of the welcome news were made in the various churches, and at the Presbyterian Church the National Anthem was sung. At Amberley and Leithfield the news came to hand rather prematurely early on Saturday afternoon, and the people commenced immediately to demonstrate their -satisfaction.

THE PEELING IN WELLINGTON.

A SUGGESTIVE PARALLEL. [FkoM Otfß CORRESPONDENT. 1 ■ WELLINGTON, May 24. Ihe prospects of peace absorb all the attention—a large quantity—devoted by the public to South Africa. It is, in the first place, generally recognised that Mr Bennet Burleigh’s, cable is the strongest light we have yet had that peace is assured. The line of reasoning is that the correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph ” has got past the military censorship with an apparently purely personal telegram about his movements, which lights up in reality the, whole situation. This is, as some of us remember, a repetition of the feat performed .in 1871 by the correspondent of the same paper, who “bluffed” the German military authorities. It is thought here that Bennet Burleigh “ bluffed ” the censors with a message announcing his departure from Pretoria. They regarded it as a mere business telegram, but the editor reflected that only one thing called his correspondent away from the centre of negotiations—the certainty of peace. Otherwise be must have stayed to find out things. A corroboration, of course, came from Sir Joseph Ward at the returned troopers’ luncheon today. The Acting-Premier quoted Mr Seddon as having said that “ the South Island Battalion of the Tenth Contingent would have to hurry up, or it would be too late.” Another “bluff ” evidently. “Hay it not be,” says the “Post,” “that the Premier has had a tip, and that, like Mr Benuefc Burleigh, he has had to devise means to get past the censor?” This, from ai paper which : has developed considerable nastiness in the last few days towards the Premier’s movements in Africa, is thought to go for something. The result of this is that we wait with impatient interest for developments. THE PRESENT POSITION* SOME LESSONS OF THE PAST (By RHAMABIDIKWL) The cablegrams-received during the past two- days regarding the peace negotiations give a pleasing • prospect that the long-con-tinued and irritating war in South Africa is 'about to close, and that a permanent and abiding peace ■ will be established between the Dutch Afrikander and the Briton. Inview of the highly probable and much to be.desired peaceful termination of the present negotiations, it may not be out of place to shortly pass in review some of the political episodes in South African history. Previous to the events'of 1879 and. 1880 the Transvaal Boers," it will he remembered, had endeavoured to conquer Seccocuni, a strong- chieftain, holding an almost impregnable mountain on the borders of the Transvaal -and Zululand. After twelve months of bard campaigning, the Transvaal Boers had been foiled, and Oetewayo, the renowned Zulu chieftain, the hereditary enemy of the Boers, was on the point of coining to the aid -of Seccocuni, with the object of exterminating the Boex-s and seizing the Transvaal territory. It must be remembered that, through ignorance of the Boer character on the part of the- British, and the innate cunning of the 'Boers themselves, there; had, in the previous fifty years of South African history, been many very unfortunate mistakes. Up to this point, therefore, the British, had been mere spectators of the struggle. The Dutch papers in the Cape Colony, however, voicing the sentiment of- the Dutch people throughout South Africa, -appealed to- the British to intervene and prevent the disgrace of one white nationality being overwhelmed l by a savage foe. Action was taken at a criti--cal time by the British Government. Sir Theophilus Shepston© -was sent with a force of Natal Carbineers, who marched through Zululand, and Sir Theophilus imperatively, ordered Cetcwayo to “ sit still,” and, meeting the Boer representatives, offered, on behalf of Great Britain, in addition to compelling the Zulus to- remain qide-t, to reduce Seccocuni to submission, on the understanding that the Transvaal should he annexed, a,s a necessary course to pursue, to ensure the avoidance of constant native troumes between t-ho Transvaalcrs and the border chieftains. These terms were accepted. Sir Garnet Wolseley, with a composite force of British soldiers- and colonialauxiliaries, subdued Seccocuni and British paramountev was 'established under the rule

or Major Lanyon. The Zulus, feeling humiliated and disappointed of their revenge on the Boers, Became aggressive, and -finally rose in arms against the British. Their reduction, on the advice of Sir Bartle Frere, the great pro-consul of South Africa, •was successfully undertaken.. For some years afterwards the Transvaal had. a period of peace and prosperity, and the relations of British and Dutch all over South Africa were of the most cordial nature. Unfortunately, however, the suspicious side of the Dutch character was -worked upon, hy unscrupulous Hollander adventurers, which resumed' in a sudden outbreak of hostilities, and the British, being taken comparatively unawares, with insufficient military force, suffered reverses at Bronker y Spruit, Ingogo, and Majuba. It was then that Mr Gladstones at that time the Premier of Great Britain, patched up an ill-advised and hollow peace. At that point the Afrikander Bond was-formed in the Cape Colony, with ramifications in the Transvaal and the Free State. The veiled object of the Bond was the upsetting of British supremacy over the whole of southern Africa. Thus, the lessons, of the past will have to be borne in mind at the present juncture, as the making of peace is now even a more serious matter than the making of war. The subtlety,: cunning and obstinacy of the Boer are such that the greatest cape will have to be exercised in dealing with all matters of detail brought forward by the Boers in the controversy. The main points to be safeguarded are: That no loophole shall bo left for the creation of future grievances, and that it shall be made plain that British rule must be emphatically permanent. If these points are distinctly enforced, the result’will be that the Boers must accept the inevitable. It is to be sincerely -trusted that the present hopeful stage will develop into a lasting peace. If it should do so, it will be : well for New Zlealanders to remember that certain precautionary military measures will have to be taken to fully maintain the appearance of force and strength, to ensure the observance of the terms of peace, and the gradiial return to the avocations and conditions of .peaceful times. This will almost certainly necessitate the retention in South Africa; of the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth New Zealand Contingents for at least twelve months. Tins belief is specially accentuated by the fact that mounted troops are indispensable in South Africa, aud that the New Zealand troopers have established for themselves a prestige both with friend and foe, that cannot fail to exercise a most beneficial influence. The prospect is hopeful, indeed, and if peace should be honestly accepted by the enemy, there is a glorious future before a united 1 South Africa under a rule, in which British and Bop- will he merged into one strong community, developing the best qualities of both races.

THE BOER CONEERENCE.

It was on March 22 that the Boer Executive went into the British lines at Balmoral under a flag of, truce, and -at their request, and not at any solicitation by Lord Kitchener or Lord Milner, were panted a ‘‘safe-conduct” to confer with Mr Steyn and General De Wet on the possibility of •uggesting terms-of peace. ■ _ _ . The delegates passed through Pretoria on their way to Kroonstad, whence, it was deemed, they could best get into touch with Mr Steyn and General De Wet, who, scaping from the great drive, had.: crossed the railway line and gone west into the Orange . River Colony. BOER DELEGATES AT PRETORIA. :At Pretoria the Boer delegates saw Lord 'Kitchener. They made no proposals of any kind, but they manifested a desire for peace —and peace on terms which might fairly be the subject of discussion—which caused a ■ considerable impression and I ,left the ground for questioning their sincerity. At the same time, the delegates showed 'they were under no misapprehension as to the points which the British could not discuss. From Kroonstad they managed, with some difficulty to get into touch with Mi Steyn. The negotiations were, it is believed, in writing. At anyrate, Mr Steyn informed his Boer colleagues that he could not aiccept the conditions of peace outlined, and in this he had the concurrence ' of General- De Wet.- 1

The Bow delegates, however, were in earnest, and they .arranged for the convention of a general conference of the leaders. It was easy to collect the Boer generals, since Botha had recently moved down towards the Natal border, exciting the belief that he was planning another invasion to relieve the pressure on De la Bey. - It would seem that Steyn and De Wet did .not avail themselves of railway transit. Nor did De la Key. They joined the others at Klerksdorp, where a house was placed at their disposal for conference purposes. V After this, the Boer delegates went back ■to refer Britain’s conditions to the commandos, and then there were commenced the recent deliberations at Vereeniging, wher 160 Boer delegates met to once more consider the position. Among them were a number of irreooncikbles, mostly Free Staters. The Transvaal minority mostly favoured peace. These, knowing Britain’s power and determination, evidently influenced the majority. The irreooncilables relied on Britain nearing the end of her purse, but the others were better informed. Acrimonious discussions were the result. j ONCE MORE IN PRETORIA.

On Sunday last, six delegates, chosen by the Vereeniging Conference, consisting of members of the two GoA r ernments, with De )Vet and De la Rey, arrived at Pretoria toce more, and they, lodged in a house next to Lord Kitchener’s. ANOTHER STEP.

On. Saturday morning, peace came yet nearer,: and was within easily measurable distance, it being announced by cablegram from London that “ Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener and the Boer delegates are actively conferring at Pretoria.” A THE IRREDUCIBLE MINIMUM. THE BOER DEMANDS. The following is the main outline of the Boer demands as put forward in the first conference held at Pretoria between Messrs Sohalkburger, Steyn and their colleagues on the one hand and Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener on the other. Lord Milner’s special instructions, for the carrying out of which he specially went from Johannesburg, to Pretoria, were to ascertain—if the phrase can be used;in dealing with a beaten foe—the irreducible minimum of the Boer demands. There is every reason to believe that the Boers agreed to peace carrying with It the loss of their independence and a general surrender. In return, 'however, they put forward a number of requests, of which the following (Mre the chief and most important. They asked Great Britain to provide sufficient funds to re-build and re-stock the Boer farms and preanises destroyed by fire or other means in the course ot the war. The cost of this would be about £5,000,000 or, in other words, a sum equal to the working expenses for four weeks of the present war. They asked Great' Britain to grant a complete amnesty to all burghers in the field as well as to the' Cape rebels who have taken up arms on behalf of the two Republics. They desired the same terns to be extended to both. Yet. it is probable they would agree to disfranchisement of the rebels. They stronglv urged that Great Britain should take over the legal claims and liabilities of both Republics. They asked for the withdrawal of the banishment proclamation. Finally, they asked that a shorter period of time than that contemplated by the British Government shall elapse before the festoration of representative' Government. THE PRESENT POSITION.

There are two points on which, it is safe

to say, no qualification, or discussion was admitted: 1. No independence. 2. General laying down, of arms. Everything has been the* subject of discussion.

Tub five chief points on which negotiations turned were the following :

1. The approximate time which must elapse before the restoration of responsible government is possible. 2. The status of the Boers after the war. 3. The banishment proclamation. 4. The question of amnesty. 5. Advances by the British Government for rebuilding and re-stocking Boer farms.

PROMINENT EKjURES OE THE WAR. LORD ROBERTS. It was on Dec. 17, 1899, that the Government decided to send Lord Roberts to command in Africa. The moment will not soon be forgotten in England. The three successive defeats of Stormberg, Magersfontein and Colenso had occurred in the previous week, and the nation was sunk in gloom. Three garrisons of various strengths were shut up in Ladysmith, .Kimberley and Mafeking, and all the armies which had been prepared for their relief had been checked and were unable to advance. Had the Boers taken their opportunity they might have poured into Cape Colony and probably into Natal till they reached the coast, and the re-conquest of South Africa would have had to begin again from the sea. To meet this situation, the Seventh Division, was mobilised the day before Lord Roberts was- appointed. The General, with Lord Kitchener as his Chief of the Staff, reached 1 Cape Town bn Jan. 10, and had perforce to remain there for four weeks, gathering up the threads of the campaign. During his stay it cannot be said that the •aspect improved. Lord Methuen -was compelled to remain inactive at Modder River, and Gatacre south of Stormberg, whilst Buffer received a severe repulse at Spion Kop, and again failed at Vaalkranz. Lord Roberts determined to follow Marlborough’s old advice and strike straight at the enemy’s capital. To reach Bloemfontein he chose the base which Methuen had established at Modder River. Here he arrived on Feb. 9, but even before his- arrival he had directed General Macdonald with the Highlanders to make a strong feint on Cronje’s right at Koodoosberg, and had brought French with his cavalry over the Orange River to join him from Colesburg. On Feb. 11 he began tile great turning movement which compelled Cronje to abandon his strong position at Magersfontein, relieved Kimberley, and incidentally led to the relief of Ladysmith. French, with three cavalry brigades, opened the drifts over the Modder and the Rieb for the main army, cut the enemy’s communications with Bloemfontein, and on Feb. 15 reached Kimberley. Cronje thereupon decided to attempt a retirement on Bloemfontein np tho Modder, but wa-s closely followed by two divisions under Kitchener, and was overtaken and compelled to entrench. himself, in the river-bed at Paardeberg. Here, by a mistake either of judgment or information Kitchener attacked him in front across the open, and failed. Lord Roberts on arriving, gave the work to the artillery alone, and after nine days’ bombardment, Cronje was compelled to surrender with his whole force on Feb. 27. In less than three weeks since his arrival on the scene of action, therefore, Lord Roberts had thus gained the first distinct strategic success of the war, and it was a success which entailed other great results. Ladysmith Was relieved next day, and after fighting two small actions on the road, Lord Roberts entered Bloemfontein on March 13. Here he made a long halt whilst he was repairing the enormous loss in horses and reorganising the system of transport and supply. Unfortunately this period of inaction gave the enemy time to recover heart, and at Sauna’s Post (March 31) the British suffered the first of a series of “regrettable incidents,” and very soon afterwards the small garrison at Wepener was besieged, and could nob be rescued tiff April 25. ' But small mishaps like these did not divert Roberts from his fixed intention of advancing straight upon Pretoria, nor did the despatch of a mounted force under Colonel Mahon for the relief of Mafeking, which was reached on May 17. On May 3 the General had already advanced with three infantry columns and one cavalry from Bloemfontein to Brandfort, and from there his progress was almost continuous: and practically unopposed. For his supplies he kept within touch of the railway all the time. Crossing the Web. and Sand Rivers, he reached Kroonstad on May 12, crossed the Rhenoster, and entered the Transvaal on. May 27. Pressing forward without pause, he received the surrender of Johannesburg on May 31, and after only three days’ rest began the final advance' upon Pretoria. After a certain amount of fighting five miles south of the city on June 4, the capital was entered 1 without opposition on the following day, and thus the Union Jack was hoisted in both the enemy’s capitals within four months of tho arrival of Lord Roberts on the field.

’ The flight of the Boer President will he remembered and the fighting which took place until the British reached Komati Poort on Sept. 24, .only to find that the Boers had dispersed, having blown up their big guns. This was, in fact, the end of the regular warfare. Lord Roberts returned to Pretoria, and the remainder of his command 1 was occupied in preserving his communications, attempting to surround the roving hands of the enemy, and issuing proclamations in hopes of inducing their surrender. As the prospects of pence seemed 1 fairly hopeful, and he Was required to take up his new duties at home, he handed over his command to Lord Kitchener on Nov. 29, and returned to Cape Town by way of Natal. LORD KITCHENER. Rapid indeed was the rise of Lord Kitchener from subaltern’s rank in thei Roval Engineers to that of Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, and subsequently to the command! of the largest army Britain has ever pub into the field. None can deny that every step of this promotion has been honestly earned by gallant and zealous'services, or that the command has been.' placed in hands worthy to hold! it. He was one of tne little band of British officers chosen by Sir Evelyn. Wood when Tcwfik Pacha issued'a. mandate disbanding the remnants of Arabi’s force, and making provision, for a now’ army under its first English Sirdar. Kitchener was then, a lieutenant of eleven, years’ service, much of which, however, had been spent in Syrian explorations. Two years Inter Captain Kitchener became an Assistant Adjutant-General of the Egyptian Army, and was attached to Lord Woheley's Intelligence Department. That gave him his great opportunity, and he—always active, generally far ahead of British troops in their advance up the Nile', and frequently in touch with tribes that wavered between, faith in, Ma-bdism and fear of ‘•The Turk” —Captain Kitchener proved: himself in every emergency to be a man. of, tact, cool courage, and infinite resourcss. In Sir Herbert Stewart’s march across the Bayuda, desert to Gakdul Wells, Captain, Kitchener rode mostly with the Hussar Scouts, and gained a' great reputation for dash. He did brilliant service in. the battles of Abu Klca and Qubat, and was consequently singled out for promotion, though nobqdy then, seems to have suspected in him' the great qualities of leadership and organisation that have / since been conspicuously displayed. At the close of that campaign Kitchener—then a brevet lieuten-ant-colonel in the Army,, though still no morci than a captain in his own corps—■ joined the staff of Sir Francis Grenfell, who had succeeded Sir Evelyn Wood as Sirdar, and was appointed, Governor-Gene-ral of the. Red, Sea, littoral. Here lies was severely wounded in an engagement, which

for a time pnralvsed Osman Digna’s power. A little later'he became Adjutant-Gene-ral of the Egyptian Army, under Sir Francis Grenfell, and returned from Snakira to Cairo. In. December, 1888, h© was in the Eastern Soudan, again conducting'cavalry reconnaissances, and after Grenfell's victory over Osman Digna at Geniaizeli the command of troops there was handed over to Kitchener. At the battle of i’osski, where Sir Francis Grenfell defeated Nejumi's hosts and, rolled back the tide of threatened invasion-, Kitchener was given, the command of mounted troops, and 1 for the work ho did he was ma.de a C. 8., and before the end of that year he succeeded Sir Francis Grenfell as Sirdar. Working steadily at the reorganisation of the Army and bringing all the energy of Ids masterful nature to the task, ho soon, triumphed over difficulties that would Lave seemed insurmountable in the old; days. A great capacity for finance served him well, as it enabled him to run the Army on economic linos, and .at the same time, increase its efficiency. Out of money saved he managed to establish depots for supplies, whore food, forage, fuel, and transport could be collected at short notice. Consolidation of defensive measures at the frontier was his first object, and after that ambition pointed to a possible subjugation of me Soudan. Thus when the Khedive’s Government ordered a. forward movement towards Dongola in 18S6 .everything immediately wanted was in readiness at. Wadi Haifa, so that the advance of troops began, at once, keeping pace with the building of a railway, and. sometimes going ahead of it. Thus, slowly but surely,- the Dongola expedition crept forward 1 to the decisive, victory of Ferkeh, where. Hamnda. and many other of the Khalifa’s emirs: fell, and the triumphant entry into. Dongola, when the Sirdar was able; to announce that he had restored a lost province to-Egypt. In all the preparations that made success at every stage certain, the -Sirdar’s hand and brain could be traced, though hie loft executive work to such men as Rundle, Hunter, Macdonald, Parsons, and others whom he could trust.

An appreciation of Lord Kitchener’s work in South Africa was delivered recently by Colonel Sir Harare! Vincent, in a speech at Eton College. Sir Howard said that many people thought Lord -Kitchener to be very austere and difficult of approach, yet there was no more agreeable personalty. He was up at five o’clock every morning, despatched telegrams to all parts of the country, saw the heads of departments, and the day was free for the consideration of problems before him. He was a man of extraordinary grasp of judgment, and he (the speaker) hoped that his health would stand until the last shot had been fired in South Africa, and-there was absolute peace. He was an extraordinary man of business, and would have money’s worth for everything in every department. The war had then cost two hundred millions of money, and would cost more, and Lord Kitchener by his businesslike methods was getting back half a million per month in South Africa by the field canteens. He had a message from Lord Kitchener that they should not sendout delicacies such .as chocolate,, which could be obtained at the field canteens as well as cigarettes at threepence, a packet, but if they wanted to help the soldiers they should help the Families’ Association, ■winch took care of the wives and families of Reservists who had done so well for their country. MR KRUGER. Stephanus Johannes Panins Kruger was bom at Bnlhoek Farm, near Colesbsrg, in Cape Colony, on Oct. 10, 1825. But he was not born a British subject, for it was only some three years after his birth that the English Government took over the control of the Cape. His father was an ordinary Dutch farmer, though Kruger’s best biographer, Mr Van G'ordt, the State Historian of the Transvaal, traces a- German descent. The boy was brought up according to the customary and excellent Dutch system of education, to read the Bible, to shoot and to mind the farm, especially the horses and oxen. When he was only eight, the Dutch farmers, finding life unpleasant under the colonial Governors who represented England, determined to seek a new home in the deserts across the Vaal and the Drakensberg—deserts then inhabited only by savages and wild beasts. So the Great Trek began. The Krugers did not go dill 1839, when Paul was fourteen, and old enough to take an active part in driving the waggons and defending them as well. Kruger’s early manhood was not marked by any conspicuous distinction, except that he was early known even among Boer farmers as a fearless hunter and magnificent shot. Elderly Dutchmen, who remember him in those days are full of stories about his shrewdness, courage and peculiar wit. At eighteen ho was assistant field-cornet, at twenty full field-cornet. Before middle-age he was elected district commandant, and member of the Volksraacl. In 1872 he entered the Executive or Cabinet of the Raad under President Burgets a weak diplomatist, who in the end found Kruger much too strong-willed lor him. During the British occupation. Kru-o-er held a post in the Civil Service, but he early began plotting for the overthrow oi British supremacy. He was one of the famous Triumvirate with and Jouberi when the Transvaal regained its in-, dependence after Majuba. Hill. In 1882 he ivas elected President of the Republic, a\ i\a re-elected 'for a- definite period of five years, in* 1885, and Avas re-elected at the end of each term of fi\ - e A’ears since then namelj, in 1888, 1893, and 1898. At the last election he Avas very nearly defeated by his old friend and rival, General Joubert. aalio stood for more progressive ideas, and- would almost certainly have succeeded but for the irritation and hatred against England aroused by the Jameson Raid. Had the progressive party succeeded in carrying Jonbert’s election, it is practically certain, there would have been no Avar. But Avhen war came, it obliterated all political disagreements, and Joubert supported the President’s policy Avith all his power, though on points of strategy they Avere often at Arariance, and in most eases it must be OAvned that Kruger was right, especially as to JoubertV mistake in giving up the line of Tugela, and retreating hurriedly from Ladysmith to Glencoe.

In private life, as is well known, President Kruger followed the established model of the old-fashioned Voortrekkcr, or primitive Boer. He married early, and is reported to be the father of sixteen children. Unhappily his family affections are characteristically strong, and it is an undoubted fact that'he has used somewhat unscrupulous means for providing for his children and their relations by marriage. His own way of life has been extraordinarily simple, and largely on that account he has become a. very rich man, as Boers go. As President, he received an income of rather more than £7OOO a year, and probably has never spent more than £3OO on his ownjiome and comforts. He followed the daily tradition of the Boer farmer, getting up at dawn, doing ranch of his work before breakfast, living with extreme abstemiousness, working hard, but at punctually regular hours, and taking no amusement beyond conversation on the stoop. ,' He tried among his burghers, whom he certainly regarded ns the chosen people of (rod, to 'act as a “ Judge, in Ts.facl avid in this effort ho slrowed extraordinary energy, though undoubtedly 'one of the mistakes of his life was the, attempt to keep in hk own hands all the thready of government, administration and justice. It used to be said that he knew every Boer fanner in the Transvaal by name, sight and history. If was

his weakness —the weakness of many strong men—that he could trust nobody bnt himself. His career for the last three years is too recent and familiar to require recapitulation. After long negotiations/he. attended' the Bloemfontein Conference in June of 1899. It failed owing to his refusal to. grant an adequate Out-lander franchise. Negotiations were resumed, but on Oct. 11, the day after his seventy-fifth birthday, -he declared war. -Since the fall of Pretoria he has been a refugee in a, foreign State. LORD MILNER. (“ Chronicle.’’) When Lord Milner went up -to Oxford the sap of Imperialism was barely beginning to rise in the tree. It was then a strange, dreaded doctrine—almost a heresy. It was still tho fashion to wish to be rid of our Empire, that we might settle down to a placid life of enjoyment. That was the time of the tyranny of the Manchester school, against which Lord Milner’s whole nature rose in revolt—though perhaps revolt is too strong a word to use for this restrained, -equable, serene nature. But it would be true to say that he disliked the weakness and cowardice of such a- policy. He had no wish to become -a professor, and so, on leaving Oxford, he entered the ranks of journalists in London -as assistant editor of the Radical “Pall Mall Gazette,” under the tuition first of Mr Morley, and then of Mr W. T. .Stead. Under Mr Stead, Lord Milner has always said that he learnt very much. “It was an invaluable education,” were his words. And from the close association and known ability of these two men, it will he interesting to recall Mr Stead’s opinion of the man :

“He succeeded in combining an extremely level head with an imperturbability of temper, which enabled him to avoid the blunders which mar most men’s careers. He never generated sufficient steam to blow up the boiler. He never went off at half-cock. He never spoiled things by over-vehemence. There was an his writing -in those days a lack of the fervour and vigour that he displayed in his ‘England in Egypt.’ He was apt to be somewhat woolly when you wanted him to be as sharp as. the point of an assegai.” In bis intercourse with Mr Stead he must have come to understand that mysterious entity known -as the “ Nonconformist conscience,” of which Mr Stead is popularly supposed to be the keeper. Perhaps he learnt that the “ conscience ” respects the strength of inward conviction, the sense of duty.

Leaving the “ Pall Mall,” he stood as a Gladstonian candidate in the election of 1885, before Home Rule. In his address to his constituents at Harrow he suggested that England should clear out of Europe, and attend only to her Empire. He was Mr Goschen’s private secretary from 1887 to 1889, when in the- latter year he went to Egypt as Under-Secretary for Finance. It -may safely be said that his Egyptian experience was an education in the management of affairs. His daily experience of the difficulties to bo encountered from -the foreign. Powers—France, Russia and Gerniapy—and from the Egyptians themselves, taught him statesmanship, while he was under one -of the greatest, proconsuls England Ims produced in this century —Lord Cromer. He saw when it was wise to be conciliatory and when -to be firm. His views of policy were profoundly changed. He realised that England cannot neglect ’Europe, but that by our skill upon- the European chessboard the Empire is to be held or lost. Returning to England, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Inland; Revenue, and served two Chancellors of the Exche-quer-Sir \Y. Havcourt and Sir M. HicksBeach. Thus it fortunately happened that he was able to render great aid to both our parties by assisting in -the preparation of their Budgets. Finally, in 1887, he was appointed Governor of the Cape, upon Lord Bosmead’s breakdown.

This appointment came at a very critical time. Then South Africa was seething with unrest and with resentment produced by the Jameson Raid. It was felt by all that ai man of exceptional force of character was required. He must be a. statesman of exquisite tact; ho must be approved by both parties; and', above all, be must be strong, for ho would have to deal with a strong man, Mr Kruger. Yet Alfred Milner was hailed by all as fulfilling the desiderata. What strikes all those who come into personal contact with Lord Miner is his strength and quietness. He is not one of those who talk big, and, a ley days later are found backing down. 'The keynote of his character is its determination to rest true to himself. He is not a man who would cling to office if he found himself unsupported. But while he is strong, ho is moderate, and will never embark upon a rash or foolish course. Risks he may have to take, as any statesman may, but he will only take them where not to risk would bo infinitely more dangerous. Ho is one who is wholly- averse to the use of force where it is possible to do without it. The conference with Mr Kruger showed him at his best. There was no bluster, no shilly-shally, no indecision on his part, but the resolute firmness of a- man who knows how far he is prepared to go, and who will go not one step beyond. BOER SILHOUETTES. BY A BRITISH APOSTATE. Colonel Arthur Lynch recently contributed an article called “ Silhouettes d’Officiers Boers,’' to* the “Revue Bleue.” The following summary is by an AngloIndian ; First for Louis Botha, “that handsome, untruthful man,” as he is continually called—the nntired Comma-nder-in-Chief, who, by all accounts, has done better than the veteran Joubert ever did. Botha is still young, too young in the eye,s of a certain number’ of Boers, who have only been in tiie habit of according their confidence to greybeards. Ho is big, even by the high average standard of the Boers, some six feet- in height, with mighty chest and shoulders. “ .Everything about hi in breathes of strength and health.” Yet his aspect is stated to have nothing terrible about it, but to shine with sweetness, goodness, and a- pair of sympathetic light blue eyes. His features- are strong but regular, his hair and beard are brown and not very abundant, his appearance strikingly handsome. Lynch, first met him when he- was surrounded by officers who were congratulating him on his “magnificent exploic at Spion Ivop —where, to tell the truth, he had shaken the four corners of the British Empire. He then seemed some years younger than lie really was. He has since aged and improved in looks, not from the tiro privations, which could have no effect upon his indomitable frame, but from " tho continual anxieties of an almost- superhuman task.” He- is never exalted, ne\t.i proud, never cast down, 1 never for an instant ill-tempered with his subordinates. He is a great strategist as well as a clever tactician, a: man as great in; pence at in W|l r, a diplomat on-occasion, and one who lias never failed in any crisis of life.'Even Lvnch feels bound to. apologise for so highly-coloured a, portrait of one in whom he can see nothing a,miss, “ moa ami eb moil general cn chef. Next for the'were-wolf De- Wet, maddened, as most of tlia world, believes, by ins domestic losses, and by the hunted life which he has led for two years past. A Norwegian pro-Boer paper lately paid a noble tribute to English tolerance- and ireuc-rosity by drawing a not improbable picture of the reception which would be He Wet’s if be survived the- war and afterwards visited England, invited to breakfast with- Mr Balfour, long and closely

closeted with, Mr Chamberlain, the . -hero of the clubs and of the drawing-rooms. The acclaim that in London itself has greeted Ids latest, cow-boy escapade, the classical comparisons with Hannibal and others, well illustrate our too easy temper towards a venomous foe. Lynch calls He Wot a born tactician, although' ho was a trader before u * war, and might well have remained unknown all his life. He is older than Botha., jieing nearly fifty. He is only of moderate size, as Leers go, but is “vigorous, solid, hard' and dry e.s wood. His attitude, his gestures, his very profile, seemi to express resistance.” His hair and beard are brown, ins features somewhat irregular and commonplace; his deep and meditative eyes sometimes light up with a. wild resolution. Ho has become more and more taciturn. Formerly, he consulted his officers, but now he keeps them at a distance. When he has matured his plans in silence, he is inflexible. , Suddenly ho issues ids orders, which are unhesitatingly obeyed. “Do Wet makes war as lie hunts. Almost all his great exploits were surprises. He lies in wait for his prey, lie glides along, he creeps, until it is within good reach.” Colonel Lynch dwells upon the aggressive, rather than the fugitive, part of Be Wet’s existence; and, while admitting the bravery of the British troops, he gives a vivid picture of the horrors o| a night attack, when the sky at once is aflame, when the earth shakes, and, amid infernal clamour, death strikes everywhere, and without ceasing. Be Wet, like Botha, has the great quality of never being discouraged, and of thus always being able to infuse fresh hope into his wearied followers.

Be La Bey has lately scored in the capture of Lord Methuen, our unfortunate General and! indomitable Waggon-taker. It is hard to estimate how greatly Colonel Lynch’s Nationalist allies in the House of Commons have lost by their caddish way of hailing this. We will quote in full the few sentences which are all that Lynch devotes to the third' most conspicuous Boer leaderße La Roy looks like a peaceful, secluded little old farmer'. He is over fifty, but years have taken from him none of his vigour. He is the thinker, the man of knowing combinations. At first glance a superficial observer would hardly be able to discover one of the most energetic audacious chiefs of the Boer army in that shab-bily-dressedl old fellow, with his reserved and patriarchal face. His whitening beard ■frames features which are thin and withered, but his eyes, full of intelligence, have the hardness of steel. Be La Rey has the appearance of a man who has lost everything save the resolution of fighting to the end.”

We need 1 not 'follow in the same detail Lynch’s sketches of the less known chiefs. A subaltern, who had been in charge of one of the Boer camps in. Ceylon, on being asked how many Boer officers he had ever met of whom he could by any stretch of imagination think for a moment as holding the King’s commission, answered unhesitatingly, “Nob one!” We can believe it, when we go through, the list of the lesser Boer Generals. They are a squalid lot. Yet to Colonel Lynch, who himself possesses many European accomplishments, they are heroes all, even as English seamen are “Admirals all” to Mr Newbolt. First we learn of that fanatical Anglophobe, Ben Viljoen, that he was a blond young giant, standing as straight as a dart. Christian Botha is the younger brother of the socalled Commander-in-Chief, and has a great preference for.the Swaziland Police, which he commanded at the opening of the War. He stands over six feet, and Lynch, who has seen most of ,the champions of the world, has seen ho athlete to equal him. Of the two Generals Smuts, ,we need only notice the -second, the young Cambridge graduate who, as “Minister of Justice,” prostituted his education to the service of Kruger’s worst tyrannies. He is repeatedly called “ an intellectual,” and is said to have a head “Csesarian” in the purity of its profile. Other leaders' described are Jacobz, who is nob a Jew; Kemp, De La Key’s lieutenant, and Kemp’s: predecessor, Oesthuyzen. Grohelaar is a heavy, dull-coloured calm fellow, with a great rumbling voice. Erasmus is an old Boer so excessively clever that his caution has as at Surprise Hill, cost him -a victory. GENERAL DE LA REY. SOME OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE BOER LEADER. General De la Rcy has been in the field since 'the outbreak of hostilities in 1699. A citizen of the Transvaal, he is a Dopper of.the old school, shrewd, religious, and possessed' -of a military skill which has been amply in evidence throughout the campaign, but especially during its later guerilla stages. Imagine a man of about fifty, with a lung, straggling beard 'of iron grey, his habilimcaits- of faded black hung upon, rather than ’ fitting, a spare, wiry frame, and you have De la Rey as he appears on commando. He is kind-hearted, and his treatment of British prisoners and wounded has never lacked humanity. Though he was an opponent of the extreme policy of ex-President Kruger, and voted against the ultimatum, when war was declared 1 he became a leader second only to De Wet in'tho strenuousness of his opposition to tho British advance. It was during the fighting round Colesberg, early in 1900, that he first came into- prominence. He co-operated with De Wet in harassing the British, troops, and had his full share of the fighting in the Free State and tho Transvaal that followed the defeat at Paardcberg of Cronje, whom lie attempted to relieve. After the fall of Pretoria the Western Transvaal became his chief hunt-ing-ground, and then he moved to the Magalicsbcrg Range, from which he issued whenever the opportunity for a raid presented itself. Amongst his successes at this period were: the rushing of Clements’s force at Nooitgedacht. when he captured three hundred -and fifteen prisoners and the camp supplies, and the attack on tho Imperial Light Horse of Zandfontein. Ho ultimately carried his guerilla tactics as far south as the Orange River Colony. In October last .he was advancing with, Kemp towards ’ Lindley, and, with varying fortunes, was followed by the British columns, now disbanding, now collecting bis forces together, and always eluding capture. He then returned to the Western Transvaal, where nob long ago he captured Lord Methuen. RECENT SPECULATIONS. THE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. The “ Spectator ” of April 19 has the following;— The war news is, we are glad to say, this week mostly peace news. We do not go so far as to say that peace is actually in prospect, but the news of Friday morning is certainly more hopeful.- The "Daily Mail,” which lias been specially well informed in regard to the negotiations, stated on Friday morning that the basis ' of peace had been practically agreed on at Pretoria between our Government- and the Boer delegates. The best- proof of the anxiety of the Boers to come to terms is to be found in the fact that they demanded that there should be an armistice pending negotiations, and when our Governmentmost properly refused this demand, they did nob break off negotiations, ais their demand appeared to imply they would, bub still continued to treat. According to tho “ Daily Mail,” rhe terms to which the Boers will agree are now’ virtually settled. They are .the British terms, except that one or two seats will be secured to the Boer-s on the Executive Council at once. That ds a wise concession, and should maike Lord Milner’s work easier, not more difficult. It is also presumed that our Government have acted liberally as to the re-settlement of the Boers on their farms. No doubt it is

quite possible that these rumours of peace may prove too sanguine, and that the Boer delegates may return to the field. But even if they do, the war is not likely to last long. After these protracted conferences war will be begun again without much heart by the Boers. Guerilla fighting is not a game at which it is safe to let the players stand apart and get cold. It must he pushed on in. hot blood, if at all. Meantime we must record that during the week there have been one or two actions of importance, resulting in considerable loss to the Boers in killed, wounded, prisoners and surrenders. If the Boer Generals returned to their commandos to-morrow they would find them reduced by nearly a thousand men,. FUTURE OF THE BOERS. The despatches from Pretoria, says a Chicago paper, indicate that the Boers and English in conference there have, substantially agreed upon the conditions under which the Transvaal and the Orange Free State shall be granted responsible governments. Pending re-organisation, the Boers are to. have two members of the Executive Council charged with the government of the. two States and with the readjustment of Governmental machinery made necessary by their annexation to the British Empire. It seems to be conceded that the Boers are to ho compensated for loss of farms and other property, and that Boers now he d as prisoners are to be released ana sent home in time to participate in vhe reorganisation of the new Government. The question of amnesty to Gape Colony rebels, it is reported, is stiil under discus sion, but Great. Britain will lose nothing by conceding the point, and may gem much. In the organisation of responsible government modelled on that vf Cape Colony, the Transvaal will he at a greater disadvantage than the Orange Free State. Under the new rule, the OuGanders will( of course, be voters, while the B mrs, with ranks depleted by war, will not he proportionately as strong as they were four years ago. However, there has been from the time that responsible government whs instituted in Cape Colony, a strong Afrikander party there, and probably if elections were called to-day the Cape (jolony Parliament would have an Afrikander majority more in sympathy with the Dutch than with the ultra British. If the Transvaal and the Orange Free State should he annexed to Gape Colony, the Parliament would be still more strongly representative of the Dutch element.

The Boors are good politicians. In looking to the future they are planning in the interest of their own people, and in the end will doubtless secure the same measure of self-government that prevails in Gape Colony. Not a few of the Boers will leave the Transvaal, as their ancestors left Cape Colony years ago, but the majority will probably remain, to exercise great influence not only in their ' local governments, but in the general government of South Africa. In surrendering to the British they will not surrender all that they haye fought for. DIARY OR THE WAR. THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. 1899. Get. 10—Boer ultimatum received. Oct. 11—War begins. Boers seize a train from Ladysmith to Harrismith. Oct. 12 —Boer troops enter Natal.

Oct. 15 Kimberley {Commandant, Colonel Kekewich) invested. Mafeking (Commandant, Colonel Baden-Powell) invested.

Oct. 20—Battle of Talana Hill. Defeat of Boers. General Symons mortally wounded. Oct. 21—Battle of Elandslaagte. Defeat of Boers by General French. Oct. 22—General Yule retreats from Dundee.

Oct'. 26 —General Yule’s Column arrives at Ladysmith. Oct. 29—First New Zealand Contingent left Wellington by the Waimea in command of-Major Robin. Oct. 50—Battle of Lombard’s Kop. Defeat of Sir George White. Nicholson’s .Nek surrender.

Oct. 51 —General French leaves Ladysmith.

Nov. I—Free State Boers enter Cape Colony and 1 seize Oolesberg. Nov. 2 —Evacuation of Colenso. Ladysmith invested.

Nov. 7 —Stormberg abandoned by British.

Nov. 13—Boers occupy and “annex” Aliwal North.

Nov. 15—Boers occupy Colesberg. Nov. 23—Battle of Belmont. Defeat of Boers.

Nov. -25—Battle of Enslin or Graspan. Defeat of Boers. Sir Redvers Buller’s arrival in Natal. Nov. 28—Battle of Modder River. Drawn battle. Dec. 10 —General Gatacre suffers serious reverse in attacking Stormberg. Dec, 11—British repulsed at Magersfontein; General Wauchopo killed.

Dec. 15—Sir Redvers Duller suffers serious reverse while attempting to force the passage of the Tugela, losing ten guns. . Dec. 17—Lord Roberts appointed as Com-mander-in-Chief in South Africa, with Lord Kitchener of Khartoum as his Chief of the Staff. Reinforcements of 50,000 men ordered. Dec. 21 —Parliaments of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and New Zealand approve the despatch of additional contingents. 1900. Jan. 4—General French repulses Boers near Colesberg. Jan. 6—Repeated Boer attacks on Ladysmith ‘defeated. General White signals “Very hard pressed.” Jan. 10 —Sir Redvers Buller’s forward movement for the relief of Ladysmith. Jan. 15—Boers repulsed by detachment Ist Yorkshire and New Zealanders near Rensburg, Jan. 16-21—Buller’s forward movement. Jan. 20—Second New Zealand Contingent (including Hotchkiss Battery under Captain. N. L. D. Smith) left Wellington by the, Waimea under Major Cradock. Jan. 23—Spion Kop captured by Sir C. Warren. Jan. 25—Abandonment of Spion Kop. Jan. 27—British withdraw to the south of Tugela. Feb. 4—General Macdonald occupies Koodoo’s Drift. ■ Feb. 7—Vaal Krantz evacuated and the Tugela recrossed. Feb. 9—Lord Roberts arrives at Modder River. Feb. 14—General Buller captures Hussar Hill. Feb. 15—Lord Roberts occupies Jacobsdaal. General French relieves Kimberley. Flight of Cronje’s force from Magersfoiitein. Feb. 17—New Zealand Rough Riders left Lyttelton in the Knight Templar, under Major Jowsey. Feb. 19—Lord Roberts, accompanied by General Tucker's division, reaches-Paarde-berg. Feb. 20—General Oronje asks for armistice Feb. 27-—Majuba Day. Unconditional surrender of General Oronje andi over 4000 Boers at Paardebsrg. Feb. 28—Lord Dundonaild enters and relieves Ladysmith. March s—General Gatacre occupies Stormberg. Overtures of peace made bj’ Boer Presidents. March 11—Overtures of peace rejected by Lord Salisbury. March T3—Lord Roberts takes unopposed possession of Bloemfontein. March 16—Colonel Plainer repulsed at Lobatsi. Marclr 24—Fourth New Zealand Contin-

gent (No. 9 and 10 Companies) leave Pori Chalmers by the Monowai, in command of Major Francis. March 27—Death of General Jouhert.

March 31—Departure of Gy meric, Maori and Waimate with New Zealand Contingents. Colonel Broadwoodi attacked, at Bloemfontein.

April 4—Detachment of Royal Irish Rifles and Mounted Infantry surrounded hear Reddersburg and captured. April 25 —Boers abandon investment of Wepener after defeat by General Brabant. May 3—Lord Roberts’s general advance from Bloemfontein to Pretoria begins. / May 12—Lord Roberts enters Kroons* tadt. Boer attack on Maifeking repulsed.. Eloff and many prisoners taken. Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry surrounded and surrender near Bindley. May 17—Mafeking relieved. May 26—Orange Free State formally annexed. May 30—President Kruger leaves Pretoria. May 31—Lord Roberts enters Johannesburg. June 4 —General Botha opposes Lord Roberts, and after some fighting agrees to surrender Pretoria. June s—Lord5 —Lord Roberts enters Pretoria. June 22—General Buller occupies Stan* d'erton. July 11 and 12—Lord Roberts defeats General Botha east of Pretoria. July 27—General French captures Mid-: dleburg. , July 29—Surrender of General Prinsloa and over 4000 Boers on Basuto border to Generals Hunter and Bundle—lsoo Boera under Olivier escaping. August 28—Retreat of Botha. General Buller occupies Machadodorp. Sept. I—Lord Roberts proclaims the an*, nexation of the Transvaal.

Sept. 12—Flight of President Kruger to Lorenzo Marquez. Sept. 24 —General Pole-Carew occupies Komati Poort. ;

Dec. 2 and 3—General Knox engaged Do Wet at Karreeport. De Wet was compelled to abandon his invasion of Capei Colony, and! went north. Dec. 11—De Wet was hemmed 1 in by General Knox, between Thahanchu and Ladybrand, but broke through the toils., again.

Dec. 16—Kruitzinger crossed into Capa' Colony at Odendaal, and Hertzog at Sand’ Drift, west of Oolesberg. Deo. 19—Lieutenant-General French, having been placed in command of all the forces operating north and south of the Magaliesberg, defeated the enemy at Thorndale and drove them westward, thus freeing the Rustenberg district, in the Transvaal.

Jan. 28—Commencement of grand planned by the Boer leaders, of which tba invasion of Cape , Colony , was the preliminary. ■ .

. Jan. 30 —Sixth New Zealand Contingent left Auckland in the Cornwall, under Lieu? tenant-Colonel Banks.

Feb. 4—De Wet, who had moved dowa from Doorniberg on Jan. 27, towards the Orange River, crossed into Cape Colony by the Zand Drift.

Feb. 20 —De Wet, after being hustled from place to place, is met by part o£ General Plumere force.

Feb. 22—Peace negotiations initiated through Mrs Botha. Feb. 28—Meeting at Mjddleburg between Lord Kitchener and, General Botha. The latter said he was afraid that peace could not be secured without independence., Feb. 30—Lord Kitchener referred to th« British Government a number of suggestions as to terms to be submitted to Botha, amnesty to be granted on complete surrender of amis, ammunition, cannon, and other munitions of war in hands of burghers.

March 10—Letter setting forth terms of peace is forwarded to General Botha.

March 15—General Botha replies that he cannot recommend the terms to the serious consideration of his Government.

March 24—The - whole of De La Rey’,a convoy captured by General Babington’sr force to the south-west of Ventersdorp. ('■ ■ April 6.—Seventh New Zealand Contingent left Wellington in the Gulf of Toronto, under Lieutenant-Colonel Porter.

April 24—Sir Bindon Blood’s columns inflicted great loss oh the enemy, and captured over 1000. ■

May 10—Leave granted to General Botha to send two envoys to Kruger to place before him the conditions of the country, and the Boer cause. June 6—General Elliott and De Wet meet near Reitz, and the former captured much ammunition and large numbers of cattle. ' ,

July 15—The policy ‘of erecting blockhouses and sending out mobile columns was continued;

August 6—Lord Kitchener issued a proclamation announcing that all commandants, field-cornets amd leaders, of armed bands engaged in resistance, would be permanently banished from South Africa unless they surrendered before Sept. 15. August B—De Villiers and two field-cor-nets surrendered at Warm, Baths; 825 of the. enemy captured or surrendered, with 745 waggons, 5580 horses and 37C0 cattle. August 11—Wolmarans, ex-chairman of the First Volksraad, captured. August 25—Stoyn, De Wet and Botha wrote protesting against- Kitchener’s proclamation! and declaring that they would still continue fighting. Sept. 26—Botha, with a strong force, moved to the Zulu border’, presumably to invade Natal, and attacked Forts Itala and Prospect, but was beaten off. Sept. 30—Do la Rey made a night attack on Colonel Kekewich at Moedmill,: but was driven off ; heavy losses on both sides. Oct. I—Lord Kitchener issued a proclamation! providing for the sale of. properties of Boers still in the field.

Oct. 15—Colonel Benson’s column attacked near Bethel in a violent hailstorm. Colonels Benson and Guinness and other officers killed and guns of the column carried off. ■

Nov. 15—De Wet began to concentrate his forces north-east of the Orange River? Colony. Dec. 3—Peace suggestions more optimistically discussed. Dec. 6—Miss Hobhouse arrested and deported. , Dec. 16— Boer Commandants, in confer-* ence, discuss surrender. ■> Dec. 17—Commandant Badenhorst captured. Heavy mortality reported from coni centration canms. Dec. 18—Commandant Kruitzinger cap-, tured. 1902. Jan. 25—Engagement at Leeuinspruit New Zealanders display conspicuous bravery. , • Jan. 28—Capture of ; Commandant Vil-i jocn. Feb. I—North Battalion Eighth Contingent left Auckland in the Surrey in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Davies, commanding the. Contingent. Feb. B—South' Island Battalion Eighth Contingent left Lyttelton. in the under Lieutenant-Colonel Chaytor, • Feb; 11—Capture of Commandant Pot- * gief er. Feb. 23—Fight at Bothasburg, .Seventh: New Zealand Contingent in action repelled! upwards of 800 Boers, losing twenty-four killed and many wounded*. . March 7—Capture of Lord Methuen- by De La Rey. March 12—South Island 1 Battalion, Ninth Contingent, left Port Chalmers in the Kent under Major Jackson. March 19—North Island Battalion, of the Ninth New Zealand Contingent left Auckland in the Devon under Major O’Brien. April 14—North Island Battalion Tenth New Zealand Contingent left Wellington in the Drayton Grange under Captain Tanner. . . April 21—South ' Island Battalion left Lyttelton in the Norfolk under Major Pennycook, Major Andrew being appointed! to take charge of the Contingent on arrival in South Africa.- ;• May 23—Announcement made in London : that the chief points of the peace proposals had been satisfactorily settled at Pretoria