THE BUSHVELDT CARBINEERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8014, 9 December 1904, Page 7

THE BUSHVELDT CARBINEERS.

Lieut. Witton's Explanation

Some Strange Disclosures.

Although Lieutenant Witton, recently released from the sentence of imprisonment for life passed by a court martial in connection with the doings of the Bush veldt Carbineers, has resolutely declined to speak since 1113 arrival in Australia, he appears to have been more communicative to the South African Press. Lieut. Witton indignantly denied the statements in some English papers that ho considered his punishment had been merited. He also denied any connection with the murder of Hesse, the German missionary, and states that he was from fifteen to twenty miles distant from the scene of the murder. He balieves the deed was the work of KaOirs. As regards the shooting of the Boer prisoners, Lieutenant Witton said : "The only man I shot was shot in self-defence. The orders to make no prisoners came from headquarters, and were given to Morant by Captain Hunt, who in duo course passed them on. Had Hunt and Morant not obeyed they were liable to be shot themselves. Lieutenant Witton went on to say that subsequently to the passing of the sentence upon Morant, Hancock and himself were taken out of prisen and permitted to fighi for the regiment. Hancock in particular distinguished himself, and during an engagement he shot Commandant Pretorious. "It seems strange," added Lieutenant Witton, " that such action in righting for the regiment was not recognised in accordance with military rules as equivalent to the effacemont of the ponaltits that had been imposed upon us." Lieutenant Wittcn next touched upon the injustice of tbeit- trial. " I was only informed," he said, " of the charges to be brought against us at 9 a.m. on the day prior to the day on which the trial was to take place, at 10 o'clock. Had I had sufficient time to get a proper counsel, Morant and Hancock would now be alive."