THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11879, 3 February 1902, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

BRITISH SUCCESSES. I : GENERAL FRENCH'S OPERATIONS. FOUCHE'S COMMANDO DISPERSED. CAPTURE OF TWO FIELDCORNETS. By Telegraph.— Association.— (Received February 2, 4.57 p.m.) London, February 1. General French has dispersed Fouche's commando in the northeast of Cape Colony, capturing 26. j General Driscoll captured 17 Boers, including Field-cornets Venter and Grobelaar, at Makawsdrift. i Grobelaar subsequently died of his i wounds. PURSUIT OF DE WET. :j TWENTY-THREE COLUMNS I OPERATING. (Received February 3, 12.11 a.m.) London, February 1. Twenty columns are operat-1 ing against De Wet. ATTACK ON DII MOULIN'S COLUMN. BOERS REPULSED WITH LOSS. (Received February 2, 4.57 p.m.) London, February 1. Monwindt's commando attacked Colonel Du Moulin's column at Abraham's Kraal, .on Tuesday. A sharp action followed. Du Moulin had eight men of the Sussex Regiment killed and seven wounded. The Boers were repulsed with loss. COLONEL WILSON'S FIGHT. A SEVERE ENCOUNTER. (Received February 2, 4.57 p.m.) London, February 1. Colonel Wilson's assailants on January 25 numbered 900. • A British advanced party of 200 were surrounded, with heavy fire. They charged through, and regained Colonel Wilson, who fought along 14 miles of ridges to Frankfort. With difficulty he escaped being surrounded. THE PEACE PROPOSALS. DR. KUYPER'S OFFER TO ACT AS NEGOTIATOR. HIS MEDIATION REJECTED. OPINION ON THE CONTINENT. London, January 31. Mr. Balfour announced in the House of Commons that Britain's reply reached Dr. Kuyper, the Netherlands Premier, to-day, and the communications will be cabled at an early date. The Daily News says that there are indications that Dr. Kuyper sent word of his willingness to act as a friendly negotiator, and to strive to induce the abandonment of the Boer claim for independence. Mr. Chamberlain replied that advances must emanate from the Boers themselves. Dr. Kuyper subsequently wrote to Lord Lansdowne, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, extending his offer to act as no gotiator as between the Boers in Europe and the Boers in the field. The Daily Telegraph understands that Lord Lansdowne's reply to this later offer was a courteous assertion that, owing to his lack of authorisation to speak for the Boers, and the lack of tangible proposals, his suggestion was unfortunately not serviceable even as a basis for negotiations. (Received February 2, 5.2?__p.m.) London, February 1. The entire Cabinet sat two hours and a-lialf, and adopted the committee's reply to Dr. Kuyper. The rejection of his mediation is attributed to the absence of credentials binding on the Boers, thefe being no evidence that they desired his mission. (Received February 3, 12.11 a.m.) ■ London, February 1. There is a consensus of newspaper opinion that the Continental papers imagined that Britain, tired of the war, would , snatch at any chance of peace in view of the Coronation ceremonies, but they are beginning to denounce Kruger and Leyds for their obstinacy. M. de Blowitz, Paris correspondent of the Times, interprets their obstinacy to a desire to convince the commandos that England must now face beside Boer resistance the moral suasion of Europe. LORD MILNER'S POLICY. (Received February 2, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 1. A Blue Book has been issued, which foreshadows Lord Milner's policy as that of kindness and firm ness to the natives, compelling them to observe contracts. I' expresses determination to suppress drinking. GERMANY AND THE WAR. (Received February 2, ■ 5.5 p.m.) London, February 1. Professor Delbruck, the historian, has altered his views regarding the war. He disproves Boer stories, and declares there is an increasing disposition in Germany to recognise the gallantry and humanity of the British troops. Hi severely condemns Miss Hobhouse.