THE BOER WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1077, 19 October 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

COURT MARTIAL SENTENCES. THE PENALTY OF TREACHERY AND TREASON. London, October 17. The sentences of hanging on FieldCornet J. S. Kruger for rebellion, and on Lieutenant Breda for train-wreck-ing at Eetbulie, and murdering natives, have been confirmed. The death sentences of three others belonging to Letter’s rebel commando, have been commuted to imprisonment for life. FIELD CORNET EXECUTED. BOTHA BREAKS THROUGH BRITISH CORDON. TROOPS SURROUNDING PONGOLA BOSCH.

(Received October 18, 11 a m. London, October 18. Breda and Field Cornet Kruger, have been executed at Cradoek. It is believed in Natal that Botha and a few followers broke through the British cordon at Piet Relief and escaped north. The troops are gradually surrounding Pongola Bosch, but small groups of Boers are able to elude the closest pursuit:.

In connection with the mutiny amongst some of the Victorian contingent in South Africa, an Australian paper states : —Trouble threatens over the intimation that one Steele, a member of the Victorian Fifth Contingent, was lately sentenced to death for ' inciting to commit mutiny.' The fuels, us stated in Melbourne, are that Steele was a member of the last Victorian Contingent, one section of which was cut up severely at Wilmansrust by the Boers who rushed its camp at night while the men were asleep, with their rifles stacked. Twenty Victorians were killed and many wounded, and all who did not escape were taken prisoners. After the alfair, one Major Beatson, an Imperial officer characterised the Victorian contingent as ‘ whitelivered ours,’ notwithstanding that the Wilmansrust disaster was wholly due to the incompetence of an Imperial man, subsequently retired. The Victorians, not relishing the epithet, made audible comments on the quality of British courage as shown at Nicholson's Nek and some other places, and, eventually Beatson found it advisable to tell a Victorian officer that he apologised for what he had said. Then came the order that the Victorians were to go out under the command of the man who had characterised them as ‘ white livered curs.’ Whereupon Private Steele told his mates to ‘ chuck down their rifles, and refuse to go out under Beatson, unless he apologised personally.’ Two of the men took up the cry ; but, ere anything could happen, Word rsaehed headquarters, and all three were arres'ed and court-martialled for inciting to mutiny. Found guilty, Steele was sentenced to be shot, and the others were sent to gaol for two years apiece. Subsequently Steele’s sentence was commuted by Kitchener to ten years in a British gaol with the scum of England. There is alrea ly a very bitter feeline in a wide Australian circle over this matter There is no doubt that the free-and-easy Australian does cordially resent the overbearing insolence of the typical Im perial officer, and crowds of Steele’s compatriots will insist on the Commonwealth demanding his release, The incident may yet loom large in polities.