THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 376, 27 March 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

THE SPIONKOP SQUABBLE. BULLER SAYS HE WAS NOT IN COMMAND, SOME NASTY RETORTS, THREATS OF PUBLICATION, By telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. LONDON, March 26. Sir Redvers Buller denies that he commanded at Spionkop. Me declares that, to write an account of what occurred would be contrary to army regulations. Mr Balfour maintains that Sir Redvers Buller was Commander-in-Chief. He hints that documents covering the Spionkop affair are likely to he published.

Sir Redvers Buller expresses a hope that his words will be published without manipulation. Mr Balfour retorts that the only manipulation of Builer’s despatches was the excision of a sentence criticising Lient.-General Sir Charles Warren, and the only omission fiom Lord Roberts’ desnatches was made soleh with the view of snaring Bidler's feeiings and maintaining his reputation.

BOER PRAYERS FOR PEACE.

CANADA’S ENTHUSIASM

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 26. At the instance of Burger, the Boers observe next Saturday as a day of prayer for peace. Ottawa, March 26. Great enthusiasm prevailed in Canada on the enlisting of a further contingent Of two thousand strong. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 25. Malau and Fouche, with 200 men, are hiding in the Candedoos Mountains. Pursuit is difficult. Colonel Dixon captured sixteen Boers at Liebenbergsvli, besides three Krupps, which were found in a water-hole. Fischer, interviewed at Amsterdam, said the latest direct accounts showed that the burghers were plentifully supplied with provisions, ammunition, horses, and arms, and had no dread of the winter. Steyn’s courage was undimiuished. Six staff officers, including Lord Kitchener’s aide-de-camp, are accompanying Schallcburger’s party to Kroonstad. It is rumored that the Boer delegates favor a general surrender.

COLONIAL SOLDIERS PUNISHED.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrighi Melbourne, March 26.

A returned Australian has told a story to General Hutton and Mr Barton of the execution of two Australian officers connected with irregular corps in South Africa. They were courtmarfcialled with others on a charge of having shot unarmed Boers. The authorities here are maintaining the closest secrecy in reference to the matter, but the facts are that an irregular corps formed in South Africa, consisting of a number of Australians, were fighting the Boers at Koomati Poort, about the end of October, when one of their principal officers was killed. When his body was discovered, it was found to be mutilated, with the neck broken and eyes gouged out. The corps succeeded in getting hold of a Boer, whom they tried by courtmartial and shot. Subsequently, when the commanding officer was away some distahee from the camp, eleven other Boers were captured and shot, but whether they were tried by courtmartial or not does not appear. The affair reached the ears of the general commanding that part of the country, who held a court-martial, with the result that two officers, a Victorian and a Queenslander, were shot for shooting unarmed Boers, and a third officer, belonging to New South Wales, was sentenced to penal servitude for life, while a fourth was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.