THE BOER WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 330, 3 February 1902, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

oy Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright v , LONDON, January 31. , . battalions are bctim embodied for service. K Lord Roberts inspected six thousand «ouU, r AfS S ICaVi, ‘ S for

Mr Chamberlain in the House ( >f SK slate[l * Legislative Council v e. , w appointed in the Transvaal 'V, " rts Practicable according to the state oi the country and progress of military operations. Mr Balfour announced that Great to-d-tv" S The’ lUld reached Dr Euvper I he Daily News says there are indi ~u uiiu!m!;s, ,r( K l ms willingness to act as a frieiuilv negotiator and strive to induce the abandonment of the Boer claim fiwtaT Mr Chambcr| ain replied inV advances must emanate from he Boeis. Dr. Kuyper later wrote to neJotH* d i IS< !“ Wne ’ ej:teildinK 1,10 offer of negotiatoKsinp as between the Boers m Lurope and the Boers in the field. ihe Daily Telegraph understands mat Lord Lansdowne’s reply was i courteous assertion that there was lack ol authorisation to speak for the Boeis and lack of tangible proposals and ins suggestion would be unserviceable even as a basis of negotiation.

S EVERAL ENCOUNTERS. . LONDON, Feb. i. Major-General French lias dispersed Pouches commando in North-east of Cape Colony, capturing twenty-six. Colonel Driscoll lias captured seventeen, including Field-Cornets Venter •“‘ff Grobellar, at Makawasdrift. Grobellar subsequently died of wounds. Monwinckt’s- commando attacked Colonel Dummolin’s column at Abraham’s kraal on Tuesday. A sharp action followed. Colonel Dnmmolin, had eight Sussexs killed and seven wounded. The Boers were repulsed with loss. Colonel Wilson’s assailants on the twenty-fifth numbered nine hundred. The British advance party of two hundred were surrounded by a heavy fire hilt they charged through and regained Wilson, who fought along fourteen miles of ridges to Frankfort. It was with difficulty that lie escaped being surrounded.

Maritz is storing great quantities of supplies at Buslimaitsland, a dry ami waterless country north-west of the Cape, full of military obstacles. GERMANY CHANGING TACTICS. POLICY TOWARDS NATIVES. LONDON, Feb. I. Professor Delbruck, the historian, has altered his views regarding tho war. He disproves Boer stories, and declares that tiiere is an increasing disposition in Germany to recognise the gallantry and humanity of the British troops. He severely condemns Miss Hobhouse. A Blue Book issued foreshadows Sir A. Milner’s policy to be one of kindness and firmness to the natives, compelling them to observe contracts, and it shows a determination to suppress drinking. SPEECH BY MR BRODRICK. BANNERMAN CHANGING HIS TUNE. LONDON, Feb. 1.

In the House of Commons supply was carried by 15a to 56. A supplementary vote of five millions for the war was carried. Mr Brodriek explained that tlte monthly expenses had fallen by a million. The new meat contract, owing to the more settled condition of South Africa affording greater facilities for distribution of tiie meat, is three half-pence per pound cheaper, representing a saving in iau2 cf between six and seven hundred thousand pounds. Lord Kitchener expected a saving of thirty per cent in local supplies, me cape, lu uuuuuing control oi their own forces, saveu Britain a quarter of a miiiion monthly. The block houses had hampered uie Boers, enhancing the prospect, of Lord Kitchener bringing to action the three chief groups of commandos.

Crit cism by members was chiefly; directed to tlte subject of remounts. Sir IT. Campbell Bannerman praised the action of the troops in the field. Mr Brodriek announced that there were 237,800 men in the field on the first of January. The entire Cabinet sat for two and a half ftours. They adopted the committee’s reply to Dr Kttyper. The' rejection of his mediation is attributed to the absence of credentials binding on the Boers, there being no evidence that they desired his mission.

FOREIGNERS FIND OUT TITEIR i MISTAKE.

GREAT FORCE AGAINST BE WET! LONDON, Feb. 1. There is a concensus of opinion that the Continental papers imagined that Great Britain was tired of the war, and would snatch any chance of peace in view of the Coronation ceremonies, but they are beginning to denounce tlte obstinacy of Kruger and Leyds. M. Blovvitz, the Times Paris correspondent, interprets the obstinacy to a de•sire to convince the commandos that England must now face, besides Boer resistance, the moral suasion of Europe. ,

Twenty-three columns are operating against De Wet.

AUCKLAND, last night. The Premier received a cable front Major Andrews to-day “ Sixth Contingent well. The few men reported ill are cases of enteric. There is no cause for alarm, as all cases of enteric are reported dangerous. The health of the regiment has been remarkably good. We have still 420 men in the field. No improvement has taken place in the condition of Sergeant Moore.”