THE BOER WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1126, 17 December 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

TRAITOR SENTENCED. AUSTRALIAN FOODSTUFFS. (Received December 16, 1.6 a.m.) London, December 15. SciIOEMANN, junior inember for Oudtlioorn in the Cape Parliament, recently tound guilty of traitorous conduct, lias been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined £SOO. The South Australian Agent-Gene-ral suggested to Mr Chamberlain the removal of the Boer concentration camps to Hie coast, so as to enable Australia to supply foodstuffs. Mr Chamberlain telegraphed to the generals commanding Natal and Capo Colony that ho favoured using British products for British requirements whenever possible.

MORE CAPTURES. ENEMY DISCOURAGED. DAMAGE TO FARMS. JOHANNESBURG DISTRICT SAFE BURGHER SCOUTS. London, December 16. The Boers at Witkrams loft many wounded in farm houses. Seventeen Boers were captured in the Orange River Colony, The extension of mining has discouraged the enemy. De Wet is now disinclined to take the offensive. Some of Delarey’s commandants are engaged in estimating the damage to farms in view of their postponed meeting. The country one hundred miles radius round Johannesburg is now safe owing to blockhouses. Allison’s burgher scouts number 150 ; and are increasing daily. A PLUCKY GARRISON. ELOFF’S MISSION. BOER OFFICERS TAKEN. London, December IG. The garrison at Tontellborschkop, which numbered only 20, besides repelling the enemy in attack, fought nightly for weeks to obtain water. The Boers had four killed and 25 wounded. According to the enemy seven civilians in the village of Tontellborcsbkop, including two women, were killed and six wounded. The ganison lost three killed and fifteen wounded, Eloff has sailed from Amsterdam for Uelagoa to enquire into the situation. If he finds it desperate he will urge the Boers to seeks terms. Colonel Colin Brander reports Hie capture of Badenhorst and fourteen men at Sterkfonleiii. Dawkins cooperated in the operations in Waterberg. Lord Kitchener considers the capture important, and likely to have a good effect.Reuter’s Agency reports that two of Badenhorst’s Adjutants, also Adjutant Bnvos, with remounts from Botha were captured.

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT. NEW ZEALAND’S OEEEE. LONDON NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. London, December 16. The Times says that New Zealand’s offer of a further contingent is a wonderful instance of the patriotism in relation to that colony’s population. The Times, Standard, and Telegraph applauds Mr Seddon’s grave and scathing rebuke to the anti-patriots. The fact of its emanation from the most radical colonial Premier is significant.

(BY TELEGRAPH—TRESS ASSOCIATION) Wellington, This Day, Only three of the replies received by the Premier from members of Parliament respecting the despatch ot the Eighth Contingent were unfavourable. Captain Drury, of the Seventh Contingent, who was invalided from South Africa with a sevi re 1 ullet wi uud in the leg, is now in Wellington, and is anxious to return to the front, but a suniical report is unfavourable, and he may receive a position on the Defence staff here, Applications for enrolment in the Eighth Contingent began to reach the Defence Office yesterday and are‘pouring in to-day. There will be four camps for the Eighth Contingent—at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The men will be put through the medical ai d other tests, and subfcquently will be drafted to two main camps—one in each island, probably at Wellington and Christchurch. Preference vvijl lie given to returned troopers, who are physically (it; next to volunteers in mounted corps; and next to volunteers in general. Single men will lie preferred to married. It is expected the contingent will be despatched in about a month. Lord Kitchener cabled to Mr Seddon as follows;—‘I am grateful for your offer. New Zealanders have done splendid oo all occasions. 1 will do what I can to meet j our wishes in bringing the Sixth ami Seventh Contingents together when opportunity off. rs, but you will n-alite that during the progiess of operations P is difficult to transfer troops who are doing so well as there contingents.’ Ti.maru, Last Night. Colonel Jowsey and Major Crawshaw have offered their services with the Eighth Contingent, NEW ZEALAND ITEMS, RETURNED TROOPERS. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. (BY tma graph—press association)'. Wellington, Last Night. At the returned troopers’ luncheon the Premier, in referring to the case of Trooper Tasker, thought that the offence could have been met with a week’s imprisoument,and said he hoped that the offhand manner iu which the New Zealand Government's communications with th War Office were treated would be removed now that Lord Roberts was at he bead of affairs.