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CAPTURE OF BOER LEADERS. IrRITZINGERAND OTHERS IN ¡ IN OUR HANDS. Another week of capital progress is ^Ported from South Africa. The follow- ing dispatches from Lord Kitchener have "een issued by the War Office — PRETORIA, Friday. Further details of General Bruce Hamilton's operations on Tuesday show that when on Spion Kop. fifteen miles to the east of Bethel. with Rawlinson's column on Mondav a Boer laager was located at Trichardsfontein. They were joined the same after noon by columns under Colone! Wing and Colonel E. C. Williams and, starting at six p.m.. marched by a long detour of over thirty miles, and completelv surprised the laager at dawn on Tuesday. Seventeen wagons, 160 rifles, and some 4,000 cattle were captured The prisoners, as reported, were ridden down in the open by the three columns, who pursued aboul seven miles, in spite of their tired condition. All the troops behaved with great dash. Williams and Wing had marched seven miles to join Hamil ton on Monday afternoon, and the total distance covered by these columns, including the pursuit, was- 51 miles in 24 hours, of which 30 were at night. Sunday. Colonel Colenbrander reports the capture of Commandant Baden- horst and fourteen others at Sterk- fontein, the result of the combined operations of his own and Colonel Dawkins' columns in the Water berg. The effect of this important cap- ture will be good. Later. Following received from General Bruce Hamilton, dated Ermelo, seven p.m. to-day:- After a long march last night with Rawlinson's, Wing's, and Wil- liams', surprised Piet Viljoen s laager at dawn to-day at Wittc- raans, twenty-five miles south-east of this place. Killed sixteen, captured seventy armed prisoners and many others. Wounded were left in farms. Also re-captured one of Benson s guns (the other having been destroyed), and a few carts and cattle.. Mackenzie, co-operating from the north, took six prisoners and 200 cattle. The prisoners belonged to the lJok«burii pnd Elandsfontein com- mandos, and include Field-cornets Badenhorst and Swanepool. The gun was in gooa order, and we used it against the retreating enemy. These columns have now covered over fifty miles in twenty-four hours for the second time within week, and require rest. Monday. For the past week columns report 31 Boers killed, seven wounded, 372 prisoners, and 48 sur- renders; also 366 rifles, 17,650 rounds small-arm ammunition, 155 wagons, 1,800 horses, and 12,200 cattle captured. These include all separately Under cover of General Bruce reported. Hamilton's operations in the Eastern Transvaal, the South African Constabulary have pushed further east, and are establishing a post at a new line on Oliphants River, Steenkoolspruit, to Water- val River on the south. This line is being rapidly strengthened. Lord Methuen is operating with Colonel Kekewich to the west of Klerksdorp. The blockhouses from 1 Klerksdorp have been completed to I Ventersdorp, and will be continued thence to Naauwpoort. To the north-east of the Orange River Colony, General Elliot's Column are operating near Lindley, in conjunction with the Winburg columns. To the south of Bloemfontein, General C. Knox's columns are approaching the Thaba N'chu line. A party of Boers from Pbilippolis have crossed to the south of the Orange River near Zand Drift. Gener.il French reports from Cap? Colony:—To the north-east, Fouche and Myburgh are together in the north-east. Rhodes (2) closely hemmed in bv Scoboll and Monro and local troops from Maclear, under Armstrong. There are a few scattered parties left to the north of Jamestown, which are being hunted by Lukin's trdops. In the west, Theron now having been driven to the north of Boom River by Capper and Kavanagh, there is no enemy to the south of a line drawn through Beaufort West, Sutherland, and Clanwilliam to the sea. The commandos to the north of tl-¡i" hpe appear to be converging at Cplvinia. Tontelbosch has been rp] ;<->ved by Colonel Doran. The report that Msritz has been severely wounded is confirmed. Tuesday. The progress durinf the past week has been very satisfactory. The columns are working hard, and all troops maintain an excellent spirit, e and are doing their utmost to wear down the obstinate opposition of the enemy. BELFAST, Tuesday. General French reports that Commandant Kritzinger has been captured while attempting to cross T the blockhouse l:ne near Hanover Road. He was severely wounded. Pecretsry of State for War has ^tchcd the following telegram to Lord ,en(,r: Please convey the hearty congra- tulations of his Maiestv's Govern- ment to General Bruce Hamilton on his brilliant achievements. CAPTURE OF KRITZINGER. ,ZlnSer, the welcome news of whose re 13 given ahove, was for long the froiRinent of the leaders of the Cape JJ1 tii8' Few excelled him in truculencc or ",Lt."e barbarity he displayed toward3 the q s- For some months lie has been in atl"e Colony- whither he went to raise k 1'«,i!rocrait8' l°n £ a~° be attempted 1 j>8i»?rn. bat was foiled at the Orange River J ? ky a p.irt* of Lovat's Scouts. The 'l0wever, lest heavily, and two of their ♦v Gen ^"ere killed. Later on he was chased K* Co?ral Knox in the south-east corner of tl'ln,j0ny, anc* a few days ago he managed eHue the guards on the River Orange and r the Cape Colony. He took the direc- tion south westwards towards Calvinia, where the chief concentration of the raiders is to be found, but failed to cross the first line of railway he came to—the line from Port Elizabeth to De Aar. The place where he was captured (Hanover Road) is between De Aar and Naauwpoort Junction, and some miles west of Golesberg. The leaders of the Cape raiders who have now been caught are Kritzinger, Scheepers, and Lotter. Belfast, the place when.e Lord Kitchener despatched his report, is on the Pretoria-Delagoa Bay line, between Middelburg and Machadodorp. MAJOR GOUGH WOUNDED. DURBAN, Monday Evening. Late on Saturday night General Spens rounded up a farm near Bethel, and surprised and captured fifteen Boers. Major Gough, who commanded the force ambushed in De Jagers Drift, but who has now a command under General Bruce Hamilton, has been severely wounded in the arm. The military authori- ties and the press here are jubilant over Gene- ral Bruce Hamilton's recent successes, and especially over the recovery of Benson's guns. -Central News. V.C. FOR A DERBYSHIRE HERO. The London Gazette" on Tuesday night announced that the King bad conferred the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in South Africa on Private W. Bees, 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment. This soldier was in the Maxim Gun Detachment which, at Moed- vil on September 30 last, had six men hit out of nine. Hearing his wounded comrades asking for water, he went forward under a 'leavy fire to a spruit held by Boers, about 5JO yards ahead of the gun, and brought back a kettle full. In going and returning he had to pass within a hundred yards of some rocks, also held by Boers. The kettle was bit by several bullets.

A SCOTTISH MILLIONAIRE. EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY OF A WILL. The great wealth of the Johnstonea was founded by a Scotch smuggler, who bolted 'o India in 1760. The erstwhile smuggler went into indigo planting, and in ten years he returned to Scotland with the wealth of a nabob. In 1795 he purchased Lathrisk, and was succeeded in 1804 by his son William. The latter married a famous beauty, known in Scotland as Bonny Jean," but she died shortly after the birth of the recluse, whose present will has been found. The father eems to have gathered extraordinary anti- pathy to his only heir. and the pair sepa- rated. The son wandered about Europe, and only returned to his ancestral home when his father died. His return, however, was a melancholy one. lie shut himself in his man- sion by day and roamed about his lands by night. An occasional visit from his solici'or constituted his intercourse with the outer worid, a deaf man attending to his domestic affairs. For 30 years he led this life. but under all his seclusion he had an extraordi- nary brain for business, and the truth of this is seen in his vast wealth. Once some dispute arose with a bank, and he nearly brought about a panic by presenting him- self and withdrawing C40,000 in gold. An Edinburgh correspondent telegraphs:—A discovery which may have a sensational bear ins in the Lathrisk succession has come to light. The late Mr. George Johnstone, of the Lathrisk estates, who lived the life of a recluse, and who died in February last. appa- rently left no will, and the succession, so far as the entailed estates w-ere confcrned, fell to Lieutenant Mackgill Crichton, a nephew, who was then serving in the Soudan. On Satur- day. however, a will made by the late Mr. Johnstone in 1869 was found eewn inside a dress of a lady who died twenty-five or twenty- six years ago. This dress, it appears, had passed to a nicce of the lady, who died about three years ago, and the discovery was only made on Saturday, when the dress was being nn- stit.ched. The document was found tightly sewn in the lining. On the discovery being made. the will was communicated to Messrs. Shield and Kyd, a Dundee firm of solicitors, who at once got into communication with Mr. Gulland, factor of the Lathrisk estates. The late Mr. Johnstone left an estate of the value of considerably over a million, the movable estate amounting to £850.000 and the heritage to £ 325.000. Messrs. Menzies, Black, and Menzies, writers to the signet. Edinburgh, have made an exa- mination of the will found in the lady's dress, and declare that it is not genuine. They are the solicitors for Mr. Henry Maitland. executor of the dead Lathrisk millionaire. The signature, they say, is wholly different from the testator's usual sign-manual.

IMPORTANT LEGAL POINTS Judgment was given in the King's Bench i on Monday in a case which raised an impor- tant point of registration law. The case arose at Gloucester, where the revising barrister rejected four householders' claims on the ground that their wives had been maintained in a lunatic'asv!um out of the poor rates of their parish during 1 he whole of the qualifying period. Their lordships held that the revising barrister's decision rested upon a question of fact within his discretion, and dismissed the petition, but gave leave to appeal. By direction of the High Court, the Great Yarmouth magistrates on Monday fined the local water company zCl5 and costs for refusing to supply a boarding-house with water other- wise than by meter. The contentions of the company were that the boarding-house was a trading establishment, whilst the court held that the water was only used for domestic purposes. The collision between the mail steamer Mexican and the transport Winkfield, in which the Cape mails were lost, came before the Court of Appeal on Monday, the registrar having disallowed the Postmaster-General's claim on behalf of himself and the Cape Post- master for damages in respect to loss of regis- tered letters and parcels. The registrar held that as the Postmaster-General could not be sued for loss of letters he had no ]ocu= standi. and this decision was upheld by the Admiralty Court. The Appeal Court on Monday, how- ever. reversed that finding. A RESERVED DECISION AT MERTHYR. In a case heard at Merthyr Police-court last Thursday, in which Mr. J. T. Vaughan was summoned by the Merthyr Urban Dis- trict Council in respect of houses in Quarry- row, which were condemned as unfit for human habitation, the defendant urged that, as he had been summoned as owner of the premises, while he was simply the agent to the ground landlord and not in receipt of the rents, the summons war. bad. His 'VOl'- ship on Monday delivcred his deferred decision, holding that for the purposes of the Act the agent was tha owner, and closing orders were made.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS CONFE- RENCE. The joint committee of Trades Unionists and co-operators, which is arranging for a conference to be held in London next month on the question of oldage pensions, has met to complete the agenda and to settle other details in connection with the forth- coming conference. The committee considered that the resolution of the Swansea Trades Congress, under which the conference is being called, precluded them from putting down any resolutions for the conference, and the agenda will take the shape of a series of summaries of the most important schemes of old-age pensions now in operation abroad or promulgated in this country. The committee also decided that individual friendly societies applying may be granted credentials for delegates to attend the con- ference, provided such applications are sent at an early date to Mr. S. Woods, 19, Bucking- ham-street. Strand, W.C.

INQUEST ON THE SALMON VICTIMS. The coroner's inquiry into the Salmon collision terminated at Harwich on Wednes- day. The jnry found that the victims met with their death from shock resulting from scalds and burns. They attached no blame either to Lieutenant West, of the Salmon, or Caniain Home, of the steamer Cambridge. but in view of the conflicting evidence as to c navigation they would leave that question to a higher court. They commended Leading- stoker James Sutherland for his courageous action in rescuing Church and Schofield, and further passed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased men. | WAITING FOR THE ANSWER. ARCH DRUID EOSEBER.Y (to Radical Gorsedd): "A Oes Heddwch? ("Is there Peace?"). "Is it peace?" Since olden days 'Tis the custom of our race y i High to wield the gorsedd sword, ► Querying with one accord, "Is it peace?" Here behold a kindred scene— Politicians these, I ween. In their midst Dalmeny's Lord Lifting high the ponderous sword- "Is it peace?" "Is it peace?" Ask Harcourt there, Since the Primrose champion dare Trespass midst the sacred dales Of the now Harcourtian Wales- v "Is it peace?" "Is it peace?" 0 good pro-Boers? How stand we on distant shores ? Shall the Little England crew Answer to the clarion true- v "Is it peace?" 'Tis not ours reply to make, 'Tis the Rads the challenge take. Theirs the Primrose Earl to cheer Or with Bannerman to steer- "Is it peace?" Primrose, flash your brand on high, Heed not lowering faces by. Soon the answer you shall hear To your clarion loud and clear, "Is it peace?" IDRIS.

ROSEBERY BACK IN POLITICS. AGAIN PREPARED TO LEAD THE RADICALS. Few events in recent political history excited so much anticipatory interest as the great speech from Lord Rosebery at Ches- terfield on Monday. The cheering was vociferous and prolonged as Lord Bosebery himself rose to address the meeting, and it was renewed when hia Lord- ship at the outset declared lie nad come there, not to tickle their ears with eloquence or rhetoric or wit, but to speak his mind. This pronouncement, however, produced an impres- sion which was somewhat dispelled when Lord Bosebery declared he was not responsible for the fuss made about that meeting, and pro- tested against the idea there was anything celestial or inspired about it. They asked him to come there to make a speech, and he agreed. That was all. Yet he would give some advice to the Liberal party, said his lordship, and he proceeded to state some important facts bearing on the position of the Liberal party. In the first place, that party had gone through long and painful sickness; in the next place, they weie free of the Irish alliance— (loud cheers)-and then they had to gain unity and to regain the confidence of the country. To do this, he declared, they must clean their slate, and consider very carefully what they were going to write upon it in the future. They v-ould not all agree, for there were Tory Liberals in the Liberal party. There was Toryism in the Liberal party as deepasanyin the Carlton Club. Whenthey came to write again on their clean slate, his lordship said emphatically he hoped they would write on it a policy adapted to 1901 or 1902, and not to 1892. Continuing his advice to the Liberal party, the speaker said they must not promise more than they could perform, must not move very much faster than the mass of the nation was prepared to move. If the Liberal party had not learned this in the days of adversity, its! prospects of power and influence were more remote than the darkest which he could prog- nosticate. Lord Rosebery touched a respon- sive chord when he spoke of Empire. He advised the Liberal party not to dissociate themselves even strongly or unconsciously from the new sentiment of the Empire. Amid loud cheers he added that to many the word "Empire" was suspected as indicating aggression, greed, and violence, but the senti- ment represented now by "Empire" in these islands had nothing of that in it—(cheers;— it was passion of affection, a family feeling of pride and helpfulness. The statesman, however great he might be, who dissociated himself from that feeling must not be surprised that the nation dissociated itself from him. (Appreciative cheering greeted this pointed statement.) His watchword, declared Lord Rosebery, if he were in office at this moment would be efficiency-efficiency of our Parliamentary and administrative machines, efficiency of our Army and Navy, efficiency of our induatry and commerce, and in this regard the speaker observed that, in spite of Mr. Balfour's com- placency, he was alarmed for our future. Among the questions which underlay the efficiency of the nation as a whole were education and housing of the people. In education we were sadly lacking; we had nothing like a national system, only a mere chaos of haphazard arrange- ment. There were few sentences in the speech which were received with more enthusiasm than that in which Lord Rosebery declared in favour of tem- perance legislation. A great advance towards settling the problem might be made if a Government would grasp the nettle firmly, refuse to listen to fanatics on either side, and resolved tint, come what would, it would not leave offics without having made an attempt with that question. Then Lord Rose- bery passed on to speak of the crisis in National affairs, to which he had referred in his letter accepting the invitation to speak that evening. In the whole history of this country he could not recollect any parallel to the hatred and ill-will with which we were regarded almost unanimously by the populations of Europe. A great. smouldering, sometimes flaming, ill-will ouch as prevailed all over Europe was an element full of contingent peril, if not immediate danger, and. in his judgment, the Government was to a large extent responsible for this. In this connection Lord Bosebery spoke of the oratory of the Colonial Secretary as one element of danger. He strongly deprecated the dissolution of last year upon the state- ment that the war was over. That, he said, burned into his mind with an acid notg ng could wipe out. It was said by some jjibera is at the election that they voted for the present Government because there was no alternative Government. Then came one of his lordship's most telling passages. "Are we to believe really," he asked, "that the Empire can produce no alterna' irs Govern- ment to this? Not out of the Tory party. not out of the Liberal party, not out of bUii, parties, nor out of neither party, is it to prodnce an alternative Government to < m which, in the opinion of the great maUf" of the people, whether they dare articulate it or not, has grossly mismanaged our affairs? V'om all the bitterest foes of Great Britain— and God knows we have enemies enollgh-I 'lave j never heard such disparagement of uer us a r doctrine such as this. If it be true p'U up the shutters. forswear your Empire, and go and dig in your cabbage gaidens. The nation that cannot produce an alterna- the to the present Government is more fit to control allotments than an Empire." This pronouncement was received with only I qn .iified approval, unmistakable hisses ming- ling with loud cheers. In alluding Lo charges of b^rbfiriem, L< >rd Bosebery said he acquitted the '■,jveruaient c-f any barbarity, eitlier in intention or deed, and any words which had intention or deed, and any words which had been used implying that barbarous methods bad been used on our side were unhappily employed. His lordship was at cne with the Government in believing in the stern, efficient. vigorous prosecution of the war to its natural end, and he believed its natural end was a regular peace. (Cheers.) He would make no mere overtures of peace, but he would not be deaf to any overtures which came from their side. The Boers chose the arbitrament of the sword, and by that they must abide. His lordship appeared to arouse some surprise by the statement that be did not advocate the policy of getting rid of Mr. Chamberlain or Lord Milner. He believed Lord Milner deserved the confidence of his country, and possessed the confidence of the loyalists in South Africa in a remarkable degree. It was at the close of his speech that Lord Bosebery came to the pronouncement for which everyone had been waiting. He had stated his policy, he said, and that policy was the best advice he could give the country "What I can do to further it," he added solemnly, "I will do." Then the great audience rose to its feet, hats and handkerchiefs were waved, and wild cheers rang again and again through the building. When quiet was resumed, he added that hip services were, as they bad always been-as the services of all British were-at the disposal of his country. He was aware his policy did not run on party lines, but it was not to Party he appealed. He appealed to Caisar, to that silent and supreme tribunal which controlled in the long run the destinies of our people, the tribunal of pub.ic opinion and of common sense. His lordship concluded a speech last- ing over two hours, and he afterwards addrec-sed an overflow meeting in the Memorial-hall. THE COUNTRY AND THE SPEECH. The Central News says that the speech of Lord Rosebery was the sole and absorbing topic of discussion in political quarters on Tuesday. Its importance as a political pro- nouncement was generally admitted, and there was also a concensus of opinion that it indicated an intention on the part of the noble earl to re-enter public life and take an active part in the affairs of the nation. Curiosity and speculation centred almost exclusively upon the question of the composition of the party which, it was assumed, Lord Rosebery would, in due course, proceed to form, and in his lordship's selection of colleagues in the leadership of that party. The general belief appeared to be that Lord Rosebery might reckon upon the adhesion of about a hundred Liberal members of the House of Commons, and of between 30 and 40 Liberal Unionists for a start." Nobody believed that his lord- ship would succeed in detaching either Mr. Chamberlain or the Duke of Devonshire from the Unionist coalition, but the names of several other prominent Liberal Unionists were freely mentioned as likely to be found under Lord Rosebery's banner. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Sir William Harcourt, 3.111 Mr. John Morley all declined to express an opinion upon Lord Rosebery's speech, but it is understood that the two right hon. gentlemen first-named will each take an early opportunity of making a public declaration of their views. Mr. Heber Hart, chairman of the committee of the Liberal Imperialist League, told a Central News reporter that the Chester field speech afforded a basis of new work and new hopes for the Liberal party, because it appealed not only to those who had been in the habit of calling themselves Liberals, but also to reasonable and thinking men through- out the country and the Empire. It consti- tuted a powerful indictment of the present Ministry, while it furnished a policy which was a real, and not merely a nominal alterna- tive of that policy. Most important of all, it assured the country that the most popular man in the Empire was at its service \u form a Government when called upon to do so. The Chesterfield speech would confirm the belief of all who had studied the character of Lord Bosebery in hi" lordship's transparent sincerity and absolute consistency, which, after all. were qualities of paramount impor- tance in a British statesman. Mr. John Red- monrl, the leader of the Irish Nationalist partv, is at present on his way home from the United St^te". His vip" nnon Tord Roge- bery's denunciation of the Irish alliance and the action of himself and other colleagues are awaited with some amount of curiosity. MR. D. A. THOMAS'S VIEWS. Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., when asked his opinion, said he had not yet-read the speech with sufficient care to commit hirn3elf to a definite and final opinion, but so far as he had considered it he would parody the criti- cism of the distinguished French general on the charge of the Light Brigade, and say, "It was magnificent, but it was not peace." Lord Rosebery had said nothing very original, but he had translated into bold, lucid, and eloquent terms the inarticulate thoughts of large numbers of his fellow-countrymen. He had brought the pitiless logic of common- sense to bear upon the- incompetency of the Government in a grave national crisis, and while his speech could hardly tend to unite the old Liberal party, it might have a very damaging and destructive effect upon Lord Salisbury's administration. Lord Rosebery's intention, apparently, was not to unite the old Liberal party, but to form a new one. The roots of the party system were so firm'y embedded in tne political traditions of the Empire that the task Lord Rosebery had undertaken was one beyond the strength of any individual, however inf*uei?tial his posi- tion in the country might be. He did not question Lord Rosebery's high motives and patriotism, but he had apparently been won over to the Liberal Uaionists. He (Mr. Thomas) disagreed with him a? to the origin of the war, but, what was perhaps more to the point, he approved of his suggestions for a settlement, and entirely shared his opinion on the futility of the resolution passed at the Derby bear garden. At the same time he took exception to the indirect attack upon Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. He ( afr. Thomas) would welcome v.ith open arms the return of the prodigal from his lonely furrow, but he feared that the further agricultural opera- tion upon which he was engaged at Chester- field was one of sowing tarea with the good seed, which in due season would spring up and choke the Liberal wheat

LORD ROBERTAS ADVICE TO CADETS. Lord Roberts on Wednesday paid his first visit as Commander-in Chief to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and. addressing the cadets, said they were about to enter a most noble profession which had taken an important part in making and consolidating our great Empire. None of them could fore- tell what their share would be in the preserva- tion of the widely-scattered dominions over which the King now reigned, but none would rise to distinction unless he made up his mind to work hard. They should endeavour to master the details of military life, make them- selves acquainted with the work which offcers and men were required to perform, to make themselves efficient in the use of the rifle, enter into the men's games, do all they could to make them as comfortable as possible in barracks. They should never let the men hear them make use of an oath or a filthy word. Soldiers quickly discovered who they could most respect and trust. They might depend on it it was the officer they could respect and trust that they would most confi- dently follow in the time of danger. It was 55 years since he first wore a red coat on the parade ground. Cadets entered Sandhurst younger then, and remained longer. He was little more than fourteen years old, and there was only one of the cadets with him now on the active list. Notwithstanding the length of time that had elapsed, he could understand their feelings, and wished them all possible success in their future careers. He congratu- lated them heartily on being about to join the Army, which was still covering itself with glory in the campaign in South Africa. (Cheers.) Lord Roberts then paid a visit to the room which his late son occupied while at Sand- hurst.

VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS. OFFICIAL REPLY TO CRITICISM PROMISED. The "St. James's Gazette" on Wednesday i stated, on the very highest authority, that the Government have not overlooked the criticism which is being passed in many quarters on the new Volunteer Begulatione, and that an official explanation will shortly be issued by the War Office dealing with some of the points which have been raised. The "St. James's Gazette" believes that in the official explanation stress will be laid on one point in the Begulanons which the War Office think has been overlooked to a large extent bv tho. who are criticising the general trend of the new changes. It will be pointed out that where. aftor a fair trial. it is found impossible for a sufficient number of members of Volunteer corps to comply with the full requirements of attendance in camp. the commanding officer may report to the War Office special causes preventing this com- pliance, and the fullest consideration will be given to difficulties, and allowance made if the case justified.

A FRONTIER ATROCITY. A serious incident is reported from the Bul- garian border. On the 11th instant three Bul- garian eoldiers, belonging to the frontier post at Chiltepe, lost their way in a. thick fog, and crossed the frontier. They were fired upon by some Turkish soldiers. One Bul- garian soldier, named Ivanoff, was arrested and taken a distance of four kilometres beyond the frontier line, where he was decapi- tated. His head was then sent to the Kaimakam of the district as the head of a rebel. The two other Bulgarians succeeded in escaping. M. Guechoff, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Agent at Constantinople, has made representations to the Porte on the subject. He demands the restoration of the body and head of the mur- dered soldier, reserving to himself the right to demand full satisfaction eventually.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNER- MAN'S SPEECHES. The Press Association understands that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannermau has forwarded the foliowing communication to the Secretary of State for India:- Belmont Castle, Meigle, December 14. Dear Lord George Hamilton,—I have read in to day's nevscar-H-ri a report of your speech at 'I: Chiswick on Thursday, in which you are repre- sented to ha/e said that you repeated what you bad said on a former occasion, and what you had been challenged to prove, that Sir Henry Carnphell-Bannerrnan's public speeches had served as a foundation for the calumny and vilification of our troops in South Africa, and that not on.y did you repeat the state- ment that night, but you would be prepared to do so from your place in Parliament should Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman challenge you to! do so. If yoa mean this as an answer to my invitation to "make good your words" regarding me, will yon allow me to point out that what I asked you to do was not that you should repeat your charge, but that you should prove it? Re-assertion is not proof. It is merely a rene al of the original offence! and the charge you brought against me at Dundee was not that which you now state. It was not that my speeches "served as a foundation for other people's calumny." It was that I was myself a direct calumniator. You accused me of "the defamation of the conduct of our troops and the vilification of their conduct in the field." This is r abso- lutely unfounded charge, conveyed in definite and explicit words. These are the words which I have challenged you to justify by proof.- Yours very truly (Signed). H. CAMPBELL-BANNEBMAN.

LORD GEORG E HAMILTON'S REPLY. Lord Geo. Hamilton on Tuesday forwarded the following reply to the letter sent him on the 14th inst. by Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman India Office, December 17. Dear Sir Henry,—I received your letter of the 14th. which, by some inadvertence on your part. appeared in the press before I had time to reply to the request it contained. You ask for proof of the assertion that you hane calumniated and vilified the conduct of our troops in the field. I will state shortly the facts upon which I base that charge. The peculiar mode by which the Boers carry on warfare, the absence of uniform or of any distinction between combatant and non-combatant, and the compulsion exercised upon those who had surrendered to break their parole by again taking the field, com- pelled our officers and men to take special pelled our officers and men to take special measures to counteract these uncivilised tactics. All mea-ures so taken were dictated by military exigencies on the spot, and in their inception and prosecution were purely military, conceived and carried out by )ur soldiers in South Africa. While this fact, in no way diminishes the ultimate responsibility of the Government for the acton so taken, it has an important bearing upon the applica- tion of the language you have been using On June 14, in addressing a portion of your political followers, after denouncing the mili- tary measures recently put in force in South Africa, you ask, 'When is a war not a war? When it was carried on by methods of bar- barism in South Africa.' There are only two belligerents in South Africa—the Boers and the British Army. As your words could not apply to the Boers, they necessarily attach themselves to the British eoldier. Such lan- guage, coming from the tongue of me who had twice been the head of the British Army, has been made by a considerable section of the foreign press the foundation xnti main- spring of charges of the foulest character against the behaviour and honour of (.ur Army. Since June you have spoken often, and, whilst you have never condemned the Boer guerilla methods, you have never failed to impugn the counteracting measures these methods necessitate. Only the other day. in attacking a Nonconformist religious journal j which had endeavoured to explain the extra- ordinary difficulties attending the sanitary arrangements of the concentration camps, you said, hypocrisy of this defence is more loathsome than the cruelties themselves.' If loathsome cruelties have been committed, i ag-ainSl whom can this terrible allegation be made? The charge can only apply to the soldiers who have had charge of these camps and of the transport of the women and children whom their relatives had left behind them on the veldt to starve and die. In common with others I have still Ininy relatives fighting in various parts of 'soaMi Africa. I believe that the opinions they hold represent the universal feelings of the hrmy in South Africa. Whilst they deeply reseat the imputations made upon them, they are unanimous in their declaration and belief that speeches and language such as you have made and used seriously add to their diffi- culties, "and, by encouraging our foes, prolong culties, and. by encouraging our foes, prolong the war. You may consider it your political duty to continue this form of oratory, but if you do I earnestly hope that for the future you will try. to hold the balance a little I evenly between the practices of our enemy and the methods of our countrymen. Believe me, vours very truly, Signed) GEORGE HAMILTON."

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BIRMINGHAM AND PRO-BOERS. MR.LLGYD-6 EORG E, M.P..HAS A HOSTILE RECEPTION. Thos who looked forward to a noisy meeting when Mr. Llovd-George, M.P., vieited Birminp ham were not disappointed. The meeting or Wednesday night, arranged by the Birminjf ham Liberal Association, was called for eight o clock, but long before this hour ticket- holders presented their passes and were admitted to the Town-hall, and by half-past seven the majority of the seats were taken. Hundreds of people gathered out6ide, and by their cheers and counter-cheers, which could be distinctly heard in the hall, unmistakably proclaimed their views as suddenly a number burst forth with "Britons never shall be slaves." Expecting that they would have to deal with a rather serious disturbance, the police made ample provision. A large num- ber of men were in the vicinity of the hall, and others were held in reserve in case of emergency. The first note of discord was sounded when Mr. J. G. Pentland, a well- known public man, a Conservative, and a member of the school board, entered the hall There were cries which suggested that he should be turned out. and after one or two leaders of the Liberal party had discussed with him he was left alone upon promising that he would behave as a good citizen and a gentleman. When the whole of the doof1 were opened the hall filled, and the meeting soon became turbulent. The organist played a piece on the great organ called on the programme "Liberal March," and at its close there were immediately cries for cheers for Chamberlain and Salisbury, and a portion of the audience commenced to sing "Soldiers of the Queen." The Union Jack was waved in various parts of the hall, and at the close of the next musical selection a verse of "Rule, Britannia," and one or t.O of "Tommy Atkins" were sung. A white flag held up in the great gallery created a storm of hooting. While this was proceeding inside the hall the crowd outside who clamoured round the doors reached the dimensions of about 3.000. Well-known publio men of the city were hooted. hissed, and cheered as they walked on the the platform. There were cries of "Come on, Gcorgie," and then a section of the audience, to the tune of "Shall we meet you at the fountain?" sang. "We will throw Lloyd-Georgie in the fountain, and he won't come to Brum any more." A minute or so before eight o'clock Mr. A. C. Osier, a for- mer president of the Birmingham Liberal Association, who undertook the duties of chairman, accompanied by Mr. Lloyd-George, appeared on the platform, and received a very mixed reception. The opposition brought to bear all their force, and there were continual hoots, h:«»es, and noises of all kinds, intep. persed by the singing of patriotic songs. The opposition danced on the benches and increased the noise, and the chairman stood waiting patiently. Mr Osier, after waiting about ten minutes, sat down Mr. W. Pinn^ more rose with some documents in hie hands, but the disturbances were just as grent, and there were sipis of disturbances amongst indi- vidual member* of the audience. Then the opponents commenced a monotonous and con- tinuous humming. Mr. Finnemore went through the list of apclogies, and Mr. Osier rose again, but had a similar reception, and, amid a perfect howl, read what he had to say to the representatives of the press. This was done amid hoots, hisses, cries of all sorts, stamping, the blowing of whistles, and the knocking of sticks on the benches. The Chairman then called upon Mr. Lloyd-George, V.P., to address the meeting He waa loudly cheered by a section of the assembly, and as loudly hooted by the other part. Since the meeting had commenced (it was now twenty minutes past eight) there bad been a continual noise, and it was impossible to hear a word uttered from the platform even at the reporters' table, which was underneath and c^se. Mr. Lloyd-George, too, was compered to speak to the pressmen, and it was with the greatest diffi- culty that even they heard his words. Tha crisis came when a stone crashed through one of the windows of the hall and fell on to the helmet of a policeman. This v as followed by a rattle of st-ones upon the windows, and later on there was a sudden rush for the platform. The crowd forced their way down the gang- way and reached the reporters' table-a large platform erected for the accommodation of the members of the press. In a moment a large number of police were on the scene of action, and after several nasty tussles they cleared the reporters' platform and pre- vented the crowd goine further. While this was proceeding inside the hall the people out- side were hurling stones at the windows and endeavouring to force an entrance. Windows and doors had to be barricaded from the inside,^ and the continual crash of glass aho ed the disposition of the crowd outside, an,i mads it dangerous to pass any of the windows. The meeting, of course, was broken up. but it was a long time before the prin- cipal people connected with it were able to leave the hall. The greatest excitement pre- vailed oULside, while small, peaceable citizens were anxious for their heads. One auditor sustained a wcund on his head either by a piece of broken glass or a stone which came through one of the windows, and was taken, biceding, into the committee-room of the Town-hall, where his injury -as attended to. It was long after the meeting had been broken up before the crowd dispersed. Another report states that Mr. Lloyd- Oaorcre's remarks were devoted mainly to Lord Rosebery's speech, many parts of which he commended. He arguod that Lord Rose- bery had in essential particulars repudiated the views previously declared by Liberal Imperialists, and said it was satisfactory the latter now expressed agreement with his lord- ship's deliverance. While the speaker was still on his feet a rush was made for the platform, amid a tremendous tumult, but the police, leaping on to the press tables, prepared to draw their staves, and eventually, after an exciting struggle, stemmed the on. rush. The demeanour of the crowd was very angry, and stones showered through the windows from outside. The means of exit were impracticable, and amid furious yells and brandishing of sticks Mr. Lloyd-George was conducted from the platform to a place of safety in the building. There was every appearance of a serious riot, but the strong force of police behaved very tactfully. ESCAPES IN A POLICEMAN'S UNIFORM. The Press Association correspordent say. that outside the building resolutions of con- fidence in the Government were passed, and wired to Mr. Ciiamberlain. The Town-hall windows were smashed with stones. Revolvers or -pistols were fired off, but without personal injury. There were several casualties result- ing from stones and bricks thrown, one con- stable being conveyed to hospital, having been struck on the head with a brick. All the Town-hall approaches were guarded by police to prevent the hall being stormed and vio- lence done to Mr. Lloyd-George. It is stated the latter left the building in a constable's uniform, and so escaped. The police subse- quently cleared the streets by a baton charge, and made a number of arrests. A YOUNG MAN KILLED. During the baton charge by the police a young man named Harold Curtin, aged eighteen, son of a jeweller in Spencer-street, fell with such violence that he was partly stunned. A friend helned him up, and he was taken to the General Hospital, where he appeared at first to recover, but a. quarter of an hour after admission he expired, apparently from a fractured skull. It is estimated that a thousand panes of glass were broken during the disturbance. In all twenty-seven persons were treated at the hospital last night on account of the injuries they received in the melee. It, appears that the youth Curtin sustained his injury after the meeting was over. and when a few hundred people, who remained outside. seemed anxious to get into the hall to hold a counter meeting. Then it was that the police had the order to charge. The people were surprised, and the movement was carried out with such rapidity that numbers felL