THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 November 1901, Page 3

THE BOER WAR.

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.]

Ail Indignant Denial.

Bannerm&n a fool or knave.

Asquith speaks out Loyally.

London- Nov 25. Mr Chamberlain assured his personal friends that he would quit public life instantly if he believed that such action would terminate the war Honorably. Lord Eoberts assured the Mounted troops at Aldershot that the Lee-Enfield rifles are equal to, if not superior, to Mausers. «

Sir Charles Sprigg, the Cape Premier, has undertaken to" defend certain districts, commencing on the coast and eastern portion of the colony, gradually extending the protection area until the regular troops are relieved from the mere patrolling duty. Details show that a strong commando surrounded and captured the Eailway Pioneers at Villiersdorp after a desperate resistance. The Pioneers horses stampeded. Colonel Eimington pursued and defeated the Boers, whose whole casualties were ten, including Commandant Buys wounded and Commandant Mosthizen killed. Four British officers were wounded and Major Fisher was killed. The captured pioneers were released. A combined' movement in the Eeitz district resulted in the capture of 39 Boers,

The bulk with Dc Wet escaped to the south.

Eighty of Ackerman’s commando have been captured. llertzog’s and Nieuthoudt’s arc the only commandos remaining in the southwest of the Orange Colony, a few hundred strong,

Roup. a rebel officer of Latigan’s com mando, was executed at Colesberg. The Hague, November 25.

Baron van Lignaon, Netherlands Minister for Foreign Affairs, states that Great Britian has not confiscated the Netherlands Railway. She arrested the Dutch Red Cross Ambulance owing to the discovery that the leaders were communicating with the Boer Generals. Received this day at 9 2a ra, London, Nov 25.

Kitchener replying in the Daily Mail to the manifesto of iiorman Evangelical clergy, states that the charges contained therein that the British priced Boor women and children under fire in order to shield themselves, is entirely useless.

The Cologne Gazette expresses surprise at the credulity of the 680 pastorh who signed the manifesto embodying the story. Lord Durham', in the course of a speech said that AVhen Bannerman declared that the British were guilty of barbarism and loathsome conduct, he was a fool if he believed it, or otherwise a knave, for saying it for Bartizan purposes. Asquith declares that there is no ground for the exaggerated pessimism in regard to the war. While Europe is ringing with violent calumnies against our troops, ho was bound to say with emphasis that for courage, endurance and humanity they had never been surpassed in the annals of warfare. No illusory truce was wanted.

Wellington, This Day. The Premier is advised from the Cape that Sergeant Thomas Harris of the Sixth Contingent was wounded near Wakkorstroom, on the 22nd inst. Trooper Eichards of the Seventh Contingent was slightly wounded near Pondwana, on the 21st inst.

Two New Zealanders left Capetown by the Ninevah via Sydney, on the 23rd inst.