THE BOER WAR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XX, 17 May 1902, Page 947

THE BOER WAR

THE PROSPECT OF PEACE. To-morrow is the date for the great meeting of the Boer delegates to decide whether they will surrender or continue the war. The “Daily Telegraph” reports that an emissary from Steyn and Botha has brought despatches to Utrecht connected with the pence negotiations.

The “Daily Express” states that Lord Wolseley has returned from South Africa with pessimistic ideas as to peace, owing to the obstinacy and ignorance of the Boers on the veldt.

Mi- Bennett Burleigh, the war correspondent, states in a cablegram that burghers in the refugee camps regard peace as certain, but that the military authorities are pessimistic, and are preparing for an increasingly vigorous campaign. Information has been received in Pretoria that the delegates have been successful in securing the consent of the commandos in favour of surrender now that the opportunity is favourable.

One commando has elected Commandant Piet Uys and Field-Cornet Dangers to proceed to the conference at Vereeniging. Commandant Beyers is expected to represent the Northern Transvaal burghers, and abides by the decision of his Government.

The chief opposition emanates from certain of De la Key’s irreconcilables. It is believed that Botha’s ipen will follow their leader.

The larger commandos from the old Orange Free State, especially that under De la Rey, are stated to be the most irreconcilable of the forces in the field. Lord Salisbury, addressing a meeting of the Primrose League, said in regard to the peace negotiations in South Africa that the Government had not receded from its former position. It would not allow any position to arise whereby the Boers could renew the issue.

The manner in which the colonies had warmed in their devotion to the Motherland was, he said, a phenomenon. The feeling came in so vast a volume that it added enormously to the Empire’s strength and influence.

At the first conference between Lord Kitchener and the Boer delegates the latter demanded the independence of the Republics, promising to raze the forts and concede a liberal franchise to Outlanders. The British Government refused this and also a request for the retention of arms, but offered generous assistance to build and restock the farms and raised no difficulty in reference to pardoning the banished leaders. The delegates pleaded for leniency

for the rebels, recognising the juatfiM of disfranchising them.

It is believed they were assured that thia difficulty ia nut insuperable. ■ >. The Government declined to fix ■ date for the granting responsible go vernment, but promised that it would be granted at the earliest possible date. ■ Steyn’s attitude was as fanatical as ever. He persuaded the Transvaalera to make a truculent demand for independence. I De Wet at first was sullenly obstructive, but afterwards more conciliatory. De la Rey and Bctha expressedl willingness to obey the Transvaal Government.

Steyn and Schalk Burger insisted on consulting the burghers. The “Times” says that when the Boer delegates merely offered to concede all the franchise demands made on behalf of the Outlanders’tefore the war the British Government intimated that the Middleburg Conference represented the maximum of concessions, and refused to permit consultation with European delegates, warning the delegates then conferring that they had better drop the negotiations unless they submitted serious proposals. The delegates stated that they must consult the burghers before negotiating for the surrender of independence.

Lord Kitchener warned them that they must return with full powers. Air Schalk Burger agreed to this proposal unreservedly, and Steyn less unreservedly.

Reuter’s Pretoria correspondent, writing on April 19, states that Steyn was in a serious condition, suffering from creeping paralysis and a malady of the eyes. THE FIGHTING. Naval reinforcements have been landed at Port Nolloth, on the Cape Colony coast, in Little Namaqualand, and have hurried inland towards Ookiep (which is about 60 miles distant) to meet Smut’s Transvualers. General Bruce Hamilton s drive in the South Heidelberg and Standerton districts resulted in the capture of 87 Boers. Prinsloo, Governor of Bloemfontein, who surrendered early in the war, and remained on his farm on parole, was recently captured by the Boers. He escaped and gained the British lines. Colonel Cooper has expelled the Boerr from Steinkop, the only stronghold leading to Ookiep. General Rochefort has dispersed Commandant Hoopslad’s force at Bloemhof. Colonel Colenbrander has resumed operations against Beyers’ force in the Northern Transvaal, whose numbers have been considerably reduced. General lau Hamilton has cleared the area west of Klerksdorp, facilitating future operations. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report is as follows: — Killed 10 Prisoners 122 1 Surrendered 14 Thirteen additional prisoners have been captured in the sweep in the Orange Colony. Amongst the prisoners taken were 34 of Beyers’ commando. Lord Kitchener reports that General Elliott on Tuesday held the country from Lindley to Liebenbergylei, Orange River Colony, and General Barker held the drifts from Liebenbergvlei to Frankfort in a continuous line. Columns left Frankfort for the Heilbron-Vredefort road line at dawn without vehicles, rapidly reaching General Elliott’s line in the afternoon. Ten Boers were killed nnd 208 captured, constituting- a portion of the most irreconcilable Free Staters. Many horses and cattle were also captured. The British casualties were nil. <

Colonel Cooper has relieved the Ookiep garrison, in the Western Cape Colony, the enemy retiring southThe miners at Concordia surrendered provided the mines were not damaged, but the enemy had gone when the relief party rached the town. A number of natives, whose kraals the Boers had burned, discovered and attacked a Boer laager at Scheepejr’* Nek.

They killed thirty, being the majority of the Boer commando, and handed three prisoners over to the British at Vryheid, in the south-eastern Transvaal.

1 NEW ZEALANDERS 1N AFRICA.

The Acting-Premier is advised as follows from South Africa: —

l A. L. H. May of Christchurch (Bth Contingent), is dangerously ill, having been injured internally at Vaalbank on May 2nd by a rough fall from his horse.

R. E. Anslow, Wellington, and Conlon, Oatnuru, both of the 9th Contingent. are ill, the former from dysentery, the latter from rheumatic fever. There is no change in the condition of Lieut. Lascelles, of Napier.

The present whereabouts of Bartill, formerly of the Rimington Guides, is unknown.

John McKay (Riverton), of Seventh Contingent; G. A. Fraser (Wellington), of Contingent, are both Copvalescent. John Ashton (Dunedin), of the Seventh Contingent, has recovered and rejoined his regiment. John Considine (Auckland), of the Seventh Contingent, is progressing favourably.

Hugh ' McDonald (Eighth Contingent) and S. E. Whitta (Makuri) pre both with the regiment and welt. News has reached Masterton by private letter that over 100 members of the Seventh Contingent were left behind at Durban when the transport. Cornwall took her departure for New Zealand.

News has been received that Sergt. Aitkenhead, of Oamaru, who had been two years in Marshall’s Horse, was killed in action at Sutherland, Cape Colony, on the 24th March. The Acting-Premier has received a cable from Capetown stating that R. E. Anslow (of Wellington), of the Ninth Contingent, has died from dysentery. Win. Warner (Wellington), of the Seventh Contingent, is dangerously ill with enteric at Pretoria. The condition of Lieutenant Lascelles (Napier) is slightly improved. J. D. Bersley (Wanganui) and Lee (Wellingtofi) are now convalescent.

Revell (Ashburton) and 48 men of the Sixth and Seventh Contingents sailed by the r.s. Aurania for Australia on May 4th. The award of a medal to Lieut. Picton while corporal in Loch’s Horse, and prior to his lieutenancy in the Bush Veldt Carbineers, has been cancelled. The Governor has received the following cablegram from South Africa: “The Aurania left Capetown on the 4th of May, having on board Lieutenant Christian (Johannesburg Mounted Rifles), nine men of the South African irregular forces, and 51 men of the New- Zealand Mounted Infantry, including eight invalids for New Zealand. The ship calls at Albany for orders.”

The Governor has been advised as follows from South Africa: “Dangerously ill, May 4, at Potchefstroom, Patrick Lee and William Grant, NewZealand Mounted Infantry, both from injuris.”

In reply to inquiries. Major Pilcher, Capetown, cables: “Corporal Urwin, iWellingtcn, Sixth Contingent, now convalescent. Condition of Sergeant Walter Miller, Wellington, unchanged. Lieutenant Lascelles, Napier, slightly improved. Lieutenant Colledge’s condition improving. Harvey discharged from hospital, well. Whittle, Makuri, convalescent.” The s.s. Cornwall, with 308 returned troops of the New Zealand Sixth Contingent, arrived last, night, and ithe men were transhipped t.o t-he Monowai, which sailed for Wellington this morning. - The troops are all .well. They are in charge of Colonel Banks. Some of the Sixth Contingent, who were to come on with the Cornwall, elected to join the Ninth •Contingent when they reached Durban and returned to the front-