The Transvaal WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 111556, 15 February 1900, Page 4

The Transvaal WAR.

Press Aaawastion —By Telegraph—Copy right, Vjunasked-for ADVICE. / TRANSVAAL MONEV. f LONDON, February I t. ‘The Times’ eorreapomlent at Capcf Town teejinmenda Britain to despatch another 7•*>,<)(JO men. Tlie Pretoria Mint is coining British gold and silver coin, then; being a difficulty ju passing Kruger's coins. THEY’LL ALL GO BACK. CAPE TOWN, February 1-f, The .Boers have sent Lcrd Methuen 1,400 refugees fromWindsortun. .'* * FIGHTING AT LADYSMITH. ,‘ The following Melbourne cable concludes the detailed description of the Boer attack ■y upon Lxdysmith on January 6; — As the darkness fell on Saturday night the .. . . Boers retired in direct line with the neutral camp, rendering it impossible for our men to ’ firoiathatdircotion,Bothatthcycacaped with 7 ~ fewer casualties than would otherwise have , occurred. Our forces remained in possession

of the position for which such a determined t ■ struggle had been made. During the tight the Gordons, under the leadership of General • lan Hamilton, made a couple of splen- ■ did bayonet charges on Waggon Hill, which had a tremendous effect ou the, enemy. At Ctosr.r’s Camp a company of the Manchester were outwitted by the enemy through the use of the white flag. A party of Boers climbed the summit of the hill under a white Uig, and, of course, o«r men did not fire. No sooner was the crest gained than the enemy poured a wither- ’ ing fire, inflicting heavy loss on the Manchester. The captain of the company and several man were taken prisoners, and remained in that predicament until Captain Carnegie, with a company of Gordons, rushed to their rescue and drove the enemy off with great, loss. The Border Mounted Siflea also came in for some swindling, a party of Boers shouting cut to them not to lire as they belonged to tire town guard, The Border Mounted Rifles unfortunately lid not see the mistake until too late, when

ft rattling volley was sent among them from r. the tricky Boers. *Ou Monday morning the battlefield was a dreary spectacle, dear! Boers lying shoulder to chnulder • with dead Englishmen. The dev': wore being 1 ’ brought into town tor bun The Boers bavjs not yet sent to remov o.icir dead or wounded. One of the arti 1 erymen, who bad his left knee blown away a id leit arm mangled, remarked as he v. as being taken to the hospital that they "bad managed to scratch him a bib this li' -.” All the wounded are very cheerful. Ta majority will pull through all right. O' Vaggou Hill alone the Boers’ lose mav Is -tim&ted at 150 ki led or severely *'■ dod. [The Boers admitted five killed ... i uurtcen wounded throughout the en- : -mob.—Ed. E S.] fight ail through was most stubborn, (• ..a practically going on without cessalio Tom one iu the mcmiog until eight in tin- evening. The attack was supposed to hj ive been made by the Boers who retreated before General Bailer from Colenao. Among th- Boer dead were some local Boers. A Bader who was shot carried a German flag. \V« are probably within two days of General « Bullet’s arrival. His guns are eagerly watched shelling the Boer positions, the lyddite throwing up volumes of brown smoke quite distinguishable from ordinary shrapnel shell, and even when seen from this distance appearing very effective. Six Boer camps are visible. Further bodies of the enemy are observed riding towards the Tugcla, evidently determined to stubbornly oppose the advance of the relief column. They show no signs of removing their guns, but have put new ones ' up recently. They are still continually working at their fortifications. Our fortifications on Waggon Hill and at Ctcat’s Camp are greatly strengthened, making practically impregnable. Owing doubtless to the dry weather, the fever has abandoned nst Our commissariat has been most ably minaged during the siege, our supplies spuming out splendidly. The heat is terrific. )

-h — THE FOUfLTII CONTINGENT.

The IhiUTtiuiunente Committee. mot yesterday, Air Tt Mackenzie in the* chair, when Messrs E. C./ Reynolds, .T, 11.I 1 . Smith. C. I’. -M., BuUcrvi orth, James Brown, and F. Avc.ra added To the Committee,, and Aft ttuds Smith was appointed secretary. Messrs .Bmthwaito and Barth's offer to promote a eow3A in aid ot the fluids was a.-' cepted, Miss kind oiler of assistance was ilfc>v,,ed. and Mr Burton’s lecture, the cyeling.s-ports, Mr R. C. Jones's lecture, and other matters wore dealt with. T!h> rmnn-'T of the National Bank lias written to the Committee stating that the Bank'-, employes going with the Contingent will six months’ leave of absence on half-pay, and 1 hat their situations will he kept open for them. -MrT. Brvcl.m ; sent from theOlntha yesterday a truck load of very fine horses, all of which at once, parotid for service. Four of liics- represent the Tift of the, Fernliiil Chili, and tlie. otiler was bought for the Committee. .' largely-attended meeting of those engaged *in the baking trade was hold in the ( mh:v Palace hist evening for the purpose (■I raising fnmis t<> present James Taylor v,"ith a horse and equipment in the event of his being finally accepted. Mr ARConnell, the treasurer of the South Dunedin Committee, reports that then; is over £6O now in hand. The Committee wall call tho hearse to be purchased “ Soutli Dunedin.” It is intended to collect further suhsrrintions to purchase a. horse and equip another man. 1 The St. Clair contribution will be quite £SO.

The watchmakers have tttcretised their donation by 10s 6d. Messrs Tucker and Co. send £2. The Dunedin .consulting engineers forward £25.. ' Groen- Island and Fairfield Borough* contribute £37 Is. Horses have been presented by Messrs J Tennant and 1). and J. MT’hcfson, River(on.

Ar, a meeting held at Mat-aura on Monday ht, Mr Thomas Culling wrote ottering, ” behalf of himself and partners in the -•■ataura Falls .1 aper-mill, a.- horse of the value of £25, stipulating that tho horse ho named “ The Papennaker,” and lie ridden by one of the selected moo from Mataura. . ThofETillside Workshops employes have sent m £36, and to this amount the Telegraph Department help with an additional £9 'to seenro the equipment of a man from ’the Workshops named Black. The telegraph hnenian for whom tho horse was intended havirv" failed to pass-, the donation was transferred as mentioned. _ Tltfi h«rs« presented by tie officers of tho Post and Telegraph Department of Otago - maned "Despatch,” and has now camp, 'lie balance of subscriptions, to £9, has been handed over to the secretary to assist equipment. Ims amount wq 11 be supplemented later on. j vety successful social and dance was held on Tuesday evening last at Sea el iff for the purpose of showing practical sympathy with the South -African campaign, and resulted in the raising of nearly £lO. 'Jicre are no cxptmses to deduct, as the members of Committee provided the sapper, etc. It has been decided to get the .sum made tip to £lO and hand it over at once to the fund for providing nurses. During the past week the local Committee have also collected £45 to provide a horse and outfit for a rough rider, and four local men--Messrs Campbell, Duffey, Flndlater, and Murphy—have enrolled their names for service in the Fourth Contingent. The. horse has been bought, and is to be named “ Seacliff,” and it is left to the authorities to decide as to its rider—i,'.:’ tho most suitable man amongst the local ap)iK Pb' 3aii tS‘ Adding the sum recent!v con;iy, tnJmted to the Patriotic Fund, Seacliff has over £llO for South, Africa, and I?"f fiu*‘Yolunteersifor. the front. i 1

THE MUSICIANS’ MEETING. Mr A. J. Barth, presiding over-a representative meeting of Dunedin musicians held in the Board Room of the Agricultural Hail last, night, said that the meeting had been called by Mr Percy Braitluvaite, who had enthusiastically initiated a movement amongst the music-loving performing members of this City, both professional and amateur, to combine in giving a concert as their share towards raising money for the Fourth Contingent Fund. Many societies and trades had combined in giving their talent, their wares, or their labor, and he was sure that they did not wish it to he said that those who had souls for music, lingers to perform, or voices to sing with were apathetic and undemonstrative. Rather jet them show by their united efforts that their musical souls could be roused to a warlike strain, or touched to sympathy for those who were sufferers. Their object, then, was to givo a grand concert in aid of the Fourth Contingent, and to fonn themselves into different committees to cany it to a successful issue. The programme should consist ob short, brilliant pieces for instruments am* songs of a popular, joyous, and taking character, interspersed with patriotic songs. It was resolved ♦> hold the concert in the Agricultural Hal! ou Wednesday, February 28 Mr H. 0. Campbell was appointed honorary secretary, Mr A. Begg treasurer, and sub committees were sot up to attend to the various matters that want looking alter.

I he assistance of the Dunedin Liedertafel, Dunedin Choral tSocicty, and Meistersingcrs is already offered. WEST HARBOR.

. A meeting of t he Committee reeentlv formed in West Harbor for the purpose of organising to raise funds to purchase and equip a horse for the Ravenshournu volunteer was held last night, the. Mayor (Mr. H. K. Moiler) piesiding. Tim collectors reported having received a liberal response in the raising of tends, and it is hoped that the public meeting on Friday evening and the regatta to take place on Saturday will provide the, baiance of the money required. Owing to tin limited space available in the hall, it has been decided not to have any half-price. It is intended to arrange u children’s patriotic concert afj a later .late. the opumo meeting.

A, large and enthusiastic meeting of the residents Opoho district was held in the Baptist Bchotrli(Mini last evening, the object being the raising of funds to provide a horse tin the Otago and .Southland Contingent. At eight o clock ail the available seats in the hall were occupied, and soon afterwards the porch and doorways were crowded to the tujk His TVorship the Mayor of Northeast Valiev (Mr Colin Maeandrew) presided, and upon the platform was Mr Thoma.s Mackenzie.

I ho Chairman briefly introduced the pur pose of the mooting, and expressed his pleasure at presiding.

Mr John Evans then followed with a patriotic speech, in which he said Opoho was already rep resented by a member in the (Second Contingent (VV. Farquharson), and thev had hoped to send another, but. unlot tunately, tho.ir man had to stand down for a deficiency of an eighth of an inch in cher-t- measurement. However, thev intended to send a horse.

.. % s were given by Mesdames Walker and ■Strain, Miss Drake, Messrs Minims, Hopcraft, Wilson, and Drake ; recitations hv Messrs Wilkinson and Springer and Miss Suns, the latter contributing an original piece of a patriotic character, composed hv .Mr Sims. son. Mr Wilkinson's recitation of 'The Absent-minded Beggar’ had the nsnal drawing effect, money flowing freelv into the Union Jack, which was held invitingly open hv four little girls. The first coins to tall into the flag were a shower of pennies, which were thrown over tlie ton of an open window by a number' of boys who, unable to gain admission to the hall, used tnis means of expressing (heir practical interest in the cause. These were soon supplemented by half-crowns, shillings, and coins of smaller value from the inside, to the extent, of about £7, the amount including a i (OU for £1 Is. hj

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, in the course of h;s remarks, said that this war had been ihrnst upon ns. He felt certain the British G( yernment vr.uld show the world that her subjects wherever located could depend upon obtaining justice. Painful as was (his war, he. felt sure that great good would finally result from it. It would consolidate the. whole Empire. Wo in (hr, colonies hud shown the Flume Government that we were prepared to take pari; in the responsibilities of Empire by sending onr sons and brothers to light for the old flag. We might now reasonably hope to have a voice in the councils of the Stale. Great its England’s trade was when Queen Victoria name to the ihrone, that of her dependencies was now live tunes as greet as was her whole trade in 1857. The English-speaking population, exclusive of India., numbered 20,000.000, while, the territory was practically unlimited. It could not lie expected that interests'so great, population so numerous, ajid area so extreme could always he expected In silently acquiesce in a trade and foreign policy carried out by a Parliament elected by (inly a section of the Empire.. Whether that representation should be in the form of a truly Imperial Parliament or by the simpler pmccss of adding members to the present House at Westminster had yet to he seen. There was precedent for both courses in the East India Council and by adding colonial representatives to the. Privy Council. But when that representation came, about then would he discussed trade .questions of the utmost importance to n«—the freer exchange within ihe Empire of British goods, a mutuality of assistance hearing the richest fruits of British progress and development. These were big abstract questions, concrete examples of which might he given if time admitted. Britain must maintain her territory to retain her commerce. That is an axiom in political economy that, must never be lost sight of, and it is of the most vital importance to us here that nothing should he done to interfere with British supremacy —(applausel—and New Zealanders were, by their loyal and generous contributions, helping most nobly.—(Applause.)

Mr .1. Kvans announced that the total proceeds of.(he evening, including the sale of refreshments, which the ladies of the district, had provided, amounted to £8 19s Hd. This, added to the sum of £23 9s 6d collected in a ca.nva.ss of Opohn prior to the meeting hv himself and Messrs C. and J. MT’eak. meant that they not only had a fund sufficient a horse, but also to equip it with saddle and bridle. The announcement wins vociferously received. ,

Votes of | hanks In Ibe Mayor for presiding, to Mr Mackenzie for his speech, and to the performers, also to Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm for lending a piano and chairs free of charge, wen l moved by Mr Fqrquharsnn, seconded by Air Crawshaw, to which the Alayor responded. The musical directions w ere in the efficient, charge of Air K. Towsey. Taken altogether the evening was an exceedingly pleasant one., a.nd marked hv a ring of true patriotism which needs no comment.

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON, February 15. There is little of any importance to report from the Newtown Park camp. Tuesday’s drill was spoiled by the heavy rain, the ground being in very Lid condition. The weal her having cleared yesterday afternoon, the Rough Riders were put. through a course of mounted drill. The local More Men Fund now amounts to £3,216. Lieutenant Kirk, who has superintended the shooting tests, asserts that they have been more, severe than in other parts of tho colony, the onlv range being tho 500 yards, while tho, actual results show a higher average thin that obtained by the First and Second Oontiagents. In a leading article in last night’s ‘ Post ’ the writer declares “ that one of the lessons derived by England from the Boer War is that the value, of the citizen soldier who can ride hard and- shoot straight has been proved; that for defensive operations a national army of intelligent volunteers would seem to be superior to a mercenary army of well-drilled automatons; and it is becomirvr more apparent that the main lino of defence must be local volunteer corps modelled on the Boer commando’ rather than the line regiment.” The absurdity of these statements is so palpable that it'is hardly necessary to combat them. Tho Boer military organisations and tactics have grown out of tho natural circumstances of their

environment, and the character of the county ~-cn. uiey are eminently adapted to defensive operations, for shotting from behind cover in unassailable and practically impregnable entrenchments. For a class of poupn-. who will not brook the restraints of tegular military discipline the system of independent units like the commandos is perhaps the bpst that could be adopted. In a country abounding in strong defensive, positions like the kopjes, small bodies of guerrilla cavalry, who can ride and shoot well and possess an intimate knowledge of the topnpnphy of the theatre of the war. may prolong a struggle even against greatly superior numbers lor an (indefinite period. The Romans experienced this in their wars against barbarian nations and tribes. The weak point in the commando scheme is that it nrenks down in the open veldt, where there are no strong defensive positions. It also lacks cohesion and unity and concentration of movement. 'The worst enemies of people like the Boers are railways and roads, which open up the country and reduce its % value as a natural stronghold. We need not go beyond the Maori Wav for proofs of this. In a civilised country the Boer method would he utterly futile. In most parts of Europe they would result in speedy demoralisation ami panic. The Boer prisoners themselves have stated Hurt their leaders were nonplussed by the strategy of the Bri. tish generals ; they were disconcerted in turning movements where they had expected a frontal attack. They liked to sneak into their lairs and '‘snipe” the British soldiers who walked into cunningly-laid traps. They called this brave, but' thev condemned the use of the bayonet as murder.

NEWS AND NOTES

[Compiled dy Oei; London Couiiespon di-nt.]

LONDON, January o, 1900. The New Year has opened auspiciously in Africa. If the successes have been slight, and the fighting in Cape Colony of the seesaw order, wo have at least no cause for ‘‘grousing,” nor tlifcaprirehenaion that every Sunday evening the newibom’ raucous oriot would herald another.disaster and Monday’s paper disclose another reverse to British arms. At last our commanders appear to be learning by experience and finding “away round,” going How and beating the Boeis at their own game. The success of French at Cole-berg and of Pilcher at Sunnyside is attributed mainly to their raobiiiiy ; it is undoubtedly due quite us much lo the fact that they mixed brains with coinage. French, instead of lining his infantry by a long night march, carried them in waggons. Knowing that the Boars would reckon on the usual frontal attack, he made a feint of attacking in front with his infantry and field batteries ; his cavalry, mounted infantry, and light artillery crept round on the flank, and aa I write ate gradually encircling the Boers. Pilcher, too, having, like French, carefully reconnoitred the ground and ascertained the enemy’s position, without hurry and with an abundance of precaution to keep the enemy ignorant of his movements, also out-manceuvred his opponents. In each case the Boers, who evidently do not possess the vigilance with which they are credited, were taken by surprise, and in each case our success was achieved with a nominal loss of life. In each case, toe, our numbers appear to have been inf rim- to those of our antagonists. It seems a fair inference to draw that turning movements of a like nature might be tried with advantage even where the forces engaged on each s.de are infinitely larger. French bids fair to be, with Baden-Powell, the hero of the war. He was responsible for our victory at Elandslaagte, and now he has given us Colesberg. If he and Gatacre in conjunction can only clear the enemy from the north of Capa Colony, as they should now have a fair chauoe of doing, their combined forces, together with the Imperial \ eomanry, the fresh mounted contingents from tlie colonies, and several battnies of artillery, the whole under French’s command, advancing into the Free State, while Methuen keeps Crooje in his trenches at Magersfonlein, and Bulier watches Slim Piet or his successor in the Gibraltar of Natal, should materially simplify the situation.

Of course, the Sunnyaide and Colesberg successes have been the more gratifying to all Anglo-colonials, and be it frankly sard to all E glishmen as well, from the prominent part, played in the fighting by colonials from all parts of the Empire. Tne contingents are to be congratulated on getting their first taste of active service under such competent, businesslike, and therefore thoroughly congenial commanders, and the latter no doubt thoroughly appreciate the excellence of the material with which they have to work. Eich little lot has come up smiling, and received its baptism of firewithsang froid and coolness. First wo hear of the New Zealanders being congratulated for their steadiness under fire ; then at Sunnyaide comes the turn of the Queenslanders, who, we are told, •• behaved splendidly, laughing and chatting under fire.” Bhller gives up his horse to wounded Lieutenant Adio, and Rose returns to render assistance under a heavy fusillade. “At last! ” is the cry of the Canadians as they double into action. Despite the soreness of their feet after days of weary marching, they give up their places in the waggons on the retirement to the women, and themselves carry the babies, singing as they tramp along. A little bit of "fat” follows for the New South Wales Lancers, who, despatched under Lee to prevent the looting of the wrecked train at Colesberg, are exposed to heavy musketry and shell fire, and, taking the best shelter they can, hold their position for five hours. A Boer trap gives the New Zealanders another chance, and Major Robin and a picket cover a mile under heavy fire and rescue twenty-five fellow countrymen unscathed from a hail of bullets.

Combined with this display of valor is the proof of soldierly " and intelligent methods and discipline, which is even more gratifying. All the colonials, we are told, take advantage of ev’ety bit of cover, and the Queenslanders shoot only token they see ike enemy. This common sense proceeding strikes Renter’s agent so forcibly that he makes special mention of the fact. Contrast the profuse but futile’expenditure of rifle ammunition at the Modder,

The procession last Jubilee Day was but a tableau vivant of the forces of the Empire ; but. in Africa the first act of the real drama of Imperialism is being pKyed, and the first scene closes—as it should in a patriotic play—with the hoisting of the Union Jack in a British village in the midst of the African veldt by British volunteers from Australia and Canada, It is not an exaggeration to say that the scene has thrilled the Empire’s heart. Stalls, pit, and gallery alike applaud, and even the critics of Fleet street enthuse over the stirring scone.

I cannot do better than quote the ‘ Sb. James’s Gazette,’ which strikes the right note in its comment on the true significance of the Sunnygide fight: come a time, indeed, when this skirmish, , utterly insignificant as it will appear in the annals of war, will appear of greater moment in history than many a battlefield, where thousands have been slain am! military repatat’ons have been made or marred. For the Suunyaide fight is the first occasion ou which soldiers from the two greatest of KngUnd’s colonics ■ have corns together from different hemispheres and fought shoulder to shoulder for a cause in which they have no atlfish concern, but in which they have been moved by- a common instinct of Imperial patriotism. Men from Australia, about to be formed into a great, confederation oi Anglo-Saxon States, and from Canada, which years ago, in the face of great difficulties, set tho tine example of unity, met ou the common ground of the African veldt to fight with the troops of the Old Country in defence of the' Empire and the free government which they in the opposite corners of the earth have learnt to value and love. That they fought with coolness, bravery, and judgment goes without saying ; and, it may be added, that from their methods the regular soldiers from Home may learn a iwefnl lessen. It is, however, for other than mi'itary reasons that Sunuyside will not be forgotten,” Lord Lovat, with the sanction of the War Office and the co-operation of Highland proprietors, is forming a corpn of 150 gillies for South Africa. The young Highlanders, who will be deer-stalkers, shepherds, and hillmen, are to take their own ponies, and as they are accustomed to hill vork and the use of the telescope, and in addition have an extensive ranee of vision, it is predicted that

■\e corps, which is to be attached to the Black Watch and accompanied by Lord Lovnt himself, ihould be serviceable for scoi tng purposes in South Africa. It i« always well to encourage enthusiasm, bit I cannot help thinking that the amount spent by the Highlanders in equipping the corps would bj laid out to more aa van togs in fitting out the same number of Brili hborn. African volunteers of the same stamp as Rimingtcn’s Scouts, who are iuurrd to the climate, know the country,. the Bier tactics, and the Boer language, and have Basuto ponies as active and hardy as themselves.

Despite the heat and the hail of ballots experienced at the Modder the 9 hj Lmeets are bubbling over with fur. This is the Christmas message they semi their friends through the ‘Telegraph’; “We drank your health at Christmas. Our stay in this charming watering place is pleasing to the flics and inhabitants. Both bleed us freely. We are living on the best of sand, washed down by Chateau Modder. We only regret you are not here to share it.”

I don’t know whether the phrase.* 1 What ho ! she bumps ” has reached you yet. It is an expression iu common use iu our streets just new, and derives its origin from an mane music-hall song, in whien an excited passenger, when the ship struck the rocks, caught hold of the captain’s trousers and cried “ What bo ! she bumps.” It is seldom lised .with any relevance,, but was distinctly' apropos in the capture of the armored train at Estcourb. The Boers were all around, the engine was upsetting, and the cars joking over the sleepers, but “Tommy,” undismayed, greeted the disaster cheery “ What ho ! she bumps.” The correspondents have be- n giving us some interesting particulars of the sound of tiie various weapons. They agree on the “ Rar.-iat tat a tat” sound produced by the Hotchkiss pumping out bullets. Mr Cuurchill, referring to his own experiences when fired on by Mausers, says : “ Two soft kisses sucked the air.” * The Times’ correspondent talks of “ the silky breath and the silky whistling of the Mauser bullet,” “ the burr of the Marlini-Henry,” aud “ the sirenlike drone of the ricochet.” Ir must be the same old back-blocks Boers who look upon the promises and threatenings of the Old Testament as personally addressed to themselves and their forefathers. They worship a purely tribal God, who has given over “the heathen as a prey to their teeth,” and they, feeling themselves fully justified iu so doing, act towards the said heathen accordingly. The ‘ Daily News ’ tells a typical story of a missionary who, visiting a Boer family, found that they were daily using and wearing out a Bible brought over with the family three centuries before from Holland, aud containing all the family names ever since. He pointed out to them that it was a treasure not so to be ruined. They agreed, but did not know where to get another to replace it. He promised to make them a present of one. The old Boer was aghast; “ but,” he said, “the English do not know anything about the Bible.” However, the book, printed in Durch by the Bible Society, was duly presented. Of course, instead of the Dutch Arn a it had the English Arms on the front page. The old man pointed this out. “That is not the Bible,” he said. A little further examination showed him, howeverj to his amaziment, that this was only a matter of printing, and that otherwise the two were identical. The explanation as to the Arms led to a reference to the tn nsl • tion. “Translation!” said the old man. “This is no translation. The words were originally said in Dutch.”