PULLING THE PRO-BOER'S LEG.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 153, 29 June 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

PULLING THE PRO-BOER'S LEG.

The French readers of yellow journals seem ready to believe the wildest yarns about disasters to our troops in South Africa. Not long1 ag-o the "Courier de Cannes," which will reaJly have to change its name to "Courier dcs Canards," published a report from their Johannesburg correspondent, stating1 that General French had been captured by the Boers and released on condition that he would not aguhs bear arms against them. An Englishman could not resist "pulling" the Courier."? leg"," and sent th.c editor the following; letter. To the writer's surprise it was published under the heading1 of '.'A Sensational Revelation" from a "Distinguished Foreigjier," which "cannot fail to produce a certain sensation." The letter raa thus: "Your Johannesburg correspondent states that General French's departure is due to the fact that, having1 been captured by the Boers, lie had. been released on the condition of no longer serving against them. But your correspondent appears to ignore the fact that Lord Roberts, Sir Redvers Buller, Sir George White, General Kelly-Kenny, General Baden-Powell, Sir Alfred Milner, Colonel Ward, Sir Archibald Hunter, and General lan Hamilton are all in the sajne'category. All, without exception, have been captured by the Boers, and generously released on the condition of no longer bearing1 arms against the South African Republic. The English Government naturally keeps silent."