THE COMMANDANT OF THE N.Z. FORCES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13909, 7 December 1910, Page 10

THE COMMANDANT OF THE N.Z. FORCES.

A "TALK" ON THE SIEGE OF MAFEKING.

(IROM OUK TBAYKIAING COBBESFONDENT.) SUVA, November 20. Major-General Godley, C.8., the newCommandant of the New Zealand forces.,and Mrs Godley, who are among the passengers by the Makura, crossed over from Liverpool to Quebec in the Empress of Britain. General Godley spent a day at Quebec visiting the Plains of Abraham, on which "Wolfe niet with a glorious death. He next spent a couple of days at Montreal, and then went on to Ottawa, wheTe he and Mrs Godley were the guests of Lord and Lady Grey at Government House. At

Ottawa General Godley met Sir Percy Lake, Inspector-General of the Canadian forces, and General Otter, Chief oi the General Staff. A visit which proved full of interest was paid to Kingston, the military training school of Canada. Here are about 120 cadets and a highly efficient staff, including about halt a dozen Imperial officers. It may also ho mentioned that there arc two Imperial officers on the Headquarters Staff at Ottawa. I understand that General Godley was very tmourably impressed with the training at Kingston, which he considers extremely good. He afterwards took a run into the States to see the Military Academy at West Point, but except, perhaps, in the matter of buildings, he iound that Kingston had nothing to tear from a comparison with its American rivals. At Toronto General Godley inspected the armouries and the headquarters of the Canadian Dragoons and the infantry regiments. At Winnipeg he visited the .headquarters of the Strathcona Horse, and inspected the historic Fort Garry. He also had the pleasure of meeting Colonel Steel, who commanded tho North-*v\ est Mounted Police. After a brief stay in the Rockies, General and Mrs Godley embarked on board the Makura, as already stated. Just before reaching Suva, the passengers in the first saloon enjoyed an unexpected pleasure. General Godley was persuaded to give a "talk" on the siege of Mafeking, in the defence or which, it is pretty generally known, he played a leading part To him was entrusted the defence of the western portion of the beleagured area, and it was General Godley who, when towards the end of tho siege Eloff, jvruger's son-in-

law, succeeded in occupying a fort inside the entrenchments, cut him off from his supports, drove out a party of Boers who were following him up, and compelled him to surrender. In simple, soldierly language, General Godley told the story of the siege, najratinrr its incidents with much humour, and he omitted, as far as possible, his own part in the proceedings, giving full credit to his brother officers and the brave garrison formed out of material that seemed so unpromising in the beginning, and, above all, speaking with enthusiastic devotion and admiration of the commanding officer,

General Baden-Powell

He cleared up

cine oi\. two points regarding which . -.here. has. been some misapprehension in New- Zealand, as well as elsewhere. for instance, has- been adversely' criticised because his portrait wan put on the Mafeking stamps. General Godley showed that this was " done by the postmaster, at Ihe suggesitioh of some of .the officers to whom it seemed the.obvious thing to do. Again, " t when the. relieving column reached [Mafeking, themselves without food, : diey .were supplied with meat and bisand this gave.rise to the impression that the- garrison could not have been in any .serious difficulties in re- ■ gard to provisions. General Godley, however, showed that for some time

th'e garrison had been reduced to quar-

ter' rations of biscuits, together with a kind of porridge made of the husks of

oats, and known as "sowens." There had, however, been locked up in store five days' rations of meat and seven days' rations of biscuits to be used only in the last emergency. There was to be"'ho question of surrender, but if the worst came to the worst the garrison would fight their way out, and it was for this contingency that the rations were reserved. Of course, when the relieving troops arrived, these emergency rations were at once placed at their disposal. Throughout this interesting address, the audience listened rapt attention, giving utterance totheir appreciation by frequent bursts Of applause. : y,The, Karl of Harrowby. in moving a very hearty vote, of thanks to General Godley, said he was sure those present felt proud of him —a sentiment that was endorsed by the cheers of the audience. The vote was seconded by the Hon. Mr McKenzie, the • Victorian Minister of Lands, and carried with enthusiasm.

The. .new Commandant went on to

Brisbane and Sydney by the. Makuxa. He will' take the opportunity of visiting Melbourne, to have a talk with the military authorities there, and retu ril-ing-to Sydney, will arrive in Wellington by the, steamer due there on De-cem-ber, 7th. strikes one as exceedingly keen in his profession, and admirably qualified for the import ant post he has been called upon to fill. Both he and Mrs Godley almost instantly won the regard of the rest of the passengers, especially the New Zealanders, on board, by their, unaffected charm of manner. I.venture to prophesy that they will soon make for themselves many friends in New Zealand.