BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 273, 20 November 1901, Page 3

BOER WAR.

4 GENERAL ITEMS, PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION*. London, November 18. The Standard states that Mr Pitcher, the Boer emissary, has returned to Holland persuaded by persons in influential positions thai the Kaiser's policy with regard to the Transvaal will remain unchanged. In the Bavarian Chamber Baron Von Craikheim, Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the Boers were admittedly brave, but German policy could not advise or interfere, intervention- being impossible against the will of one of the parties. The railway in course of construction from Dundee to Yryheid is -wnpleted beyond Dejarsdrif t. The crew of a Dutch fishing boat, confining the captain in the cabin, preteuJoi they were in distress. A Rirasgate smack cams to their assistance, when the Dutchmen boarded tbe English boat, shouting " Long live the Boers." They wounded several of the Eoglisb, and ultimately allowed the smack to proceed to Osrend. Brussels advices state that De We*. haii collected 6000 men, including 1500 Afrikanders, with whom he will commence a vigorous offensive compaign in the north of Orange Colony. The Hague, November 18. Dr Kuypar, the Dutch Premier, speaking heie in reply to critics, justifies consis'ent neutrality added to watchfulness for an opportunity for tendering his offices in favour of peace. ÜBS. BTEYN DEPORTED. Received 20,1.0 a.m. London, November 19. Brussels advices state that Mrs. ySreyn and h;r five children ha?e been deported. DEATH OF A NEW ZEALANDER. Received 20,1.10 a.m. Londos, November 19. Private Nathaniel Paterson, Seventh New Zea'anders, has died of enteric. Lieutenant He 11, of the Bedfordshire Mounteds, chased and captured 20 Boers at Vlakfootein. Colonel Barker in a fortnight cleared the Bethlehem district, bringing 30 rebels to Winburg. There have been small but obstinate skirmishes, during which 17 Basra were captured near Harrisniith. THE BRITISH MINISTRY AND THE WAR. Evening Post Correspondent. Londos, October 12. One member of the Ministry, Mr Brodrick. has been "drawn'' at last, and in a letter to Sir Howard Yiccent, M.P., th» Secretary for War says: " I am in duly correspondence by telegraph with Lord Kitchener, and there is no single demand which he has made on us which has not been promptly mes. We have, roughly speaking, 200,000 men, with 450 guns, in South Africa, and over 100,000 men under training at home. We have, therefore, no difficulty in keeping up ' the field army to its requisite strength by drafts, and if a further call be made on us we are in a position to meet it with the utmost promptitude. Notwithstanding this, there seems to be ah impression abroad that tbe close of the war is being in some way retarded by a scarcity of troops, or want of mobility in our columns. Oar last returns from South Africa show that besides providing supplies from here for 314,000 persons directly or indirectly connected with the war, we are feeding 248,000 horses and mules in that country, and we maintain in South Africi a reserve of four months' food supplv for men and animals. There are ai present in the field 69 mobile column?, perfectly equipped for service, with picked commanders, and we deliver at South African parts a mouthly supply of nearly 10,000 remouotp, so that apirt from horses t.ken from the enemy we

continue in advance of Lord Kitchener's requiremen's."

Mr Broifick next dials with the re port that the Imperial Government h»s hampered Lord Kitchener's action. H* flays:—"The Home Government has never io any way interfered with the military dispositions of Lord Kitchener, in whose vigorous prosecution of the war it has .entire confidence. It his neither spared men nor money to assist him in his difficult task of chasing small bodies of the enemy over ao. area the e*iz* of France and Spun, and defending thousands of miles of railways agains*. attack. Lord Kitchener took over tb» command on 29". h November, 1900. On one occasion only sine 4 then has hd asked for more troops. In December, 1900, when L>e Wet. forced his way into CUj.e Colony, Lord Kitchener requested that drafts should be cent to replace casualties in the Imperial Yeomanry, which had Bunk fiom 10,000 to 6000, and he suggested that an appeal should be made to the colonies to send fresh con'ingents in the place cf some 5000 over sea colonials who would so >n be tim& expired. He tbe-efore ssk=d for 9000 men. In response to this we dispatched 4600 trained cival-y cr mounted infantry within six weeks; we opened immediate recruiting for 16,000 Yeomanry ; we accepted fresh colonial contingent at Imperial charge, and in all we landed in South Africa 61,000 fresh troops in the fiisi six month" of 1901. W« also found arms and equipments for ov?r 20,000 men locally ra'sed in South Afrira." In conclusion, Mr. Brodrlck contends thit there has been no nefduf Ca*»iu*t meetings, which, indeed, In thiuks, i f held at so unusual a time, migh' have suggested a want of confidence, which Ministers did not fee'. He adds that he is investigating tin sc*ndal of the incompetent Yioaan'y cent out. So there the matter rests for the preaeut. But the public is n it ye', quit* satisfied, even though Sir Miciiael Hicks-Be ch his followed in a similar strain. There is a very uneasy fe ling abroad, and this will not ba readily lulled.