THE BOER WAR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXI, 24 May 1902, Page 1014

THE BOER WAR

PEACE PROSPECTS. Boer officials in Portuguese camps have received private messages predicting the early conclusion of an honourable peace and stating they may expect to return in a month. Reuter’s correspondent at Pretoria cables saying that the consultation of the commandos in the field is not considered favourable to an early peace. The “Daily Mail” states that the Boer conference at Vereenignig, which is thoroughly representative, including the Cape commando, is certain to accept the British irreducible minimum. The dffer to give an amount equal to a month’s cost of war towards rebuilding farms is exercising great effect. The “Daily Express” states that the women in the concentration camps are keenly anxious for peace. Since the exclusion of the local visiting committees the hostility of the Boei- women has greatly abated. Arrangements have been made for the prompt communication of the decision of the Vereeniging conference to Lord Kitchener. Secrecy with regard to the deliberations will be respected, and the voting will be by ballot. The proceedings are expected to be protracted. Arrangements have been come to not to attack the commandos represented during the progress of the conference- Lord Milner is at Pretoria.

Mr Chamberlain, addressing a meeting of Unionists at Birmingham, said: “I am hopeful, not sanguine. The majority of the remnant of Boers

in the field are convinced of the futility of r<iista*ce, but the minority of irreconcilables has often prevailed, aud may indu e the Boer leaders to make absolutely impossible proposals, which it would be our duty to reject. The world may rest assured that the mistake of Majuba will not be repeated. Ministers have already stated their intentions in reference to the future government and settlement of the territory, and will not swerve from them.”

The “Times” and “Daily Mail” advices from Pretoria are less reassuring in regard to the result of the deliberations of the 160 delegates at Vereeniging. The “Daily Telegraph” states that the Liebenberg commando voted for peace. THE FIGHTING. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report of Boer losses is as follows: — Killed 19 Wounded 6 Taken prisoners .... 800 Surrendered 9 Five hundred and eighty rifles, 158 waggons, 400 horses and 4300 cattle were captured. The Boers recently captured by Colonel Coleubrander had lived on roots for five days before they surrendered. The Australian troops, under Colonel De Lisle, took the chief share in General lan Hamilton's recent captures of Boers in the South-western Transvaal. The Boers who recently unsuccessfully besieged the town of Oookiep, in Western Cape Colony, sent a truck of dynamite against the garrison, who, however, succeeded in overturning it, and so frustrating the enemy’s plan. The prisoners recently taken by General lan Hamilton in the Hart’s River district are irreconcilables belonging to Vangyl’s commando. Colonel Colenbrander effected his captures by plequeting all the sources whence the Boers drew water. He posted a detachment at Plykop, whither he drove the enemy, who had been almost foodless and waterless for four days. The surrenderors included Commandant Bierman. Thirty additional Boer leaders have beer, banished, including Judge Kock. Several sharp skirmishes have occurred in the vicinity of Papkuil. Captain Halkett’s Yeomanry attacked 400 of De Villiers’ commando, who were concealed, hoping to surprise Colonel Pilcher’s column. The Boers rushed the Yeomanry, and once got within twenty yards, but- were repulsed. Sir Joseph Ward has received a cablegram from Colonel Porter, mentioning that the Seventh Contingent was at Dries River, having captured 22 prisoners, with waggons, etc. There had been nine casualties. The regiment would be mobilised, and was to embark at Durban on its return to the colony on the 19th inst., with Major Thurston in charge. Several British columns moved north from the Lindley line aud captured twenty-seven Boers.

Colonel Colenbrander captured a hundred Boers.

General lan Hamilton, after clearing the districts east of Hart’s River, moved west with General Rochfort, capturing 357 of the enemy and all the waggons and stock belonging to the commandos of that district.

Park captured thirty Boers in the Eastern Transvaal. [Lindley, mentioned in the foregoing cablegram, is in the middle Of the Orange River Colony, while Hart’s River is in the South-western Transvaal. General lan Hamilton and Colonel Colenbrander have been mentioned pretty frequently in the cablegrams of late. It is only just a month ago that they each obtained a considerable success over the Boers. General Hamilton (who is Lord Kitchener’s chief-of-staffi) met a strong force of Boers in the South-western Transvaal on the occasion referred to, and killed 44 Boers, including Commandant Potgietier. Fifty-four Boers were captured, and two guns and a pom-pom were taken. Colonel Colenbrander; encountering Commandant Beyers, inflicted 106 casualties.] Reuter’s Capetown correspondent states that four hundred Boers, including a hundred rebels, were captured as the result of the British drive in the South-western Transvaal to the line of blockhouses on the British Bechuana land border.

[This drive is evidently that on which General lan Hamilton has been engaged. A cablegram on the 14th inst. stated that General Hamilton, in his operations west of Hart’s River, in the B.W. corner of the Transvaal, together with General Rochefort, captured 357 of the enemy and much stock.] Boers at B’-ussels and Amsterdam assert that the negotiations have failed through Britain refusing au armistice so as to permit of Kruger being consulted. Advices received from South Africa, however, state that the Vereeniglxg conference is proceeding. THAT AFFAIR OF THE SIXTH. A Wellington correspondent writes: —I liad an interview on Saturday with several of the returned troopers of the Sixth Contingent who were present on the occasion of the capture and stripping by the Boers of some 30 men at a place in the neighbourhood of Spitzkop, the exact locality of which, however, is not described. Some half a dozen of the Contingent were kill d and several wounded. The Boers were, say my informants, concealed in dongas, or beds of dry water-courses, of vaiying depth, formed in the veldt by heavy rains, which sometimes descen t in such a deluge as to obscure the view at a distance of a few yards. On the occasion of the capture the Boers took each man separately as they filed along, the communication being badly maintained, up to the number ot 30. The prisoners were then compelled to strip off their khaki uniform, and don the filthy, ragged clothing of the Boers, infested with vermin. None of the captured men were killed. Referring to this, an amusing story is told of two parties of New Zealanders, who, being overpowered at separate points, were decked in sombre, dilapidated apparel, and sighting each other at long distance mutually mistook each other for Boers, and being unarmed hid themselves in the long grass. In spite of their semi-barbarity the Boers are described by the men of the First and Sixth Contingents as remarkably brave. “When they charge with the rifle,” remarked oije of the troopers, “they are always sure of their mark. They never rush unless they are certain of the game.” Your correspondent made several ineffectual attempts to interview LieutBeamish, who is said to be in possession of the regimen re I records of the Sixth Contingent. He supplied to the “New Zealand Times” a report of the services of the Contingent in South Africa, carefully censoring all reference to the capture and stripping of the 3.0 men. I had a brief conversation with three members of the Sixth, including one from Waikato, who were spectators of the capture. ' RETURNED TROOPERS. One prominent feature of the returned troopers by the Monowai, which reached Wellington last week, is the soldierly appearance and excellent discipline of the men of all ranks. The physical appearance f the men excited much admiration. The uniforms looked as if they were just out of store. Many of the men showed marks of the fray on the 3rd and 4th of January, the former being the date of capture of the 28 New Zealanders. Among the members of the First Contingent who returned .is Lieutenant Blenkhorn, of Auckland. Several troopers are anxious to return to South Africa if possible. All the officers of the Sixth have offered their services for a further period, and probably the majority will return. The returned troopers received in all thirty days’ pay and a £5 bonus. They also receive a month’s leave of absence on full pay. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. In the course of bis speech to the Sixth Contingent to-day the ActingPremier complimented the men on their conduct in the field, and said that among those who had come back were two who had earned D.S. medals. He referred to Sergeant Tree and Trooper Freeman. (Applause, and some cries of “What about Rouse and Baigent?”) Well, all he could say was that his information came from their officers. Hp understood, however, that Baigent had been recommended for a medal. The feat which earned the distinction was

the capture of a waggon containing twelve armed Boers and a quantity of dynamite. He was sure that he was echoing the sentiments of the colonists of New Zealand in expressing the hope that these men would long continue to wear the honours so worthily won. Short congratulatory speeches were given by the Mayor and Sir Henry Berkeley. The health of the officers and men was honoured. Colonel Banks thanked the officers and men for their assistance to him during the campaign. They had done their duty remarkably well. He thanked the people of Nev? Zealand who had sent out comforts, and the Defence Stores Department for its thoughtfulness in fitting out the troops with suitable clothing. Tho Southern members of the regiment left for Lyttelton to-night, and the Northerners will take their departure to-morrow. NEW ZEALANDERS ILL. The Governor has been advised from South Africa that Sergeant Walter Miller, of the Seventh Contingent, and Private John Gourlay, of the Ninth Contingent, are dangerously ill with dysentery, the former at Harrismith, and the latter at Newcastle. Lieut. H. R. Richards, of the Ninth New Zealanders, is convalescent, and has resumed duty. HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. Mr W. D. Campbell, formerly editor of the “Timaru Post,” and latterly of the Wellington “Sun.” has been commissioned by the Government to write up the history of the doings of the New Zealand contingents in South Africa. THE PREMIER. The troopship Drayton Grange, with the Premier of New Zealand (the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon) and the North Island Battalion of the Tenth New Zealand Contingent on board, has arrived at Durban. Mr. Seddon was accorded an enthusiastic reception. Replying- to an address of welcome, presented by the Durban Corporation, Mr Seddon said that New Zsalrnd desired peace on an everlasting basis. If • more men were wanted, more would baent.

[A cable hue been received by the Hon. J-. Carroll, stating that the Drayton Grange has arrived at Durban, all well, with the Tenth Contingent on board. Only eight horses were lost cn the voyage. General Baden-Powell personally welcomed the Premier, and representatives from Lord Milner, Lord Kitchener and the Premier of Cape Colony attended, and gave him a cordial welcome to South Africa. He also received addresses of welcome from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Societies. Mr Seddon intends spending a week in South Africa, and will visit Johannesburg.