THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11870, 23 January 1902, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

KITCHENER'S WEEKLY

REPORT.

OPERATIONS INTERRUPTED.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright.; London, January 21. Lord Kitchenee's weekly report states that continuous rains interrupted operations. Boer casualties during the week included 31 killed and 18 wounded, in addition to 170 prisoners and 41 surrendered. ■

ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. \ TO ENFORCE MEDIATION MEANS WAR., '";'■■ ]■■,' Paris, January 21. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Delcasse said it was impossible for France to mediate in the ; war in South. Africa. Any attempt to enforce mediation inevitably meant; war. : - ' . ; -■-: "-,.''. ',■ THE BLOCKHOUSES. (Received January 22, 10.33 p.m.); ... ; London, January .22. There are nearly 5000, blockhouses in the Transvaal and Orange Colonies; requiring 50,000 troops to garrison them. ~ , .'".'

The Times' correspondent at Pretoria writes:— Much still remains to be done in. the way of partitioning: the country by lines of -blockhouses before we can hope to clear these large districts effectively. T '■■] It is found that blockhouses a mile or more ; apart are powerless. The Boers, when determined, can cross in the night. '■':": Nothing short of blockhouses- every 600 yds or 700 yds, connected by, formidable wire entanglements, will* prove effective. To thread i the. country in this way requires tune, also "men >to occupy the blockhouses, but in the opinion of the military authorities it is th© only method of dealing with an enemy who refuses to fight and adopts giuerilla tactics. The British public must, therefore, have patience while the laborious undertaking is carried out." ■

THE COST OF THE WAR. (Received January 22, 10.33 p.m.) London, January 22.

In the House of Commons Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated that the war had cost £46,300,000 from April to December last.

TROOPERS CONSIDINE AND BATES. (Received January 22, 10.33 p.m.) London, January 22. Privates James Considine and William. Bates, of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, were wounded at Charlestown. . ■;■•--■■' *■ ■> '' -

[The above. message has evidently • been delayed, as last week it- was announced in the Heeald that Mrs. Nora' Considine received a telegram from the Premier '■ stating that her son, Trooper John "'• Considine, Seventh Contingent, was reported . dangerously ill. on January., 10 at.; Charlestown, suffering from a;• gunshot wound. Trooper Considine, before joining the Seventh Contingent, was a butcher in Corornandcl for some years.] ' '

THE EXECUTION OF v: SCHEEPERS. London, January 21. Leyds has protested to the Powers that the execution of Scheepers was an assassination. RECRUITING YEOMEN". - London, January 21. Three thousand yeomen ■ have already been recruited, instead of two thousand asked for, at the end of the month. r :'\ - COMPENSATION TO GERMANS. London, January 21. In the House of Commons Lord Cranborne stated that £28,380 compensation was paid for detention and search of German vessels in South Africa. 1 BURGHER NATIONAL SCOUTS. London, January 21. | Mr. Brodrick said two thousand i burghers, constituted as Burgher National • Scouts, were doing excellent service. 'AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. ! : Sydney, January 22. v

Both morning papers endorse the sending of a further contingent and accept the call for more troops as an indication of a determined effort to finish the war before the King's coronation. The work of enrolling this State's quota of the Federal contingent has been very slow. About two thousand men volunteered. Much care is being taken in the selection, but it is almost completed.