With French's Division.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1425, 16 January 1901, Page 2

With French's Division.

Trooper Herb G. Phillips, of Lumsden's Light Horse, writing under date Pretoria, November 9, says :—Coming across country from Belfast to Bethel we had fighting every day for a fortnight—not pitched battles, but desultory fighting, the Boers clearing off as soon as we get a bit uncomfortable for them. I saw through a pair of fieldglasses two Boer women in Cape carts, with rifles and bandoliers (this was at Ermolo), and although I did nob actually see them shoot at us", I hava no doubt but that they had been doing so. By-the-bye, French is a devil of a general to march his troops. No matter what the weather or the enemy, on he goes as he had planned. We are now having a few days' (perhaps more) rest in Pretoria awaiting orders for we know not what. The authorities are trying to induce our men to join the police at 79 per day, free clothes, rations, and quarters, but Our chaps will not bite. Most of them can go back to India to their 300 to 600 rupees a month (£2O to M 0), so it is not likely they are going to stop out here on 7s a day, A few of our regiment have joined as sergeants, while three have been appointed lieutenants, but nobody will take it on as privates or troopers. We do not know what to expect now—another march or disbandment. Everyone is heartily praying foe the latter. My application is in with our colonel for civil employment along with some half-dozen others. If anything decent is offering I will perhaps accept. One stipulation of the police is that you can buy yourself out after two months' service for £lB, so that those who have accepted can easily get out of it if they wish. "Chamberlain's Innocent Victims,' as they have been called out here, are now home, and they did not do a quarter of the work we have done. The C.l.V.'s had a very bad name among the regulars here—could not be worse, in fact. They say they (the C.l.V.'s) did more damage at home (two killed and 1,000 wounded) than they did out here, which is quite true. You mostly saw them parading the streets of Pretoria ogling the girls, and when there was any real work to be done the C.l.V.'s were not there, despite the good name given them by the London papers, which were also not there, I simply echo the feelings of every (I really believe without exception) volunteer, reservist, and regular out here who has had anything to do with the C.I.V.s. I forgot to mention that I was offered a sergeantship in the police, but refused 15s a day and rations. I dont think the life would suit me, as I am just about full of this game. Refugees are not allowed back to Johannesburg yet. Some 40,000 or 50,000 are waiting to return. The mines are not yet in full working order—only working to pump out water and keep them in order. We came right through the mining districts the last march, and everything seemed quiet in comparison to the Coolgardie fields. The Boera are now reduced to mealie pap—or, as you would say in Sydney, ground com boiled—and beef. Until they give in there is no likelihood of their getting any better, all their supplies being cut off. They reckon there are still 8000 or 9000 Boers in arms to cope against, while our people are having a police force of 12,000 and military garrison of 30,000 men.