THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 43, 20 February 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London. Feb. 18. Colonel Dp Lisle lias occupied Carnarvon.

Reuter’s correspondent' states that when Hertzog’s commando at Calvina hoard of the death of tho Q-Ueen thoy tramped upon her portraits with ribald, filthy remarks.

Wohnorans, a .peace envoy, visiting Holland, says thortPoers will accept nothing short of independence. Tho proposals put fonvsrd by .fair Edward Clarke, ono of tho British prqlßocr loaders, would not be aeceptab'e if /they contained a vestige of British lontnol over tho Boors.

GencrJ.Jßruee Hamilton, by zig-zag marches, tollowed DeWet for three weeks. DoWot at tho moment of invading Capo Colony forbade his followers looting. Tlio Dutch received, him unwillingly, declaring that ho had only come to ruin them.

Many of his followers have since deserted DeWet, whose horses are badly fed. His force is mainly armed with Leo-Met-fords, and is now groatly harassed. Kruitzinger’s, Hertzog’s, and other commandos are being prevented juuctioning with DeWet.

Lord Kitchener, in view of tho lioavy expenditure in South Africa, has asked for financial assistance. Mr Broderick is sending Mr C. D. Floetwood Wilson, Assistant Under-Secretary to tho War Department, to South Africa temporarily as Lord Kitchener’s financial adviser.

General French is still driving all Botha’s force before him, excepting tho Carolina commando, which broke through westwards since becoming disorganised.

THE PLAGUE AT CAPETOWN,

WOUNDED QUEENSLANDERS.

Capetown, Feb. 19. Two cases of plague aro reported amongst the suspects at Capetown, also in regard to a coolie employed in tho Docks.

A portion of the natives who struck work at the Docks have resmnod work. Several Australian Buslnnen woro wounded in the fighting at Grassfontcin, including the Queenslanders Sorgeant Strong (fatally), Lieutenant Killaway (severely). At Richwertz Kopje Corporal Buchanan was severely wounded. Privates Rawson, Wilson, and Holmes wore captured, all being Queensland Bushmen.

WINSTON CHURCHILL’S MAIDEN SPEECH.

WAR CONDUCTED WITH UNUSUAL HUMANITY.

London, Feb. 19,

In the House of Commons, in the debate on the Address in Reply, Mr Winston Churchill made his maiden speech. He justified tho South African war. He said it had been conducted with unusual humanity. Whatever Great Britain had lost in doubtful friends at the Capo, wo had gained ten to twenty-fold in Canada and Australasia. THE CHASE OF DE WET. HIS FOLLOWERS OBJECT TO FLOGGING. TO FIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. Received Feb. 20, at 12.31 a.m. London, Feb. 19. Zundrift is the only drift across the Orange River whero mines are not laid. De Wet was purposoly drawn thither. The country having been denuded of horses, the mobility of tho British exceeds that of the enemy. Tho Daily Mail states that Do Wet was headed off between Strigdenburg, 40 milcs'north-west’of Houtkraal and Hopetown.

Half of the force at Do Wet’s camp met and protested against the indiscriminate flogging, chiefly of laggards. It was resolved to fight independently.