BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 68, 5 April 1902, Page 3

BOER WAR.

SHOOTING OF AUSTRALIAN OFFIGJSBS. PER PKKSS ASSOCIATION. London, April 3. The Times says the execution of the officers for shooting prisoners in cold blood is a very greifous shock to the nation. The Government ought to immediately publish facts, as it is wholly incorrect and misleading to fpeak of tbem as Australian officers, as thty did not form part of the splendid Australian Oontingeut which have won so much distinction. It is confident the Australians will endorse the general judgment of the Empire when the facts are disclosed. There is no reason- j able doubt that the men had a fair and i careful trial. i The Daily Mail states that four officers w«-ro sentenced to death, but I Lord Kitclen«r commu'ed the sentences of two subordinates, who are now in Gospnrt prison. The Morning Leader a correspondent says, hearing a Get man missonary was eamped near, and was aware of the fact of the shooting, Handccck visitor his tent that night, and 6hot b : m dead while ha was reading. Qf, tried to kill a nigger servant who w aß wounded, "but escaped and i"f'>vr le( j his chief. The latter cominun i . C a'e4 w v, .he Mitsion meuib-rs, «vh, with the German Consul informed Lord Kitchener, and insisted r; a inquiry* The n'/'at the Boers were killed, Trooper Van Baren, the officer's orderly, overheard Handcock and the unnamed captain planning to shoot Morrison and S>rgiant Gray for insubordination. Van Buren warned them, and they, tvading tbe sentries, , «scaped and rode at night for Pieter«burg. Handcock sent purt-uew, who overtook thru, but they decided to accompeny the fugitives to Pietersburg, where they reported the matter Id Major Lenthan. He said they were guilty of mutiny and advised them to return and trust to the clemency of their officer s. The fugitives refused to return and remained at Pietersburg, and were never court-martialled. The officers suspecting Van Buren had him shot. Lard Kitchener and Major Poore, the provoat marshal, examined many of the the time-expired troopers, but without the knowledge of the unnamed captain or Handcock. Lord Kitchener was much pained over the affair, and soon ordered the Carbineers to return, Mid arrested the officers.

Melbouhsb, April 4. The State Premier has received from Bail, tha agent of the Victorian Contingent in South Africa, a communication covering a written statement by Lieutenant Witton. Tie material points in the statement are:—Witton was attached to a detachment under Morant en. route to Fort Edward, where Hunt was reported to have been murdered. They captured a wourde<! Boer who was in possession of a nam - ber of articles belonging to Hunt, and clai in khaki. A consultation of | officers was h >ld, rot a court-martial as represented by Morant. Handcofk favoured shooting. Lieutenant Picton objected. Witton tonk no active part, but at the request of Sergeant-Major Clark on behalf of the firing party he I spoke to Morant against shooting. Morant replied they were doing what was perfectly justified. If the men made any fuss he would shoot the prisoner himself. Witton was also told be had ot.ly taken a subordinate part in the enquiry, and was not responsible. Subsequently eight other Boers were captured by a patrol. Morant and Handcock J taking Wittou and th r e« men wen'. to the prisoners waggons, and Morant announced their intention to shoot the prisoners. Witton ask"d Morant if he was not exceeding his doty, and Morant tofd him that he was justified. Witton being only a junior subaltern bad to obey orders. When ordered to shoot, Witton hesitated, but one prisoner rushed him, and h 8 fiied to keep the prisoner off. All were shot. At the trial Morant took all tha blame himself, and wha'ew r part Witton had taken W'>s on his orders. Witton at his trial wanted <o secure Bail's services, but he was led to believe tha l ; it was unnecessary, as ha would be exonerated from all blame. He concludes) by appealing to Bail to intercede and investigate his case, conscientiously believing himself no!; guil'y of the charges. Received 4,10.32 p.m. London, Apiil 4. It is expected the War Office will publish a statement, further d«-1 tails are received from Lord Kitch -ner. A war official states tha'; the p-esent information do?s not support the Morning Lender's details, which are for the most pirt untrue. Lieutenant Witton den>es the looting and robbery. He is to be confined in L«w»'s Gaol. Received 5, 015 a.m. Loxnow, Apri! 4. The Times says that ratu rally, but quite wroogly, Auitriliam feel that a * shir is cast on the good nam' of th ':r soldiers over th« shooting of officer ', but reite at.-s the nece-si'y for a full and prompt official disclosure of tVe affair.

The Commercial Advertiser, Now York, a ys Lord Kitchener's impartial punishment of colonials ought to the tone.it of Continental abuse. DESPATCHES JTKOM MR STEYK. "THS QUICKEST WAY TO PKAOE." Received 5, 0.15 ».W. Londost, April 4. Six soldiers injured in tho Barbi rtoa accident are dead. The Pretoria correspondent of the Standard that despatch riders rescued Klnrksdorp on Sunday with letters to S:'nalk Burger from Steya, who is with Delarey and Kemp. The despatches were forwarded to Kroonstad. D i Wet is ai Boshop. Ihe curabsr of sui renders is incre»°ing in pfistorn Transvaal. Military and civilian opinion in Pretoria both insist that coatinuoos and

I energetic "driyts" form he quickest j and sartt.t way of stcunng prac*. WENKKAL ITEMS. Paris. April 3. I Hip Dui ban c.u n i-pondmt of £e Temps declares that heaps of preserved : 1 meat and o>h>-r viands are left exposed! in the decks for morths ui til fermentation c >mp< If th» authodties to throw theia in* o the sea. Hay is similarly nigH C'eri, and many instances of gross carelessness elsewhere are mentioned. London, April 3. Coleu Brandt, r relieved Fort Edward in the Speloken disttict, and captured ■ Beyer's waggons. I Grenf-U's r* ret t cp'uree included addiess-s Steyn and De Wet, and signed by Delarey and, Ltebenbtrg, snd apostrophizing Steyn; as a leader and counsellor whose deeds and words encourage and strengthen' the burghers, and praying he may become the head of a United South Africa. The Sydney horse breeders' confer- i ence has resolved that it is desirable that immediate steps be taken to im- j prove the bre> d of horses, and to secure j I the establishment in New South Wales • i by the War Office and Indian Govern- i ment of direct purchasing agencies and reprPFeotatives. An association was formed to ctriy out the resolution. FAREWELLING THE TENTH. TARANAKI QUOTA. There was a considerable muster of 1 the general public to witness the de-' parture of the Taranaki quota of the : Tenth Contingent on Friday morning as the New Plymouth railway station. The Guards paraded under Captain Cook, Lieutenants Holmes and Messenger in honour of the occasion and to farewell their comrade, Guard Mitchell. lieutenant-Col >nel Ellis and Captain and Adjutant Taunton were also present. On behalf of the Guards, Captain Cook presented Guard Mitchell with a ' small token of their esteem, and expressed tbe good wishes of the company i for his welfare. His Worship the i Mayor (Mr E. Dockrill), farawelled i the men on behalf «,f the town, and ! siid that on former occasions he bad i referred to the good name our contingents had gn'Urd and the desire that contingent would act up to the high ! standard of ixctllence set by their pre- j d'ce-sorn. Smce then the great fight at Butbas!.erg has t 'ken place, where the men of the Seventh Contingent < had conduced themselves so bravely . that I ord Kitchener had them specially . p-traded and told them they were an i honour to the people and rolony which i sent them. This was the high standard i which they had to maintain. He was sure everyone was proud to know that New Plymouth was represented at ; Bo t has berg and that George Fookes, ] who had nobly borne his shara of the 1 fight, would be 1: i ured by everyone | and be an example to them if ever they got iu a tighs coroer. He was sure if such took piaee they would uphold the name of tbe colony and of Taranaki. i The men, who were under the com- i mand of Lieutenant G. Paul, boarded > tbe train amidst the cheers and good i wishes of those present and steamed < 'away for the camp ar, T nu liatn.