CONAN DOYLE'S TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRALIAN BRAVES OF ELANDS RIVER.

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 2

CONAN DOYLE'S TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRALIAN BRAVES OF ELANDS RIVER.

In his history of the Great Boer War Dr. Conan Doyle sings once more the warmest eulogy of the gallant work of the Australians who held the Boers at bay at Brakfontein, on the Elands River. He refers to it as "one of the very finest deeds of arms of the war," and continues thus:. "The Australians have been so split up during the campaign that though their valour and efficiency were universally recognised, they had no single large exploit which they could call their own. Bub now they can point to Elands River as proudly as the Canadians can to Paadeberg. They were only 400 in number, on an exposed kopje, with 2500 Boers round them and no help near. Six guns were trained upon them, and during eleven days ISOO shells" fell within their lines. The river was half a mile off, and every drop of water for man and beast had to come from there. Nearly all their horses and 75 of the men were killed or wounded. With extraordinary energy and ingenuity the little band dug- shelters which! are said to have exceeded in depth and efficiency any winch the Boers have devised- Neither the repulse of Carring'ton, nor,the1 jamming of their only gun, nor the death of the gallant Arnet, was sufficient to dishearten them. They were sworn to die before the white flag should wave above them. And so fortune yielded, as fortune will when brave men set their teeth, aud Broadwoou's troopers, filled with wonder and admiration, rode into the lines of the reduced and emaciated but indomitable garrison. When the balladmakers of Australia, seek for a subject let them turn to Elands River,.,for there was no finer fighting in the war."