The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-03
IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
OPPORTUNITY TO BAIT CHAM
 BEELAIN IS SEIZED.
Colonial Secretary Defends the Con- duct of the War in South Africa-Kitchener Equal
 to the Occasion.

London, Aug. A discussion arose in the House of Commons tonight over the Colonial Office appropriation. and it gave the opposition ample opportun- ity to bait MT. Chamberlain while making a molten proforma to reduce by f100 the amount out of which the Colonial Socretary's salary will be paid.
 Sir Henry Campbell l-Bannerman, the Liberal leader said that In view of the patience with which the nation had for twenty-one months endured MT. Chamberlain's policy in South Africa. he thought it opportune to se- cure a statement from the Colonial Sec retary as to the war situation. He went on to point out that Cape Col oky was now invaded and overrun with Boers. and he asked what pros- pect there was of repelIing the irvad- CTS, what the condition of Cape Colony would be after the war, what was the prospect of famine as a result of the Governments policy of devastation" :" and where was Cape Colony's constitu- tion, which appeared to him to be un- der lock and key since the declaration of martial law.
 MT. Chamberlain replied that farm burning had been entirely abandoned and replaced by the policy of concen- tration camps. He contended that these were humane and satisfactory institutions, as had been shown by the fact that thousands of BoerS came ln- to them voluntarily.
 The Government has the best req sons to believe" continued the Colonial Secretary, that vast majority of the Bocrs acknowledge themselves beaten and would gladly surrender and resume peaceful pursuits but for the compara- tive handful of irreconciliables who are carrying on a guerilla war that is rap idly degenerating into brigandage and absolute murder. Lord Kitchener IS adequately dealing with the problem by establishing block house cordons within which the peacefully inclined can safely settle and be protected"
 Regarding the announcement by Lord Kitchener that Commandant KritzinGer had declared his intention to shoot all natives in British employ, whether armed or unarmed. MT. Cham berlain said the Government had tele- graphed Lord Kitchener to inform the Boer leaders that such acts were con trary to civilized usages and that all guilty persons of this class, if captur- ed. would DC courtmartialed and exc cuted.
  received with loud cheers. ta.s..
 ''There seems to be-, an, Impression that we have come, to some sort of an agreement with the Boers," said MT. Chamberlain, that natives are not to be employed in this war; but there Is no such agreement.
 .'Incursions into protected districts must be more severely dealt with If there is to be 'sniping' of soldiers from behind hedges, and even of women.
 "Rubbish. cried an Irish member.
 Mir Ghamberlain retorted that he had met some ladies who had been assault ed in this way.
 If things have changed from bad to worse in Cape Colony" he continued, "it is because the Cape rebels have found rebellion a cheap, interesting and even amusing performance. Then there has been mistaken leniency, and this was the policy in the past.
 "Botha, De Wet and Schalk- Burger do not say that the war was caused bv the raid. They say they are fight ing for their Independence. It is non sense to speak of offering terms to men who say it must be fight to the finish. This now is the policy of the Govern ment.'
 Sir Edward Gray, Liberal Imperial ist. expressed bitter disappointment at the tone of MT. Chamberlain speech although he agreed with the general military policy of the Government. He said the colonia, secretary had dealt carelessly with the subject of employ ing native troops and had not dis tinguished between African and Indian troops.
 John Redmond said Mir. Chamber lain's speech was a Candid, If some what brutal. exposition of the Govern ment's policy" and he prayed to God that he resistance of the Boers might thnnnd