TRANSVAAL WAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 947, 19 September 1901, Page 6

TRANSVAAL WAR.

London, Sept. 10. De Wet refusal to discuss Loid Kitchener's proclamation. He told IVbtor Murray that a clergyman's place' was the pulpit. Ex-I'resident Steyn dUcusscd the proclamiition, but rcm-iimd unconvinced by Mr Murray's arguments. He insisted that Botr refugee women were brutally treated. The revenue of the Orange River Colony for the year shows a surplus of £M-1,000, without including telegraphs and railway returns. Commandant Theron, with a force <>f HO men, boldly attacked l'Vrdelherg on Friday Twenty-five of the West Yorkshire Regiment repulsed the enemy with loss. A commission in the Middlesex Regiment has been granted to Lance-Corporal S'.orcr, of the sixth New Zealand contingent. Broeekma, formerly public prosecutor, arrested at Johannesburg, is charged with treachery and treason. The documents seized in his house showed that treasonable correspondence had been proceeding for six months per the medium of Brocckma's house between Dr Leyds, Mr Kruger, Reitz, and the commandants in the field, under cover of letters addressed to the American Consuls at The Haaue and Johannesburg. Mr Kruger's letters showed that be was forwarding to Dr teyds Broeckma's news, intending to influence pro-Boer organs, with the object of prompting action in Parliament.

The documents seized include a typo written proclamation signed by Louis Botha announcing that the Boer lighting generals had outlawed Lord Kitchener and all British ollicers, and ordering all burghers to kill every armed soldier and policeman. Two of Reitz despatch riders were captured on the Transvaal-l'ortuguese frontier chelating cuttings from the ' Review of Reviews' and other English pro-Boer organs. There is an impression in Capetown that only propertied B ;crs will be allowed to surrender. Loyalists urge the cessation of leniency and stricter measures and vigorous warfare.

Fifteen Boers were captured at Thabanchu on the 12th after an engagement. Colonels Byng and Cunningham's columns attacked and nearly surrounded 300 Boers on Friday. The Boers suffered heavily. The Burghers under Theron's command have secretly surrendered at Itiversdale, as a result of Lord Kitchener's proclamation. Colonel Crabbo engaged Schceper's commando of 200 men near Ladysmith, in Capo Colony, on Saturday, wounding 11. Three British were wounded. September 17. The de.it.li sentences and terms of severe imprisonment passed on several rebels have in the iirst instance heen commuted to penal servitude for life, and in the second the terms have been greatly reduced. The ' Daily Mail's ' Capetown correspondent states that Lord Kitchener and Sir Hely Hutchison, the Governor, favor miutial law at Capetown with a view to the extirpation of rebels, while Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, the Premier, and the community oppose it. The death sentences and terms of severe imprisonment passed on several rebels have been commuted in the first instance to penai servitude for life, und in the second the term will be greatly reduced.