THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 February 1901, Page 4

THE BOER WAR.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.)

(per press association.)

War Office Account of the War.

London, February 9. The despatches issued by the War Office show that Duller doubted the possibility of being able to relieve Ladysmith.

He telegraphed to Roberts on February 6tb, asking whether he ought to risk the sacrifice of 2000 or 3000 men to gain ac-

cess to the plain without ten miles of General Sir George White’s position, adding that the success of the movement was doubtful.

Lord Roberts replied that Ladysmith must bo relieved oven at the cost anticipated and urged General Duller to perse' ere.

Duller, on February 9<.h, asked for rein forcements. The War Office has issued two volumes of despatches covering the period Lord Roberts’s command. They graphically reveal the terrible drawbacks encountered. The Army Corps organisation was disintregated on the first contract with the enemy. In reality there was no organised transport corps.

After this had been organised Lord Roberts consciously encountered the risk of a rising in Gape Colony and having his lines of communication cut rather than forego the enormous advantage of striking at the enemy’s capital. Lord Elobert’s pathetically laments the subs quent condition of the mounted forces, preventing any operation demanding rapidity of movement. He pays tribute to General Duller and his subordinate officers and soldiers, who were marching and fighting and marching incessantly from January 15th to February 28th of last year.

Finally he emphatically declares that the permanent tranquility of the annexed colonies is dependent on the complete disarmanent- of the inhabitants. He admits that this task is difficult, yet it is one to be accomplished by time and patience.

Major - General Hunter’s despatches stated that the war maps were a positive danger and a delusion. The guns and not the gunners were at fault. The Doers on the 9th held up and looted the Greylingstad-Vlaklaagte train, six civilians being wounded. De Wet was northwards of Smithfield on Thursday, moving eastwards. A part of De Wet’s force is advancing on Philippolia. Many of his followers are deserting, being inclined to accept Lord Kitchener’s terms.

Cruelties by the Brutal Boer.

london, February 0.

The following Colonial officers have recovered from their wounds ; —Col Wab lack, (Tasmania). Lieuts Haywood and Moore (Victorians). W. King (Queenslander), J. Montgomerie (New Zealand).

General French and his soldiers are holding the Transvaal roads, and have protested to Dr Leyds against the Boers destroying the mines. The enemy violently attacked General Smith-Dorrien’s outposts at Bothwell, near lleitaietief. The British suffered severely, but in repulsing the Boers inflicted heavy losses on them.

General French occupied Ermelo, whence 6,000 Boers retired towards Amasterdam.

Commandant Mears sjambocked and then shot four Boers at Standerton for refusing to fight. Sergt Walker was thrice wounded at Modderfontein. A Boer then battered his head with a stone and killed him. The Boers robbed the passengers on the Greylingstad-Vlaklaagto train, relieved a nurse of £25.

Bosnian, a leading Dutch pastor at Pretoria, was afforded opportunities and investigated the charges of British illtreatment of Boer women and found the reports to be baseless. The Portuguese Government has agreed to the return to Delagoa Bay of S. Potts, whoso exequater as Netherlands Consul was recently withdrawn, the King of Portugal at the time alleging grave reasons for the step.

Adelaibe, February 10. The Fifth Contingent of 300 sailed for Capetown yesterday. Melbourne, February 10.

The City of Lincoln with 624 of the contingents’ horses has sailed for Capetown, 50 men accompanying.