The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 1

The Boer War.

DE WET AND. BOTHA

MORE REPORTS ABOUT DE

WET,

THE BOER AT BAY,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Feb. 22. Lord Kitchener has telegraphed from Klerksdorp that General Lord Methuen, operating in the southwestern Transvaal, hae. cleared that part of the country, and is marching through Woolmaranstad to Klerksdorp. The Boer Generals De Villiers and Liebenberg, with fourteen hundred men, obstinately hold a strong position at Hartebeestefontein, twenty, miles west of Klerksdorp, whence they were expelled, after ■ severe fighting, on the 10th.

The Yeomanry, Victorian Bushmen, and Royal North Lancashires, rendered distinguished service.

The British losses were throe officers and thirteen men killed, and five officers and' twenty-nine men wounded.

The Boers suffered severely. They left eighteen dead. The Daily Mail states that De Wet is depressed at having to operate in unknown country. He is seldom in the fighting line. Commandant Fronwan directs the fighting, also the line of flight. De Wet, who is said to he frightened, was heading on Tuesday towards Read’s Drift, where he intended to re-cross the Orange River. He wept at the doggedness and nearness of the pursuing British force.

One of his commandos was unable to ford the swollen Brak river, and turned west.

Later reports state that part of De Wet’s force has been driven into a triangle, formed by the junction of the Orange and Brak rivers, which are flooded. Their horses are unable to swim the' stream. The rains continue, so that the rivers will remain in flood.

The Standard states that a hig force including a naval detachment and volunteer composite regiment, are operating in the vicinity of Vryheid, with the object of checking Botha’s retreat.

The chocolate presented months ago by the late Queen to each soldier at the front has ohly just reached Mafeking. The Daily Chronicle accuses the South African Conciliation Committee of issuing pamphlets purporting to illustrate the horrors of Lord Kitchener’s iron hand, compiled from letters of British officers The Chronicle proves that there have been numerous interpolations in the fetters and the omission olLall facts incriminating the Boers.

NEW ZEALANDERS WOUNDED

Wellington, last night. Sir Alfred Milner advises the' Premier that Troopers J. Goldstone and H._G. Heywood, both of the First Contingent, were severely wounded at Wolverthuilen on the 14th. Goldstone comes from Waimate, Canterbury, and Heywood is a son of the Secretary of the Treasury. -

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN COX,

NOT TO .BE PROSECUTED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Feb. 22,

In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, in reply to a question, said the Attorney-General of Cape Colony, after careful consideration, had decided not to prosecute Captain Cox, of the New South Wales Lancers, for ordering the shooting of a native at Colesburg in November 1899.

OUR SOLDIER LADS.

HOMEWARD BOUND,

[dv telegraph—press association.] Wellington, last night.

The Premier is advised that the steamer Victorian left Capetown yesterday with the following New Zealanders aboard : Private Theodore Casey, First Contingent, Aucklan'dJ. Townsend, First, Waikouaiti L. Horne, Second, Blenheim J. A. Borlase, Hotchkiss Battery, Port Chalmers B. Browne, Second, Hororata J. C. Dcrrott, Third, Hororata E. C. Evans, Third, Oravi Gorge' J. Anderson, Third, Euami Station F. Bird, Third, Westport W. IT. Spain, Fourth, Central Otago A. J. Baker, Fourth, Wellington G. E. Wilkinson, Fourth, Auckland M. Crean, Fourth, New Plymouth . W. E. Gibson,. Fourth, Opitanui, Auckland _ A. Dixon, Fifth, Gore N. H. Badmin, Fifth, "Wellington Quartcr-master-Sergeant W. IT. Eccvcs, Fifth, Belfast Private Harold Thomson, Fifth, Eangitikei T. Andrews, Fifth, Ashburton ■ J. IT. Liggins, Fifth, Tokomaru Moyes (not in the official list)

The Governor has received the following from Jihe General of Communication : “ The Victorian, which left Capetown on the 20th February, has on board for New Zealand Lieut. Warrington (Brabant’s Horse) and twenty men of the New Zealand Contingent from the various Colonial corps, all of which tranship at Brisbane.