THE BOER WAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 3

THE BOER WAR

-a SWISS MEDICAL AID REFUBED. PES PRESS ABSOCIATI«N. London, August 16. A committee in Switzerland had arranged to Bend a doctor and six nurses to attend the women folk in the refugee*' camps. The party wero not allowed to leave Southampton, ths authorisation given by Lord Roberts in March having been rescinded by the War Office, on the ground that all meisures necessary to preserve health were bow taken. The Fo«ign Office has declined a request that it should review ths War Office decision. COMMONS DISCUSSION OS THB WAR PROCLAMATION. MR. CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS Our. Received 17,3.15 a.m. Loudon, August 16. The B<-"ond reading of the Appropriation Bill gave rise to an animated debate in the House of Commons. Sir William Harcourt, referring to Lard Kitchener's proclamation said it was ca'cukted to irritate, and while fu'ile and unwarranted bvjthe existing military situation, it deprived the Biers of belligerent lights. Mr. Chamberlain replied in a persuasive and powerful speech. He emphasised the value of the proclamation by the larger number of surrenderors since its iseue. The proclamation had precedents in the Civil War of America, in Alsace, and more recently when General McArthur warned the Filipinos, after their organisation had disappeared, that the shooting of American soldiers would be treiced as murder.

Sir William Harcourt: Is that your policy? Mr Chamberlain: Ido not say that condition baa yet been reached but if the Boars degenerate into banditti I say yes, that is our policy. (Ministerial cheers and Opposition si'ence). Continuing, Mr. Chamberlain paid the proclamation had been prepared and approved by Cabinet prior to Natal's suggsstion. He upheld that to withhold belligerent rights would be worth trying even if it failed to rid the colonial of irreooncilables. I

Mr. Aequirh emphasised the disorganised guerilla warfare, and the fact of annexation rendering the Boors British subject*. He praised Lord Kitchener's energy and moderation, and the patient pertinacity of the troops during the past year. THE PURSUIT OF THB COMMANDOS. A SMART FIGHT. QUBENBEANDERS AT CLOSE QUARTERS. Received 17, 7.45 p.m. Losdoh, August 16. Colonel Crabbe is hotly pursuing Kruitringsr's commando, which Colonel (Jorringe had put to flight. Commwdnnt Erasmus, who was raptured, wan not wounded. Major Toll and a party of Queenslanders surprised and captured a small Boer laager on the 9th. j

Feuter'B correspondent states that a party of South Australian Bushmen belonging to De Lisle's column rushed a farmhouse on horseback, with fixed bay one's, expecting that it contained only a few Boers, Fifty emerged, and r sherp fight ensued. Tive Boers were kil'ed, n>ne wounded, seven captured, and eight were wounded but escaped. The British casualties were not stated.

The Daily Mail eiv*s the following account of the Kopjiesfontein fight: On the night of «he 6th 200 Boers trapped night Queens'andcrs, killing two of them. They attacked the outposts, getting within 30 yards of them, bat were repulsed by the supports. Received 18. 4 51 p.m. London, Angus'; 17. Mr B*nn*f: Burleigh states tba* in response to the proclamation, many Boers are inqu'ring what treatment they will re ceiv* if they surrender. The Standard ►tatexthit Mr Kruger protests agairst the proclamation, and quotes Articles 7 an* 20 of the Hague Convention, prohibiting billigerents confiscating private property. The Land Commission will not receive claims for compensation for leases sustained in South Africa, unless lodged by the 15th September. Some Boer leaders hays refused to reeeiw the proclamation, but surrenderors declare it will ultimately prove successful.

CommacdantHcrson, with asnperior force, surrendered to 50 of French's sou**, npar Bethesda, Bft»r two hours' fighting. One was killed, and four wounded.