BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 81, 10 April 1902, Page 3

BOER WAR.

MURDBB ON THE VELDT. EXECUTION OF AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS. PR* PRESS ASSOCIATION. Adelaide, April 9. A' member of the Carbineers at the time of the shooting states that it was a coudition of application for enrolment that applicants must be hardy men as they were required for a fever stricken part of the country; therefore the corps was a fine body. It was a gross libel to say they were "scallywags." Captain Hunt was killed in a fair fight He •was shot through the heart, and afterwards fearfully mutilated. Boers were shot by Morant. Handeoek and other officers were equally bkttable, but Picton and Witton were innocent. He denied that loot was the object. The cause was drijak. The quantity the officers oonsumFd was marvellous, and there were caroucalg night after night. Many officers were always mora or \m mad with drink. VARIOUS ITEMS. London, April 8. A returned Imperial Teaman declares that Dutchmen chit fly constituted the mounted men who deserted liord Mechnen. A minimum estimate sets down the Boer loss on the 31st as 30 killed and 80 wounded. The first were included in Lprd Kitcheners weekly return to that date. The War Office has applied to Mr Copeland for 100 tons of New South Wales plum, apricot, and gooseberry jam. Dr Leyds has recommenced his slanders. Dalarey sent a letter in January, in which be specifies alleged British atrocities. Hobaht, April 9. The Tasmanian section of the Commonwealth Contingent has sailed. *- A PETITION'S FIERY END. | Received 9,18 6 p.m. , Sydney, April 9. Tbe anti-War League petition is receiving scant courtesy in this S'ate. Ons Municipal Oounoil to whom it was sent for signature, passed a resolution • authorising tbe Council's clerk to apply j a Inciter to the document and inform the promoters of its fate. FURTHER MEAT CONTRACTS. DELAREY BEMEVRD TO BE' BHTJFFUN3. Received 9, 11.26 p.m. London, April 9. The War Office is inviting tenders for 900,0001b* of corned compressed beef, aDd 300,000 b of corned mutton. Tenders close en May 26' h. The American Beef Trust is limiting the expott of live cattle, hoping to increase prices in England. There are indications that General Delarey's letter contains interpoktijns repeating the lies originating on the Continent. There are also statements incoariatant with his inaaking Lo d Methuen for kiodoest to his wife and children. A CHECK TO DBLARET. A HARD FOUGHT ENGAGEMENT. Received 10, 0.55 a.m. London, April 9. The Standard says the Klerksdorp reverse is areviv >1 of the Brakspruit affair On the 31st th« most decisive check during Delarey's career was inflicted. Majw-Gen .ntl Walter Kitchener sent 1700 wed mounted men under Colonel Cookson to rej mnoitre in tbe direction of Hirts. They were soon in touch with 500 Boers escorting a c >nvoy. The pursuit was so:>n relinquished on news being received that 2000 Boers were aheid of the convoy. On returning, Cookson halted atj Brakspruit. A shell from a Boar gun! on a ridge 4000 yards distant, dropped into the camp, and masses of the enemy appealed on the flanks, leading up to a general engagement. Twenty four Canadians and 45 Mounteds were posted a mile and a-b.'Jf on Cooksoa's right, and 500 yards beyond a belt of trees. Two companies tf Artillery and Rifles held a farmhouse on the left flank, 1000 yards distant., while the lenuinder of tL .r f )ice was stretched along the Brakspruit stream, covering the farmhouse. Next 'o them was Colonel Keirs with the 28th Mounted Rifles, Kitchener'* Fighting Scouts, the bulk of Oookson's S scoud Canadian Contingent, and Colonel Damtnt's force. Delarey sought to ru-h tbe farmbouse, which wes the key to the position, his heavier gun? aiming at the camp, and bis pompoms concentrating their fire on the spruit. Five hundred Boers occupied a ridge. Biding in lines, in extended order, they galloped to within 500 yards of the farmhouse, wben a volley caused them to halt. Tte volleys were returned by a cr.-ss fire, but more volleys and shells from the camp caused the Boers to retreat to the riuVi. Meanwhile 600 Bo rs, uf,der cover ot the belt of tiees, charged 70 of the British acd demanded * their suriender. Captain Carrut'uerd shot the foremost at fifteen pares distance, His comrades lay without shelter in the grass, and fired steidily sraight at the Baers, who bolted back to the trees, some climbing and firing, and others spreading in line. They were kept at bay for two hours and then rushed and captured 15 of the survivors. Oarruthers alone was not sariouoly hurt, and declined hospit*! treatment. Some of the Boers wished to shoot him, but others

declared he was *oo brave a men to diei thus. Several were woui ded twice anff] tbrice. Gradually the British were eurrounded, but their defence was spirited, and the enemy at 4 o'clock were beaten ~ on'. 5 . The Boer cisualtie3 totalled 275. TKNTH CONTINGENT. ; Wellington, April 9. By latest advi:e the troopship, Norfolk, will not leave Sydney till Friday. She will take in stores, etc., at Wei- ( * ling on, aud theD proceed to Lyttelfon, whence she will sail on the 19 th inst. Auckland, April 9. t ,' W. A. Craig of the Fourth Contin- '» gent has received a commission in the , Tenth Contingent, aud .lift for Wel- '• lington this afternoon, The Rev. Hawthorn, of Devonport, has been nppointed Anglican Chaplain * to th e Contingent, and leaves for Wel- '*. lington to-morrow. CONGESTION OF TRADE AT THE (JAPE. , The arrangements for the discharge i of goods in South Africa have been a ] continual source of trouble to shipping j companies, shippers, and consignees. t Facilities for the discharge of cargo at t the port of Durban appear to be no t better than at Cape Town. A Natal a paper, commenting on the congestion and muddle existing some abort time * ago, states that there were 14 soeamers at the quayside discharging, five of these being Government vessels ; sailing ships were lying three deep at 9 their particular wharf; 14 steamers 9 were out in tbe bay; and 22 sailing ships were waiting for bt-rths to disP charge cargo. Vessels were unloading r with, the greatest difficulty. Tbe con gestion on the quays f arted at ihemost * southern point, and extended for a dis- ° J tance of two mileH to the l! planade. r 1 the average width of the congested area r * being, it is Btated, between 300 and { - 400 yards. Some of the goods had ' been on the spot for three years, and T 1 piles of forage and c«med meats were > rotting. Tons of foodstuffs were being * opened up, and the greater part loaded ■ on to ships to be dumped into the Inr dian Ocean. The writer adds that a i fair attempt was made to grapple with the trade until the Cape ports became ' blocked, acd that the surplusage has proved too much for Natal.