"KEEP A STIFF UPPEK LIPS."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 37, 14 February 1900, Page 2

"KEEP A STIFF UPPEK LIPS."

Englishman " writes as follows io (he Melbourne "Argus" in connection with the recent British reverses in South Africa : — " 1 am perfectly amazed at the hvsj terical writing that is going on over this war. After all said and done, we may have lost in killed, wounded, and prisoners, say, 10,000 men. Might I ask how many the Boers have lost? Howarc they off for their commissariat J aud where cau they get reinforcements from •■> The wear and tear must have been pretty heary. We are really only starting, and obtaining depots for stores, etc., which takes time when you consider tho dis tances, and in order to keep our supply lino clear. No doubt this is a lar^e order Sir Eedvers Buller could not fell what was before lnm when he attacked at Colenso, but in order to relieve Ladysmith he mad? the attempt. The same

is to be said of Lord Melhueu. He, after several victories, endeavoured, like Sir Redvers Buller, to take an impregnable position, and nearly succeeded. "We must take risks, sometimes forlorn hopes. Tho last engagement, so far, is n-.t very serious, but suppose it is the .'ear of Ladysmith being taken that causes this anxiety. Well, Ladysmith is not taken, and so long as the supplies keep up, will not bo. Tho men besieged, and the troops endeavouring to relieve them, are chips of British oak."