THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 October 1901, Page 3

THE BOER WAR.

British Government firmly determined to see it through. Full Confidence in Kitchener. Botha declares he will make Beprisals. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. ] London, October 11, Commandant Scheeper’s men are returning northwards by two different routes. Time Eoyal Dragoons at Bethulie captured 17 Boers. Colonel Hicks captured Field-Cornet George and other Boers at Vonterskroom. Walter Kitchener’s Constabulary at Ventorskroom recaptured a gun lost at Houtkop in July. The Americans have obtained contracts for hundreds of miles of narrow gauge

railway equipment for the Cape, 29 locomotives, and 10,000 tons of rails for " Orange and Transvaal railway extension. Beceived this day, at 9 40 a.m. London, October 11. Botha has crossed the Bivaan River. Howard Vincent, on the eve of his departure from South Africa, wrote, offering to remain there and help in recruiting troops. Brodrick replied : *' We have 200,000 men with 540 guns in South _ Africa, while another 100,000 are in training at home. We will be able to maintain the

army field at the requisite strength, and f' if a further call is made it will be met ■i. with the utmost promptitude. At present we are feeding 314,000 persons, and J 243,000 horses and mules, maintaining a ■ reserve of four months’ food supply. Kitchener’s only demand of 9000 reinforcements has been far exceeded. The Government never in any way intorv fered with Kitchener’s dispositions. He possessed the entire confidence of . Government in the vigorous prosecution of the war. He had the advantage of Roberts’ advice, which guaranteed the • cohesion of Government to Kitchener. There would be no flinching at any . sacrifice made to terminate the struggle - on the lines laid down. No cabinet

council could advance the preparations. , Such meetings might be interpreted as a want of confidence in operations, or in anxiety about the issued on which the mind of the Government and the country was finally made up. The Post states that Botha, after conferring with De Wet and Steyn, informed Kitchener he intends to make reprisals for the execution of Brocksma.