LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10883, 6 February 1901, Page 5

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

WITH THE KAFFRARIAN RIFLES. The following are extracts from a letter dated Kroonstad, December 21st,' received by his mother from Mr R. W. Barry, jun., who is fighting with the Kaf"We (the Kaffrarian Jtiiles) now form part We (the Kaffrarian Rifles) now form part of the colonial division under General Brabant, -with whom we have done a lot of hard work lately, marching, fighting, and trekking after De Wet. We have had some slight skirmishes with the Boers, who are now broken up into small parties, and hang on the rearguard and try to pick off men. The other day I had the good luck to get the position of mounted orderly to tli6 railway staff officer at Kroonstad, •which position I hope to keep until Febru- - ary 15th, when I can claim my discharge. Things are awfully scarce here, and t>b.e few shops that are open have almost run out of stores, and will have to close in a few days, as the military authorities will not allow private stores," etc., to come up the line. The town is full of refugee Boers (women and children), who have been taken off the 'farms and kept here under surveillance. Some are kept in the big Dutch church here, and some are kept under canvas in a big camp alongside. It is a big pull on the Britisn Government having to feed them, while most of their fathers, brothers, etc., are still on commando. A large number of prisoners passed through here to-day in a terrible state, out at tlie elbows, knees, and toes. They had most of them a drawn, weary look, though some were awfully morose and sullen."