THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 48

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. LONDON, February 20. In replying to Piet De Wet’s overtures to the Afrikander Bond leaders to assist his efforts towards securing peace, Theron says it is impossible for him to recognise the status of the Orange River Peace Committee, which Piet De Wet represents. Mr Theron explains that he is unable, under the Bond constitution, to negotiate with a body whose principles are at variance with those of the Afrikander Party. ' Nevertheless, Mr Theron offers his services to properly constituted authorities to promote a peace honourable to both sides, and harmonising with the declared policy of the Afrikanders. INTENTIONS AS TO THE FUTURE. LONDON, February 20. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said the proclamation of the intentions of the Government in regard to the administration of the new colonies in South Africa had been withheld in deference t-o the opinion of Lord Kitchener and Sir A. Milner that the moment was inopportune for its publication. Sir A. Milner will sav when it is advisable to make the proclamation. BAGGAGE TRAIN DERAILED. LONDON, February 21. A goods train containing Lord Kitchener’s baggage, which was preceding him, was derailed near Johannesburg. The armoured trucks attached to the train conveying Lord Kitchener hastened forward with the Commander-in-ChiefFs Bodyguard, and expelled l the Boers from the vicinity of thei line. LONDON, February 22. The Boers who attacked General Kitchener’s baggage train "had carts hidden in a donga in readiness to carry off the loot. NATIVES SHOT BY BOERS. LONDON, February 21. The invaders derailed a train on the Naauwpoort-De Aar railway, near Tsniboschfentein, twenty-seven miles southeast of De Aar. They compelled some blacks, who were riding in the trucks, to stand over a hole from which ballast had been taken, and then fired, killing two and wounding others. . SCHALK BURGER’S ADVICE. LONDON, February 21. General Schalk Burger has told the burghers that: their cause is hopeless and the prolongation of hostilities futile. He has advised them to surrender, not in twos and threes, but as a nation. LONDON, February 22: General Louis Botha, who is hemmed in by General French' on the Swaziland frontier, on the 10th inst. recommended his followers never to surrender. He said he would continue to lead them while five hundred burghers were left. The burghers replied that it was difficult to continue the struggle. The ammunition was almost exhausted, and the British were destroying the crops and food. General Botha replied that the Lord provided everything. Mr Steyn and General De Wet issued a fiery proclamation on January 14 th denying that the war was ended, urging retaliation for the burning of farms, reiterating lying reports of outrages by the British upon Boer wom en, and advocating raids upon unfriendly colonists. EX-PRESIDENT KRUGER. LONDON, February 21. It i*s announced that ex-President Kruger will return to the Transvaal after the war* The “Morning Post’s” Pretoria correspondent states that a Boer report is in circulation that Mr Kruger is returning to the Transvaal to arrange for the termination of the war. PURSUIT OF DE WET. LONDON, February 22. Major-General Plumer is following General De Wet, and compelling him to turn north, in the direction of Griqualand West. The British are close on the enemy s Commandant Hertzog is to the northward, at Honwate.r, thirty-two miles north-west of Britstown, and fifty-five miles from De Aar. Lieutenant-Colonel Gornnge and Major Haig are pursuing Commandant Kruitzinger northwards, near Bethesda, forty miles south-west of Middleburg. LONDON, February 23. Four hundred burghers have deserted General De Wet. They report that copies of Lord Kitchener’s proclamation of December 20th, with reference to surrendering, are now reaching the commandoes. [The proclamation referred to promised that burghers voluntarily surrendering would be allowed to live with their families in Government laagers, and to return to their homes at the

property handed in by them would be respected.] Commandant F rone mail, with a thousand men, proceeded northward while General De Wet moved towards Prieska, to await Commandant Hertzog, who is bringing him a thousand remounts. THE POSITION DISCUSSED. LONDON, February 21. A correspondent signing himself “P. 5.,” supposed to be Philip Schreiner, brother of the late Premier of Cape Colony, lias addressed a letter to “liio Times.” He states that it is his painful duty to advise the Boers to surrender. The sympathy of the Continental nations, says “P. 5.,” is hollow, and the tardiness of the Liberal members 'of the House of Commons in declaring that they opposed the idea of Boer independence, and their loyalty to the Empire, had disagreeably surprised the Boers. U the intentions of the Liberals had been made clear months ago, the war would long since have been honourably concluded. Had the Dutch won they would hare taken every penny of the stakes. “P.S.” makes a strong case against the maintenance of the dual language. He points out that the Dutch in Cape Colony and Natal enjoy equality of rights and language with the British, yet they are not satisfied, because as long as the two languages are permitted to remain, peace and the fusion of the two races are impossible. The British are advised to take steps to abolish the Dutch language throughout South Africa iu favour of English, and to place the deseendants of brave commandants in the seats cf the mighty. The letter concludes by saying that the universal loyalty of the colonies to the Empire has been a great lesson to the Dutch. DE WET’S CALLOUSNESS. HARSH TREATMENT OF PRISON- ~ ERS. , LONDON, February 23. A British officer who was captured at Zanddrift and subsequently released at Houtkraal, declares that General De Wet treated prisoners on the march with the utmost callousness, and only released them when' they dropped from exhaustion. The officer saw De Wet personally sjambok another British officer who was expostulating against the Boer leader’s cruelty. MISCELLANEOUS. LONDON, February 19. The Boers derailed a train between Vereeniging and Johannesburg, but w ere repulsed before they were able to plunder it. All the stores at Komati Poort have been closed, lowing to the discovery that they were supplying fighting Boers. The “Standard” states that Malcolm Clark, a well-known identity in the Transvaal, with large mining interests, accomplished a daring cross - country journey from Leydsdorp to Pretoria, a distance of about 200 miles. He captured six Boer officials, and brought them with important papers to Pretoria. General Schalk Burger, who took a prominent part in the fighting early in the campaign, and who was appointed President by Mr Kruger on his departure foi Europe, is still in Northern Transvaal, doing his utmost to induce the Boers to agree to a general surrender. The ‘’‘Daily Mail” states that an extensive expedition is being .organised a,t Pretoria to expel the Boers from Petersburg, the terminus of the railway running north from Pretoria, and the Northern Transvaal. - Amongst the prisoners recently captured by the. British is Commandant Boswan, who led the Boshof commando. Lord Kitchener has returned to Pretoria. He reports that on the 10th De Wet was seventy miles west of Hopetown, apparently making for Prieska, a town on the Orange River, about one hundred miles north-west of De Aar Junction. The commandos from Western Cape Colony were also retiring to Prieska. De Wet threatens to shoot all Dutch colonists refusing to fight. A burgher named Nadoraan declares that the Boers shot his brother dead, in the presence of their aged mother, f,or refusing to break his oath of neutrality. In the debate in the House of Com. mo ns on the Address-in-Reply, the Right Hon J. Chamberlain, replying to attacks on the conduct of the war, reiterated his previous statement that Britain’s policy had not varied from the outset. He challenged the Opposition to produce an alternative policy, and recalled the fate that had befallen Boer peace envoys. LONDON, February 20. A hundred members of Lord Strathcona’s Horse will, after visiting Canada, join Major-General Baden-Powell’s police force. General De Wet, after his flight from iMilliiiiMyiiiliite

north-westwards towards Prieska, obtained i emoimts westward of Hopetown.

Major-General Plumer and Lieutenant Henniker’s detachment of Victorians on Monday got within five miles of De Wet’s laager. The Boers hastily divided, half going westerly and half in a north-easterly direction. Lieut.-General French, who is operating against • the Boers in the Eastern Transvaal, is constantly receiving the submission of -stragglers from Botha’s main commando. Reuter’s correspondent points to some officers and men attached to Major-Gen-eral De Lisle’s command who have been fighting and trekking for over a year, and have marched seven thousand miles. These include Colonel Kuight, commanding the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, Captain Legge, of ue same corps, who is De Lisle’s intelligence officer, and Captain. Watson, his gallopor, while Lieutenant Osborne acts as supply officer. The Right Hon. W. St. J. Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, speaking in the House- of Commons, promised drastic reform of the Army Medical Service. He stated that he hoped by the end of March to have increased the mounted forces of Lord Kitchener in South Africa to the extent required. During the last three months, besides thirteen thousand horses sent from England, there had been thirty thousand despatched to South Africa from other sources. Sir Gordon Sprigg, the Cape Premier, f 'romis.es to confer a medal with the mperial Star on all British and colonial forces 1 hat have taken part In the war. The Right Hon H. H. Asquith, who was Home Secretary in the last two Liberal Ministries, stated that- there was no practical alternative to annexation of the conquered territories. An interval was essential before constitutional Government was possible in the conquered States. LONDON, February 22. The Boers destroyed a culvert between Natal Spruit and the Klip river. They captured a train-load of foodstuffs and burned the train. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain announced that Sir Alfred Milner’s salary as Administrator of the new colonies will be £BOOO, and as High Commissioner for South Africa £3OOO. Though small bodies of Boers manage to break through the British lines, Lieut.-General French is hard pressing General Botha’s main body, numbering four thousand men. They are encumbered with women and children and a huge convoy. When French’s column threatened Ermelo, General Botha ordered the Ermelo commando to cover the Boer retreat-, threatening to shoot the leaders who disobeyed the order. Re entire commando thereupon deserted. There is accumulating evidence that the Bioer leaders represent to the burghers that Mr Chamberlain’s conciliatory assurances are signs of weakness, and mere bridges for them to surrender. At Lord Kitchener’s request MajorGeneral the Earl of Dundonald and Colonel Ward, who played prominent parts early in the campaign, are returning to South Africa. The “Daily Mail” states that General De Wet is depressed at having to operate in unknown country, and is seldom in the fighting line. Commandant Fronwan directs the fighting, and also the line of flight. De Wet, who is said to he frightened, was headingon Tuesday towards Read’s Drift, about fifty miles north-east of Prieska, intending to re-cross the Orange river. He wept at the doggedness and nearness of the pursuing British. One commando, unable to cross the swollen Brak river, turned, west. Later reports state that part of De Wet’s force has been driven into tho triangle formed by the junction of the Orange and Brak rivers, which are flooded, and which the horses are unable to swim. The rains continue. Lord Kitchener has telegraphed from Klerksdorp, the terminus of the railway running south-west from Johannesburg, that Lord Methuen’s division, operating in the south-western Transvaal, had cleared that part of the country, marching through Wolmaranstad to Klerksdorp. Generals De Villiers and Liebenberg, with fourteen hundred men, obstinately held a strong position at Haartebeestefontein, twenty miles west of Klerksdorp, whence they were expelled after severe fighting on the 10th inst. In this engagement the Yeomanry, Victorian Bu-dimen and Rojgl North Lancashire rendered distinguished- service. The British losses were three officers and thirteen men killed, and five officers and twenty-nine men wounded. The Boers suffered severely, and left eighteen dead on the field. The “Standard” states that a big force, including a naval detachment and a volunteer composite regiment, is operating in the vicinity of Vrylieid, in the south-east ’Transvaal, with the object of checking Botha’s retreat in that direction. Mr Kruger has abandoned his intention to seek an interview with King Edward at Flushing, when his Majesty arrives there on his way to visit the Dowager-Empress of Germany, on the ground that the interview would infringe the Sabbath.

In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain, in reply to a question, said the Attorney-General of Cape Colony, after careful consideration, bad decided not to nrosecute Captain Cox, of the NewSouth Wales Lancers, for ordering the shooting of a native at Colesberg in November, 1899. The “ Daily Chronicle ” accuses the South African Conciliation Committee of issuing pamphlets purporting to illustrate the horrors of Lord Kitchener’s iron hand, compiled from letters of British officers. The “Chronicle” proves that there have been numerous interpolations iu the letters, and omission of all facts incriminating the Boers. The chocolate presented some months ago by the late Queen to each soldier at the front has only just reached Mafeking. LONDON, February 23. General Lord Methuen, on *tlie 14th inst., captured a Boer laager at Brakpan, thirty-seven miles west of Kimberley. The capture included forty waggons and carts, a quantity of stock and forty prisoners. Amongst a number of colonials severely wounded at V\ olverkui.en on tte 14th inst were Trooper John Gladstone (of Waimate South) and Trooper Harry G. Heywood (son. of Mr J. B. Heywood (Secretary to tlib Treasury), both of whom are members of the Second New Zealand Contingent. The following casualties among colonials were suffered at Hartbeesfontein— Victorian Bushmen. —Sergeant Vaughan and Privates Johnson and Hesketh, killed : Private Small, dangerously wounded ; Colonel N. Kelly, Lieutenant Parkin_. and Private Lancaster, severely wounded; Privates O’Shea and Ward, slightly wounded. New South Wales Bushmen.—Private Trainer, severely wounded. There were the following casualties at Reitfontein : New South Wales Mounted Infantry. —Sergeant Barrett, mortally wounded ; Private Clements, severely wounded. South Australian's. —Captain Argus Collis, slightly wounded, and Private Rutherford, severely wounded. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that the cost of. the South African War heretofore had been £81,590,000, and it was now costing horn one to one and a quarter millions weekly. In the House .of Commons, the Hon W. St. John 'Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, said Major-General Sir H. E. Colville "was sent Home from South Africa by Lord Roberts for inefficiency in the field. He was, howuver, allowed to retain his command at Gibraltar. Lord Roberts was consulted afterwards and he advised that the Wat Office could not retain General Colville in his command there. Five hundred Boers who took refuge in Portuguese territory have been conveyed in transports from Delagoa Bay to Lisbon. Replying to questions in the House of Commons. Mr Chamberlain said he entirely approved of Sir Alfred Milner’s action in inquiring from Lord Hopetoun as to the prospects of recruiting for Major-General Baden-Powell’s constabulary in Australia and New Zealand.^ The Colonial Secretary detailed the replies given by the various colonies. Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Viscount Cranborne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, said that the Kaiser had made no offer to arbitrate between England and the Transvaal* Major-General Burn-Murdoeh’s oolumn, including a Natal composite regiment and a large convoy, has traversed the Utrecht district, in the Transvaal, south-east of Laing’s Nek. PERTH, February 18 The Government has decided that the proposal to recruit constabulary for South. Africa in this colony cannot be entertained. SYDNEY, February 20. Dissatisfaction exists amongst troops who have recently returned from South Africa. They complain that the pay promised by the Imperial Government, over and above the amount paid by the New South Wales Government, has been stopped. The matter has been submitted to the Colonial Secretary. BRISBANE, February 20. A commencement has been made with the raising of a sixth contingent, whioh it is expected will number about four hundred men and five hundred horses. The Government has been informed that the Queenslanders captured at Schwartzkopje have rejoined their company. ADELAIDE, February 20. Mr Holder has informed the Imperial authorities that the Government of South Australia will be very gladi to offer facilities for recruiting in the colony a quota of one hundred constabulary for South Africa. ADELAIDE, February 22. Already there are five hundred volunteers for the _ Sixth Contingent, although the Imperial authorities have net yet notified that it will be accepted. HOBART, February 22. A contingent of 150 men is ready to embark as soon as a transport arrives. Probably an additional hundred will be accepted, and leave at the same time.

SEVENTH CONTINGENT. Messrs Collins and Stafford, who supplied the hats for the Sixth Contingent, have received a similar contract for the Seventh Contingent. The Defence Department notifies that only 67 men are required as the Wellington quota of the Seventh Contingent. Officers commanding districts have been directed to receive applications, which must be in writing, from en desirous of enrolment. Applicants must stato their age, height, weight, chest measurement and also their horsemanship qualifications. Letters of application are to be addressed to Captain Lomax, adjutant. The vacancies for the Wellington district have been allocated as follows : —Wellington City, 30 men ; Wanganui, 10; New Plymouth, 10; Napier, 10; Gisborne, 7. AUCKLAND, February 20 Information has been received that sixty-five men are wanted from Auckland for the Seventh Contingent. They will go into camp on Friday. r / Two hundred and thirty applications have been received in Auckland for inclusion in the Seventh Contingent. AUCKLAND, February 21. . Twenty-six men have passed the medical tests for inclusion in the Seventh Contingent. AUCKLAND, February 23. A representative of the Saddlers’ Union waited upon Mr J. H. Witheford, M.H.H., and stated that it was understood that the Government was providing English-made saddles for the Seventh Contingent. It was asserted that Auckland saddlers could provide the saddles required before the departure of the contingent, and it was urged that the work should be done within the colony. Mr Witheford communicated with 'the “Government, and received a reply stating that it was not yet decided whether to order the saddles in South Australia or not, but in the event of its being possible to get the work done in New Zealand a further communication would be made by wire. His Excellency the Governor has received the following cablegram from the General of Communications, South Africa:—The Victoria left Capetown on,the 20th February. She has on board for New Zealand Lieutenant Warrington, of Brabant’s Horse, and twenty men belonging to- New Zealand contingents, with four mon of various colonial corps, all of whom will tranship at Brisbane. ; Out of the sixty men ordered into joamp for the Seventh Contingent about -twenty have been rejected, and others are being trained. Staff-Sergeant-Major Coleman expects to leave for Wellington at about the end of t&e week. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 23. ...... A selection of men for the Seventh -Contingent was made to-day. Sixtythree had applied. The number wasreduced to fifteen, from which ten will Ibe finally selected. DUNEDIN, February 20. . Otago’s portion of the Seventh Contingent will comprise men .from Dunedin and thirty-three from .Oamara and Invercargill. CHRISTCHURCH, February 22. ■j... Canterbury has been allotted 34 men -for the Seventh Contingent, and out of • the 130 who applied 50 have been ordertTedi.ta report themselves at the local defence office at once. About 30 came m- „ to town yesterday, and are now in camp at the dr ill shed grounds.. They will undergo a medical examination, and afterwards will be put through their facings by Sergeant-major Coleman, who drilled ’.the .previous contingents. Those who have-gone into camp are rather, a weedy • lot, and several of. them will not pass ’ the medical test. ... The Defence Department has called _for tenders for the supply of 2400 pairs .of boots for the Seventh Contingent on samples shown at the local office. Local : manufacturers considered the samples of J , such an inferior nature that several of ' them declined ,to tender on them, and sent to Wellington their own samples v with tenders. The tender of Messrs .-■•MI O’Brien and Co. has been accepted Am. their own samples. GISBORNE, February 22. c A telegram received to-night from - Colonel Porter- shows that the organisa- .. tion of the Seventh Contingent is being . very rapidly done. . The enrolling offi■l cer, Major McCredie, has been instructed to send Gisborne’s quota of ten men • by steamer leaving on Sunday, for Napier, and they are there to take tram for Wellington. Some of the applicants ; cannot be communicated, with in the time allowed, but as usual, there are s likely to be more men from Gisborne than required, even though the notice is - so short. 1 NELSON, February 22. Twenty-six men have, volunteered in town for the Seventh Contingent, but only eleven will be accepted. FEDERAL CONTINGENT. ; v The -following steamers (says an Aus- ; traljan ‘paper) have been chartered to : •carry T?het federal Contingent to South Africa ~;Ranee,, with accommodation for 686 ;. men, *214 hortees, or can total 264 horses ; Antjllion, 500 men,, 433 Horses, or can I total 452 horses. ; Custodian, 60.0 men, 433 horses, or can total 583 horses. ‘ , ' / Maplemore, 500 men, 360 horses, or can total. 410 horses. - British Prinbess, 400 men, 350 horses, or can total 400 horses. Total number, 2686 men. 1709 horses,

RETURNING NEW ZEALANDERS. The Premier has been advised that the steamer Victorian left Capetown yesterday with the following New Zealanders aboard - —55 Private Theodore Casey, First Contingent, Auckland; 184 Private J. Townsend, First, Waikouaiti. Otago; 312 Private L. Horne, Second, Blenheim; 466 Gunner J. A. Boriase, Hotchkiss Battery, Port Chalmers ; "419 Private R. Browne, Second, Hororata ; 638 Private G. C. Derretb, Third, Hororata; 640 Private E. C. Evans, Third, Orari Gcrge; 721 Private J. Anderson. Third, Ruanui Station ; 784 Private F. Bird, Third, Westport; 1051 Farrier W. H. Spain, Fourth, Covftra] Otago ; 1258 Private A. J. Baker, Fourth, Wellington; 1406 Farrier G. R. Wilkinson, Fourth, Auckland; 1560 Private M. Orean, Fourth, New Plymouth; 1432 Private W. R. Gibson, Fourth, Opitoniri, Auckland; 1623 Private A. Dixon, Fifth, Gore; 2220 Private N. H. Bodmin, Fifth, Wellington; 2639 Quarter-master-Sergeant. W. H. Reeves, Fifth, Belfast; 2298 Private Harold Thomson, Fifth, Eangitikei; 2572 Private T. Andrews, Fifth, Ashburton; 2487 Private J. H. Liggins, Fifth, Toboinaru; and 3005 Private Moyes (not in official list). A FIGHTING FAMILY. — 0 In the war news yesterday* morning it was mentioned that Captain J. T. Marshall, of Wellington, who was recently invalided from South Africa, where he held the position of Sergeant. Ma jor in Brabant's Horse, had * been awarded an Imperial pension by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital. It may' be mentioned as a curious coincidence that both the father and grandfather of Captain Marshall qualified- for Imperial pensions. His grandfather fought at Waterloo, and during the period of his service received thirteen wounds, one of which necessitated trepanning. Captain Marshall’s father was an officer in. the Xnniskiliing Dragoons during the Crimean War, and bore three service medals. On his death a pension was conferred on his widow, who enjoys it to the present day. Captain J, T. Marshall, of Wellington, who was recently invalided from South Africa, where he held the position of sergeant-major in Brabant’s Horse, has been awarded an Imperial pension by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital. The Premier has received a cablegram to the effect that No. 2734 J. P. Roberts, New Zealand Mounted Infantry, is dangerously ill at Pretoria.