THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 235, 12 October 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

THE FIGHT AT ITALIA.

LOSSES ALMOST EQUAL TO THAT OF PAARDEBUIIG.

BOEIvS BECOMING DISHEARTENED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Oct. 10. The losses on botli sides during tho recent fight at Forts Prospect and Italia was greater than in any single engagement except Paardeburg. A regular supply of natives from the northern districts for the Rand mines has been arranged for. Many applications for native labor have been received. Lord Milner invites the Outlandcrs’ Committee to send him a list of discharged irregulars who for upwards of nine months served with the colors, with a view to arranging for their return to the Rand at tho earliest possible moment. Owing to the result of the light at Italia, much dissension has arisen among the Boers. There is extensive blockhouse building at Van Reeuan’s Pass.

Colonels Atherton’s and Kuvanagh’s columns have split Seheeper’s commando into small parties, who are hiding in kloofs.

lvrutze’s force at Witterburg is being systematically limited. Sir Hclv Hutchinson Sir Gordon Sprigg and the military autheri'.'-s nominate a board of three to co 1..; complaints made under ma tial !..,v, except in such cases where pecni'C.ry claims are made against the Government docks, harbors, and railways, which, with a view to minimising inconvenience, will remain in the hands of the civil authorities, but the miUtaiy wnl exorcise supervision over them and ov'all individuals, with a view to obtaining information as to war materials and supplies entering and leaving the ports. Loyalists arc pleased to sec that martial law is proclaimed throughout tho Cape. PURSUIT OF BOTHA. By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright

London, Oct. 10. lolonel Walter Kitchener is pursuing Botha in the direction of tho Bevaau river. Other columns aro o’ldeavoring to capture a portion of Botha’s forces and all his waggons a few miles within tho inner cordon. Botha and Emmet are outside the cordon near the river. Fifty-throe of Letter's colonial rebels who were sentenced to death at Oradock, have had their sentences commutod to imprisonment for life. Half of Botha’s force escaped from tho inner cordon, leaving the waggons at Utabanknlu, owing to General Lyttelton's inability to blockade from the NataiZululaiul frontiers across to Vryheid. Dartnell’s and Bethuno’s brigades am at Essowe. The weather is awful, rain having fallen incessantly for 00 hours. The transport difficulties arc enormous. The men and animals have endured great hardships. FURTHER CAPTURE OF BOERS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Oct 11. Soheeper's men aro returning northwards by two different routes. The Royal Dragoons at Bcchulie captured IV Boors. Colonel Hicks captured Field Cornet Hall and other Boers at Vcntorstroom. Kitchener’s Constabulary at Venterstroom re-captured the gun lost at Iloutkop in J illy last.

A RAILWAY CONTRACT.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright London, Oct. 11. Americans obtained the contracts for the hundred miles of narrow guage, railway and equipment for the Cape, and H'.l locomotives and 10,000 tons of rails for the Orange-Transvaal extension.

SPEECH BY J3UELER. COMPLAINS OF UNFAIRNESS OP NEWSPAPERS. THE SURRENDER OF LADYSMITH ADVISED. SPEECH CAUSES GREAT SENSATION.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Oct. 11.

General Bailor, after luncheon with I he Queen’s Westminster Volunteers, complained of the unfairness of the newspapers, stating that it was singular that several simultaneous attacks wore made ou his nomination to the command of tho First Army Corps, lie challenged tho critics to mention any of his juniors more fitted to he commander. Answering the accusation recently published in the paper Outlook that he advised the surrender of Ladysmith, lie said that after the Colenso tight lie informed General White that if the attack failed another would have been impossible before a month. Believing that Ladysmith had only a fortnight’s supplies, he suggested that it might be necessary to surrender, aud advised what •should be done in such an event. This suggestion was intended to cover General White,s responsibility. That advice was sent in a coded telegram, and was marked private, mid was afterwards stolen. The speech has created a tremendous sensation in the Clubs.

The Standard characterises it as an amazing speech, in which Generul Buffer pleads guilty to sending a message comtomplating humiliation compared with which other reverses of tho war would have boon trivial. If advice was chivalrous it certainly was not war, and on sober reflection General Buffer ought to re sign.

The Times declares that the attacks on the armed war offices is due to tho system of rewarding past services, and putting men in positions regardless of their present or future fitness.