BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 89, 27 March 1902, Page 3

BOER WAR.

GENERAL ITEMS. FIIK PMSSiS ASSOCIATION London, March 25. Commandants Malm and Fouche with 200 men are hiding in the Candedoos mountains, where pursuit is difficult. Colonel Dixon captured sixteen Boers at Liebenbergsvlei besides three Krups, which were found in a waterhele. Mr. Fischer, interviewed at Amsterdam, said the latest direct accounts shawed that the burgers are plentifully supplied with provisions, ammunition, horses, and arms, and they had no dread of the winter. Mr. Steyn's courage was undiminished. Six staff officers, including Lord Kitchener's aide-de-camp, hava accompanied Mr. Schalk Burger's party to Kroosstad.

It is rumoured that the delegates will be in favour of a general surrender. GRIM STORY FKOM AUSTRALIA. Melbourne, March 26. A returned Australian has taid a story to General HuUon and Mr, Birton of the execution of two Aus'ralian officers connpc ed with an irregular corps in Soutu Af'ioa, Tbey were court-martialled with others on a charge of hiving shot unarmed Boers. The authorities hero are maintaining the closest secrecy with refeiei.ee to the ma'ti r, but from tbe facts staged it appears that an irregular corps, formed in South Africa, and contusing of a number of Australians, weie fighting the Boers at Koomati Poort about the end of October, when one of their principal officers was killed. When the body was discovered it was found mutilated, the neck was broken and tbe eyes gouged out. The corpß succeeded in getting hold of a Boer whom they tried by couit-martin.l and shot. Subsequently, when the commanding officer was away some distance from the camp, eleven other Boers were [captured and shot, but whether tried Iby court-martial does not appear. The affair reached the ears of the Genera) commanding in that part of the country, and he held a court-martial, with the result that two officers, one a Victorian and rne a Qunenslander, were shot for shooing ui armed Boars, and a third officer, belonging to New Sou'h Wales, was sentenced to, penal servitude for life, while a fourth officer was sentenced to three month's imprisonment. !

NINTH CONTINGENT. A ROUGH PASSAGE. Received 26, 8.40 p.m. Sypney, March 26. The Devon bas arrived, having experienced an extremely rough time in the Taßman Sea. When one day out from Auckland sh» ran into a fitrco cyclonic disturbance, which lasted for two days, during which the vessel knocked about in mountainous seas, ibp'ting only 155 miles. Tho whole contingent, excepting about 60, were down with sea sickness. The horees were terribly knocked about, 23 ueing killed outright, or so tadly injured as to bo destroyed, while about 30 othprs were maimed. Some may be destroyed ; but for the cweful way the fittings wera erected and the good handling of the ship many more must' have perished. The soldiers not pros-' trated with ssa sickness rendered valu- \ able assistance. | PRAYKRS FOB PEACE. THE CANADIAN CONTINGENT. Received 27, 0.32 a.m. London. March 27. At the instance of Scnalk Burgsr, the Boers will observe aext Satu» day as a day for prayers for peace. Ottawa, March 26. Great enthusiasm prevails in Can?da at the enlisting of a further contingent two thousand strong. THE SPION KOP AFFAIR. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS PENDING. Received 27, 1.6 a.m. London, March 36. A brisk correspondence is proceeding in the newspapers ov»r the Spion Kop incident. General Buller denies that hs commanded Spion Kop, and declares that to write an account of what occurred would bs contrary to Army regulations. Mr. Balfour maintains that Buller commanded in chief, and hints tbat documents covering Spion Kop are likely to be published. General Buller expresses a hope tbat his words will be published without maripuktioi. Mr. Balfour retorts that the only manipulation of Buller's despatches was the excision of a sentence criticising Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Warren, and the only omission in Lord Roberts' despatches was mide so'ely with a viaw of sparing BulWs feelings and maintaining his rfputatian. THE TENTH CONTINGENT. Wellington, March 26. The Tffoth Contingent goes to Soutb Africa by 'he steamers Draytoc iG angeacd Norfolk, the former frorn : I Well ngton, and the latter from Lyt- ; itelton.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis on Wednes-1 day evening received a notification' from Colonel Newell that bp, with Captain Taunton and a medical officer had [been appointed the Recruiting Board at Now Plymouth for the Tenth Contingent. App'iea'ions by candidates desirous of joining this contingent must be lodged pither with Colonel j Ellis or Captain Taunton not later than by Monday evening's mail.

Auckland, March 26. J The Contingent Committee have j £64 15s in hand, and have decided t,o j went a memorial to New Zealand j troopers wh<- have fallen in the wsr. 1 Wellington, March 26. j The Sixth Contingent, whos'i time of ; service ha*) expired, "ill return to thej colony in the Cornwall. The Defence j Department is cabling to t.he Gape for, ; particulars! cf th&ir departure. j