The Transvaal War.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 13, Issue 5, 21 January 1902, Page 2

The Transvaal War.

Sydney, January 17. Colonel Williams, formerly SurgeonGeneral of the Australasian Medical Corps, has acceded to Lord Kitchener's request to return to South Africa. Hobart, January 17. The War Office has cabled for tenders for ioo.ooolbs. of Tasmanian jam for South Africa. London, January 17. A camp for the detention of Boer prisoners is being formed at Antigua, in the West Indies. Lord Kitchener has accumulated a vast number of remounts at Bloemfontein in readiness for the arrival of reinforcements. He is preparing a big effort to end the war. The British Government has purchased 80,000 morgen of land in the Ficksburg district, 45,000 at Thibanchu, and more elsewhere in the Orange River Colonv, and is already allotting tne farms. [The morgen is a land measure formerly in use in Holland, equal to a small fraction more than two British acres.]

January 18. Mr Kruger's latest advices are to the effect that Boer Afrikander recruits are rapidly dwindling Other advices state that Kemp's and De la Rey's men are clamouring for surrender. General Smut's recently seized papers show that Swazis supplied ths Boers with informatfon as to provisions and munitions.

The Colonial Office Blue Book contains an intercepted letter from Schalkburger to Mr Steyn, stating that the condition was daily becoming more serious. The Bojrs had lately suffered and lost much. "If we are convincod," the letter says, " that our resources are exhausted, and our last strength broken, we must bow down and surrender, no matter how bitter." A burgher's letter, dated March 21st last, from Slooten, late Apredikant, Transvaal, has created a sensation in Anurici.' It asserts -that the B >ers tim id thi expulsion of the British from South Africa, and that Kruger was divinely commanded to declare war. LATER London, January 19. Reuter's Agency states that Dr. Von Kuyper, the Netherlands Premier, after ascertaining the terms on which Boer's delegates were willing to negotiate for peace, visited London privately to ascertain if Lord Salisbury genuinely desired peace. In answer to questions in the Hjuseof Lords, Lord Salisbury stated he was not aware that Dr. Kuyper made such overtures. Boers surprised Willowdam, west of Mafeking, and shot the wife of ah officer who was standing at a tent door The War office is buying largely New Zealand oats at 23s 6d. Dr. Krause was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, the maximum sentence allowed, on a charge of attempting to incite to murder. The Blue Book shows that Schalkburger in September last informed Lord Kitchener that independence of the Boers and amnesty for rebels were imperative. A Blue Book published, dealing with the war, shows that concentration camps are imperative, owing to General Botha s threat in November, 1900, to confiscate and burn the houses of surrendering burghers.

Lord Kitchener offered not to disturb the farms and families of burghers on commando, provided they were not actively assisting their relations, if General Botha would spare the farms and families of neutrals or surrenderers. General Botha refused, telling Lord Kitchener he must take surrenderers and their families out of the country, otherwise they would suffer. Lord Kitchener has indignantly denied the charges of rough and cruel treatment of women and children.

Lord Milner, in a despatch dated November, stated that the whole of the loyalist refugees must return to the Transvaal and Orange Colonies before Boer prisoners are allowed to do so.