HAWKE'S BAY TROOPERS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11901, 19 July 1901, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY TROOPERS.

t WELCOME HOME. t The Hawke's Bay section of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents from South 1 frica * returned to Napier by the express last evening. Although it was pouring with rain, there was a large gathering . f voi- r unteers and the public at the station. As J’ the train steamed in detonators were 1 fired off, and the Battalion Band struck 1 up “ Home. Sweet Home.” The troopers, on disembarking, were formed ap with the volunteers on either hank and formally welcomed. Major Chicken, on behalf cf the citizens, •Iter apologising for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr M'Vay) and the ex-Mayer (Mr G. H. Swan), extended " a very hearty welcome homo to the men. ‘ The people of HawkCs Bay, he said, had 11 followed with the keenest inters*, the p doings of their comrades at the tr n‘, and T they were all glad to sea them back a, am. , He wished to elate that daring the stay of the Gisborne men in Napier those who had no friends to look after them would B be the guests of the Reception Committee a: at the Masonic and Criterion Hotels Major Chicken concluded by congratulating tho men on their safe return, r.nf 7 called on the chaplain of the Hast Coast 1 Battalion to address them.

The Very Rev. De Bcrdt HovoU, IK an of Watapn, said that as the oldest uffioi-r of the Napier Garrhoa, lie tecdeiel a mogc hearty and heartfelt welcome to the boy« of the Fourth and Fifth New Zealand Contingents. *• We sent you forth to South Africa," tail the Dean, " to the stirring and martial strains of -'iho Soldiers of the Queen ’; we greet you, on your return, with the sweeter m’ufi; of the old familiar song of ‘Home, sweet Home.’ The elements are apparently against the success of our ai.v-mbiy for the rain comes pouring down upon us ns I speak; but, after all, it is evidently only old Hawke’s Bay weeping for joy over her sms who have returned to her once more. (Laughter and applause.) I need hardly tell you that wo hive followed you in your w rfare with oar thoughts, our anxieties, and our prayers. When you departed from amongst us we had perfect confidence in you as men who would be brave, an 1 who would do their duty, but th; most •anguine of those jou left behind yon tad no conception of how greatly the men of the New Zealand contingents would distinguish them-e’.ves. (Applause.) From every General under whom ‘ enr boys ’ have served, has c:me an expression of the warmest approval at the way in which they have done their duty. If New Zealand is to-day the best beloved cf the children of the Motherland, it is largely due to those of her . ns who have fongnt and died for England. The work you have dene for the Empire (the grandest hmpire the world has ever seen—the Empire which has ever made, and ever will make, for freedom) will never be forgotten. The uprising of the colonial men will be inscribed upon the pages of history. The fact that this faroff State sent over 3uoo mounted men to the fray, a sign or token of thousands more of equal grit who would be prepared to go. should the need ever arise, is fraught with solemn warning to the world. You have returned, tut cur thoughts to-night revert to ethers who •hall return no more. We shall never forget them. Their names will lie inscribed on the deathless marble in cur public buildings and in our ca'l.cdrals

tied have them in his keeping : They have not died in vain—

And ‘heir brave de:ds tcrMi .-b - Urine in LlsUj ic-.airc.., Will shine bnnht :. in mortal Unaonsaaed Lr moth cr r:.. V

At the conclusion of his address of welcome the Dean c riled for, and led. three hearty cheers for the returned tro pars. Major Chicken called for throe cheers for the New Zealanders s'ill at the front, which were cordially re-ponded to and the proceedings terminated, the men being taken charge of by their relatives and friends.

The returned troopers naturally have much to eay of interest regarding the war, and conversing with some of them last flight we gleaned a few particulars of incidents connected with their campaign. Owing to the prevalence of the plague at Capo Town the troops never made a step at that city on their /way borne, going straight from the train on to tho Tagm, after travelling a journey of 1400 milts from Klerksdorp, being fire days and nights in open trucks o. to the transport. 'The Fourth had, like ail the other contingents, their full share of fighting. They landed at Beira on 2lth March, 1000, and from the day of lauding the Ne* Zealanders were kept bard at it, Mafeking, Ottoshoop, Klerksdorp, Hoitfoatcin, Ventersburg, Lichteuburg, Uustenburg, Olifant’s Nek, and '-Vaterraal all in turn giving them plenty o? scope for some stiff work. One of their liveliest experiences was betweeen Hartebeestefontein and Ventersdorp, where Delarey was smashed up and nine of Ida guns crptured, with many prisoners. Tho guns included two pom-poms and a 15-pounder (taken by the’Boers at Colenso) and six Maxims. The six weeks along tho Vaal river after Da Wet were full of incident. At Beitfonteia Colonel Grey, by whom the New Zealanders swear, cried “ Shame ” on the Imperial Light Horse. We asked why .- ” 'Veil, not because of any want of bravery, but they were in advance, and by bad scouting got the column into difficulties; 110 of them were sent out,

and only 22 got back Eafely. They fe'. s into an ambush.” Delarey gave them t seven hours' shelling at lleitfuntein Hi had taken up a splendid position, bu they shifted him next day, and fortifier the place, Then, again, at 1 i .-trio b-oestofontoin, in the pursuit of Hu larey, they bombarded He. been to four hour; with lyddite. .Making u impression tho British Generals notice, that the Hours were retaliatic under shelter of the Hatch C’burcl always the biggest building in a lioe town. So tho British sent a man with white flag to tell the enemy to remov their women, as the chnrch was about t be bombarded. The Boors shot the whit flag man dead as he was returniuj Thereupon the troops converged the; fire upon the church and utterly blew to pieces. After that Delarey evacuate the position. They chased him till 1 o’clock that night, and started again i pursuit at 3 o’clock next morning. Aft; going 11 miles they came upon the Ho. laager, the enemy’s gnns receiving the at a range of 2000 yards. The New Ze landers were in the van. General Babin ton ordering an immediate attack, at the position was won. Only two New Zealand contingents a now left at the front, the Sixth ai Seventh, and some of the return, troopers state that an eighth contingo will be necessary to relievo them after t others have had their chare of work. T. Hoars -oiuethueu travelled at the rate ' ' r,i ‘ e = a day. and good horses and m

CABLEGRAMS [PKB TRESS ASSOCIATION.—OOTTBIGHT.J

wfire needed to keep up the chase. Lord Kitchener was putting every man he could on horseback. 'J ha returned troopers often suffered great hardships for want of food, going sometimes for 24 hours with only a biscuit, but, judging by their appearance last night, they picked up well on the voya o homo. They confirm the good opinions formed by the British army officers in South Africa of the splendid work done by the New Zealanders.