THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11800, 1 November 1901, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

A COMMANDO SURPRISED. TWENTY-TWO BOERS CAPTURED. FIGHTING IN THE TRANSVAAL : 76 PRISONERS TAKEN. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright, (Received October 31. 5.13 p.m.) London, October 30. On the 25th Colonel Byng surprised Stanneberg's commando and captured 2-2, including Field-CornetS Stamelberg and Omshinzen. (Received October 31, 10.33 p.m.) London, October 31. Colonel Fortescue encountered Miller's commando oil the 27th north') of Balmoral, in the Transvaal. A' running fight ensued all day. Four; Boers were killed and 51 taken prK soners. TWO REBELS EXECUTED.' (Received October 31, 10.38 p.m.) London, October 31. Two Vryburg rebels have beeii. executed. Nineteen have been sentenced to heavy terms of imprison* merit. AN IMPRISONED NEW ZEALANDEE. PETITION TO THE KING. October 31, 10.35 p.m.) London, October 31.According to Mr. E. G. Jellicoe't£' petition the King will release on January 11 Trooper Tasker, a NeW: Zeal and er, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment last July; for sleeping at his post. A GALLANT MIDSHIPMAN, London, October 30. , The King has presented Mrs. Huddart, widow of the late Mr. James Huddarfc, with the Conspicuous Service Cross awarded to her son, th£ late Midshipman Huddart, for gal-, lantry at Grasspan. THE FRENCH BOYCOTT SCHEME. Paris, October 30. The French dockers' proposal to boycott British commerce with al, view to compelling the termination of the war has proved a fiasco. The dockers at Antwerp and Hamburg! : and the merchants in Holland re-? fused to co-operate. VICTORIANS TREATED LIKE DOGS. ; Melbourne, October 31. Major McKnight, one of the officers of the Fifth Victorian. Contingent, has submitted a report to the Government in reference to the Beat sou episode. Speaking at a social given in honour of his return,: Major McKnight said the Fifth was asgood as any other Victorian but the officers and men were treated like dogs. Their losses were the result of grosjf carelessness. He had never heard any British officers use such strong language as General Beatson and the officer next iC command. __ SERGEANT-MAJOR CALLAWAY. We have received a South African papef containing a list of promotions of and men " for distinguished gallantly i\ , the field." It is stated that "Sergeant Major Callaway, Seventh New Zealandersr has been brought to the notice of th« Commander-in-Chief for bringing in a mounted trooper at Witkop under heav fire." He was wounded on that occasion.;! It will be remembered that Sergeant-Major) Callaway was a corporal in the First Con-i tingent," but returned to South Africa with? the Seventh, as sergeant-major. In all. probability lie will receive a commission* CHRISTMAS COMFORTS. The Premier yesterday forwarded the following telegram to the Mayor (Mr. A.: Kidcl) in answer to one sent by the town clerk regarding Christmas gifts for the New Zealand Contingents: —"Your telegram received. Government will be de-« lighted to forward consignments' of Christmas gifts fcr our noble boys, at the front. Please see Colonel Davies and Mr. Vickerman, who have been in-? structed to carry out your wishes." In) , connection with this matter LieutenantColonel Da-vies, C.8., called upon the Mayor, yesterday forenoon and placed his services at the disposal of the committee. Colonel Davies will meet the sub-committee oh Monday at- noon, and the following day the General Committee meet at three o'clock to receive subscription lists and carry out arrangements made for forwarding con* signments by the first available route. Sir A. Douglas, Under-Secretary" for Defence,, in reply to an inquiry telegraphed that; the number of New Zealand troops in South Africa is 550 Sixth Contingent and 600' Seventh Contingent.