SOUTH AFRICA

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 7917, 14 June 1902, Page 1

SOUTH AFRICA

[By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] Per Press Association. Received June 13, at 9.26 p.m. London, June 13. Some of the surrenderers in the Transvaal were wholly clad in skins. Their boots were made of old portmanteaux, and hatis from cows' paunches. Seven hundred and eighty-two, belonging to the Kroonstad and Hoopstad commandos, the majority dll-clad, under General Hottings, surrendered on tihe lOtih. Some old mien were unarmed, and many youngsters had rifles. De Wet described the latter as tihe best fighters, holding their positions long after the older men retired. He urged the surrenderees to prove 'their fidelity to the new Government. Lieut—General Elliott spoke, bringing the King's messages of goodwill. The King and Lord Kitchener were lustily cheered. Received June 131, at 10.39 p.m. London, June 13. A Government Gazeltte, issued in Cape Colony, announces that rebels surrendering before July lQtih or captured or surrendered since April 10th will not be punished by death on admitting tlhey were guilty of high treason, but will be disfranchised for life. This does not apply to Justices of tihe Peace, field cornets, or colonial officials, who will be tried but excused the- death penalty. Murderers and others found guilty of acts contrary to the usages of warfare are not exempted from the utmost severities of the law. In the House of Commons Mr Brodrick stated that a small Royal Commission would be appointed 1 to make a general inquiry into the conduct of ■tihe war. It was impossible to make a special inquiry in regard to the army contracts simultaneously. Received June 14, at 0.25 a.m. London, June 13. An agreement establishing intercolonial free trade in .British South Africa fixes the transit rate of goods imported into the Transvaal through Gape and Natal ports at one instead of three per -cent., 'and admits Cape and 'Natal gocds into tine Transvaal free of duty