CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 22 April 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

PUBLICATION OF THE DESPATCHES. The suppressed despatches relating to Spionkop have been published. They show that General Buller severely condemned Lieutenant General Sir Charles .. Warren’s inability to execute the orders given to him or to command his force. His slowness, General Buller says, lost an opportunity to relieve Ladysmith. General Buller added : “ I can never employ him again in an independent command. I blame myself for not assuming command when things were not going well but I feared that by so doing 1 should discredit Genera! Warren in the eyes of his troops.” Lord Roberst considered it was General Buller’s duty to intervene, and regarded his explanation as inadequate General Buller, interviewed by a “ Daily Express ” representative, denied that the disclosures had aftected his military reputation. - “ The Times ” says the despatches are a crushing condemnation of General Buller, and justify Lord Roberts’s severest strictures. The press generally is amazed at General Buller provoking the publication of the despatches. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. It is reported in Brussels that the Boer delegates at Pretoria applied for leave to cable to Mr Kruger, but -Britain stipulated that the outline of the proposals must afford a good prospect of peace. Although the leading newspapers are absolutely silent regarding the peace negotiations, the “ Daily Mail ’’ states that the Boers have become reasonable, and have practically accepted Great Britain’s terms. Lord Milner is offering them representation upon the Executive pending the establishment of responsible government. Lord Milner has summoned an Australian expert from Johannesburg to report on the cost of rebuilding farmhouses and restocking farms. THE MACHAVIE RAILWAY MISHAP. Details of the railway accident at Machavie, where the Eighth New Zealanders met with so many casualties, show that, owing to a mistake, the train carrying the troops proceeded before the line was clear. When descending an incline it collided with an empty goods train from Klerksdorp. General Wilson and Barker and many officers and civilians attended the funeral of the victims at Klerksdorp.

THE MURDER TRIALS. The newspapers publish a detailed report ot the trial of Lieutenants Morant and Handcock, of the Bush Veldt Carbineers. The report was supplied to Reuter’s agent at Durban. CENSURE OF BOND LEADERS. A caucus of Afrikander Bond members, representing twelve districts of Cape Colony, has censured the leaders of the Bond for knowingly pursuing a policy of precipitating war, the rank and file of the party never, having intended to encourage war, and being kept in ignorance of such a policy. THE MEMBER FOR GALWAY. Lewis Handley, a farmer in Natal, has arrived in London to give evidence that Mr Arthur Lynch, who has* been elected M.P. for Galway, commanded a body of Boers, who confiscated his cattle and destroyed a hundred acres of crop, thus committing an act of treason. COMMANDANT KRUITZINGER. The acquittal of Commandant Kruitzinger was chiefly due to the Crown Prosecutor producing an intercepted letter wherein Kruitzipger reproached Commandant Scbeepers for burning houses, and otherwise expressed humane and honourable sentiments. When he was acquitted all the Court warmly shook Kruitzinger’s hand. HARRYING THE ENEMY. ( Thirteen Boers have been captured eastward of Reitz. Amongst the prisoners by Major-General Rochfort at Schweizer Rennek were Kennoft (De Wet’s adjutant) and Commandant Douthwaitc. A number of British columns returning to Klerksdorp made another sweep, capturing sixty-four Boers, including Field-cornet Nierward, and Chris Liebenberg (General Liebenberg’s son). TRANSVAAL HIGH COURT. The language employed in the new Transvaal High Court will be English, but the law will remain Dutch. The regulations encourage the presence of professional men from all the British colonies. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The Boer delegates have left Pretoria to consult the commandoes. Negotiations will be resumed in three weeks. Meantime there will be no cessation of hostilities. Lord Kitchener refused the delegates’ request for an armistice while they were consulting the commandoes. In the House of Commons, Mr Balfour stated that Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener twice conferred with the Boer delegates. At their request Lord Kitchener agreed to afford facilities for the election of representatives by the different commandoes and for a meeting of the representatives to consider the position. In the House of Lords, Lord Salisbury read a statement in identical terms.

The Ministerial statement has created an excellent impression ip the lobbies of both Houses, city circles and clubs. The fact that the commandoes will elect their representatives is interpreted to mean that the delegates are in full possession ot a tangible basis of peace. The consensus of opinion of the newspapers is that the Boer leaders in the field are convinced that their own scheme of settlement is impossible of achievement. The fact that the Boer ‘delegates are pursuing the peace negotiations without an armistice being arranged is interpreted to mean that they do not anticipate receiving a mandate to resume the struggle. The “Daily Telegraph” says the Boer leaders brought no plans to the conference. They sought an official assurance regarding the future of the conquered Republics and the British plans for rehabilitation. This assurance was given. The “ Standard ” suggests that the consultation was intended to satisfy Lord Milnar that the delegates were empowered to pledge the whole of the Boer community. The “ Times ” and the “ Standard ” agree that it would be premature to assume that the burghers’ representatives could decide the question of surrender, but the leaders no longer show the intractableness of Mr Kruger and Dr. Leyds. Mr Balfour’s cautious announcement emphasises also the firmness and consistency of Great Britain’s policy.

Latest. A SAD SPECTACLE. Kruger’s Entourage declare that De Wet and Steyn have ceased negotiations. They do not fail to express their delight at the result.