THE WAR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 22219, 29 March 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

LORD ROBERTS’ PROCLAMATION.

London, March 26;. J' Lord Roberts’ proclamation,, callingupon. the Boers- to. surrender and recommending themto to the clemency, of the British,, does not apply to rebels. He offers leniency, to burghers have been misled by. President if they reconsider their action and dis* arm. When General Clements entered Philippolis he read' the proclamation* to the burghers, announcing that thoseswearing neutrality (it they had taken, no leading part in the policy of Republics or hostilities) would allowed to return to their farms.. Thelate Government at Bloeiut ntein* would never be re-established. The burghers listened.carefully, and! then surrendered their arms..

LORD- ROBERTS’ - HALT.

ARMY CONTRACT SCANDALS;. March 26.. The halt of Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein is due to a cautious effort to. secure-a peaceful, transition: of authority. In the House of. Commons Mir Babfour agreed to the- appointment of a< committee to-enquire into the alleg* <b army contract scandals, if the law officers aSacide to prosecute- the-alleged! offenders,.

THE; HON.. E. LYGON’S DEATH..

AMBUSHED AND SHOT..

, London*. March-26:. Lieuttenanfc-Ci'donel- Oabbe’s party,, armed, with revolvers, set out on a. foraging expedition to farms north off i the British camp at GHensiding.. In the course of' their 'tions the officers cnme to. a siding,’ where they, examined, the talegiviphi apparatus. On leaving they caught sight of; five? mounted Boers-on the kopjes. The Biers immediately wheeled; and! disappeared, to.the easfe The> British. officers,, in. their-en«- *' deavour to- oatoh the Boers, divided, and swept round 1 on eaoh; side, ofi the. Akopjp,. but met. a, deadly ride fire at % short'range.. The Hon.. El. Bygon. was shot*, through, the heart.. The Boers-had; pretendfed’ to retreatj, but were joined by. three others, undl the eight marksmen lay iii> ambushi. The men; belonged to the- Jbhannea*-burg-police.. h Upon seeing that' their fire had! . been, successful the Boers Ibft theirambush, and rendered every possibleservice, and' dressing, the ; wounds and sending news of the disaster, to the British, camp* The three wounded men. were transferred to Bloemfoutein,, and am- pro—gressing;favourably..

METHUEN GETTING; READY:

London, M'aroh 27

Lord.Methuen* is busily his transport arrangements, as well as* his supply of. stores; with-a- view to arapid! and effective advance.-. The Times states that on- a- moderate- and: trustworthy- estimate twothousand Boers have been killed ini action,, while the total casualties, exclusive of several' thousand FreeStaters who. have returned to theirfarms,. i 8 fifteen thousand! The enemy henceforth cannot* mustersabove thirty, thousand’.

LORD ROBERTS WAITING;

HE.MEANS TO; TAKE. NO RISK;.

London; Maroh 27;. The-assumed loyalty of those whohave- surrendedi and' the ahsolut©security of communications, are prerequisite to Lord Roberts’ - advancefrom Bloemfontein; A forceof'four hundred Bbers have? occupied Paapkraal, 40 miles northwest of Kimberly and are recruiting.-fi-om rebels-in, the Herbert district.

Olivier’s withi eight' hundred waggons, by a foreed march,, reached Ohorolan prostrated 1 , and restedtwo • days. It is- feared 1 that many/ • escaped.. The Basutos are preparing the railway north of Bloemfontein.. Heavy rains have fallen-through out South: Africa and many camps have* been converted’into swamps. Ctdonel Baden-Powell’ the 13th* captured the enemy’s trench andkilledl twelve..

A STUPID BLUNDER: Christchurch, March 27. Owing to some mistakei'a regard to» the water supply on the Gymeric, the men had tea madia with salt water, and! the Auckland' and 1 Wellington', contingents used' this as an: occasion to.lteave. the ship and’ parad’e on the^wharf"ven- " tilatihgthe ! r grievances, which include a protest against the want of accommodation anddelay in departure. The complaints are to. be lhidl before Mr.. Seddon..