SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 14 June 1902, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

THB LATE3T. PIK PRESS ASSOCIATION. London, June 12. Lord Salisbury, in congratu'ating i he Hereford Militia on their return fi om the war, said: "If we are disappointed with legard to the duration of pe.ice' and in yeais col; distant there should be a demand for action on the part: of English soldiers, I am afraid I cann t j comfort you by saying the Militi » will I be spared." Beyers' eommando if 152 m n surrendered at Pietersburg, and Hans Gtobelaar's, numb 'ring 318, at Ermelo. Beyers admitted get'ing ammunition through Portugese territoiy. Large numbers have surrender* d at Beitz. Ntarly allot them were arm d with Lee-Metford rifles. They expressed resentment at the Fiench an<i German press encouraging the hopa of protiactiog the war. A fund has been started at Johannesburg to,r.jtuild De We.'s and Dalarey's farm-house 3. Lord Kitchener ksp-cted and thanked tbe National Burgher Scou's and promised that they should return to their farms as soon as possible. fbe Scouts enthusfcstictHr cheared Lord Kitchener, Lord Milner, and peace j The Scouts and the surrenderors are : on amicable terms. The Middleburg surrenderors went to the refugees camp and arranged an impromp'u ball with the Scouts and refugees. ANOTHER LARGE SURRENDER. Receired 13,9.26 p.m. London, June 13. Some surrenderors in tbe Transvaal were wholly clad in skinp, their boots being mads from oli portmanteaux and hats from cows' paun<bes. Seven hundred and eighty-two men belonging to the Kroor stad and Hoopcommandos —the n-.aj »rity ill c ad —under General Hittiuis.HUtr'' • ''pr d en the lOtb. Some of the old men were unarmed, but many youngsters

bad liflw. General Da Wet described the latter as the best fighters, holding their positions long after the older men bad retired. Hi urged the surrenderors to prove their fidelity te the new Government.

Lieutenant - General ' E liott a'so •poke, bringing th j King's messages-of goodwill. The King and Lord Kitchener were lustily cheered. TREATMENT OF REBELS. INQUIRY INT t CONDUCT OF THE ! WAR. " j Received 13.10.39 p.m. London, June 13. I A Government Gazette issued in Oape Colony announces that rebe's surrendering b+fore July 10tb, or wl o have been captured or surrendered sioci April 12th, will not be punished | with death on admit rog ihit they! were gulty of high treason,but will be disfranchised for life. This does not apply to justices of the peace, field-cor-nets, or colonial officials, who will be tried but excused the death penalty. Murderers and other* found guilty of acts contrary to the uaigr s of warfare ai e not exempted frim the utmost severities of the law la the House of Commons, Mr Broirick stated that-a amall Royal Commisiion would be appointed to make a general inquiry into the conduct of (he war. It was impossible to mike simultaneously a special inquiry regarding umy contract-'. TRANSIT RATES. Rtctivad 14, 0.26 a.m. London, June 13. The agreement establishing intercolonial free tride with British Sou h Africa fix«s th* trim-it rate on goods imported in'o the Transvaal through Cape or Natal ports at one instead of three per cent., ani admits Cape and Hatsl goods to the Transvaal free of duty.