THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 377, 29 March 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

A SUCCESSFUL SWEEP, IMPUDENCE OF THE PRO-BOERS A THUNDERBOLT FOR THE CONTINENT. By telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. LONDON, Mar. 27. The latest sweep resulted in the capture of 135 Boers. The capture came as a thunderbolt on the Continent. Boers and proBoers, hearing of Burger's mission, speculated on the extravagant concessions obtainable after the recent British reverses. They even declared that the British invited Burger to discuss the concessions. The retention of Lord Milner in the High Commissionership is represented as obnoxious andthe real obstacle to peace. The Brussels newspaper, Independence Beige, says that the defeat of De la Rev was most unfortunate, neutralising all the moral benefit accruing from Methuen’s capture. The columns north-east of Orange Colony have captured twenty-five Boers.

MORE MOUNTED MEN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh' London, March 27.

At Lord Kitchener’s instance, Natal is sending an additional five hundred men to the front.

A SUCCESFUL MOVE,

By Telograph. Press Association. Copyrigh Londori, March 26.

From Commando drift through Sweatbank, Gestopfontein, and Goluk to the Lichtenburg block-house nino columns commenced a move at dawn on Monday. The columns moved rapidly, and keeping in continuous lines with the object of driving the Boers against the block-house lines, or forcing them into action. Col. Ivekewich captured guns and nine prisoners ; Colonel W. Kitchener captured eighty-nine prisoners, forty-fivo carts and a thousand cattle. Some additional prisoners were captured on the block-house line. Troops covered eighty-nine miles in twenty-four hours.

Rochfort’s and Rawlinson’s columns have not yet reported their results.

WHAT BOERS STATE,

A RECENT VISITOR’S OPINION,

By Telegraph—PreßS Association—Copyright London, March 26.

Boers at Brussels assert that Steyn and De Wet insist on complete independence, while Burger and Botha are willing to accept antonomy. Sir Tauban Goldie, interviewed after visiting South Africa, stated that the amnesty of rebels was the chief obstacle to peace. He hoped Government would at least insist on every rebel fighter being disfranchised for life. It was imperative to abolish duality of languago. A hundred thousand troops will, he declares, be required for years to maintain peace.

THE BOER CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighl London, March 27.

Burger, Steyn, and De Wet are supposed to be conferring at Hoopstadt. Burger is expected to return to Pretoria on Sunday.

PRAYERS FOR PEACE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 28. The Bishops of London, Rochester, and St. Albans made a joint Good Friday appeal, in their prayers, for peace, if it may be rightly had.

CAPTURE OF 179 BOERS, THE PEACE DELEGATES. By telegraph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, Mar. 28' The total captures in the recent sweep were 179. De ia Rey has four guns still, but two are useless. Burger and party readied Kroonstad on the 23rd. One delegate was blind-folded on the 24th, and escorted through the lines with a white flag to meet Steyn. The rest of the party lived on a station, and afterwards in a private house, awaiting his return. CASUALTY LIST.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The Governor has received the following message from the Casualty Department at Capetown, dated 23rd March : “ Dangerously ill, 20th March, at Wakkerstrom, New Zealand Sixth Contingent, 3689 C. B. Quinn; 22nd March, at Pinetown Bridge, Natal, Eighth Contingent, 5112, J. L. Robinson—both of enteric fever. The condition of Captain Martin on 22nd March was unchanged.” A further message, dated 25th March, says: “ Dangerously ill, on 21st March, at Pretoria, Seventh Contingent, 4511 J. B. Cunningham; 4380 Wm. Andrew ; March 23rd, at Charlestown, Sixth Contingent, 3662 George Springs ; 3294 Arthur Osear Warwick; 3383 Leonard Law—all of enteric fever. Seventh Contingent, 4027 James Considine, gunshot wound; 22nd March, at Harrismith, Seventh Contingent, 4620 Geo. Calvert Fookes, gunshot wound. The condition of civilian Alfred James Wilson, attached to the Army Service Corps, is improving, and he is off the dangerously ill list; 21st March, Lieut. Taylor, slightly improved; 23rd March, Lieutenant Freeth, unchanged. Death at Ladybrand, Ist February, Sixth Battalion, IBth Company, Lanarkshire Yeomanry, Wm. B. Smith, from wound accidentally received at Meguathing’s Nek on 21st January. This man was a New Zealander.”

Several of the cases mentioned in these messages have been previously reported.