WHAT TOMMY THINKS OF NEW ZEALANDERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10703, 9 July 1900, Page 6

WHAT TOMMY THINKS OF NEW ZEALANDERS.

WHAT COLONIALS THINK,OF TOMMY,

The invalided s-ildiets who returned by tho AoUa were iutciview-cd at Invemtrgiil by a "Nut*llil*i*rid Times" representative. Sergeant-.Major Gillespie, of Blenheim, who had served in the Kimbetrley Light, Horse, in the course m' hi_ chat, saki: —The New Zealanders nietiinilly adapted them.H*lves to the style of lighting, anu could take cover where Tommy would have seen none. They had thoroughly graspi-d tho advice of Lieu-tenant-Colonel Scott-Turner, who told his men that tiny must take cover. If they could not tiau uti ant-hill ih.y must take a stone, and if they could not iiiid ;i stone they must, take-si blade of grass. In personal .Olivers-1 ion lie had leavnvd that- the Boers feared tho colonials. A Boer had said to Jiini: '"Villi coloaiiib* light lis u.s we light you. We don't like you. We shoot the British Imperial men*us we shoot bucks, but you take cover, and we don't see you. We don't like you.' (.-Diporal Hamilton said. . . . the military authorities had offered to take tlicm to England, but would not guarantee their passagies from there to New Zealand, sc/ihey had to come straight hack. Some" Imperial men with whom Sergeant-

Major tiillespit) had exchanged words described the New Zeakuulers as "fair devils to fight. You can't keep them out of it. They go everywhere. They disobey orders to get. under fire. They often act exactly contrary to orders, and on one occasion General Frendi thnxtten-ed to keep them for twenty-four hour** tinder lire unless they obeyed orders." This the sergeant-major gave for what it was worthy but he said it gave a gowl idea, of what Tommy thought of the New __eahu-ders. The general idea was that th.y were "devils to fight." Corporal Hamilton mentioned with pride the occasions on'which General French had ordered the New Zeala-fiders to draw up in line in order that he might compliment them on their gallantry and on the courage with which they did their work. "And," said the corporal, "for the ticklish work of scouting and reconnoitring the New Zealanders were always chosen."

Having said what Tommy Atkins thought of the New Zeaianders, tlie New" Zealanders were asked wluii they thought of Tommy Atkins. "Well," said Corporal Hamilton, "there are ways about; him that are strange to us, amd he does things that we would not consider it right to do, but taken all round Tommy is a grand fig-later and a big-heaxt-ed soldier. Ho will do anything for ,|a>"il,4i,yi>-_ -an* it*-dkter-s-, run any risk, and share his \mt> pint of ■water." Yes, take him all round there is much to admire in Tommy. "I hear," said Corporal -Hamilton, "that Trooper Fa-Uey h rcport<-d as having been killed. I sow him a,"day or two before I left in tiio Win-bur;, Hospital, and ho was getting on finely. The bandages were off his wound*. Me"was shot through the vitals, but was recovering perfect health rapidly, arxl was looking really well. He will be able to tell you suuirtliing about the treatment in the hospitals when he gets back, for he has had an experience _■!*-_ t I had batter leave him to describe himself. His friends, how»ver, need not be anxious about him."