ALLEGED BRITISH OUTRAGES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 May 1901, Page 3

ALLEGED BRITISH OUTRAGES.

A great impression has been caused in Switzerland by the publication in the Gazette de Lausanne of a long letter from M. E. Constancon, Swiss Consul at Pretoria, repelling charges of ill-treatment of Boer women by British troops, which have lately appeared in French, Dutch, and Swiss newspapers from M. Van Brockhuizen, a Dutch clergyman at Pretoria. M. E. Constancon proves all charges to be base calumnies, and the facts and names mentioned by M. Van Brockhuizen to be fictitious.'

The Swiss Consul concludes thus:— I have been in Pretoria eighteen years, and personally know all the N families residing in the district. The women named I have been unable to discover, although I have made searching enquiries, and they certainly do not reside in Pretoria, as stated. Since the entrance of the British troops into the Transvaal I have travelled a good deal, and have often put up at a Boer farm at night, where I have found women and children. They have never uttered a single word in blame of the English troops. In fact the women have been unanimous in their praise of " Tommy Atkins." Personally, although I have been among English troops constantly for the last six months, I have seen only two cases of drunkenness. When the British enter a town or village guards are placed over every house and farm, with strict orders to protect the lives and property of the occupants, and allow no one to pass in. Mr Kruger himself showed how much confidence he placed in the conquerors when he left his wife in their hands. I cannot express my indig- , nation in strong enough terms when I see such base calumnies put into circulation in my country, and I con&idur it my duty to make known the facts. Although we sympathise with the Boars, we must, in all justice, render homage to English officers and men for the humane manner in which they have conducted and are still carrying on the war." The article made a great imprersion in Switzerland.