HOW NATAL HONORED "BOBS."

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 7

HOW NATAL HONORED "BOBS."

/it Durban on December 5 people of . took official leave of if.M. the Com- '. Tnahder-iri-Chief and gave him a splendid reception. The horses were taken out of his ■carriage, which was dragged by the Irish Association, who were escorted by the Irish Mounted Rifles, through the main streets of the city to the Town Hall. The streets were profusely decorated with bunting, flowers, and appropriate mottoes, such as "The Hero of a Hundred Fights," "Dear Old Bobs," and "Farewell; the Nation's Thanks aire Thine." Notwithstanding the rain, crowds lined the streets and the roofs of buildings were black with spectators, the • procession passed amid a roar of cheering. , When it reached the Town Hall, which was . packed to. suffocation, a saltite of guns was fired. Here an address was presented by the Corporation. It expressed* the admiration felt by all classes of the community to i Lord Roberts for his Ren-ices, and the feei- : ing of relief and confidence which was ex- [ perienced when he was appointed to the supreme command. From the moment he set foot op their shores, continued the address, the horizon cleared, and nothing but signal successes attended the efforts of Lord Roberts, a.nd the brave forces under his command. Thfty hailed with intense satisfaction his appointment as Commander-in-Chief, and they fully realised that a grateful Queen and country must be anxiously awaiting his arrival.

The United Irish Asociation of Natal then presented a congratulatory address, extolling Lord Roberts's services, and saying thatowing to his brilliant strategy the tide had been turned. Kimberley had been relieved, and one of the ablest leaders of the enemy had met his Sedan in the glorious victory of Paardeberg. Thanks to their illustrious fellow-countryman, the land had been purged of vaunting invaders, who had boasted they wonld drive the British into the sea. The Indian community also presented an address, stating that, they felt pride in the former Commander-in-Chief in India, who had so successfully commanded the Imperial Army in South Africa. They trusted that ho would convey to their beloved Kaiser-T-Hind the deep loyalty and attachment to the Throne, of the Natal Indians. They were especially proud of the fact that India was the birthplace of one of the greatest generals of the century. Lord Roberts, on rising to reply, was received with intense enthusiasm. He. cordially thanked the people for their kindly welcome, and said he rejoiced to think that a change of plans had enabled him to curry out a wish which he had entertained for twenty years—namely, to visit the great port of Durban. From various causes, he lad been prevented doing so hitherto, but it gave him the greatest possible pleasure to be there that day. That pleasure had been greatly increased by the very splendid manner in which he had been received. He referred : in glowing tettns to the future of Durban, which, he ventured to think, would take itlarge share in the future prosperity of South Africa. Their descendants would realise how much they owed to those who had so intelligently conducted the affairs of the port, and the splendid aid they had given to the soldiers of the Queen* during the great war of 1899-1900. He read Statistics showing in what a very practical manner the army had been helped"by Durban. His information showed that the number nf troops passing through Durban from September. 1399. to October 30, 1900. comprised 2.400 officers. 68.374 meii, 26.789 horses, and 117 guns. In addition, the port had sent to the troops 106,239 tons of supplies, 32,000 tour, of forage, and had also embarked the large number of 3i,935 wounded and invalided officers and men. He cottld -confidently say that the war was now practically over, anil he was very pleased to beat testimony to tlie able manner in which the Durban "officials \had responded to their wants. He was delighted to see that General Butter hud recently, in eloquent terms, testified to the help which his troops had received from everyone in Durban. It would be invidious to mention any particular branch felt praise where all had helped for One common need, hut he paid A high tribute to Sir David Hunter's management of tile railway, thev had proved to the world that the fighting power of Englishmen wa* as good how as in the days Of yore, whether tmvv Came from Great Britain or froiit that Greater- Brtain which had been founded by the eiiergV and perseverance of their fathers, atld whifcli iti times of danger sent forth her sons to tight alongside of the sons of the Mother Country. Durban stood at the entrance of what he was satisfied would bo hj nibst magnificent Empire. He was confident that they Would all hold out the hand of fellowship to those who had. hitherto been their enemies, when blessed peace reigned suprettie over the vast continent. " You will tell them," continued Lord Roberts, "that we are all one how, in one Country, that we have oiie interest, and that we honor them. They have been fighting for a wrong cause, induced thereto bv misguided rulers. Nevertheless, we honor them for fighting for liberty, which we ourselves so thoroughly believe in ; and now. iii a spirit of liberty, truth, justice, arid freedom, we are prepared to extentl these pri- . vileges. which every Englishman values, to those "(Vhb have been fight in" against u<, I am delighted to think that I ant iible to offer my sincere thanks to my Irish friends. and also to natives from India, where the Greater pari, of my career has .been spent. I value the friendly recognition of my services more than I can describe. Both'lrishmen and Indians wish me happiness in life, in return, I wish them happiness, health, and prosperity in the land of their adoption."— (Applause, and a Voice : " What about the refugees''") Lord Roberts, continuing, said: '" t will tell you what I think about'the refugees. • My great concern has been that the refugees should return to their huiiics with least possible delay. I have been strehuotislv working with this object for months piWt. 1 once named October 10 as the date of their return-, but t found this premature. I thought.we should have sufficient supplies, hut hhfbftunately giicrrilla warfare obstructed our railway communication so frequently and so seriously, that we hiHl scarcely chough food to feed the troops. You will therefore understand that it is impossible to allow any great concourse of people to assemble iii these towns with nothing to cat. ti would have been wrong to allow this, although I dceplv regret that the refugees who have iilreadv suffered much are still obliged trt suffer, biit I believe that it will hot be very lhhg before they are allowed t« return to thei/hOitics, where T hope they will spend verv manv years rlf happiness and prosperity."." Oii the conclusion of the speech there wiis tremendous cheering for Lord Roberts and Lji.dy Roberts. The audience sing ' For he's a jolly good fellow.'