The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 5, 1902. A RECENT PUNISHMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 382, 5 April 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 5, 1902. A RECENT PUNISHMENT.

There seems to be no end to the conflicting accounts received in regard to the punishment of those who took part in the shooting of a number of

unarmed Boers. Taking the whole of the accounts together, and making due allowance the page seems to be a dark one that would be better blotted from history. Some excuse might be found for the shooting of Boers who sought surrender when they, fomjd themselves beaten ; that would depend largely on the nature of the lighting. The tendency of the British is to be soft-heart-ed with ttie most callous of enemies and

by leniency to prolong a struggle that stern measures would quickly repress. Many think that in that respect the

British have been acting wrongly in the real interests of humanity. But there certainly can be no defence of what appears to have been the conduct of the officers who were punished for shooting Boers. There seems to be no doubt that there was money in the question, and that the £20,000

had a good deal to do with the horrific affair, which, with the accounts at present before us appears to have been really murder caused by greed. If tire statement in the Morning Leader has any foundation at all, the verdict of the court-martial should be heartily applauded'. Such conduct would certainly give some foundation for the attacks of our foreign calumniators, When so many thousands of men are gathered together there are bound to be some regrettable incidents, and it is satisfactory to know that whatever the Boers may do any infringement of the code of civilised warfare by men on our own side will be met by prompt punishment. It would be more pleasing to know that the British military authorities had been very harsh in their punishment than that the Colonials had been guilty of the deeds with which they were charged. Unfortunately everything points to the fact that the condemnea officers only got their deserts. It has been stated that fuller details will yet place .them eight ia then eyes

of the people, hut we must not forget that tiie main reports already to hand are tiio.se given by friends, "and that these in the main admit that unarmed men were shot down.