THE OTAGO SECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11840, 18 December 1901, Page 5

THE OTAGO SECTION.

70 APPLICATIONS FOP. ENROLMENT*.

[r,r TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dr.vF.DIN", Tuesday.

Up to the present 170 applications for enrolment. in tho Eighth Contingent have bee received, including 15 troopers who have served in former contingents. Among the. applications for commissions are six officers and men who served with former contingents, and Captain Logan, of the Maniatoto Mounted Rido*.

• REITRNINO TROOP [HT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington*. Tuesday. The Waiweva. which arrived from Lon« don, via Capetown and Hobart to-day. brings t ie following returned troopers for Auckland : —-1 Foley (Roberts' Light Horse), (J. Kelly (Medical Service Corps), Trooper H. Tufiu-11. and Gunner P. Henward (Prince of Wales' Light Horse).

NEW ZEAL AND ILL. [BY • rEI.KGUAI'H. —PRESS ASSOCIATION". J

Wellington, Tuesday. The General commanding at Capetown cables that the following New Zea landers are dangerotislv ill:—(4288) Lance-Cor-poral Rooert Flower (Blenheim), suffering from enteric at- Newcastle; and (4432) Private Eivell (Christohurch), suffering from enteric at Charlestown.

LETTER FROM A NEW ZEALAND * TROOPER. Sergeant. Arthur Te Wawata Gannon, of the Seventh New Zealand Mounted Rifle-,

writes of the movements of the forces in

South Africa in the vicinity of Vrvheid ,'flwl the surrounding country during the month of October. Sergeant Gannon is serving with Colonel Garrett's column, under Lieuto naiit- Colonel Po r t er.

Writing from near Vrvheid on October 8, he says:—"The wet weather considerably im--pedes our movements. Often as lam just; getting to sleep near my saddle, I hear the nigger drivers yelling ami whipping the trek mules, getting into camp with ration waggons. Lately we have been operating against General Botha on the Zulu border. The rough country, with its many drifts, kopjes, ridge;, and passes, allowed the- Boers to get their waggons past us, under cover of our scouts, and to com© and keep us ongaged all day while their supply column trekked to a place of safety. I noticed that: the Zulus are now on tko warpath, and are all in their warpaint, making for the Zululand border, to prevent the Boers from stealing their cattle and supplies. In my estimation, a Zulu is a typical warrior fine, muscular men, with every indication of ' grit and push.' It is a grand sight to see them only partly clothed, get over the ground at a fast gait., armed with their assegais. Yesterday, October 7, we fought General Botha with about 700 men. He he-Id a splendid position. We could not shift, him. Towards evening his column retired in good order out of range of our guns. Our column had 14- or 15 casualties. According to authentic accounts, the Boers lost heavily. With my own eves 1 saw shells burst right amongst; them. The Zulus pare me to understand that many of the Boers were "Finish Boss,' which meant dead. The British were of the opinion that they had Botha cornered. Let me tell you the smart Botha is out of tho British cordon, and is now trekking in his own time towards Wakkerstroon, near Volksrust, ot Majnba Hill It is annoying, con- \ sidering. I believe, over 70,000 troops have been taking part in the surrounding movements. Our small column (Colonel Garrett's) co-operated, and lor the manoeuvre was under tho command of Major-General Kitchener (brother, I believe, of the commandant ot the forces in South Africa). After yesterday I am satisfied the Boers arc game. They out-general led us. We outnumbered them. At present we are driving the Boers north-west. Most likely the other columns will 1 cave by train, and, getting ahead of tho enemy, oppose them. "October 10: A convoy, with supplies from Yryheid, joined our column to-day. It will bo at least 10 or 14- days before we trek to the line of communication. 1 guess fighting will bo tlio order of the day in that vicinity. "October 14: To-day the Qucenslandors and West Australians at Paulpietersburg played tho New Zenlanders football. We licked the combined representatives of tho two States of the Commonwealth by 17 to nil. Took the wind out of their sails, eb? "Our small column (Colonel Garrett's),, with Major-General Walter Kitchener's, about 3000 in all, are in camp it this small township. On tho 10th Inst, we arrived hero from Bivaan Bridge, and immediately destroyed the municipal buildings, leaving the places of worship standing. Tho following day the Queensland Imperial Bushmen, New Zealanders, and field guns, under the eommmd of Colonel White, reconnoitred the country round about Pongala Bush. En route i.-ir intelligence staff of Zulus and ' tamo' Boers were busily engaged getting in-; formation from the blacks inhabiting the, locality. Our scouts were despatched to locate the enemy's position, and found them; occupying an almost impregnable situation, with several fieldpieces. Wo returned to camp, over some rugged country, without firing a shot, and let our horses graze on the green veldt. I presume wo are holding thin position until other columns advance to form part of the cordon, and then make- the general attack. In the meantime the smart Commandant Botha will trek to another place of safetyjust like a, game of draughts. The only difference between the engaged parties—the Boers make two moves while we make one. In other words, the enemy travel at tho rate of eight miles per hour,' while wo modern British trek at the fast, gait of three miles per hour. Yet preparations, I heard, were being made in parts of. the world for the termination of hostilities ' The day of peace.' " It seems to be authentic news that General Botha advanced south (towards Capo Colony) with 2000 men last month. The' many British columns frustrated his plans, forcing him to retire to this district. He hasnow about 1200 or 1300 men, having had 500 killed, wounded, or captured. In the course of a few days we will again bo doing our 'little bit' towards the Empire. We are expecting a convoy from Vrvheid to-day with fresh supplies. At present we are oil half-rations. It is pretty hard, but wo are all looking forward to a good time. There is very little loot about here, all firms having been destroyed by previous columns. The rainy season is just commencing, • and we have not as yet been allotted tents.' 1 think it is high time the au-, thorities considered the matter. Can. you wonder at the number of cases of chronic' diseases from sleeping out on the damp' ground in the draught and rain? It would bo much to the comfort of each and all ifsomething was done on our behalf, and in..' after years we would realise the benefit of it. Eventually we will get tents—unfortunately it will bo too late—disease will get such a firm hold of the system that it will baffle the medical skill.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, our popular regimental commander, is looking well, and I think the same can safely be said for the men, notwithstanding the many vicissitudes. I am pleased to say. as an 'old contingenter,' that the Seventh are doing good work. Guerilla fighting requires tact and dash, and in every respect the ' boys' seem to bo adapted for it. At present all eyes are watching the horizon for the convoy with the much-needed supplies—or a stray chicken that may be trekking along the skyline."

"Lnrr.TTi!r; Mountains, October 22. "Since the 14th inst. a small commando' tried to conceal themselves in the Limburg Mountains. On Sunday, the 20th, while General Plumer, with the Sixth New Zealand Contingent, held the western position, and General Hamilton the southern. Colonel Garrett advanced un a rugged val- : ley to tighten the cordon. * After a short! halt Plumer guns could be heard vigorously shelling. We (Colonel Garrett's column) pushed or,, and soon had our guns in action. The combined movements proved a success. The laager was captured and destroyed, and several prisoners of war, rifles, and ammunition. Our column also captured about 2500 head of fat cattle, as well as several thousand sheep. On the 21st inst. Colonel Garrett, with the Seventh New Zealanders and Queenslanders. returned to where the Boer, engaeed us the day previous. We thoroughly searched the bush and rocks, burning more waggons and capturing more prisoners. Several snipers continued to dispute things. x'hey thought they could keep our men at bay with the Mauser fire. The New Zealanders soon put them out of action. I don't think those Boers will ever pin" [ ping! again. "In th:? evening we returned to camp. We are about two days' trek off the line of communication. Goodness knows when we shall get there. This will be the last trek for those going home to New Zealand. "Operations under General Walter Kitchener, in this district, have been as hard on the men and horses as doings in the eat-ly campaign half rations for man and horse, on© blanket, wet weather, rugged country and, on the other hand, movements not being so successful as might be at this modern stage of operations.