South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 17 June 1902, Page 2

South Africa.

TREATMENT OF REBELS.

A Government “ Gazette,” issued in Cape Colony, announces that rebels Surrendering before the loth J uly, or who have been captured or surrendered since the 12th April will not be punished by death on admitting themselves guilty of high treason, but will be disfranchised for life. This does not apply to Justices of the Peace, field cornets dr colonial officials, .who w.ll be tried but excused the death penalty. Murderers and others found guilty of acts contrary to the usages ot warfare are not to be exempted from the utmost severities of the law. A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. In the House of Commons, Mr Brodrick, Secretary for War, stated that a small Royal Commission would be appointed to make a genera! inquiry into the conduct’of the war. It would be impossible to make a special inquiry in regard to army . contracts simultaneously. NEW’ TRADE CONDITIONS. An agreement establishing intercolonial freetrade in British South African fixes the transit rate of goods imported into the Transvaal through Cape and Natal ports at one instead of three per cent, and admits Cape and Natal goods into the Transvaal free of duty. SURRENDERED BURGHERS. Some surrenderors in the Transvaal were wholly clad .in animal skins, with boots made of old portmanteau leather and hats constructed from cows’ paunches. Seven hundred and eighty-two burghers belonging to the Kroonstad and Hoopstad’s commandoes—the majority of whom were ill clad—under General Hattings, surrendered on the 10th instant. Some old men were unarmed but many youngsters had rifles. General De Wet described the latter as the best fighters. They held their positions long after the older men had retired. General De Wet urged the surrenderors to prove their fidelity to the new Government. Lieutenant-General Elliott also spoke, bringing the King’s messages of good-will. His Majesty and Lord Kitchener were lustily cheered. Commandant Beyer’s commando numbering 152, has surrendered at Pietersbnrg, and Hans Grobelaar’s, 318, at Ermelo. Commandant Beyers admitted getting ammunition through Portuguese territory. Large numbers of Boers surrendered at Reitz. Nearly all were armed with Lee-Metford rifles. They expressed resentment-at the French and German press encouraging their hopes and thus protracting the war. A fund has been started at Johannesburg to rebuild the farm-houses of De Wet and De la Rey,