AN OPINION ON THE WELLINGTON AFFAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11689, 26 June 1901, Page 7

AN OPINION ON THE WELLINGTON AFFAIR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As a sister of three much-loved brothers at (ho front in South Africa 1 read with a good deal of indignation the letter in this morning's issue signed Civilian." The write:- has evidently very remote ideas as to what constitutes "a brave soldier"' when lie can so readily condone the unsoldierly conduct of. the volunteers in Wellington. What, think you, would become of "our brave soldier boys" if they "aired their grievances" in so inglorious a fashion when under similar or worse conditions in South Africa? Are such men, 1 ask, who so selfishly and publicly complain of a few discomforts in a town camp, so very ready to yield up their lives for their country at "a moment's notice?" I do not believe them worthy of In; sentiments they have inspired in "Civilian," though I appreciate the bitter's evident patriotism. lie «jood enough to notice the following extract from a private letter from South Africa: — "Things tire getting worse every day here, and I do not believe the war will ever end. I have been without a wash or a change for three weeks and am literally in rag-', and living on a. pound of mealie meal a day has made rne fearfully thin. Much >, thing as a. hot drink J have not tasted for two months, and although the food is not so bad just now, we have had to sleep in the rain for weeks, digging trenches around us to let the water off. Sixteen of our fellows were killed in a night attack on our camp last week, nnd I hid a very narrow escape; two bullets pas.' ed through my hat, and another struck the buttons of my tunic." Sir, under these awful conditions hundreds or men are fighting for their country and losing their lived daily. And there is no romance- or sentiment ill war save what a soldier ak.--- individually lor himself in en mudfish and uncomplaining sacrifice of his own comfort .> . desire?. As one of my brothers has lecon.ly died from the effects, of months of hardships. 1 wish to say that, though grieving over my 10-s. I glory in his death as that of a hero and a soldier, in every sense of the word. And those four men in Wellington are what their colonel most justly calls them, infernal cowards," and not fit to wear tut King's uniform. [ urn, etc., \ Soldier s Histem. Auckland, .Time 24, 1201.