Notes of the Day.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3564, 2 July 1912, Page 4

Notes of the Day.

THE LATE “HERO OF LADYSMITH.”

Bv the death of Sir Geo. White, which occurred last week, the Empire has lost a soldier of high and honorable distinction. He will undoubtedly be best remembered -for the noble part which as “the Defender of Ladysmith” he took in the 'last South African War. It may be recalled that when he landed in Natal just two days before the expiry of Kruger’s ultimatum- Within less than a month Sir George was locked up in Ladysmith with 12,000 British treops. Tim siege lasted from November 2, 1899, to March 1. 1900, a period of 119 days. The late General Buller made a great effort to break through to relieve the garrison on December 16, 1899, when the British forces met with a severe repulse at the battle of Cokuso with the loss of several guns. In regard to this period of the siege there was afterwards a great pqblic controversy, in which General Buller was alleged to have counselled. Sir George White to surrender in his heliographic messages, in which he asked, amongst other things, “How long can vou last?” The reply of Sir George was an emphatic “No” to.the idea of surrender. He said: “Things may look brighter. The loss of 12,000 men here would be a heavy blow to England. We must not think of it. I fear I canot cut my way to you.” And so Sir George sat tight and held grimly on for some 10 or 11 weeks after this bray© reply, until at length, on March 1. Lord Dundonald came riding in at the bead of the relief column- The anxious suspense of the people in England and the colonies, and the'rejoicings at the news of the relief, are matters of familiar history. Honors continued to come to him ouicMy, with the result that in 1900 he was appointed a full general, and three years later a field marshal. The famous soldier, it may be added, had reached his seventy-seventh year.