THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 220, 23 September 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

THE REVERSES.

APPEARANCE OF RINDERPEST.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Sept. 20.

In connection with the disaster at Tarkastod, General French reports that Commandant South, in order to break tho cordon that was hemming him in, rushed a squadron of the 17th Lancers at Elands River Poort, west of Tarkastod, killing throe officers and twenty men, and wounding Major Victor Sandeman and thirty men. The squadron fought most gallantly, inflicting heavy loss on the Boers. Boers clad in kharki wore first mistaken for British columns closely pursuing tho cordon breakers.

South recently succeeded Kruitzinger, who is in disfavor with Do \\ et. In the Utrecht allair, besides tho killed and wounded, five officers, including Gough and another who escaped, were amongst the captured. The number captured is not stated. Prominent Boer sympathisers are now compelled to ride in trains in the disturbed districts of the Transvaal. Twenty-eight Boers surrendered at Krugersdorp. Nino others and three armed natives showing *'ght were cap-

tured. Kitchener has forwarded CommandantPrinsloo's affidavits bowing that on three occasions individual burghers deliberately murdered wounded and unarmed surrenderors. In anticipation of a raid on Natal, tho Natal Carbineers and Uiuvoto Mounted Rides nave also been summoned. The Durban Volunteers have entrained northwards. General Lyttelton's regulars aro estimated at 1000. Field-Cornets mutilated Lord Kitchener’s proclamation to prevent their men surrendering. Rinderpest has appeared in a Government herd in the neighbourhood of Pretoria.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS,

GOVERNMENT WARNED BY THE , TIMES.

By Toicgrapli—Prcs3 Associurion— Copyright

London, Sept. 21

The Standard and Daily Telegraph, commenting on the recent reverses, question the wisdom of sending guns with sinu.ll detachments running the risk of being outnumbered. Tho papors admit that unfavorable odds are occasionally inevitable from a military standpoint owing to tho character o' tho country, tho scattered nature of tl positions and the forces, the result of the guerilla tactics of tho cnomv. Tho Times and Morning Post warn tho Government that the nation had long since realised the necessity of a fight to a finish, anil the nation was entitled to havo tho responsibility brought homo to those blaniable, a fact ‘which was only realised iutcrmittontly.

THE TARKASTOD DISASTER,

SEVENTEEN LANCERS KILLED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Sept. 21

Seventeen Lancers were killed, including Lieut. Philip Leslie Russell, of Carng ham, Victoria.

SERIOUS REVERSE AT VLAKEONTEIX.

CAPTURE OF GUNS, BATTERY, AND MOUNTED ESCORT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Jhondon, Sept. 21

An official despatch says that a superior force at Vlukfontein, 15 miles south of Waterworks, surrounded and capturod two guns, a battery, and tho mounted men escorting them.

LACK OF INFORMATION

CAPTURE BY NEW ZEALANDERS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Sept. 21

The only details Lord Kitchener lias recoived of the Ylakfontein reverse aro that a lieutenant was killed. Columns are pursuing the enemy. A strict investigation of tho affair lias been ordered.

Colonel Plumcr’s New Zealanders captured twenty of Kruitzinger’s commando at Kouxville.

A proclamation lias been issued enforcing the Fugitives Offenders Act in the Transvaal.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, speaking at tho North-East Lanarkshire byc-elec-tion, declared that the annexation of tho Boer Republic must be upheld.