THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9919, 16 November 1900, Page 8

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

PREMIER AND POLICE.

Spirited Reply to Mr Seddon.

A member of the First Contingent writes from Pretoria on 27th September : — "There appears to have been a considerable outcry in New Zealand about some of the New Zealanders having joined the Provisional Military Mounted Police in Pretoria. From the Premier downward, has been displayed a kind of righteous indignation, and many and various are the comments that have

arisen. " To us here all this beais a ludicrona appearance, for our term of service is cnly three months, practically * transference ' tor ' special' duty, as we are still on our regimental strength, and our work has been every bit as useful to the Empire—possibly more so—as on column. "The Premier states that the New Zealanders were sent to South Africa to light, and not for police duty." Evidently he cannot dissociate the civil police from that military organisation necessary for the protection and safe holding of a conquered hostile town. In civilised warfare, directly possession is taken of such a place, the victors at once assume responsibility of life and property and a certain and sufficient number of troops must perforce be detailed for that duty. Thus, in the case of Pretoria, it became necessary to carry this plan out on a large scale, and hence the formation of the Provisional Military Mounted Police. Lord Roberts, in an army order on the subject, specially desired that colonials on service in South Africa should join the force.

"At the time the order was published it was thoroughly believed by all concerned that the services of the colonials in the field were to be dispensed with, and that in a brief period of time, the various contingents would be en route home. This doubtless caused a large number to join, many thinking there would be a good chance during the three months' service of seeing more of the country, for it was assumed the work would consist mainly of disarming rebels, searching farms and places for arms, and also anticipation of the guerilla warfare that 4 loomed in perspective' after the cessation of general operations. " On the eve of our departure to Pretoria a ' camp fire was held as a ' sendoff,' and Major Robin, in a speech, expressed his opinion that the course we were taking was one of the best possible; in fact, co very favorable were his comments that some ' undecided ones' came in with us next morning.

" When the New Zealand Contingents were later on remounted and re-equipped many of those in the police wished to go on with them, but naturally were not allowed to do this by the Imperial authorities.

»' The police duties consist of patrolling not only the city and suburbs, and generally maintaining order, but mounted patrols frequently go out beyond the tixed outpost line to a distance of ten miles or sq. In fact, the work is purely that of a garrison in a hostile district in war time. Individually, men stood in far greater danger here than did their comrades on column, and it is only duriog the last month that thinas have been fairly safe. The Boers, having possession of British uniforms, used them as a means of getting in and out of the place, and but for the alertness and good work displayed by the police, Pretoria would, there is small doubt, have once more been in Boer hands.

''With reference to the Premier's cable that £ we Were •sent out to fight, and not for police work,' I beg to state that we came out' to serve tho Empire' in whatsoever capacity the Empire desired. One thing was 'rammed down our throats' more than anything else previous to our departure from New Zealand's shores, 'that directly we landed in South Africa we should be under the entire control of the Imperial authorities.' Mr Seddon calmly ignores this, for his cable to the authorities in South Africa is nothing more nor less than dictation to the Field Marshal as to the disposition of the troops under his command, a proceeding which even the most ill-informed on things military must -deplore. The Imperial Government wcmld not dream of interference ; !ia any shape or form with Lord Roberis's handling of the troops in South Africa tinder his command. Doubtless he had Sound reasons for desiring the services of'the colonials on the Provisional Military Police. In any case, it is not within the sphere of our Government or its representatives to attempt interference in the use to which a General chooses to put troops under his command in the field. Neither is that General to be expected to communicate beforehand with any colony, to ask permission to use its representatives on this or that duty (as I am informed was actually suggested in the House over the police matter), for the simple reason that it is understood that the Generals have supreme control over troops, and those troops Hre to be used for the general good in the service of our grand old Empire in such manner as ie deemed needful.

" My own opinion is that some official in a responsible position with the contingetsin South Africa has sent misleading reports to the Premier on this police business ; but that may come to light at a later date. Our Premier has all along behaved so patrio'ically and splendidly that I am sure his message must have been caused by weighty reasons, and I sincerely hope we shall eventually find that he acted as he did from such causes as I have previously referred to. " One can thoroughly appreciate the feeling of the people of New Zealand, laboring as they were under the delusion that so large a number of their ' boys ' were practically lost to the colony for years to come. But our three months' period of service has now expired, and I can confidently say that only about twenty at most will remain in the police, and probably not that number—and you may take my word for one thing, the majority of New Zealande's are more than anxious to see tbe old land and their fiiends again. "The foregoing letter is penned in no spirit of ill-feeling, but we one and all gi eatly deplore all that has arisen over this business. New Zealand was the first of the colonies to place troops in the field, and, in addition, afterward sent reinforcements far in excess proportionately to her sister colonies. But that does not authorise the dictatorial tone of that unfortunate cable. As before stated, we came out here to serve the Empire, and 1 for one am perfectly assured that we have done that with the Provisional Military Police every whit as well and as usefully as in the field in the past, or as those now on column."

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