DARING FIGHTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 171, 22 July 1933, Page 7

DARING FIGHTERS.

SMITH'S LIGHT HORSE.! BRITONS IN S. AMERICAN WAR. PLAYING SPECTACULAR PART. Writing from Asuncion, Paraguay, a London "Daily Express" correspondent states tliat "Smith's Light Horse, a cavalry regiment commanded by Colonel Frederick Smith, are the most feared fighting men in the Gran Chaco war. Popularly nicknamed "The British Phlegmatics," they have been responsible for a continued series of raids in enemy territory, which have harassed the Bolivian convoys bringing up supplies. Their crowning achievement was a wild charge on the Yucra Koad, where tlicy hacked their way through the reinforcements of the Bolivian 14th Infantry Regiment at the fiiegc of lort Boqueron, one of the most bitterly-contested strategic points in the area, and turned defeat into victory. So:is of Britishers. "Smith's Light Horse," composed of many Paraguayan sons of Britishers, invariably operate on the front lines, and often penetrate into the heart of Bolij vian country. The regiment is notably English-speaking. While the ordinary

regiments use the Indian war civ, "Guarani,' 5 when going into battle, "Smith's Light Horse" shout "Hurrah! Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Bray, a former lieutenant in the King's Koyal Rifles, is also lighting on Paraguay's side. He was wounded on the Sum me in 1910 and at Arras in I!US. He has taken part iii all the principal engagements in the Gran Chaco region. »• Colonel Bray is now in charge of the trainin" of Paraguayan infantry on the British°systein. He is the only British ex-officer registered with the Paraguayan forces.

Romance Ends on Battlefield. The ioi'e romance of a British volunteer in the Bolivan Army ended by the death on the battlefield of Lieutenant William Lockart, a Londoner, who was killed by Paraguayan troops while driving a tank, writes a La Paz correspondent of the same paper. 1-Ie was engaged to Scnorita Haidee Calderon, a 20-year-old Bolivian girl, who had secured leave of absence for him on the same day as lie was .killed; So far as is known, Lockart was the only British ex-serviceman who had fought in the Great War to enlist in the Bolivian Army. He had successfully driven tanks in a succession of fierce battles round Fort Boqueron, Cabo, Castillo, Yujra and in the Fort Arce sector. In the battle for Fort Arce the Paraguayans lost 300 killed by tanks and machine-guns.

Too Hot to Stay. Lockart's death occurred after four daring assaults had been made on Fort Arce. The temperature inside the tank became so hot that Lockart was compelled to leave it, and he was immediately shot down by a Paraguayan sniper from a machine-gun "nest." After an hour's fighting the Bolivians recovered Lockart's body. They sent to Senorita Calderon his engagement ring and love letters found on the body. Lockart was promoted to a captaincy in the Bolivian Army as an act of posthumous homage to him, and he was buried with full military honours. The general staff refused .to enlist British volunteers who offered their services after the death of Lockart and the declaration of war. Altogether about 10,000 British ex-officers and other ranks who had served in the Great War offered their services through the Bolivian Legation in London.