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The Montreal Star - 1900


London July 4th – Strathcona's Horse wit General Cleary's force was engaged for the first time on July 1st, in the neighbourhood of Standerton. They lost one killed and one officer missing. The Boers, probably mistaking them, rode to within 50 yards of them, enabling a subaltern effectively to use his revolver.

[Another despatch gives the name of the missing officer as a Captain Cooper; but there is no such name on the official roll.]

Nothing decisive has yet been heard from the column seeking to hem on General DeWet. All of Lord Roberts field transport is engaged apparently in supplying these columns. Operations elsewhere are necessarily relaxed. One thousand Boers are hanging on General Cleary's right flank, in his advance on Greylingstad.

Herr Kruger, replying to a correspondent at Machadorp, who enquired if there was any truth in the report that he had opened peace negotiations, wrote:

“The President and people of the South African Republic most earnestly desire peace, but only upon two conditions – The complete independence of the Republic and amnesty for the colonial Boers who fought with us.”

“if these conditions be not granted, we will fight on to the bitter end.”

Lord Roberts in order to check the operations of spies requires that every male over sixteen years of age shall be registered and shall carry a permit.

The War Office has issued a return of the British casualties in South Africa since the beginning of the war. The total losses exclusive if sick and wounded have been 29,706, of which the killed in action 254 officers and 2403 non-commissioned officers and men; died of wounds, 70 officers and 610 non-commissioned officers and men; missing and prisoners 65 officers and 2,624 non-commissioned officers and men; died of disease, 133 officers and 4,202 non-c0mmissioned officers and men. At the same date there were over 11,000 sice in various hospitals, and the whole estimated casualties since the beginning of the war are put at 51,917, comprising natives and others in the commissariat, transport, railroad and medical services.

The American hospital ship Mane, has reached Southampton with another batch of wounded soldiers from South Africa

London, July 4th: The War Office published a list or 33 deaths from disease and six from wounds in South Africa.

B. Lutes, of the Canadian Contingent is dangerously ill at Cape Town. It publishes also the names of three soldiers killed and 23 wounded in various engagements.
Note – Private B. Lutes is a member of the Governor-Generals Foot Guards and accompanies the reinforcements for the Second Special Service Battalion. His mother resides at Hiltonburg, Ont.

(Special to the Star)

Ottawa July 4th: In reply to enquiries the Department of Militia this morning received a cable from the War Office stating that Major Oscar Pelletier of Quebec, son of the Speaker of the Senate, was invalided for six months, and Lieut. Wilkie, of Toronto for three months.

Lieut.-Colonel Herchmer, who went out in command of the Second Battalion of Canadian Mounted Rifles, and who was invalided to England is sailing for Canada this week.

Woodstock, Ont., July 4th: Mr. D.R. Ross has received a cablegram from Cape Town stating that his son, Captain Jack Ross, of the First Contingent, has been invalided home. The cable also states that the young officer's wound is not healing.

(Special to the Star)

Ottawa, July 5th - His Excellency the Governor-General has received the following:

Standerton, July 4th: - Following casualties reported near Waterval, July 1st.

Strathcona's Horse:-

Killed – 509 Private Angus Jenkins
Missing – Captain Donald McLean Howard
456 Private John Hobson

Signed – General

Private A. Jenkins was in “B” Squadron and came from Red Deer, N.W.T., where his father, Mr. Jenkins, lives.

Captain Donale McLean Howard was formerly in the North West Mounted Police.

Private J. Hobson is the son of Mr. Joseph Hobson chief engineer of the Grand Trunk Railway, Montreal.[/size]