COLONEL SOMMERVILLE'S EXPERIENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 289, 5 December 1900, Page 5

COLONEL SOMMERVILLE'S EXPERIENCES.

INTERESTING TACTS.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sommerville, interviewed by a representative of the "Wanganui Herald," made some interesting statements.

"We ought to feel proud of our boys, Colonel," said the interviewer.

"Aye, that we should. And I hope we all are. They are worthy representatives, I assure you, of our colony. I do not think I will be betraying the confidence of my fellow-officers when I tell you that both the commanders of the Queensland and New South Wales contingents informed me that if they were asked to express an opin^ ion as to which of the colonial contin: gents had distinguished themselves, they would unhesitatingly say the New Zealanders. Coming from such a source, I think the compliment the greatest that could be paid our boys."

Twas, indeed, a high compliment. "Just to give you an instance of the coolness of our boys. And this is a fact, for I witnessed it myself, in company with Colonel . During our engagement outside Mufekiug the order was given for a section to advance to a certain small ridge. The men advanced, and immediately, of course, sought cover, such as there was. Two of our boys—a South Islander and a North Islander—raced for the same ant hill, and a dispute arose as to which should occupy it. 'I'll toss you for it,' bind one. 'Eight you are,' replied the other, and a coin was quickly produced, and the one who lost promptly accepted the inevitable, and dropped down in the. grass not far from his comrade's cover, exclaiming, 'Pooh, this is a sight better than yours. " That was certainly a rather cool transaction, considering Boer biillets were whistling about. "Just one more instance. There was a Victorian with us who was awfully anxious to get wounded. He said he would never feel satisfied to go back home xinless he had a mark on him from the Boers. So, despite our remonstrance that he might get a bullet in the head, he exposed himself for over an hour." "Did he have his wish gratified i _ "Not that I am aware of, though I know several of our fellows suggested he should let them have a pot at him, but that he modestly deCU"D?d you see much of Tommy At"Not much, but what I did see I could not fail to admire. He is a proverbial machine, and does just as he is ordered. Unlike the colonial he is, n fliaTthe latter tyes his- judgment more and this is where the colonial distinguishes himself. Tommy realises all the charms of a soldier s -life,

you see many of the. Imperial o®A rflw I had the ple^ure of string to Lord RobertS' bustling about speaking cheerily to wounded officers and men. Lord Kitwounaeu and -should say a appeal is now being made in the colon v for funds to supply them. °"'lt Sill be money thrown away "retorted Colonel Sommerville. When I was hi Pretoria there were 100. tons of rXts for the colonial troop,, who had received little or nothing m that wiect. At Mafeking also fhvre were go bales of clothing for the Sew Zealanders. Where they came.from was a mystery, but probably the AgentGeneral knew something- abo.it them. We took a couple of. bales when we were there, and sent the remainder down to the Cape, there to await the New Zealanders When they returned. When arriving at Beira I .sent down -0 eases of comforts, etc., addressed to the three First Contingents,- but when I left- they had not received J.hem. I Under these circumstances, it is use-

less to send comforts. Better far to send money, and the men could then purchase for themselves." '