LETTERS FROM AUCKLAND TROOPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11346, 14 April 1900, Page 5

LETTERS FROM AUCKLAND TROOPERS.

THE LATE TROOPER JENKS. The following letter from Trooper James Jcnks, written from Rondebosch, under date of February 26,' is of, pathetic interest in view of the writer's recent'sad decease : — " I have had no letters since the night before I left Kleinfontein Camp, but I suppose they will reach me in time if I only have patience. In the meantime I cannot rest contented without writing a few lines. Sergeant Bond is here with a bad log, resulting from a kick from a horse, received before Christmas. After leaving Kleinfontein I was in No. 11 Field Hospital, at Slingersfontein, and when they moved on to Moddc River I was left with our No. 2 Company, under Major Thompson, up at Slingers. I was then sent to Rcndsberg to the 12th Brigade Hospital, and after I had been thero a few days, John Bond, some others, and myself were sent in the ambulance train to Naauwpoort. '. After remaining there a few days we were forwarded to here (Pvondeboscb) —again in the ambulanco 'train. This place is near Capetown, and took two nights and a day to reach. We are very well treated here, and the nurses, or sisters as they are called, are very kind and attentive. The sister from New Zealand is in this hospital, which is called No. 3 General. lam getting on slowly, although they don't seem to be able to do me much good except by rest, j They are applying plasters and bandages and using massage treatment on me. I have not heard anything of my company. The Second Contingent landed yesterday, and I am hoping to see Lieutenant Banks 500n.".. . ;' £

Corporal Bodle, writing from Kiraberley, under date of February 25, says:—"lt seems years since I saw my folks, and a very long time since I had a letter/' We have had but one- mail since Christmas, and I long for news. We have had a hard time of it coming from the Orange River to here. .. It was a forced march all the way, with short rations, and very little water. Horse after horse, and ft few men, dropped from sunstroke and want of water. When we got here we could not get any tucker for love or money. All hands in the town were on rations. (The city of diamonds, but not of food !) If you try to buy anything they ask you a small fortunes-nothing under threepence, matches, newspapers,' . a pencil, or a bootlace, all cost that. When I wrote the first part of this letlter I. was off duty with a bad back, but I am thankful to say lam all right now. We have had no tents since the first week in January. lam once more corporal of the guard. 'Yesterday was the first day one could buy anything in Kimberley, in the shape of rations, without a permit. <■ In all probability we will be off again on Monday, for we had our horses inspected this morning to see how many were fit for duty. I don't know where we are to go, but wherever it may be it will not bo for long. Yesterday Lord Roberts gave a speech in Kimberloy Market Square, and'said he did not think the war would last more than a month or six weeks, so that it may not be very long before you see me again, but not my dear old horse Dancer. His shoes, mane,'and photo, are all that I have left in memory of a faithful friend and companion.

D'lmmfrrjrcAPETowN.; .: A Capetown correspondent, after describing the delirious jpy of the Capetown loyalists at news of the relief of Kimberley, says:— course there were some—! many— Capetown who were not overjoyed, and who (from a safe position) were at no pains to conceal the fact that they were not pleased. The crowd, or a crowd, went to the offices of Ons Land and the South African News, the Ministerial organs, and called for the editors; but the editors were busy writing anti-British leaders, and did not 'respond. So the crowd hooted vociferously, but good-naturedly, for one can afford' to be good-natured when one is on the right side, and that side is winning, and went away to cheer outside the offices of the Cape Times and the Argus. What a good thing it is for some folk that the British are such a law-abiding, longsuffering people. One of tho Empires greatest writers and poets— people would agree if I said the greatest of all— who is at present in Capetown,-said, "What a good thing for some folk this isn't America; and what a pity!" They have a very abrupt way of dealing with rebels and -traitors in tho great Republic, and Americans living here, and remembering what happened during the great civil war— with which this present war has many striking points in common—wonder, that the British are 'so tolerant. Oils' Land, in telling the news of the relief of Kimberley, merely chronicled the bare fact, and then proceeded at length to minimise the value of the British success, if not to question Whether it was a success at all, by asking, 'What has become of the Republicans? Where is General Cronje?" unci generally, suggesting that the British had been led into a trap, and that the disloyals might pluck up heart, for good news might come with the morrow., : .'■■ , .The South African News,' the organ of tho Bond, printed in English, edited by a renegade Englishman, and surely the most contemptible sheet ever published—for one can respect, at least, an open, straightforward opponent,' but the methods of the News is everything but that,' and columns would not tell of its vindictive littleness— tho News chronicled the relief of Kimberley as "an exciting incident of the campaign, ■ which would be fnimatedly discussed, but '■'the military, significance of which remains to be seen." v And it summed up the scenes attending its reception in a single pa ra P stating that, "a- procession of about 150 youths and boys,, with a Union Jack at its head/went the rounds of the places licensed to sell liquor," and that','the bars did a roaring trade.'! Of course, most people simply, desnise this paper, and very few indeed read It, I but it serves to indicate the existence of &certain WW® St-MB-SAffl;

deserve attention later on. . Its worst in., ; fluence' is'that it is apt to be quoted in j England,' and is quoted ;in foreign conntries, and its editor is the correspondent of. one of the big London dailies. ' VK But Capetown is too happy and too thankful to take offence even at the Bonta r African News. 'The good new* from Kim- : 'berley has been followed by good news front' v every other point, j and; loyal Capetown is ' supremely, satisfied and 'cheerily;optimistic,:. Not -too 'optimistic, for" Very much remains to be done.', And many; fear lest Britain should be too optimistic and relax her work, of crashing the great conspiracy. The. .time is not yet for thinking that all is practically over. "; It may be by the time this reaches Home;' but ;' those who know best, and know 'most, are praying that Britain will stay none of her preparations for prosecuting the war vigorously.••*!.. % There is a danger which it is not politic ; to openly discuss, and which any weakness or truckling now would precipitate. \" We have suffered terribly once, for Jour ' unprcparedness; we .ought not '.to, suffer again, and if we are prepared for the Worst the best will surely, in this case, bo the re suit. ..— ' ■ :■.. '. ":■: ":';•:.','.;;,

~.■ THE TRANSVAAL EX-CONSUL < ?V ;; Montagu White, the ex-Consul of" th»V: Transvaal in London, is now in America, engaged, well, presumably, in doing bis V'best to earn his salary. He has not beeis'.'■'" -' officially" received, hut he has : been extensively interviewed, and has', expressed - himself on" a large number of subjects, "': It : was alleged that he was anxious to obtain || American intervention in our quarrel with ~ tho Transvaal. At any rate, he has not been idle in attempting to enljst sympathy for the .Boers, and to a certain limited ex- /- . tent he may have been successful. v '.£ ' -> / Personally, Montagu White is a rather '; charming man, and much resembles his chief, 1 Dr. Leyds, in that suave, gentle, almost ' caressing manner which' stage diplomats so. carefully cultivate'. Ho is a middle-sized, rather heavy.man, with a Well-grown,' semimilitary moustache, a carefully-groomed ex- S| terior, and ready knack of polite "and happy phrases.- -J:- ■ Of course, White is not a Boer. It is even doubtful whether he is a burgher. Originally he kept a •little wayside store in the Cape Colony, and sold things to white and black ... indiscriminately. . Later on he migrated to "v the Transvaal.' Soon after the discovery of the Witwalersrand goldfields, he blossomed forth as mining commissioner at Boksburg, j bard by Johannesburg, where ho had a responsible position, and a charming house on . (ho banks of the dam. or lake, which he helped to construct. He was a sort of tutelary genuins to Boksburg, and he flourished there amazingly. •,

A FREE STATER'S APPEAL TO HIS '"" COUNTRYMEN.. ' . A remarkable appeal to the burghers of the Freo State,' is ithat which is printed in the Capo Times. It is from Mr.' A. A. van Linger., who writes from Durban,' iwhere he is a refugee, but who .is known to all South Africa' as a man who lias twice been a candidate for the Free State Presidency, and has been twice rejected, because ho was known to oppose the policy which lias brought President Steyn and his coun« try to ruin. ' Mr. Van, Lingen opens by desciblng the effects of the unnatural unions.' with the Transvaal, ! but recognises, like Lord Roberts; that it was the Government, not tho burghers, who are responsible." • "They never consulted yon, and they alone are responsible for this unholy and wicked: war. Without just cause they made you go forth and fight, and then left you without - the bare necessaries of life, to endure untold hardships, and suffer sacrifice and death." Mr, Van Lingen next appeals to tho reli'' gious principles of his fellow countrymen. , and asks:—"Was it right and proper in ' . accordance to tho teaching of the Now Tes-. tament (Romans xiii.) that your Government should direct you to assail the territories of > your brothers, and disturb the peace of law* abiding men? Do you know that thousands of your own kith and kin are enjoying in Natal and Cape Colony a full and perfect - measure of equity and justice, which, a 8 administered by . Great ;. Britain, is unparalleled in the world for perfection. . . President -Eniger is reported to have Jaid that 'The Lord will never pormit the sub . faction of the , Afrikander .by the English.' Siibjectinn,.indecd! ■■ In all fairness, I ask yon;. has England ever threatened the Afrikandei ' with subjection? When, where, and how;! I should need havo to pauso for a reply. Truly the , reverse of subjection • has been my happy experience.' ' Has England pot any obstacles in tho way of your kith and kin entering Parliament in Natal or the Cape? Politically the English and Dutch are on the same footing entirely." In' concluding, Mr. Van Lingen appeals to self-interest and, duty.. He . says:—"Fel- : low countrymen and burghers, it is in your interests, and it is your holy duty as -burghers, of the State, os members, too,' of «' Christian Church, , and so responsible to your God for your manhood, to repudiate' the action of your leaders, who are daily leading you further, to the brink of total disaster. Turn from this devilish path of destruction, and let your patriotism, heroism, and piety nerve you to become yourselves again. Do not delay until tho 'eleventh' .• tour. Reason with yourselves, and make :.' up your minds like men. ; Show \h power >v; of your humanity, and make contrition for •"" having followed leaders of misery and death . in all their horrible shapes. Take the 'friendly hand that Great Britain will for . your shaking never withdraw. ' Tho greatest civilising power that the world has ever seen is built on the foundation. of peace and goodwill among men. Come to her, and all will be well with you." Such an appeal from such a quarter cannot but have a very i marked effect upon the Free State burghers, \ who, though still in arms, are known to be seeking -a pretext for returning to their I "regular avocations"—to quote the Com-mander-in-Chief. The appeal has been circulated amongst the burghers in the field.

GENERAL BULLER? AND THE : ~SOLDIERS OF NATAL.-;// 'After tho relief of Ladysmith, General Buller issued the following army order:— •■ "To the Soldiers of Natal,— ,• • - "The.relief of Lulysmilh unites two forces, both of which nave during the last few months striven with conspicuous gal-' lantly and splendid determination to maintain the honour of their Queen and country. . . : :■■"''•'. '■'The garrison of Ladysmith have daring four months held their position against every attack with complete, success, and endured many privations with admirable fortitude. • " The relieving force had to force its way through an unknown country, across an. unfordable river,' and over . almost inaccessible heights, in tho face of a fully prepared, well-armed, and tenacious enemy. / . ■ "By the exhibition'of the truest,courage —the courage that burns steadily as well as flashes brilliantly—. has accomplished its object, and : added a glorious page to the history of tho British Empire. % v : "Ladysmith has, been held, and is relieved. ' '• ."••" Sailors and soldiers, colonials and Home-bred, have done this, united by one desire and inspired by one patriotism. ' "Tho'General commanding congratulates both forces upon I ho martial qualities they have shown; lie thanks them for their determined efforts, and ho desires to offer Ms sincere sympathy to the relatives and friends of those "good soldiers and gallant comrades who have fallen in the fight.'

' HOW THE BOERS LOOTED A FARM. ; : A correspondent sends tho Graham's Town Journal the following account of how rebel - Dutch in Griqualand West looted-.a- loyal | farmer's place at the end of last month':—.. p ; We heard a volley fired in the mountain, - and looking, closely with the telscope jsm could see just a moving mass of men on top of the hill. A few minutes afterwards the Dutch were tearing upon horseback round . the tennis court, up' through the camp, and ; what seemed to us, from every direction. Two rnde up to the gate, and came on tie verandah:, so we went out (there were only rone females on the place), and after greeting us they asked, "Where .; are '.' the English ; troops P;. We said,'"There are nona here, ,r , which was quite- true, for the snip jMtfl .. had just left the farm. > The- Boers said they/. : saw kettles on the camp fire, and the Lng-:,, lish robibaaties jtiuit be near. They wanted ; ■ . : to know in what direction the- troops had gone, but we wouldn't toll them. Nest the commandant came tip and asked where father

ho 'asked for the keys of the store and shop. Two of us girls went with him, and they at - 4 once started carrying all the goods out, and .packing them in packing cases. The commandant told us if there was, any thing we -needed.we; must take it, so we selected a • few articles. By good luck they did not find the • till which has' a secret compartment, One Boer asked where the till was, and another answered him : "Do you think it likely.they would -keep their money here (' The money was actually there, and after they left I went down and pocketed all the cash. It was lucky I-did this, for soon after about a hundred more came. They broke their way into the shop, by smashing the shutter, but found nothing. The first lot went into the store, dragged out the carts, and all saddles. ; They took all 'but■ the ladies' saddles. Our horses had not yet come up, but the second'lot of Boers simply went through the veldt ■ collecting 'every horse. ■■ They met Booi, the groom, and told him 1 ,! with a gun at his head, that he was to tell where all the horses were. '"; They allowed us to keep six cows only. One of the natives sneaked off into the mountain with father's gun, and hid it in a tree, but they found it and brought it to the house. However, as it was not an " oorlog gun"- they left it. The commandant gave an order that no Boer! should put his foot in our house, and Jhey . trusted our word that there were no guns, ammunition, or menfolk in the house. After, collaring everything they could lay their hands on they left, and we believe they ■jot off across the river again.