"SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN.”

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3784, 5 July 1899, Page 2

"SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN.”

A remarkable incident happened at Pretoria on Ascension Day. It appears that in the evening a smoking concert was held in connection with the visit of some Rand .swimmers.' Previously to the commencement of the concert an informal gathering was held, at which the visitors were introduced to General Joubert, Vice-President, and Commandant of the Republic. The General, as president of the Pretoria Swimming; Club, expressed, the great pleasure it gave him to bid the visitors welcome. The pleasure was all the greater because, in spite of all the wild rumours prevailing, it showed that in the field of sport they were jail on common ground, -and were willing to work together.' ' And if they were working amicably together in matters of sport, why not in other respects ? He was sure that these friendly'meetings and competitions would serve .to bring them back to the. old'days when all wore united and all worked together for the good of the country. So, far,' apparently, all went well, and in onening the smoking concert at a later stage the General expressed the same sentiments, and, his remarks were cheered to the echo. The ■. programme going alofig sinoothly enough until some-* one sang the well-known patriotic song “Soldiers of the Queen.” Thereupon the fat vvas r in the. fire. Mr Bohlmann. the secretary of the Second Raad, and chairman of the swimming club, who suffers from an excess of anti-British patriotism, saw fit to take umbrage at the incident. He got hold of the song, tore it up, flared, round in an. amazing fit of temper, and, called on all patriotic Transvaalers to leave the room in consequence of the deadly insult to Land apd Volk. But for Mr Bohlmaun’s foolish display of temper iio one" would have taken any notice of the incident. As it was, Mr Jan de Beer, who stiffen from the same complaint as Mr Bohlmann, but who had not the slightest idea what the song was about, also got up, and after blaming Mr Brecber, the member for'Vrylieid, for bringing him to! a place whore improper songs were sung; bounced but of, the room. In this little incident (says the “Cape Times”) General Joubert appears to have acted as a veritable deus ex macMna, and to liave saved the situation by an excellent display of tact. He got up and observed that it often happened that clouds arose to disturb proceedings like those. What bad happened that evening was a very little cloud indeed, and he hoped that no oiio would allow it to interfere with 1 lie harmony of the .concert. When the General tfiokihis. departure be was, cheered to the echo. •.