CABLE NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 7, 20 April 1901, Page 3

CABLE NEWS

(Br Electric Th.egaaph Copyright.) BOER WAR. SjORP ROBKRTB' DESPATCH. A LONG TOM DESTROYED. [PBR F>na ASSOCIATION.] Received 19, 9.15 a.m. London, April 18. Lord Bflberts abstaining from asy commendation of General Buller beyond mentioning his operations are much commented oi. He praiFes General Forestier Walker. He thinks the consulting surgeons, including Sir Thomss Fiugerald, for rendering services of incalculable value; and expresses his admirition of tke devotion, skill, courage, and endurance of the colonial nursing services. He men--1 ions the meritorious services'of forty New South Wales office's and/nen. The Maplemore, with New South Wales troops, has arrived at Pert Elizabeth. The Boers destroyed a Long Tom on General Kitchener's advance from Ly denburg. General Douglas has cccupied Bullfitroom, kiilmg s ; x Boers. Reuter'a advices from Heilbron sttite that Andre's Wtssels. p'ace envoy from from the Kronstad Peace Committfg, who wis reported to have been shot by Commandant De Wet, is alive. B igaoier-Ueceral Plumer has cccupied Watbsroct. Brigadier-General Elliot's division in Orange Colony captured many cattlr. During the march 200 Boers were killed, and 1000 taken prisoners or surreidered. The Boers are looting farms.

A SOUTH AFRIOAfc BLUB BOOK. | I 818 ALFRED MILHER'd VIEWS. j (Received 19, 9.10 am.) LoNDOsr, April 18. A Blue Book dialing with South African affairs has bsen published. In a despatch dated February 6th, Sir X lfred MUner foresees that the sub-

jugatien of tbe country will b more difficult, harassing', and »xpenp<?nsive than was anticipate 1. It wa useless to deny that the preceding hai' year had teen one of retrogression. Saven months ago the Cape was per fectly quiet and the southern half of the Orange Colony was rapidly settling down, while a considerable portion o the Transvaal, notably the south-west appeared fs be definittly reconciled to the British. To-d>y the scene had tompletely altered. Fighting was beim ■ arred on Boers mo tly to sec «r supplies, and the country was denuded by miscreants who wantonly destroy outlying mints. He hopsdthat foreigners on the Kand and burphors who offended weuld be deprived of opportunities of gold stealing and illicit liquor dealing. Tbe brilliant dash by Lord Roberts on Johannesburg saved the foundation of the Transwnl's wealth. The necessity of concentrating forcf s on the lines of communication to Pretoria and Komatipoort left quiescent parts of country exposed. Burghers broke the oath ef neutrality on tbe pretext that they were not pre-1 served from temptation, and joined the incursionists, hence the forma-j tion of protection camps. Tfce guerilla I wave spread southwards, affecting Cape j Colony, where pro-Boer agitation wes a carnival of mendacity. The majority of the Dutch did not desire invasion, and ought to be screened. Local defence was the only possible screen owing to the immensity of the area. The response of loyalists to the call was magnificent, and inspired the Dutch with respect at seeing other whites equalling the best in courage and personal service. Although loyalists were sick to death of the war, and although iirmv were ruined, they were almost unanimous in preferring to carry on the war indefinitely rather than riu\ the risk of compromise, and lowing the. retnotflst chance of a recurrence of the scourge. They were thus prepared to fight «nd f ufler on for one fhg and ooe political Bystein from Cape Town to the Zambesi, a system which would ensure the highest justice and freedom to all.

Wellington, April 19. Th? Premier is advised that Oplstvel Gradock, commander of the Second Now Zealand Contingent in South Africa, sailed for Engtand from South Africa on the 17th inst.