THE BOER WAR. A HEAVY CASUALTY LIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 24

THE BOER WAR. A HEAVY CASUALTY LIST.

A VICTOHIA CEOSS HERO. A NEW ZEALANDER KILLED SURRENDER OF 120 BOERS.— PIETERSBURG CfAPIURED BY PLUMBR. GALLANT WORK BY AUSTRALIANS. KEARING THE END.— DE WET FOUND TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE. CLEARING THE NORTHERN TRANSVAAL. 01 VIL AND CRIMINAL COURTS ESTABLISHED. SOME BOER DEFEATS. Two Tasmanians Shot by a Sniper. DRIVING THE BOERS NORTH.

"CAPETOWN, April 12. The local Dutch are pleased at the appointment of progressive Afrikanders to the Transvaal civil courts. LONDON, April 8. The official returns of British casualties In South Africa show that to the end of March last 14,728 were killed or died from 'their wounds or disease, 775 are missing, and that 2089 of those invalided were discharged from the army as unfit for further service. The War Office has ordered the acceleration of the shipment of hor&es and mules purchased in America for South Africa. No further purchases will be made in America. The Boers are scattering before General Plumer in the northern portion of the Transvaal. April 9. ' Sergeant Sandfoid, of the Victorian Bu&hm.n, has been recommended for the Victoria Cross as the result of the recent skirmish- in the Zuurberg Mountains, when a party of Victorians were surrounded by a large body of the enemy. Sergeant Sand"iord, in the face of a heavy file, brought away a dismounted comrade on his own horse, three other Victorians assisting. Cape Government have warned the colonists that after April 12 all acts of rebellion against the Crown will be punishable under the old common law, which provides penalties of death, imprisonment, and fine according to the offence. Commandant Grobelaar and 800 men tried ■to get north between Vryheid and ZuluJand, on the Natal frontier, but were stopped by the troops from Vryheid Colonel Alderson, a* Scheeper's Nek, blocked the way between Vryheid and Duniiee. The commando then split up into small parties. One hundred and twenty of them surrendered in Zululand. General Plunier is rapidly nearing Pietersburg, the terminus of the railway from Pretoria, in the Northern Transvaal. The Boers evacuated Pietersburg the night before General Plunxer's arrival, exploding two trucks full of ammunition. Two engines and 39 trucks were captured. Lieutenant Walker and one private were killed, and Lieutenant Sale severely wounded. All these are Australian Bushmen. Four hundred of Scheeper's commando on Saturday surrounded 100 Lancers, Yeomanry, and Brabant's Horse near Aberdeen. Twenty-five escaped. The rest, after some hours' fighting, surrendered. There were six British casualties April 10. General Plumer, at Pietersburg, captured 60 prisoners and a seven-pounder gun. He destroyed 210,000 rounds of small-arms Und 1000 rounds of big-gun ammunition, also a considerable quantity of powder and dynamite. Eight Australian Bushmen expelled 40 burghers from the Iron Pass, thus captur\ng the key to Pietersburg. Two Bushmen Mrere wounded. General Plumer commended the little party's gallantry. After staying on a farm near Heilbron with Stej-n, De Wet and Botha returned to the Transvaal. President Schalkburger has removed his headquarters from Leydsdorp tc an iniccessible part of the Zoutspanberg Mountains. Colonel the Hon. J. H. S. Byng, commanding the South African Light Horse, uas captured 16 Boers, 50 horses, and a vjuantity of ammunition at Bosmansdorp. Two brothers name'" Coltze, farmeis, have

been brought into Mafeking on a chaise of harbouring some Boers who had offer.. <l to surrender themselves when the Biuish visited Coltze's farm. Instead of fulfill. ng their promise, the Boers shot at and killed one Britisher, wounded another, and then escaped. A British patio], guaiding the water-hole at Agenthuis in Namaquakrid. «J^ captured by the enemy. The pet ha^ mike been reoccupied by the British. The Cape Colony loyalists are delighted that the lenient Treason Act ha* b2en suspended, ard that the old common law takes its place. A good effect is follow lrg the change. The efforts of the Women's Liberal and Unionist Association for the distribution on the Continent of pamphlets givn^ authentic infornuition in regard to South Africa are counteracting the calumnies made against the British uy foieignei- and domestic slanderers. Loid Lan&downe has appointed a commission to investigate the claims of foreigners deported fiom South Africa to i Europe dm ing the piesent campaign. 4pril 11. Renter's Capetown correspondent states that General Botha is prepared to reopen peace negotiations on behalf of the entire Boer forces. His recent visit has convinced General Botha that De Wet is mentally irresponsible. His influence i* diminishing. Mr Bennett Burleigh reports that it is semi-officially stated at Capetown that Botha had a further interview with Lord Kitchener. Van Reenan's and Luther's commandos. 1000 strong, crossed over the liver at Mudfontein Drift by means of rafts. Twelve were drowned in crossing. Corporal Berwick, a Victorian, and Privates Andel and Thomas, Australian Bushmen, were severely wounded in recent engagements. Most of the fighting burghers in the Pietersburg district have gone to Clinnesport, a settlement amid the recesses of the Zoutpansberg Mountains, where a " longtorn " has also been conveyed. The Boer women and children and cattle have 'been sent to the Waterberg district. The British, after occupying Pietersburg, liberated Generals Schoeman and Couper These were the envoys from the Boer.s' Peace Committee who were detained when they went to the commando to try to induce the burghers who were still fighting to submit. The Bushmansland rebels have occupied the towns of Brandvlei and Nehkop, in North-western Cape Colony. ' The Times points out that in view of fresh defeats of the Boer forces General Bot-ha cannot exnect to be offered the terms j that he recently refused. April 12. General Plnmer is clearing the Northern Transvaal. Two hundred Boers have surrendered, with, a quantity of stock. The Boers have evacuated Smithsdorp. The Boer leaders are using the severest coercion to prevent surrenders. Major-general Lord Errol has relieved Hoopstad, which was isolated and short of rations. He withdrew the garrison, and destroyed the fortifications. Lieutenant J. G. Rose. Ne-w Zealand Rough Riders, has been discharged from the hospital, and has resumed duty. Corporal W. C. Lawlie, of the New Zea- \ land Mounted Rifles, was severely wounded, and Private Fraser, of the Tasmanian Bushmen, killed at Pietersburg. Private Angel, of the Australian Bushmen, has died of wounds received at De Berg's Pass. The Times states that there is no foundation for the Capetown story that Botha has renewed peace negotiations. Resident magistrates, chiefly local Afrikander barristers and attorneys who have sworn allegiance to Great Britain, have been appointed to exercise at Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Johannesburg, Krugers- j dorp, and Boksburg all civil and criminal | jurisdiction in the landdrosts' courts. Special criminal courts, consisting of three members sitting without a jury, meet at Pretoiia and Johannesburg under the Transvaal law procedure with English pleading. The military tribunals have been abolished at Pretoria and Johannesburg. The British War Office has ordered officers or soldiers displaying the white flag to be court-martialled. Two hundred rebels under Commandant Froneman have reached Khama's country, crossing en route German West African territory. The Capetown correspondent of the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung de- j scribes the Boers' position as desperate, j He declares that De Wet is insane, and that his troops are threatening his life. I The Paris newspaper Debats says it is impossible that the Boers can gain anything by continuing their resistance. Colonel Monro, of Bethune's Horse, after two hours' hard fighting near Dewetsdorp, captured 80 Boers, including Commandant Bresla and Lieutenant Sindneyne, of the Staats Artillery. The Kimberley column had a fight between Jacobsdal and Koffyfontein, in which the Boers lost heavily. A single well-concealed Boer surprised six Tasmanians nearing Pietersburg, and killed two privates — Walters and Sale — with two successive shots. April 13. The sniper who killed Walters and Sale was himself killed. The inhabitants of Nylstroom have been sent to Pretoria. April 14. A strong convoy reached Rustenburg, Avhich hds been loosely invested by the

15-icis ' mc» J.Tiiciiy Xine hundred h M^gei ■> humid mrtli. When i ho Qneen's death ;md the Kind's .icccwon flea 1 heliogic'piicd t-> thu besieged, Miijer Dei an's gun, -on trained mnniic guns on the Boers and fired salutes \wth live L id Kitchenei i.« developing a big rpo\emer.t. %Mth the object of driving the B'sei> into the inhospitable rejion to the noith of Pietersburg. In that legion 'upp.'.es will be scarce during the v% inter. ! The town of Pieter»buig and the lailway t» the town are uninjiucd. The le^idents have been removed to Pretoiia. Three hundred Boers under tLeir commandant, and the burghers retired to H<>eurt!bburg, 32 miies to the east of Pieteisburg. Piivate H Robins-on. of the New Zealand Rough Riders (Auckland), was seveiely wounded at Lieuwfontein. April 15. Renter states that General Plumer' s ad- ', vance on Pietersburg foiled the preparations for another invasion of the Cape. The gaols in the Northern Transvaal are filled with recalcitrant Boers. Ex-President Steyn is at Fahaksberg. His health is broken. It is believed he advised the commandos to surrender. Mr Schalkburger, who was appointed Acting-President, is at Totesburg, neai Mikdelburg. Vorsterself, who has been appointed Chief Commandant, ha-? gone to Spelonken, further to the eastward. Commandant Beyer.s has musteied 1000 Boers at Hawertsburg. He has a " longtorn "' with him. Mr Bennett Burleigh states that Genet al j Plumer destroyed the offices used for the I production of postage stamps and " bluebacks," but the hand press used for punting them was gone. WASHINGTON, April 14. The injunction to prevent the shipment of mules and horses from New Orleans to Capetown was dismissed, the court holding that the laws of neutrality had not 'been infringed. MELBOURNE. April 11. Lieutenant Keddell, of the fourth" contingent, is amongst the number of invalids who arrived by the Ortona. After Mr Barton had visited Lord Hopetoun, the Federal Cabinet held a short sitting. Sir G. Turner was absent owing to indisposition. The principal matter 1 dealt with was to consider the inquiry from Mr Chamberlain whether there was any objection to Boer prisoners being interned in Tasmania till the end of the war. Tasmania raised no objection. The Cabinet decided to inform Mr Chamberlain that it was not considered in the interests of the Common-wealth to receive the prisoners. PERTH, April 11. The sixth contingent have sailed by the Ulstermore for South Africa. A NEW ZEALANDER KILLED. WELLINGTON, April 9. The Premier has received a cablegram from the Governor of Cape Colony : — " <iv,436 George Hepworth killed at Lithiothyti. Next of kin, George Hepworth, Yaldhurst, Canterbury." From the number given it is evident that the deceased j belonged to an Imperial regiment. A :N T EW ZEALANDER WOUNDED. WELLINGTON, April 13. The Premier has received a cablegram from the Governor of Cape Colony that Trooper W. C. Laurie, of the sixth New Zealand contingent, was severely wounded near Pietersburg on the 7th April. The sixth are with General Plumer's column. OFFICIAL CABLEGRAMS. WELLINGTON, April 10. The Premier has received a cablegram from the Government of Cape Colony atating that No. 1337 W. Strick is dangerously ill at Johannesburg. The message, by request, was repeated, but it came a second time without alteration. On the roll of the New Zealand contingents this number is allotted to E. R. Sheehan. Another cable message received states that No. 1334 A. Stack is dangerously ill, and that No. 562 H. Williams is also ill at Springfontein. The other day it was reported that No. 512 Herbert George Williams was ill. This confusion and mutilation of numbers and names in advices from the front is causing trouble and annoyance to the authorities here, who are charged with the duty of reporting to parents and next of kin messages as to the welfare and movements of men on service. OUR SEVENTH CONTINGENT. MELBOURNE, April 12. (Received April 12, at 10.3 p m.) The Gulf of Taranto, with the New Zealand contingent, passed Wilson's Promontory this morning, all well. OFFICIAL CABLEGRAMS. The Government have received advice from Pietersburg that Corporal Taylor and Private N. J. Miller (Wellington), of the sixth contingent, were severely wounded on the 10th. Both are doing well. Privates H. Pipham (Orepuki) and Beatty (Pukekohe) are seriously ill with dysentery at Pretoria. Private Moore,, of Amberley, died of dysentery at Pretoria on the 12th. The Premier of Victoria wired to Mr Seddon on the 10th as follows:— " Lieutenant Keddell and Private Smith, of your colony, arrived this morning by the Ortona, and are leaving for Wellington by the Waihora. Keddell is wounded in the left arm, but otherwise is in good health." Another message states :—" Farrier-ser-geant Wright (Wellington) and Private A. H. Free (of Christ church), sixth contingent, have been recommended for recognition of distinguished conduct and gallant acts incapturing* 12 armed Boers." A PENSION TO AN OFFICER'S WIDOW. PALMERSTON NORf H, April 13. The Home Government have granted a pension of £60 a year to the widow and £12 10s a year to each of the two children of Lieutenant W. J.. Berry, of the third

contingent lvom r h Rideis, who dud at Joh.mne^hurg Ui«t June ; the pensions to date from his death. ThK is in addition to a similar amount piaiantecd by the New Zeil.i.id Government, making" a total of £170 for the jenr THE RETURN OF COLONEL ROBIN A i.'oetin^ of tho members of the Officers' Club of the Dunedin district uas held last e% cniiig at the Gannon Hall. T'u re was a viry large attendance of officers, and great enthus-i. "m was shown in connection with the piopo c al to wolco.ne back Colonel Robin on hi-, return to Dunedin. It was resolved to meet him at the lailway station and present him with an address, and at a later date to tender him a banquet. The officers of the Southland and Nor+h Otago districts are to be requested to co-operate in the reception. Mr D. A De Maus, Mayor of Port Chalmers, has wired as follows to the Hon. R. J. Sec'don : — "The Tongariro having on board Colonel Robin and n hrgp propor H 'on of officers and men fi-om South Ibland, may I suggest that you make Port Chalmers first port of call. I think we are fairly entitled to it." CABLES FROM LORD KITCHENER. The following cables have been received from Lord Kitchener by the Premier: — " Referring to your telegram of March 30, inducements offered to officers and men of old contingents to remain are a step in rank for officeis and promotion to sergeant for others if recommended, and South African irregular lates of pay. Will send names by cable and ranks of officers remaining as soon as possible, but would suggest ge\enth contingent bring full complement of officers. Kiichenee." "Right Hon. Seddon, Premier New Zealand. — Your contingents aie splendid. I will do my be=t to carry out your wishes. The fourth and fifth will be ready to lea\e on airnal of se\enth. The sixth ha\e just helped to take Pietersburg. — Kitcheneh." The members- of the late Lieutenant Parker's family have presented the Hampden Rifles with a massive silver two-handled cup. to be called the Parker memorial cup, in memory of the late lieutenant, who lost his life in South Africa. The cup has an ebony base, and is beautifully engraved and ornamented, while a shield on one side bears an inscription setting out that it is presented by the Parker family to the Hampden Rifles in memory of Lieutenant j Parker, who was killed in action while on active service in South Africa. Lieutenant Parker, who was- highly esteemed, was one of the officers of the Hampden corps chosen upon it 3 formation, and when the call was made for men to serve in South Africa he surrendered his rank and enlisted as a private. He quickly gained the stripes of a non-commissioned officer, and subsequently joined the South African force organised by his uncle, Lord Kitchener, and had obtained a commission when he was cut off by an enemy's bullet. Although the cablegrams omitted any mention of the fact. Lieutenant Keddell, of the fourth New Zealand contingent, and Troopers R. W. White and E. Smith, of New Zealand, arrived at Fremantle by the Ulstermore on Saturday, March 30, on their way home from South Africa. Lieutenant Keddell was invalided home iv consequence of a bullet wound in the shoulder at "Ventersburg, while White and Smith are returning on account of their time having expired. At a meeting of the Lawrence Patriotic Committee on the 2nd inst. it was resolved (says the Tuapeka Times) that £200, in four sums of £50, be placed at fixed deposit for ono year, and that his Worship the Mayor (ex officio) and J. Thompson be appointed trustees of the fund. The secretary (MiMiller) stated that the committee would have, after placing the amount agreed upon at fixed deposit, the sum of £23 12s in open account. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and secretary for the unremitting attention they had given to their duties in connection with the fund.