LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10633, 18 April 1900, Page 5

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH.

The following aro extracts from a letttfe from .Ladysmith, written to a Canterbury 1 resident, and dated Ist March, the day after the relief:—"l hnvo been hero for the last five months. We had to leave Johannesburg at the last moment-, or run, the risk ot baing commandeered to fight for the Dutc_ > and not being particularly fond of tho Dutch, I bolted like the rest of the populace., I reached Muritzburg on 29th September, and joined the Natal Carbineers, and left next, day for Ladysmith, arriving hero on Ist October, in charge of the transport waggons, provisions, etc., a day ahead of the iroopu. On the 2nd-October we were s_-ut out scouting on the Free State border, and. I spent my first week's volunteering, a very rainy week it was, too, without even _ tent to sleep under. I was at tho Coesar'u

Camp fight on tho 6th January. This was the biggest fight of all, lasting twenty-ono hours, continue-? firing. We lost 250 killed and wounded, wiiile tho Dutch lest 550. ItJ took them t-hrco days; to clear away thajr killed anl wounded. Life has been very trying indeed for the last two months, as we have been living on short rations. Latterly the rations have been cut down to 3oz inealie meal and -,1b biscuits, with lib horseflesh, and one-sixth of an ounce of tea.

I. . . The advance column of tho relief ; came in last night, and th! what a shout j went up at the sound of full rations. You will know far more about Buller's doings 1 from the papers than 1 havo yet liad time Ito learn. I don't expect the war to last more than another six weeks. Th© Dutch have been completely routed for miles around. All those who were shut up in , Ladysmith are to be sent down country to. recuperate health and strength before going to tbe front again. This is an awful climate for heat and fever. Wo iave lost amongst tho troopn from fever and dysentery olonja 500 odd men. You can't i_~<j_iei what the place baa been like—a small towns with about 4000 horses in it; add to this tho beat, and then try to think'what the flies have been like." LETTER FROM 'HiOOPER P.ROSSEB. A short noto lias been received from Trooper T). W. Prosser, of the EUesmer. Mounted! Rifles, recently captured at Kroonspruit ambush. . Tbe letter is dated February 27tb, and posted on, the battlefield of March 6th. . The writer say* ha is still "alive and kicking." He says t&ey left the Orange ..River about a forfcraght ago, and have been on the march ever since, first to the relief o! Kimberley, and tbesß •he, with eighteen other picked gallopers, were told off "to join Lord Roberta's flying squadron to intercept Cronje. Tbe writer while' writing.. was waiting for Cronje and his men to Surrender, which he .says they" were bound to do in a few days, as they* were completely hemmed in without a possible chance of 'escape. Trooper Prosser goes on to say they had! received no lettertor over six weeks, which must bo owing to their erratic movements;. -