BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 218, 24 September 1901, Page 3

BOER WAR.

CABLE NEWS.

CBt BIXCTBIO TILBQBAPH—COPTBIQHT)

PBB PEESB ASSOCIATION. London, September 22, Twenty per cent, of the Yeomanry bave te enlisted for service in South Africa. In a fight at Zoutlieff, north of Vry: burg, ou the 16th, five British weie Irilled and 12 wouuded. Boers are raiding the TTprer Tugela. Fighting is reported at Acton Holmes. The Kimberley Treason Court sentenced Marthenas Letter and FieldOoraot Campbell, rebels, to five yearo' and Lboete, Assistant Field-Cornet, to three years' imprisonment. The Government consider it is not necessary to specially strengthen the forces in South Africa, bat greater alertness and caution on the spot required. There ma an impression that Botha •ed De Wet are co-operatiog in the varion of Natal. Botha has disinterred a number of buried guns. A BBUBH WITH KBUITZINGKB. CAROLINA COMMANDO CAPTURED. BOTHA'S DBBIQNB ON NATAL. Becatod, 23,10.88 p.m. London, September 20. An official despatch states tfai OoUmel Williams captured 55 Boers, being the bulk of a commando, westward of Edenburg, with all of Koch's transport. Eruitanger, while unsuccessfally attempting to cross the Orange Biver to Herschel, rushed Lovatt's Scouts' camp. The casualties were heavy, including Colonel Hon. Andrew Hurray and Captain Murray (his adjutant) killed. The Boers, under cover of darkness, carried off a gun, which was re-captured after a mart engagement, Eruitanger losing two killed and 20 taken prisoners. j Colonel Benson captured Carolina's eommando'iS'mfles south-east of Oaro-j Una,taking 54 prisoners including P. i J.Botha. A itacfer despatch states that Botha is approaching Znluland, intending to invade NataL j Major-Gentral Lyttelton, with a large force, is near Buffalo Biver, which is swollen. Wellington, September 23. The Mayor of Wellington is convening a meeting ef women in connection with arranging for sending a hamper of Christmas comforts to New Zealaudeis at the front. ■ News has been received that Lieutenant Freetb, Sixth Contingent, was •lightly wounded at Weepener on the 17th inst. BRITISH OASUALTIKS AND LOSSES. Beoetod 23, 10-16 p.m. . London, September 23. Colonel Tucker reports the approximate casualties at vlakfbntein, in the 12th Company of the Mounted Infantry were seven wounded, and three officers and 50 men musing; Boyal Horse Artillery, two killed, six wounded, and ton missing; Bedford Mounted Rifles, four killed, four wounded, two officers and 24 men missing; and a lieutenant add 15 men missing. Of the misnng, four officers and ninety-five men have been released into Bssutoland, and the wounded brought tdWarerworks. The pursuing columns are in touch with the enemy at Dewetsdorp. UTILISING BLOOKHOUBB3. Beceived 23, 10 51 p.m. .London, September 23. Lord Milner in an official despatch from Johannesburg states that MajorGeneral French is utilising block houses from Vryburg to Aliwal North, along the railway in a definite line, where he - will put invaders whom farmers are actually helping by concealing their movements. Major-General Methuenhas captured 23 Boers at Marico. PAYMENT FOB HOUSES, Wellington, September 23. A requisition, signed by 22 members of the Fourth Contingent, was received recently by Mr., Witheford, M.H.R., Auckland, asking that compensation be paid for the hereon they took to South Africa, most of which were doing rervice in the' Beventh Contingent. The letter states that Celonel Davies read a statement to the effect that £2B per head would he paid immediately on their return to New Zealand by the Government The following reply was received to-d»y by Mr. Witheford from the Premier:—•« Wi»h reference to your minute of 10th inst. forwarding a communication from certain returned members of the Fourth Contingent for compensation for horses taken by them to South Africa, I have the honour to inform you that this contingent gave their equipment and their horses to the service of the Empire at ' their own o"8t, and not at that of the colony. With retard te the statements that Colonel Davies seated that the men on their return to the color y would be paid .£2B per bead for their horses, the following is a copy of a telegram I have received from that officer on the subject: ' I was unofficially informed that £2B per head would be paid for horses by tre remount depa'tment in South Africa, but I did not officially inform anyone of this. No one has ever been told by me that horses were to be paid for, though I expected the Imperial Government to do so.'" The Premier says he intends to make further irq'iiries into the matte-, and will advise Mr Whiteford of the result in due course. MR. CHAMBERLAIN SFEAEB OUT. The murders at Vlakfonteir, the robbery and brutality of the Beers in the wrecking of a train near Klerksdorp, the many cold-blooded murders of natives, and particularly the recent ■hooting in cold Wood of native scouts and of the wounded Yeoman, Trooper Finch, maki it evident that a substantial proportion of the Boers now in the field are mere brigands and bandits, 1 and must be treated as such, and not as civilised belligerents (writes a Loni don correspondent under date of 9th August). " Koving bands of ruffians," Lord Milner has termed them, and Mr. Chamberlain has adopted the expres sion. Stern and severe tre it men t must be meted out both to the marauders and to the rebels who join them. This was one of the main features of Mr Chamberlain's strong speech in the House of Commons on Friday night. The Colonial Secretary does not mince

. but makes his meaning plain stage of the war, brigandage and outragi , ard must de»l more seveiely with in icursiora into the protected dihtriots and with the Boers who ehoot from be hind hedges at individual soldiers, anc eve > wom n. The Government, said the Colonia Secretary, is determined to protect th< , natives, and hag telegr»phed to Lore i Kitchener, telling him that such acts ei I those threatened by Kruitzinger, viz. the shooting of all natives in Britfet employ, whether armed or unarmed, | and those which have been committed when ore of the Yeoman and two Cap? hoys were shot when wounded on the ground were quite contrary to civilised warfarel and that persons accused of having committed either of these acts, or of having authorised them, if brought to trial by Court-martial and convicted, should suffer the penalty of death. General French is to communicate this decision to Kruitzinger.