A LIBEL ON PART OF THE FIFTH CONTINGENT.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 104, 30 October 1900, Page 5

A LIBEL ON PART OF THE FIFTH CONTINGENT.

Trooper A. W.. Johnston (Waitara), of the Filth Contingent, writing from Maflr mani, on the 28th August, says: ---We' have had a deu.ce of a time lately. We have to go or outpost duty every night, as our company is. reduced to about 35 men — and we started from Mara'ndellas with nearly 100. A few have left the company, but the, majority are on the sick-list, which the doctor ascribes to the conditions under which we had to stay at Beira.' Our patrols are fired on from all directions. I wish the officers would let us get at the enemy, as they (the Boers) keep us going like cats on hot bricks. There are several lfccpjes and rocky ridges round here, and we have to occupy them, all, for fear the Boers would do so, and paste us in our camp. Writing on a later date, Troopeu Johnston quotes what he, describes as a "terrible tale," , about an alleged "cowardly retreat" of No. 12 (Wellington) Company. It happened like this: --The day after we reached the furthest point down this road, some Imperial officers went out with the company, and they were riding quietly along, when, going over a little ridge, they dropped on to a party of about 80 Boers resting, not more w»an 70 yards away. Both parties seemed equally surprised. The Boers fired a volley, fortunately without doing much damage. Captain Abbott'3 helmet was perforated, and several troopers had their clothes cut with bullets. One trooper was hit in the chest,, but the bullet was turned by a cartridge in his bandolier. As soon as the Boers fired the Imperial officer gave the order to retire, and, as our men left the ridge, the Boers rushed up, but by this time we were behind a kopje. Had- the order been charge, we should have had a fair chance, as many of the Boers did nob have then rifles in their hands. The worst of it was Uat this Imperial joint afterwards described

it to the General as a "most cowardly ' retreat." ! Trooper Johnston describes the conditions' offered to the men if they settle in Rhodesia. Evidently he has a very poor opinion, of the land, for he says "they give you 3000 acres of' land, afc a rental of 10s per annum for the first five years ; also 50 head of cattle. I <\o not think any New Zealanders will jump at this, j as there are 25 head of cattle too many for the land."