THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 385, 9 April 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, April 7.

De la Rey directly commands nine hundred men, and is easily able to concentrate two thousand. Beyers commands four hundred in the Zoutpansberg, Alberto Opperman four hundred at Bethel, and there are small bodies at Ermelo, Pietretief, and between the Yaal, Potcbefstroom, and Yereingning, about four hundred and fifty scattered north-east of the Orange river, Yastron, Fieksburg, and Brandwater lines, five hundred and fifty in the Cape, chieily in the vicinity of Garics and Calvinia.

De la Ivey used three guns and a pompom on the occasion of his fight at Bosohbult. The British silenced one gun. The widow of the Rev. C. Hesse has written a letter to the B -rlin Missionary Society relating what sne known of her husbaud’s death. She says that when eight Boers who surrendered were shot, the colored men were left to bury the bodies. After the discovery of these murders, Hesse went to the camp of the Carbineers to show his passport. In pursuance of a previous promise that what occurred would never be known, the officers of the Carbineers allowed him ti proceed, but compelled him to attach a white flag to his waggon. Hesse mot Vangoyen, who reported there were no marauders about. Lieutenant Murray (sic Morant or Handcock), with a patrol, followed Hesse ; the lieutenant ordered his followers to disperse to the bush, and Silas. (This name is interpreted as that of Hesse’s black boy.) Hesse was murdered, and the lieutenant returned to camp. The guilt of the lieutenant could not be proved, as there wore no eyewisnesses of the murder.

Altogether twenty-four members of Kruger’s family have sworn allegiance to Great Britain.

The President of the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines estimates that the Boer Government obtained £2,697,173 worth of gold while holding the mines, besides causing direct losses amounting to £3,400,000. Sydney, April 8. Tbe new Federal Contingent is being enrolled under the title of the Commonwealth Horse. Melbourne, April 8. Private letters received from Lieutenant Witton since his imprisonment confirm the worst statements in regard to the murders. Witton says Hunt was killel on August 7th, not September. This seems to confirm the charge against Hunt that he ordered his subordinates not to take Boer prisoners.