THE CAPE RAIDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11714, 25 July 1901, Page 5

THE CAPE RAIDERS.

A TRAIN CAPTURED.

(Received ■ July 25, 1.27 a.m.) London', July 24. Lord Kitchener reports that Scheeper's commando on the 21st captured and burned a train bringing 113 details and stores from Capetown, eight miles north of Beaufort East. Three British were killed and 18 wounded. A full inquiry into the incident is proceeding. ■ ;'; - ; : \.'v'/-;" ', (Received July 25, 1.33 a.m.) London, July 24. Kruitzinger, at dawn on the 21st, attacked Colonel Crab be's 300 men in , the Cradock Mountains. Col. Crabbe's horses stampeded. After fighting all day Colonel Crabbe retired to Mortimer. His casualties were slight. / ■■ .'■■■•■-•' IMPERIAL LIBERALS AND . THE WAR. (Received July 25, 0.30 a.m.) London, July 24... The committee of the Imperial Liberal Council has carried a resolution in favour of the vigorous prosecution of the war, and stating that a general amnesty to rebels is impossible until the ;', termination of hostilities. The committee also state ■ that the charge o 2 barbarity against the British are J unfounded and pro-Boer demonstrations act directly in prolonging the war and that the attempt to identify the Liberal party with the pro-Boer cause is dishonest. The resolutions adopted represent the feeling of a majority of the Liberal party. LORD MILNER. PRESENTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF LONDON. SPEECH ON THE WAR. London, July 23. Lord Milner has received the freedom of the City of London. ' i (Received July 24, 10.35 p.m.) ; ■'! . London, July 24. A dense crowd assembled: at the Guildhall, including Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Selborne, Lord Goschen, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord; Cromer, Sir Claude McDonald and other notables, : in - connection with the ceremony of presenting Lord Milner with the freedom of London. Lord Milner, who was received with ringing cheers, in the course of his speech emphasised the remarkable, almost phenomenal, steadfastness of the bulk of the nation in regard to the war in South Africa and the virtual unanimity on the main issue. Few were willing to purchase peace by concessions compromising the future and,popularising rebellion, by treating deliberate crimes of strained treason as a venial offence. The country,', on the other hand, had : resolved to treat the burghers with such fairness and generosity as would help them to accept the position and ultimately acquire the sentiments of British citizenship. The ; ■ work of reconstruction was proceeding despite all drawbacks. He pointed to the bold development of the natural resources of the annexed republics and the gradual and prudent introduction of self-government to heal old sores, create new interests and bring the divers sections to cooperate for the common good. It would be by giving the world an object-lesson in good government and of reviving industry in the more or less settled districts that the struggle would be ended, THE CAPTURED LETTERS. A HOPELESS POSITION. PROPOSED; ARMISTICE. London, July 23. In connection with Steyn's correspondence captured at Reitz there are references in letters passing between Dr. Reitz, Secretary of State of the Transvaal under the Boer regime, and Steyn to the final step. One letter is believed to foreshadow an application for an armistice by the Transvaal leaders, with the avowed intention of consulting the burghers, and hoping to secure a settlement which would preserve the Boer nationality. The Cape Dutch are profoundly impressed by the revelation of the hopelessness of the position, and consider ex-President Steyn's arguments as baseless. MRS. KRUGER'S DEATH. London, July 23. Mr. Eloff, one of Kruger's sons-in-law, telegraphed to the ex-President that Mrs. Kruger's end was peaceful and painless. Her dying message to her husband was that he must place his firm trust in God. ' ■ - - '"■''■'■■ GEN. BADEN-POWELL ILL. , London, July 23. General Baden-Powell is seriously ill, owing to the prolonged strain, and the doctors have ordered an entire cessation of work for three months.

BOER BRIGANDAGE. London, July 23. Mr. Chamberlain' has stated that the -wanton destruction of Murrayaburg and property elsewhere in Capo Colony by Scheeper's commando is mere brigandage. CHAPLAIN" OF THE FORCES. : • London, July 23. Mr. St. John Brodrick has requested Rev. Dr. J. C. Edghill, chaplain of the general forces, who intimated his intention of resigning, to remain in office till the end of October. A BOER ATTACK. London, July 23. ■ • A party of Boers for two days made determined attacks on Aberdeen. The arrival of a detachment of Australians with a fifteen-pounder caused them to disperse. ARRIVAL OF TROOPERS BY THE WESTRALLA. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington-, Wednesday. ..,.. Twenty New Zealaiiders who have beert fighting in South Africa returned by the Westralia. to-day, in charge of Lieutenant Brebner,. of Inveicargill. -Their . names are: — : '." • - New Zealand Mounted Rifles: Privates Thompson, Wheeler, Topp, Bitter, and Ferris. Kitchener's Horse: Sergeants McKay and Cook, Corporal Braddell,",Privates Williams, McGrath, Cookson, Anderson, Wright, Miller, Bartlett, Spence, Todd, and Green. ' Commander-in-Chiefs Bodyguard: Green. The men are from all parts of the colony. —— ~s ' i. . —'■ ■ ■ ■ 'A TROOPER'S FUNERAL. [by telegraph.—press association.] Ditntidin, Wednesday. ' ' Trooper McKechnie, who died in the hospital after returning by the Tagus from South Africa, was buried to-day with full military honours. There was a large at-' - tendance of the public, and a. good turn-out of the returned men and volunteers. A 'very pleasant evening was spent las* night in the Cook-street Oddfellows' Hall, when relatives and friends of Trooper Harry G. McLeod, of the Fifth Contingent, assembled to bid bim welcome home. Mr. John McLeod, uncle of the returned trooper, acted as M.C., and Trooper Ussher, of the Fifth Contingent, was alsc present. Troopers McLeod and Ussher were introduced ' by Mr. McLeod, and welcomed home. •Games, songs, dancing, and gramophone selections filled in Vvery pleasant time. .A bountiful repast was laid out in the supperroom, and ample justice done to the same." " Auld Lang Syne" brought the re-union to a close at midnight. ■ Our Cambridge correspondent writes: —> Troopers G. Armer, Broun, and MicLeish arrived home from the war on Monday afternoon. They were met and welcomed at the railway station by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. F. Auckland), Archdeacon Willis, several councillors, and a large number of residents; ; None I of, them look any the worse after their life on the veldt.