THE WAR.

Opunake Times, Volume XIII, Issue 632, 30 October 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

DEATH OF DE VILLIERS,

ROBERTS GOES HOME ON THE 15th PROMIMO.

THE ANNEXATION OF THE TRANS VAAL.

BELGIAN GOVERNMENT WARNS KRUGER.

London, October 25.

The Boers believing that surrender meant death or banishment, Lord Roberts has issued a proclamation promising voluntary surrenders considerate treatment. The insistence in warfare is also due to an idea of helping Kruger's mission to Europe. Holland is indisposed to tolerate useless pro-Boer demonstrations. French ardour is also cooling down. General Hunter burnt Bothaville, as a punishment for sniping. General French is having constant skirmishes with Boers between Bethel and Heidelburg. General Hunt’s Yeomanry captured 35 Boers and many cattle. Colonel Paget captured 65 prisoners in three days. Commandant De Villiers has died of his wounds. A commando is raiding Golesburg and the Orange River Station districts. Capetown, October 25. Mr Schreiner resigned because his constituents censured his attitude over the High Treason Bill. The Progressives and Africander Bond members regard his retirement with indifference. London, October 26. It is officially announced that Lord Roberts sails for England on November Isth, assuming the position of Commander-in-Chief in December. Colonel Aytoun’s Queenslanders captured two field cornets and a number of wagons at Pienaar’s River. The women combatants at Jagersfonteiu are being removed to Cape Colony for punishment. The Boers held Philipopolis for several days. The Imperial Yeomanry and Nesbit’s Horse expelled them, inflicting losses. London, October 26. Three secret confidential despatches, officially published at the Hague, show that M. Beaufort, Foreign Minister for Holland, on May 30th, 1899, warned Kruger of the danger of a violent solution of troubles then exisiting, and, as a faithful friend, counselled the utmost conciliation and moderation, adding that Germany fully concurred in such a course. Kruger replied that he had always been conciliatory and did not desire war, but was unable to sacrifice hia independence. He favored granting the sufferage, but would not tolerate Englishmen remaining Britishers and voting. On August 4th, M. Beaufort urged Kruger not to refuse, peremptorily, on international commission, Kruger replied that the commission was not international, but Anglo-Transvaal. On August 15th, M. Beaufort telegraphed that Germany entirely concurred in the inadvisability of declining the proposal and that he was convinced that any appeal to a great Power at such a critical moment would be barren and dangerous to the Republic, and Kruger replied that the proposal would lead to very direct interference internally, and he did not intend to appeal to a great Power, London, October 26. Lieut, N. L. Calvert, of the 6th Dragoon Guards, was killed near Bethel. Six thousand of all arms, representing Great Britain, participated in the ceremony at Pretoria of proclaiming the annexation of the Republic. The scene was very impressive.

The Basuto chiefs present tendered to the Governor their expressions of loyalty to the Queen. Three hundred Boers unsuccessfully attacked the Jacobsdal garrison, consisting of Capetown volunteers and Highlanders, who offered an obstinate resistance. Fourteen British were killed and 20 wounded. The assailants were oath breakers.

Over 1000 Boers opposed General French’s march, fighting and sniping daily. A number of Natal rebels exploded a culvert, and raided and burned the Waschbank station. They tried to destroy the new Waschbank building, but the troops arriving the marauders disappeared in the bills around Glencoe.

London, October 28. The capture of the cavalry at Philippolis was the result of an ambush.

Major-General Barton’s Royal Scots and the Welsh Fusiliers displayed distinguished gallantry at Frederickstad; 13 were killed and 28 wounded.

The enemy abandoned 24 dead, 19 wounded and 26 were captured. Three Bosrs who fired treacherously after having held up their hands, were courtmartialled and shot.

Brussels, October 27. The Government threaten to expel Kruger if he prolongs his sojourn at Brussels.