WAR ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5058, 8 March 1900, Page 2

WAR ITEMS.

THE BRITISH ARVIY MISMANAGED

Major Raech, M.P., iv responding to the to.<.fc)b of the army ut a "bend-off" dluuer given to the Essex Volunteers ab Ohelmaford, said : I am perfectly swam that the orthodox way of acknowledging the fcoasb is to say that the British Army ia capable of going anywhere and doing anything. So is is—what there is left of it. lam aure we are all agreed that the men who fought the battle of Modder River and Elands Laagte are no way inferior to their ancestors, who fought under Marlborou^h, Wellington, and intheCrimea. But perhaps I may be permitted for a couple of minutes to make a few re marks about the epitome and concentration j of red-tapeism of the one man in Pall-mall, which we call the War Office, who at the j maximum of costs gives you tne minimum of efficiency. If any private business was conducted in the a ante manner it would be in bankruptcy within six months. It is not that Parliament does not vote sufficient money for the naval and military forces, but it is because the money which Parliament votes i» muddled away and lost to the oountry by the War Office. Why did the War Offioe have 13,000 dragoons and other cavalry and only 5000 horses to go with them 1 Why is there ona general to each battalion in the Army? Why did nob the War Office insist upon making arrangements for transport before they received Kruger's Ultimatum ? Why is it that the Intelligence Department, so called, had not: evidence that the Boers could put 50,000 men equipped into the field; and why, as if to put a coping-stone on these pinnacles of folly and incapacity, did they institute a National Defence Committee, composed of men whoee united ages equalled that ot Methuselah, and who did dot meet for six months after their appointment? I am nob hereto deprecate the army, to which I have for many years had the honour to belong—that noble Army, which, as Lord Maoaulay said, has marched from Paris to Pekio. What we are entitled to fight against is obstruction, pipeolay, useleß=i correspondence, and the red tape which stifles our army.

MAJUBA AVENGED TEN TO ONE. The following figures, taken from the official report of British emsualtieß at Msjuba Hill, compare more than favourably with CroDJe's surrender of over 4000 men, with stores, ammunition, etc:—At Majuba-— Officers killed 3 ; officers wounded, 9 ; officers taken prisoner, 7j ratik and file killed, 82 ; rank and file wounded, 120; rank and file taken prisoner, 250 ; total, 471.

The following extraota are from letters received by Mr W. H. Collins :-— Capetown, January 31, 1900

At the present moment I regret to say that things are cot very bright, General Bailor having had another reverse. I hope, however, before you are in receipt oi this that we shall havo success on our Ride. It must come sooner or later. Great Britain cannot ' ossibly stop short of hoisting the British fl»g at Rloemfontien and Pretoria. I see your New Zealand Contingent have lost nome men, but they have done some very smart fighting, i consider the arrival of colonial troops has saved the situation here; not only have they rendered very great assistance in activa servioe, bub the moral effect has been tremendous. The war authorities are now accepting all volunteers who offer here, and a very grave mistake was made by not doing bo from the first. The condition of things here is not at . all bright. Thousands of refugees who had sufficient to keep the pot boiliDg up to the present time are now obliged toappf&lto the relief committee for assistance to keep them from wan!-. There is nothing for them to do and with a prolonged war the outlook ia bad. People comfortably settled in such a splendid country as yours ia may well be thankful. It is nothing but war, war, here from morcing till night. I see that) Germany is going o build a bg navy, It ia well that; the British raca stick together.

j A SOUTH AFRICAN STORY. An olden quarrel with my neighbour had been patched Whereby it, was agreed that as his kinsmen lived Upon adjoining lauds attached to my domsin— With my own children there in peace on equal towns To dig and plant and raap—with equal rights of speech And equal ah; re in all of commonwealth affaire, That, therefore, on his lands my children should have rights The same aa his own sons and kinsmen had

with mine, Nor d ff rence to be in tenure, tax, nor aught. Now whilst the years were lean and scarce enough was found To help the season* through for hia own household needs, He seemed to welcome all and naught disturbed the plan Twixt us agreed, for naughb could be more plain nor fair, Time passed—and when my children's energy and toil Had proved the soil was rich and prospered in the proof, He straightway changed his mood and most unfairly sought The compacb to evade, to thab hia bodh might reap Where mine had toiled and sown and planned most craftily With treacherous intent to use the riches gained My prestige to demean and rob me of my rights. Time passed—the while his kinsmen prospered on my lands, And Borne more honoured had become as overseers, Though tainted with the scheme of mine own overthrow 5 And he, emboldened by their eeoreb syin-

patby, Did harshly rule and quick repaid the murmurings Of mine with unjust laws fchao did the more oppress, Until their ceaseless cries lor help did reach mice ears. Time passed—my patient stewards reasoned fair but firm And soou had found my olden neighbour had become Like " Bashan'a bull," and quick to kick beyond the pale Of " Golden rule s " nor aught could they where inßolence Had joined deceit, for ho was now a full armed foe. Combined with one (his kin—whose lands were Gift from me)., Whose base ingratitude now pitted with

monstrous guile To reap sedition's crop which they had deeply sown And grown on my own lands 'mongst their

ungrateful kin. And now if war—dread war, unsought, un» wished by me, But what could I when they had thrown the gauntlet down, Had driven out my sons and pillaged on my lands? Whilst traitors taught that sluggish blood in binamens veins Waa far more sacred than their loyally to Right, The gauntlet down to me who oft has championed cause Of weakling and oppressed, and now my eons cry—Help ! My loving, loyal aons—l hear and I will

smite Id ceaseless war uutil the oppressor's hand is lopped, Nor heed deceitful schemers' cry for peace. ffis war, And though disloyal kinsmen help and

vixens scream, Though mercenaries come and all the world

oppose, My sword is now unsheathed, my banner is unfurled And from the far-off lands my freedom*

loving sons Flock eager to uphold and gain ib victory. Nor more shall sword be sheathed, nor banner furled, nor peace Till mine on Africa soil be free aa those who come To right their brothers' wrongs. Then— only then is peace. H. Collins. Capetown, (January, I§OQ

WAWOHOPE'B LAST LETTER. The London correspondent of the Dunedin Evening *&ir, sends un^-r Hate January 19, a lot of interesting gossip re the war, from which we make some extracts. To o mtinue my diary of the war aa it f'ffects London. Nrtws from South A/rioa was mi on Monday, and even the mail steamers bringing the correspondent^ letters could nob be in till Wednesday. This, however, gave time for gossip anent the great Me* huen mystery, and lobters on the subject poured into the papers. It then leaked out that there had been ructions at the War Office between Lord Wolaeley and Lord Lansdowae regarding General Paul Methuen's appointment, the former strongly opposing tt, whils'. Lord Lanedowne, who is a county neighbour of Lord Methuen, made a personal matter of it and carried his point. Well, the War Offioe now knows that at the battle of Magersfontein a great blunder was m»de. The authorities have in their possession a letter written by General Wauchope the night, before the battle, stating th*t> it would be the last letter he would ever wriie; that he had baen asked to perform mi impouibie task; thta he had remonstrated in vain; and that he had either to obey or surrender bit aword. So strong is tb« feeling among the officers and men that it. It doubtful if they would follow Lord Methuen in another attack on the Boer forces. Lord Roberts has beea told the whole facts of the case, and he will ao doubt take prompt action • I believe that the Scotch member* of Parliament are determined that the whole facts connected with the attack on Magerefontein snail be investigated and brougho to light. They believe that thin is due not only to the memory of a gallant officer like General Wauohope, but in order to vindicate the character and reputation of the Highland Brigade.