OUR BOYS AT HOME.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4734, 16 August 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR BOYS AT HOME.

THE COLONIAL TROOPS UNDER REVIEW. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, June 27. Tliis has not been altogether a happy week for tho colonial troops at Alexandra Palace. It was, of course, necessary until the postponement of the Coronation was announced that rehearsals of the processional ceremonial should be held, but when once all tihe festivities wore declared “off,” there was no particular reason why the soldiers, who after all have been brought Home mainly to give them a holiday and to unable them to see something of the country, should not have been relieved almost altogether of drills and given tho whole day to themselves. Instead of that, they have been marched out every morning through tho neighbouring villages until nearly lunch time. The colonials are not “grousers,” I gather that while Major-General Cooke is generally pronounced “a decent sort,” Lieutenant-Colonel Pole Penton’s methods aro too much those of a martinet, and ids treatment of colonial volunteers home on a holiday too much on the linos of the ordinary routine of Tommy Atkins in barracks, to make him popular. It was a significant fact that at Monday’s dinner, given by the Canadian officers to their colonial comrades, General Cooke was an honoured guest on most cordial relations with his Hosts, while his Chief of Staff was conspicuous by his absence. Roughridcrs and Bushmen have shown in Africa their capacity for hard slogging, but they do nob sco why \ they should he kept “grafting” over hex’e when they are tho guests of tho nation. Such incidents, too, as tho order that the Maoris were to be quartered with tho blacks, rescinded owing to tho firmness of the New Zealand Commandant, and tho refusal of tho authorities to allow tho Canadian bugle band (specially brought oyer by Lieutenant-Colonel Pellatt at his own expense), to take part in tho Royal procession through London, have not been calculated to promote the closer fellowship which it. -was, ono of tho .objects of tho colonial visit to foster.

On Monday the horses were apportioned among tho contingents, and the first, ride out took place. The steeds were a very miscellaneous lot of remounts- and rejects from various regiments, and were generally of uncertain temper and skittish disposition. The natural thing to have done would have been to make the first parade a quiet one in quiet lanes, to enable the men to get used to the peculiarities of their respective mounts. Instead of that, the authority responsible for the arrangements of the march-out was graciously pleased to direct. “Fiat experimentum in corpore vili.” Just as the cavalcade was entering a village, without the slightest warning to the men to sit tight or keep their irritable chargers well in hand, a band concealed in ambush burst into full blast, the crowd that had collected cheered lustily, and the “remounts” reared and kicked and bucked and pranced and backed in all directions. The “big black bounding beggar” assigned to the New Zealand Commandant plunged violently into the front ranks of the regiment, and his rider only saved himself by hastily slipping off as one of the stirrup leathers gave way. One poor fellow was thrown with a crack that made all fear for a moment that his neck had been broken, but came round after a whiles There were several severe shakings, and an Australian, Regimental Sergeant-Major -Costello, and a Canadian each had a leg broken. It was doubtless necessary that horses which in a few days had to march through packed London streets to the crash of bands, the cheering of thousands of spectators, the waving of handkerchiefs, and other disconcerting sights and sounds, and by which the great colonial statesmen were to be surrounded, should have been given some timbalistic training. Duo warning, however, might have been given to the riders, There was considerable caustic comment on this little “surprise party.” On Tuesday Lord Roberts, accompanied by the Duke of Connaught and Major-General Sir H. Trotter, travelled out to the Palace by motor-car and inspected the troops, to the number of 1946 of. all ranks. The Commander-in-Chief inspected the lines drawn up on the southern slope of Muswell Hill, the troops marohed past, the officers were presented to Lord Roberts, and finally the latter visited the mess-rooms, inspected the general arrangements and paid the usual compliments. On Thursday, “Coronation Day,” about 100,000 holiday-makers thronged the Palace and grounds. The 3rd Canadian Rifles, Highland Light Infantry and the Palace Band played in the park all day, and in the evening the massed bands gave a grand military concert in the Central. On the miniature rifle range a shooting match took place between teams from the New Zealand Rifles, Natal Mounted Rifles and Alexandra Park Rifle Club. The beautiful weather and bright sunshine that has prevailed this week have made Alexandra Palace a much more comfortable location, and “Mud Alloy,” as it was referred to at Monday’s dinner, will have to bo rechristened. A FIASCO AT ALEXANDRA PALACE On Saturday night, as per advertisement, “London’s Welcome to the Colonial Troops” took place at Alexandra Palace. The occasion drew an immense crowd thither, and unhappily it was not composed of the choicest elements of society, and the chief event in the programme—a military tatoo emblematic of War and Peace—was in consequence a dismal fiasco. Thousands of people assembled to witness the spectacle, and just before the time fixed for the assembling of the - troops the crowd got beyond control. For some time a few mounted men had been struggling with but little success to keep the people off the tattoo ground, and finally the crowd got completely out of hand. The ground was quite unenclosed, and the spectators encroached further and further upon the space reserved for the troops. Suddenly there was a rush from all sides, and in a few minutes the whole area of the tattoo ground was occupied by people, all pushing towards the saluting base. From the terrace an appeal was made to the people to keep the ground clear for the troops, but the only answer was derisive laughter and ribald comment on the personality of the appellants from the now recklessly riotous “welcoming” crowd, which was largely composed of the ’Any and ’Arriet variety. Six detachments were engaged. From the east native African troops advanced, and Asiatic native troops advanced from the west. The east and west centres were occupied respectively by the South African and New Zealand Contingents, and the two centre positions by Australians and Canadians. Had proper arrangements been made for keeping the spectators within bounds the broken ground to the south of the Palace would have formed an excellent tattoo ground. As it was, the movements of the troops were so hampered that the spectacle was an almost com-

plote failure. In the gathering gloom there could be seen slowly moving lines of flaring torches, but the troops bearing them could only be dimly discerned among the mass of spectators. In its way, the effect was somewhat picturesque, but it was very different from that which was intended, and the behaviour of the crowd on this occasion and the remembrance of C.I.V. day compelled one to admit mentally that the seemingly too drastic measures the. authorities took to keep the crowds in order during Friday’s great pageant were fully justified, After the tattoo the grounds were illuminated, and the troops witnessed a display of fireworks given in their honour. “THE TATTOO.” Had the “tattoo” been carried out in accordance with preco. -jived notions, it would have been quite an impressive affair. The buglers were to sound the assembly; the various detachments were to reply. The buglers were to sound the advance and attack, and the replies were to have been audible to the spectators. There were to be pipers in the distance, discharges of cannon, a kindling of camp fires, a Maori haka, and assorts of pretty things, between the hours of 8.30 and 9.45 p.m. What happened instead you know. Various persons interested in the entertainment of the colonial troops, including the Duke of Abercorn, had been received with duo ceremony in a pavilion in the Central. When they came to take the seats reserved for them on the South terrace, they found the “reservation” was already swarming with “the great unpaying,” to whom the fact that they had bagged the “big bugs’ ” seats without even possessing a piece of pasteboard by way of an “open sesame” was regarded as the Eiffel Tower height of humour. And the middle of the terrace, where Major-General Cooke (in command of the troops) had decided to make his temporary “tattoo” headquarters, was in possession of as unmannerly a mob as I ever hope to find myself in close contact with. They were not content with standing on the scats; they piled them up mie upon another in the hopes of netting a better view of the display which they themselves had by their Whitechapel behaviour already ruined. .Lieu tenantGolouel Pcnton, the Chief of the Staff, made plaint to those who could hear him in language which the “Times,” I observe, labels “homely,” thus; — “We’ve given you the whole show, and you’ve squeezed out the General himself.” I am told that in New Zealand the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel’s observations on occasions when there was a necessity for plain speaking could always bo relied upon to drive home his moaning oven to case-hardened bullockpunchers. But this “homely” appeal on this occasion was unavailing. It only served to gain for him a gratuitous estimate of his own personal charms as seen through a London mob’s spectacles. But, “enough said.” It is the first, and I sincerely hope it will be the last, time any persons primarily responsible for the massing of London thousands anywhere will rely, as the Alexandra Park people seem to have done,, upon the good sense and taste of the mob to prevent them spoiling their own enjoyment. On behalf of the trustees of the Palace, Mr Littler, their chairman, has published an apology to the colonial troops and the distinguished guests, expressing their sincere regret for the “extreme’ discomfort” to which they were subjected through the executive committee’s lack of foresight. The apology was certainly due, but I am afraid it will not wipe out of the minds of the colonial troops the indignation they must have felt at having their well-devised spectacle, completely ruined. Certainly their opinion of the manners and sense of the Great British Public is not likely to be raised by the “Welcome” they received on Saturday night. The only thing that can be said in the crowd’s favour was that they behaved themselves badly with great good humour. Had the mob been in a bad temper there would have been faceblanching scenes. We found some compensation in the fireworks display on the lake-front with which the evening’s—er—entertainment (I) concluded. It was a very good exhibition of pyrotechnics, and included portraits in flame and spark of K. of K. and Joseph of Birmingham (easily recognisable by means of his monocle string), and a forty-foot burning legend “Welcome to Our Brave Colonial Troops.” So with salvoes of variegated rockets and fire balloons floating idly in space the night, which had begun so ill, ended almost gloriously; “COMRADES IN ARMS.” “Our Comrades” was the chief toast at the dinner which the Canadian officers gave at the Cafe Royal last Monday night to the officers of the other contingents at Alexandra Palace. The Canadians will leave the Old Country early in July, and therefore, as one of them said, “Our friendship must be fast and furious, if we are really to get into touch with one another.” The idea of dining together to foster the spirit of camaraderie was mooted on Saturday, and on Monday night the Imperial gathering -took place. The scene was a very bright one. Lieutenant-Colonel Pellatt presided, having on his right General Cooke, commanding the nial contingents at Alexandra Palace, and on his left Lieutenant-Colonel Porter. the commander of the New Zealanders. Dr Bordon, the Canadian Minister of Defence, was one of the few guests in mufti, and every variety of mess jacket—scarlet, blue, -white, khaki—was in evidence. LieutenantHardham, V.C., of the New Zealanders, whose modesty was as great as his. bravery, as a Canadian put it to me, was hardly persuaded to come in the uniform in which he had just arrived, bearing the golden fern-leaf of New Zealand. A prominent and striking figure ' was a North American Indian private, who came in his picturesque dress, head feathers, mocassins and beads complete. He was accompanied from the Palace by Captain Seddon, and the pair had much difficulty in making their way to the trysting place, as the crowd swarmed all round the unusual figure. The Canadians soon made things hum, and their high spirits and good humour infected the whole company. After the dinner came the usual flashlight photograph, and after the photograph many speeches, interspersed bya few Canadian characteristic songs. That the term “comrades” meant something more than more after-dinner good-fellowship Lieutenant-Colonel Porter made clear when replying to the toast proposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Pellatt. The New Zealand Commandant related instances of his experience of the Canadians in the field, how Lord Kitchener bad praised the gallantry of Lieutenant Carruthers Bruce, and described typical traits of the Canadians he encountered, referring with some diffidence to their slightlv different accent. LieutenantColonel Porter was hardly just to his own colony when he declared that it had only followed Canada’s lead. The reverse was, of course, the case, the New Zealanders gave the lead, as a Canadian subsequently pointed . out. Colonel Thompson, who is both a soldier and an M.P. in our Lady of the Snows, made a soul-stirring speech about the

Yeomen of the Empire, living free lives on their farms in the great nations, and Dr .L-rdon referred to the cementing of the Empire on the battlefield, and declared that ho objected to anyone pronouncing the word “colonial” in condescending fashion. He considered himself as good as anyone born in England. Tlio colonies must he left * FREE TO DEVELOP their own internal arrangements. General Cooke responded to the toast of his health, evoking loud applause by his statement tnat it was his misfortune, not his fault, that ho had not been a comrade in arms. Thereafter almost every officer present said a few words testifying to the loyalty of their own particular dominions. A Straits Settlement man testified to the trouble they had with the Sikhs when the war broke out, every' man of the regiment pestering to bo taken to South Africa. A Rhodesian and a Nata’lian each claimed that his colony had sent the largest number of men in proportion to population. Captain Watson, who received the surrender of Pretoria, caused much amusement by referring to the caution of Australia, by his intention not to inflict his views upon men of mature years and experience, and by his statement that Australia was a small whelp of the old lion, but with a big tooth, which could bite. A Natalian, coming close on the Australian’s heels, said they would take a leap in the dark to help their friends, and go to the aid of any other part of the Empire if they had to swim for it.

The best speech of the evening was made by a Trinidad officer, who typified himself the union of white and black. It was evidently a sore point with him that the offer of the coloured troops of Trinidad first for service in South and then in West Africa was declined, but their loyalty in the little dot of an island, surrounded by volcanoes on the north, the sluggish Caribbean sea on the cast, the fever districts of British Guiana on the south, revolution-ravaged Venezuela on the west, was as strong as ever. Ho looked forward to a federation of the AVest Indies under Canada, a sentiment that quite went to the -aids of his hosts. A very- amusing feature of the evening was the Canadian method of breaking out into snatches of song, mainly to the tuno of “Clementine,” to greet speakers, and after the expression of sentiments that appealed to the diners. Lieutenant-Colonel Porter was hailed with “See him smiling now” and “He’s a daisy,” Dr Bordon with “He’s an ornament to the mantelpiece.” Captain Watson’s reference to the “tooth” called forth a toast “A toothful to the tooth” and a chorus “He’s a biter is that tooth,” while after the eulogy of the loyal Sikhs came another extempore burst of melody, “We are seekers, we are seekers, we are seekers after Sikhs.” Altogether it was a happy gathering, happily conceived and happily carried out. A TROOPSHIP. The Kinfauns Castle arrived at Southampton at C a.m. on Saturday morning, having on board four officers, including Lieutenant Hardham, V.C., and 51 men of the N.Z.M.1., under the command of Captain J. R. Macdonald, and 31 Maoris, under Captain Taranaki and Lieutenant TJru. A fellow passenger of the New Zealanders was Colonel H. Hamilton, bearing the original terms of the Boer surrender (a typewritten document) to the King. The vessel was mot by Colonel Porter and Mrs Howie, who had gone down the night before, and who were hailed by loud cheers by the Maorilanders. Unfortunately, during the voyage Captain Taranaki and Lieutenant Urn developed enteric fever, probably contracted in the insanitary surroundings of Capetown, and had to be removed to Netley Hospital, together with a Maori private, whoso name I have been unable to ascertain, and who is suffering from acute rheumatism. According to latest advices, all three are progressing favourably.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN EVIDENCE. On arrival at Alexandra Palace on Saturday afternoon, Colonel Porter was staggered to receive the order from the Chief of the Staff, Lieut Polo-Ponton (wno as former Commandant of the New Zealand forces might fairly have been expected to know something of the relationship of whites and Maoris) that the Maoris were to be quartered with the black and coloured troops, and kept apart from their white comrades. Obedience is a soldier’s first duty, but there are some few occasions, such as that at Copenhagen when Nelson put hi.® blind eye to the telescope, when disregard of orders is not only justifiable, but imperative. This was one of them, and Colonel Porter, I hear on good authority, flatly refused to carry out the command, giving a strong hint to your exCommandant that insistence on the order would be followed by the resignation of tho New Zealanders’ commander. Eventually reasonable counsels prevailed, and an interview with Major-Gene-ral Cooke, tho Commandant of all the colonial forces, and an explanation to him of the position, resulted in the withdrawal of the obnoxious order and the Maoris remaining with their companions, who had welcomed them warmly on arrival. As some trouble of tho same kind took place at the Diamond Jubilee, all friction should have been avoided on this occasion. In separating white and coloured troops, the authorities undoubtedly took a wise step, and no blame can attach to tho War Office authorities, who in appointing as Staff Officer an ex-Commandant of the colonial forces, with both Indian and Antipodean experience, naturally supposed that they had selected a persona grata with colonials, who would understand their various idiosyncracies, their more free and easy ways, and be able to handle just such delicate questions as the treatment of the Maoris in a tactful and considerate manner, not adhering to the strict letter of his instructions in red tape, rigid fashion, but exercising discretion and making the necessary exceptions and allowances. Unfortunately, Colonel Penton’% Indian ideas with regard to coloured troops and discipline seem to have undergone little modification during his sojourn in New Zealand. However, all’s well that ends well, and thanks to Colonel Porter’s firmness "’nd General Cooke’s sweet reasonableness, serious trouble was averted. ORDER OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS As I anticipated, the authorities, in view of the present conciliatory attitude to tho Boers, could not see their way to allowing the Boer standard to be carried by the New Zealanders in the procession. The order of the New Zealanders in tho Royal progress through London would have been:— Colonel Porter. Captain Seddon. Lieutenant Hardhani, V.C. A Squadron—three troops. Carriage, containing Mr and Airs Seddon and Sir R. Bond. Major .auchop. Captain Macdonald. Lieutenant Blair. B Squadron—three troops

(of which the last troop would have been composed exclusively of Maoris).

Ou Me;: lay Lord Onslow will entertain the Maori Contingent at lunch at his town residence, and afterwards drive them in brakes to Earl’s Court Exhibition.

The Fijian detachment of twenty men of tho native armed constabulary, in bhargo of Major A. B. Joske, arrived last Friday by the Ormuz, and speedily attracted considerable attention from the curious crowd, their sulns in lieu of trousers, their frizzed hair standing erect on the head exciting many expressions of wonder. Among them are Sergeant-Major Ratu Ivfeime and Sergeant Veli, both of whom are really lieutenants in the constabulary, but have sunk their rank for the purpose of coming to England. The sergeantmajor is married to a grand-daughter of tho King who ceded tho Fijian islands to the late Queen, whilst the sergeant is one of the highest chieftains in Fiji. Both officers speak English, and their jet black heads of hair are a striking contrast to tho light mops of tho rest of the 'detachment, all of whom are Christians. A SENATOR’S LETTER.

Senator Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, commanding the Australians, has forwarded the following letter to Mr Chamberlain: —“Alexandra Park Camp. —Sir, —l have the honour to request that you will convey to his gracious Majesty that the representatives of the Defence Force 'of the Commonwealth of Australia now in London humbly tender their deepest sympathy in the serious illness which has overtaken him, and trust that under the Divine will he may soon bo restored to health.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron has also forwarded, on behalf of tho colonials assembled in London, a letter to the Colonial Secretary, containing the suggestion that a service for the colonials may bo arranged in Westminster Abbey, “now that we are assembled in England on a singularly significant occasion, and one which is fraught with vast and important consequences.” It is pointed out that the memories of Westminster Abbey are tho proud and common heritage of all tho component parts of the Empire, and if the representatives of tho assembled fighting manhood of the colonies were allowed to attend a divine service there it would bo the crowning event of their visit.

Sir Edmund Barton and other prominent colonial statesmen in London have approved of the suggestion. Why citizen soldiers of the selfgoverning colonics should daily do sentry-go before the wing of the Hotel Cecil assigned to iSie “bosses of the Britons Beyond Sea’' is rather hard to understand. It cannot be to secure the safety of the statesmen that a Canadian in red, an Australian. New Zealander. Cape Colonist, or Natalian in khaki, or a Natal Naval Reservist in Jack Tar costume with fixed bayonet tramps backwards and forwards on the pavement all day long, for the Premiers are encircled by such a cordon of officials in red and black tibat entrance is effectually barred to all but those whom the Premiers desire should be “shown up.” Most of the Premiers ar homely men who desire neither pomp nor pageant, and they might well have dispensed with tihis touch of militarism. The idea of bringing colonial contingents Home is to give them a holiday and lot them see something of the Old Country and its capital, not to harass them with the barrack-yard routine of a regular “Tommy.” At all events, that is what some of the colonials bhink. and one of the Commonwealth men remarked to an interviewer: “I didn’t enter into a contract when I left Sydney to stand at the door of Toby Barton’s diggings in London to be stared at by a crowd of men and women sitting in the porch.” INDIAN TROOPS AT HAMPTON COURT. The encampment of the Indian troops at Hampton Court has vied with those of the whites and blacks at Alexandra Palace in popular favour. The brown men from Hindustani do not respond to the amorous advances of servantgirldom like the descendants of Ham at the North London camp, but they have won favour by their unfailing politeness to visitors of all denominations. They must get excessively bored with the never-ending catechisms of old ladies concerning their wives and families,* but they never allow a sigh of weariness or impatience to escape them. Their attitude to such unintentional tormentors is ono of deferential courtesy. The British workman is possibly even more trying, for ho is prone to offer hospitality of a kind particularly offensive to the person he desires to honour. For instance, I saw one brawny navvy, on hospitality bent, take his shag-laden pipe from his beery mouth and proffer a smoke to a high-caste Rajpoot. Only those who are versed in the intricacies of social and religious laws east of Suez can appreciate the affront to the smiling warrior, who, however, gave no sign of displeasure, merely declining the offer with a graceful bow.

The readiness with which the Hindoos and Mahomedans have accommodated themselves to their strange surroundings is shown by their profuseness in handshaking, a form of greeting quite unknown in their native land, but most charming of all is their friendliness to British children. This is no now trait; they show that at homo, but it is really surprising to see little mites of both sexes “pal up” on the instant with those K Orientals, for in those days as of old nursemaids are very apt to try the effect of the “black man coming” bogey on their charges when the youngster is troublesome. The Orientals seem to relish greatly the confidence of the "sonny Sahibs” and “HI memsahibs” in, them, and make much of the youngsters, but they do not at all relish being treated with such personal familiarities as used to be lavished on the Zulus at Earl’s Court. To the Eastern warrior such petting is very objectionable, and though ho never loses his temper, bis suavity disappears the moment a visitor oversteps the bounds of mere cordiality, as London’s ’Arries and ’Arriets are prone to do on the smallest provocation.