THE SECOND CONTINGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 26

THE SECOND CONTINGENT.

ARRIVAL AT CAPETOWN.

DETAILS OF THE VOYAGE FROM ALBANY.

(BY OUR. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ALBANY, February 3. -We arrived at Albany at 5 p.m., but did not get to our anchorage till nearly 6, so leave to go ashore was only granted to officers and non-commisdioned officers. We received a bugle salute from the fort, and to return the compliment our unearthly war cry was given by all hands. A small heap cf cablegrams from New Zealand was received by the commanding officer, who passed them round for general inspection. A kind farewell wire from Mr Quealy, of Pollard Opera fame, caused great delight amongst his many fervent admirers on board. '' Thank you very much " was the universal expression. A coidial invitation from the Albany Club to the officers was sent on board, and the proprietress of the swimming* bathe followed suit with a kind offer of free baths to all the men. After the universal manner of lady writers, she added a postscript. It was : " Bring your own towels." As soon as possible all those granted leave got aboard the launch, and left their less fortunate comrades to enjoy the pleasures of cosling. Albany would be a nice place to die in, but is no good for a healthy individual who geeks variety. It is really very dull, and when we eagerly asked the first Albanian if there was anything to do, he merely grinned and said there never is here. Drawn by a common desire for excitement, the whole of the leave men met in a bazaar which was being held in aid of some church in a state of " hardupness." "The natural aptitude of the organisers for business was shown by the 'enlistment of a squad of our men to aid the bazaar. These volunteers filed sadly on to the platform, and were followed by Corporal Jones, who sang* " Soldiers of the Queen " with great success. The war cry was then gheii, and caused a rapid increase in the attendance, the horrid sound being audible over a large area, and attracting the public most successfully. All the officers were present, and I saw one junior spending hj 3 p a y rashly on a sixpenny dip, whilst Captain Smith, of the battery, was busily engaged in solving the mysteries of all the sideshows, it being suggested that he should go in first and put liis head over the screens and report to those outside. The gallant captain was also eager to have lu\ fortune told by tho lady gipsy, but unfoitrnately the lady ; s tent was not built on puQiciar.tly ample lines to admit the eager gimncr, who retired sadby. Next morning* the officers were invited to meet tho members of the Albany Club. The vice-president, in a short speech, welcomed the second contingent, and after mentioning the arrangements that had been made for the New Zealanders' entertainment, drank the contingent's health. The Major, in reply, thanked the Albany Club for their hospitality, and hoped that ail present wo aid meet again before the end of the year — a remark vthich was cheered to the echo. All present then adjourned to the Freemasons' Hotel, where the club had prepared a sumptuous lunch, after which a delightful drive round the new marine drive to visit the forts was taken. Two of tho officers were droppad at the golf links to play a round. The links are small, but very difficult, and have a natural handicap in the shape of myriads of hungry flies. An extremely light cqstume was extemporised for the visitors, who found their uniforms too heavy, and thus gave tho mosquitoes a fair chance. In consequence, the players spent a horrid ni^ht lamenting their condition, and now speak of golf as an over-rated game. A dance was hastily arranged, but all received orders to report on board at 8 p.m., so we sorrowfully returned to the ship to find coaling ivi v f u ]l swing, and everything in a hopeless mess. Coaling; con-

tinued all night, and lasted till nearly 4 next afternoon, everyone remaining on board. We got away at 5 o'clock, and things settled down japidly. The men behaved splendidly on shore, and all speak gratefully of the kindae=", of Albany's inhabitants.

Saturday. — The ncii-commissioned officers organised a most successful concert to-night. The following is the programme, and v.ill show how willing the officers arc to join in every form of amusement for the men : — Overture, Sergeant S. Street and Dumaresq, Privates Kendall, Gold&tono, end MacTavish ; song. Corporal Jones; iccitation, Private Twistleton; song, Lieutenant Todd (encored) : song, Gunner Hawkcs ; pong. Prnato Nalder ; recitation, Private Irwin ; rong, Lieutenant Craushaw; sr>ng, "Veterinary-lieutenant Sauuderson; &,ong, Lieutenant Hume; s=ong, Gunner Ilocige; vwo" cry, Private Sominerville. There was the usual interval for cigarette and bcei distribution, the liquid part of the refreshment being a gift from the Albany brewery. The recitr.tions were very good. One performer, however, being slightly ncr■\ous, after negotiating three verses, lis came to the words "' Wo he said," and then came a long pause, which was filled in by one of the audience, who sang out " Stand by your horses," considerably amusing everyone except the performer. The screw is somewhat given to interrupting matters, and a good song was badiy spoiled by a vicious roll of the boat, followed by an avalanche of bottles.

Sunday. — The usual parade, followed by divine service, was held. In addition we had a lesson read by the doctor nnd an anthem, "The Holy City/ by Lieutenant Hume. While arranging the service the night before the Major turned to the doctor and said : " Oh, by the way, doctor, you will read a chapter to-morrow morning: a, lesson, you know, after the Psalms." "Yes, sir," said the much- worried medico ; " one lesson or two? " " Oh, only one," said his commanding officer, who was also thinking of the approaching concert; "unless," he added, ab-sent-mindedly, " you get an encore." They say the expression of horrified bewilderment on the surgeon's face was worth a lot. Our fir3t horse death occurred to-day, much to the sorrow of our hard-working veterinary surgeon, who had hoped to get to South Airica without any casualty aboard. A consultation was held, and as the animal suffering and in a hopeless condition, it was condemned to death, and a revolver shot ended his troubles. The Major gave his weekly lecture to non-commissioned officers on •reconnaissance work, and it was listened to with the greatest attention, as we are all eager to learn everything that will make us more serviceable on our arrival. A rather extensive epidemic of influenza is spreading through the ship, attacking both horses and men. Saddler Gunton is the only case that has been f-ent to the hospital (a large cabin right aft), but about 20 men are daily reported unfit for duty. The captain 'and two ship's officers are ill. and some of the stewards have joined them in their misfortunes. We are greatly disappointed at our slow travelling-, to-day's run being only 236 miles, as we hoped to beat the Surrey, which left Fremantle the same day that wo left Albany. I fear she will arrive at Durban firbt. To-day we are having a full kit inspection, and many heartburnings over lost articles have been" caused. The messroom and sleeping quarters have been completely emptied, and a squad of 40 are occupied in holy stoning every inch. Up to now the floors have been washed daily, and owing to the lack of sunlight the alley ways between the bunks have remained damp all day. An epidemic of sore throat roused the surgeon to complain of this procedure, and in future dry \jets3li rriih sand is to supersede the moist treatment. A selected squad of men are daily practising signalling, Lieutenant Hume being our instructor, and I hope we will be proficient by the time we arrive. An amusing little incident occurred lately. One man, who did not fancy hard work when he felt seaFick, took a holiday, and went forward to the seamen's quarters, and bid low when the roll was called. The absentee was sought for high and low, and, not being found, the sergeant jumped to the tragic conclusion that it was a case of suicide, the missing man having been last seen leaning sorrowfully over the ship's side— a not unusual attitude in rough weather for bad sailors. Accordingly the man was reported " missing," and the sergeant's theory widely discussed till the mystery Avas cleared up by the return of the absentee, who was promptly consigned to the guardroom. Comparisons are odious, but those drawn between the first and second contingents by the officers of the Waiwera are worse than wicked. So much' has been said by these gentlemen derogatory to their present passengers that a syndicate has been formed with the sole object of forcibly obliterating our unkind critics. The present contingent can do nothing well in their eyes. Everything is adversely criticised. To-day an officer was lavine* down the law as usua l , and remarked : " Why, look at your fellows: I watch them passing my cabin; every man stooping, half asleep, and all their mouths wide open." "Yes," said his victim, "I quite believe the whole lot would pass your cabin with their mouths open before you would ever think of giving a man a drink." Private Hareourt is taking a series of photos of the day's work, which I hear he has promised to the doctor, who means to send them to you, so they may appear in the Witness. I Faw an active supernumerary taking copious notes at one of the concerts, and, having no notebook, he was covering his Phirt cuff with hieroglyphics, and, turning to his next neighbour, lie remarked, " You see, .we pressman are never at a loss for paper." "That's awfully cule." said the trooper: but why do you uss indelible pencil on a shir! cuff?" The reporter collapsed, and applied to the surgeon for a remedy, and has not spoken since. The silliest practical joke I have ever witnessed was ployed yesterday. A superlative idiot went into one of the officer s cabins, and, taking his sword from the sheath, laid it across the bed, with its hilt against the wall, and its point projecting outwards into the cabin. As the cabin is only sft wide, the naked point faced the open cioor about 4ft from the entrance. The owner of the cabin ran hastily in, and just missed coming ri<rht against the point, nearly striking himself below the heart, a^d only saved his skin by flinging his hands out and stopping himself against the edge of his bunk. The homicidal idioi who planned this booby trail has not yet claimed any patent rights, or even handed in hi? name. I think this was at least wise, as victim is a liOle upset, and wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness in a practical manner. It was suggested that the brilliant inventor should set booby traps with a loaded revolver next time.

The kind donor of chocolate will be glad to know that niter heartily enjoying the contents, the tin it="lf has come in most handy a a a small medicine chest, each officer having had his tin filled -with i f-mnll surgical outfit, which he can easily carry in hi& haversack.

February 11. — We are now fairly into hot weather, and for the last two day<s we have hod heavy seas, with almost unbearable heat and constant rain. The temperature in one part of the lower deck stables was lOOdeg, and the fuiriers worked half lime only. A second lioiso died yesterday quite suddenly, 1 and several others are ill. The farriers are now busy fitting shoes preparatory to land- | ing, and all r.re making up their kits. The , usual concert Mas held last night (Saturday), | and a feature of the programme was a HighI land reel by Privates M'Gregor and Chesterman, Private Henderson being the pipof. To-day our church service was improved by £>n anthem, " Rocked in the cradle of the ! deep," sung by Yeicrinary Lieutenant San- , derpon, aad a recitation, Kipling's " Recesi sional hymn/ by Captain Smith. The last i time our lengthy reciter gave this item ; in the Christehureli Savage Club, and it i must have struck him how different the occai sion** were.

February 13. — A vaccination parade was held to-day, and 25 victims were selected and marched to the Chamber of Horrors, the name s^ivcii to the dispensary. A sergeant took charge, and gave the order: "Fall in; strip your chefts, ' and ushered his troops in one by one. .After the ceremony the patients were lined up in the sun to dry, and then dressed by ths hospital orderly. One man was so horiifiecl at the process that he promptly fainted, and when his arm was being dressed he repeated the performance, much to his comrades' disgust. We had a curious accident yesterday. A man feeling thirsty, called to one of his friends in the guardroom to throw him up a bottle. The bottle was thrown up, but broke on the edge of the hatch and fell back, piercing the thigh of one of the guard, inflicting a deep wound. Saunders, the doctor's assistant, very smartly ran for a bandage, and tied up the sufferer. On the doctor's arrival he congratulated the lad on undoubtedly saving the patient from a serious loss of blood. This seems a practical result of the ambulance lectures. We have had a lot of carbine practice lately, firing in squads from the stem at floating target?. I think the shooting is distinctly good. The officers also formed a squad, and their shooting was excellent. Of course, Lieutenant Sommerville is the best, but Heather and Crawshaw are first-class, both with the carbine and revolver. We had our second ambulance lecture this week. As there is no blackboard, the hospital orderly — Trooper Hill — -was perched on a form .and chalked all over till he looked like an impressionist sketch. The audience enjoyed the model's embarrassment, and each time they were told, now this man has broken his arm, or leg, as the case might be, they groaned sympathetically, while the victim grinned loudly, and even the stately commandingofficer condescended to smile softly. The officers are giving an athletic competition next Saturday as a return for the concerts given by the men. Each officer is giving a day's pay towards the prize fund. The doctor was elected treasurer, but one captain is paid -to have objected to his appointment, alleging that he was the thirstiest man on the ship — a distinctly unkind hit at the mess president, who has to dole out the beer to the contingent. We have a fine swimming bath fashioned out of an awning fitted up on deck. Last night several officers went for a bathe after lights were out, and one deposited his clothes in the nearest cabin. When ho returned to claim his garments he found to his dismay that the owner of the cabin had treacherously locked the door and fled, and the vinfortunate bather had to bolt forward clad only in Nature's garb. He fell a viGtim to the first sentry, who refused to let him pass, alleging that he was no I properly clad. He eventually persuaded his captor to release him, and was promptly seized by the next sentry, who also refused to recognise a dignified officer in mufti. He does not bathe now. The noncommissioned officers gave us a splendid concert, the feature of which was a rattling speech by the major, who wove a moral into .his discourse by remarking that a man left behind in the guardroom could not fight. Saturday. — We had a great athletic sports meeting. , There were 11 events and 277 entries, so the committee had their hands full. It was terribly hot, and the clerk of the coursa got what he called a ' stroke," and mixed up the entries considerably; whilst the official photographer retired to bed, overcome by his responsibilities. The Obstacle Race was*awfully funny, our respected Captain Smith being soaked by the man Avho wielded the hose. We are all hoping to land to-morrow at Durban, and were paid up to to-day. It will be a huge disappointment if we are ordered to the Cape.

February 21. — We reached Port Natal in a high gale and blinding rain, which effectually prevented any interchange of signals. After some delay, a tug boat brought the pilot out, and then we learnt that a gunboat had been sent out the previous day to intercept us, and order us on to Capetown, so we had to wait till a cable was sent on to Capetown, and an answer received. This lost us a whole day, "and all found it a trying* time. Ladysmith being still unrelieved, we have hones that we may see some active service still, but we heard this morning that Cronje was in a bad way. We had one bad night at sea — a high gale with constant lightning and incessant rain. The horses were terrified, and the roar of the wind and rain, the neighing of the poor horses, and the flapping of the sails, which our very scratch crew were trying to take in, made a veritable pandemonium. The picket was very busy looking aftc:.* the horses, whilst the remainder of the men who had been tempted by the heat to sloop on deck fled below soaked to the skin. Unfortunately, all our clothes had been packed and seru. down into the held, so we had absolutely nothing to change into, and shivered all night.

Having finished our voyage, I would like to mention +he name of one man who has proved true grit all through. Trooper Hill was appointed hospital orderly, although he much wished to serve in the ranks. He has simply devoted hinif-elf to his fellow-troopers ever since he entered camp, and has been the mainstay of every sick man in the troop. One instance only will show his imselfishness. A trooper was taken suddenly bad with sunstroke, and had to be sent into hospital. Hill watchsd him. four nights sitting up all the iime, and doing his usual work in the dayHe was a competitor in the athletic sports, and was favourite in all his events, and I know was keen on competing. But lie never started. He was asked why he had abandoned Lho races, and ho quietly said that he v, as too sleepy. Few men knew that he had clono with a coaple of hours' sleep during- the last four nights. This is the sort of man who will prove a credit to the contingent.

February 2%. — Arrived at Capetown 7.30 this morning*. Found the bay full of transports, several of them still containing troops. The first wo passed was the Maori King, and next the Surrey. Vociferous cheers and war cries being interchanged between the contingents. The Maori King has been here a day

and a-half, and has just gone to the wharf, so we shall probably be kept till Monday before we land. Everyone is naturally impatient to get away, but I think the sight of so many troopships has rather opened our men's eyes to the fact that we are only a drop in the ocean, and of no importance at all. Victoria West, March 4-. — We are still herowaiting for order?. Everything is packed, and yesterday a sudden order to lea\e at onca roused us .ill. When saddled up " and all ready, another telegram countermanded the previous order, and we are now grumbling and wondering if we are ever to go, or are to share the fate of that celebrated English regiment which was lost by the War Office and wandered about England trying to get found. A nephew of Lord Roberts is here in charge of stores, also an^ unfortunate surgeon who came out it om England full of warlike ardour, and was stationed hero two da3"s after his ar- ■* rival. His chief occupation is exercise on the platform, and much language unfit for publication. The New Zealanders created a huge sensation. The first night of our camping, the' sentries were served out with ball cartridge, and told to challenge thrice, and then fire over Ihe head of any suspected visitor. Wo were, happily, asleep dreaming of the joy of seGing a piece of soap again, when a shot rang out. The Tasmanian and Duke's Own Regiment sounded an alarm, and everyone grasped his.neighbour's boots and fled to the tent door. After some minutes of anxious wonder, wefound that a trooper, determined to do his duty, had challenged a dark object thrice, and then fired over its head., the bullet whistling over the station and the -neighbouring* camps. The stationmaster got into a place of safety in record time, and the whole popula-, tlon turned out solid. The Duke's Own sen 1 ; a party with three mules down the line to man a bridge, and all the rest lined the trenches. We alone remained calm in the trying hour. The orderly officer (Lieutenant Findlay) raced in the direction of the shot, and nearly met a watery grave in a muddy lagoon. Finally, the commandant summoned the commanding oflicsrs tojiis house, and our major went sorrowfully to answer to the charge of waking the town, and now it is whispered that the siispicious visitor was a. cow. I can't believe it myself, as New Zealanders know a cow when they see one. Our next sensation wag the following night, when the proprietor of the canteen sent an urgent message for help. His pet cow had fallen down a well 20ft deep, and the Tasmanians and all the Duke's Own had twice dragged her up, and then had let her drop. The surgeon and Sergeant Dumaresq, with Corporal Chescerman, were detailed to save that cow (many volunteered when they learned that the owner kept the canteen). We found the quadiuped 20ft below the surface, with its back just showing on the surface of the water, and down we climbed amidst the cheers of the rival cow lifters. Chesterman and Dumaresq fixed that cow with all sorts of slings, and then climbing up, we hauled the lady clean out amidst a babel of war cries and cheers. We got a drink for it. A little bugler had mess with us the other day, and proudly exhibited a long wound on liis arm.. He was in the battle of Belmont, and was afterwards detailed for stretcher-bearing*. Whil&t giving a wounded Boer some water, his patient drew a knife and stabbed him, then, seized his riSe and shot three men passing. Several men hurried iip and clubbed the Boer into hip future sphere, and the little chap who was telling us said, "It made me feel quite seasick." The population of Victoria West road apparently consists of a harassed stationmaster and an enormous lady pig, which was of course christened Mrs Kruger. There is a. canteen and a shanty called a hotel, but there the town ends, and the sand begins. A great number of trains are passing — specials, red cross, mails, prisoners, and store trains succeeded each other in endless procession night and day. We give the prisoners water and ask for news, and that is our sole excitement. • We are informed that a large commando is posted with four guns fairly close to us, buff the authorities won't let us start until we are all complete, so we are sadly waiting for the rest of the contingent and the battery. This is the most disaffected district in the colony, and endless tales of treachery are told. Lieutenant Roberts told me that the best of the stationmasters was suddenly discharged for exceeding his duty, his crime being that he prepared hot water for the passing troops. The stationmaster wired to Sir A. Milner, and immediately received an order from that gentleman to resume his duties, and to take orders from no one but the railway authorities. The officials are working 54- working days a month, and during an inquiry on a slight accident which occurred here, it transpired that the engine-driver had been 48 hours, oil continuous duty. The inhabitants here won't sell or lend transport, and even refuse to repair waggons in case we commandeered them. We are going to do so the moment we get away from here. The boys were greatly delighted at getting good tobacco at Is 4d from the store?. Mr Shand, the. war correspondent, stopped' a day here, and gave us hsaps of news. The first contingent is split vp — some in Kirnberley and some with General French. We were astonished to hear of two new contingents from New Zealand, and everyone says, What a loyal place it must be. This expedition being entrusted to up is a sign of what the authorities think of colonial troops, as we bliall be totally unsupported, and away from communications. Our camp is truly a dusty hole, and a good old nor'-wester in Canterbury would hide its head with shame if -it could see what the wind here can do. If you talk for more than a few minutes you find that you hare a cooking stove inside your mouth, with a full supply of sand and beetles. Sergeant Blair is now temporarily in charge of a division, as Captain Hutson and Mr Banks are left in Capetown with the remainder of the contingent. A horse died in the lines yesterday, and several others have sand- colic We were glad to Jiear that Captain Smith has recovered and returned to camp. It is said that ho was returning in a hansom towards camp when we passed on our way to the station. The gunner suddenly flung himself over tha splashboard to inqiiire where ->ye were going, and the sudden apparition sent all the gee 3 off into a buck-jumping exhibition. This may be a libel, but he has a few scars on lu3 face, and he is energetic in his movements. During our exercise parade two days ago we dropped across a horseman who was intently scanning* our "camp. The moment he saw he was seen he bolted for a mile and a-half, andi then dismounted and resumed his espionages Later the sentry told me that he liad seen a> man a short way beyond the lines watching us.i

It served to remind us tbat we are in ati enemy's country. To-day we had a church service in one oi the station stores. Mr Robinson came ovei from Victoria West (village proper) and conducted it. The hymns were a bit disjointed, but the National Anthem brought down tlie house. We have also a priest here who is desirous of accompanying the column, but whether the Major will consent to his doing so I can't say. Trooper Bulling passed through here on his way to Capetown. He was blown down by the shell that killed poor Booth. He is said to be convalescent now. When in Maitland I paid a visit to Rondefoosch Hospital to see Sergeant Watkins and Trooper Bond, of the first contingent. They are doing well, not wounded, but recovering from accident or illness. Miss Teape, of Wellington, is now there, but has received an ultimatum that she may be sent to Bloemfontein when we take it. She has been busy ever since she landed. Mr Saunders, who acted as junior assistant to the doctor on the voyage, will perhaps go with us, as I hear the doctor has applied for leave to take him. He is still young, but a really plucky chap, and works well. (Pee Association Special.) Camp, Maitland, February 23. After disembarkation we marched to the camp. Captain Smith met with a slight accident, which incapacitated him for a couple of days, but he is now on duty again. "Yesterday, when Lord Roberts wired for more men, some of the Australians were asked if they could be got ready. They replied " No," but Major Cradock said " Yes," and in two hours No. 2 Company had left for Nnauwpoort, our major going with them. The battery of guns presented to the colony by Lord Armstrong's Company have arrived here, but the ammunition will not reach here for a few days. There appears to have been some little trouble regarding Major Yorston, who was sent out in charge of the guns. If he goes to the front- he woitld, by reason of his seniority, be in command of the second contingent, to which Major Cradock naturally objects. The matter has been referred to ihe New Zealand Government. No. 1 Company will probably go north this afternoon, and the battery be underway in less than a week. Our horses are admitted to be the best yet •een in this camp. GLIMPSES OF ROBERTS AND KITCHENER. " A little grey-headed man, with a very compact, well-knit figure, and a resolute look and very keen eyes." That is the hero of the hour. Lord Roberts, the victor of Kandahar, the saviour of Kimberley, and the victor of Paardesberg, as he is described by Charles E. Hands, writing from Capetown to the Daily Mail. The same correspondent continues : — " Everywhere I seem to come across him, and wherever he happens to be people turn round and look at him as he passes and hurry back for another look, and are so impressed that they almost forget to cheer. And whereever he goes, with his alert step and his grave, strong look, confident purpose and resolution seem to spread around. He looks so thoughtful; everything he does seems so thoughtful, so well considered] parb of a definite scheme. " I get a glimpse of him alone in a big office room. _It is a very small matter to him which J want to put before him, I am think v ing. But he does not; seem to think po. To Mm no detail seems unimportant. He considers it rapidly, but thoughtfully, gives a decision and a reason for it, and then, that subject dismissed, remembers to say sometfcuig on a subject that is very close to the heart of every Daily Mail writer and every Daily Mail reader, too. Lord Roberts is the man with the plan, the man who knows what he is going to do, and is taking every precaution necessary to do it. And the colonists, v/ho were getting very anxious, are, since he has been among them, fuller of enthusiasm than ever, and -that a quieter, more resolute, more real enthusiasm. And see how they are volunteering to him ! A dozen bodies of irregular colonial horse are being raised ; as many as are wanted can be raised. Business at last ; real business. " I seek an opportunity to get a glimpse of the general manager of this" great business undertaking at his work. I am told to be there at ten minutes past 9 o'clock. I arrive at five minutes past 9 o'clock, and wait in an outer office for what seems an hour. I look at my watch, and find it is eleven minutes past 9 o'clock. I begin to doubt, when I remember that my Tiatch is fasi. It is exactly ten minutes past 9 o'clock when a door is opened and my name is called. I go into a long room, in which are teveral desks like the desks in the manager's office of a great ; railway company, and at each desk, bending over piles of papers, sits a high officer. And at the end of the room, at a table which commands a view of all the re=it of the room and all the other desks, sits a big, dark, stern man, with a heavy moustache, intent upon papers. Before he looks up I have time to note the telephones and neatness and orderliness ot j the arrangement of the table. When he does j look up, he keeps his finger on the paper j in front of him, marking the place where he left off. I begin to tell what I have to say. '• JHe looks at me with very keen, oright, greyblue eyes, and before I have s-aid ten words he seems to know all the rest, including that which I had planned artfully to lead up to. Jn ten words he says what he has to say. He asks me about something which he wants to know, hears what I have to say, remarks that he is very busy, and before I have quite realised that I have shaken hands and said good morning, ho is bending clown again over his papers, deep in a calculation at the point where he' left off. Lord Kitchener— for it is lie — is engaged, they tell me, in reorganising the transport system. Think of that — in time of war, in the midst of a campaign, he is doing for himself what the whole of the Pall Mall would have bungled at for years in times of peace ! But he thinks it is necessary ; he knows that he can do it, and no one seems to have the slightest doubt that it will be a very advantageous thing to do. And I observe that of the men immediately around him many, down to the merest subordinates, j are men whom he has trained and tried him- ! self at the other end of Africa, to know what lie^ wants and to do what he wants. " The head manager has brought his subananagers along with him, just as Sir Thomas Lipton or Sir Wheetman Pearson or any other would do if ho had a big, new scheme to carry out. Business — big businesslike business." A PRISONER IN PRETORIA. THE BOERS AND THE IRISH. NEWS OF THE WAR WITHHELD FROM THE BURGHERS. GLOOM IN THE CAPITAL. The Caps Times publishes the following

x from its correspondent, dated Pretoria Gaol, via Lorenzo Marques, March 8: — f I am being kept prisoner here in conse- '■ .quence of certain despatches for the Cape - ' Times and Daily Mail found in my poshes > > sion, demonstrating various breaches of the - ! Geneva Convention by the enemy during the • J siege of Mafeking. • | Piesident Kruger was good enough to say 1 ! I was "dangerous," so that my detention is j another instance of the suppression of the 1 liberty of the press. ' I Up to the end of January Pretoria had t , been visibly jubilant, the newspapers conj stanily parading the Boer victories and \.vo- ' phesying the early downfall of the British Empire as the result of the Irish party's ■ jubilation. ' • The sympathy expressed for the Boers in. \ the Hmise of Commons was hailed with de- ' light as a sure sign that public opinion was i veering round to the Boer cause. ! In December extracts from Truth and Reynolds's fed Boer egoism and encouraged them in their belief in the justice of their cause, but even this poor satisfaction has now app arently failed them. The relief of Kimberley has not yet been acknowledged in the press, though the invasion of the Free State is hinted at. \ Ladysmith and Mafeking are still "supposed | to be closely beleaguer ed. Cronje is a.c- j knowledged to be surrounded in tho vicinity ( ■ of Potrusberg, while, according to their accounts, General Buller at the Tugela is being 1 constantly forced io retire across the river. I Privately we know tbat much is being kept ! back from the burghers. I am certain that ■ the officials aro grievously misleading them, as very great dissatisfaction exists among the burghers. The food supplies are very irregular, especially as regards meat, coffee, and sugar, ] and as a consequence many burghers are ! j threatening io return to tlieir farms, j Pbesiclent Kruger, accompanied by a large i staff, loft Pretoria hastily on February 28, and is said to have proceeded to Ladysmith j , to remonstrate with refractory burghers, the , | Free Staters in particular, who are said to , ! be disorganised. "The majority are threatening to throw down t'leir arms if Bloemfon- j ' tern is allowed io fall into the possession of the British troops. Deep depression now prevails in Pretoria, j The officials of the gaol are utterly dejected, standing about in small groups and openly , owningfthat all is over, while even the news- j ! papers admit the critical stite of affairs. j , Very few prisoners now arrive, though over 3000 soldiers, representing 61- corps, are now | ' at Waterval". They are in splendid spirits, j and play eriolret and football, hold camp j fires, and sing "God save the Queen" with i the same gusto as if they were at Aldershot. The camp is very insanitary, and the water is questionable. The troops get only one pound of meat weekly. "With these exceptions, there , is nothing to complain of. ' Typhoid fever is very prevalent owing to ' : the bad sanitation. j On February 21, after many efforts, your \ \ correspondent succeeded in creeping from J | "Waterval, and made tracks for Gaberones | , through the bush veldt, accompanied by a i Cape policeman. Eighty miles were covered, ■ but the Crocodile River being in flood, put a stojp to further progress. Terrific rains falling pyt out of tho question the idea of crossing, at any rate for a week. | We sought shelter at a farm adjacent, exmeeting the farmer to br on commando, but , he was at his house, and finding us without , pusses got several men together and look us j prisoners, and sent us back to Pretoria. We \ were put back in gaol, where I was for the i first 13 days in December, j About 100 colonials were in prison, taken 1 on the Natal frontier and at Enniman ; they I were undergoing scandalous treatment, ex- ) actly as if they were criminals, but without hard labour. They had no coffee nor tea, j were locked in the cells at 6 in the evening, j and were not allowed to see friends or rela- | tions; were searched like felons every day. They took exercise jin small squares, but free j speech was not permitted. Efforts io see the i American consul are always in vain, so there , is absolutely no opportunity to protest against it, it beino; considered a crime to be a colonial even if of English birth. Our faith in the iustice of the British cause and in the might of British arms is as strong as ever, and though we feel no desire to see the Boers humbled, we hope to see the British troops arrive in Pretoria. The general feeling here is that any half-heavted compromise would affect the peace of South Africa in perpetuity. ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS. ANTI-BRITISH PROPAGANDA IN PARIS DANGEROUS STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING. Paris, March 10. There has been a recrudescence of Anglophopia in p, section of the Parisian press th« week, which affects to believe that war be- I tween England and France forms a part of the determined policy of Mr Chamberlain and the British Imperialists, who intend to bring it about on the conclusion of peace in South Africa. -The bellicose attitude of the jingo organs of England are undoubtedly partly responsible for this animosity, but much of this anti-English campaign is parb of the underhanded reactionary propaganda against the Government and the Republic. Yves Guyot denounced this fostering of the idea that war with England is inevitable by the anti-Republican press in an article in La Sieele, in which he stigmatises it as the work of national treachery. " These organs." he says, " are preparing a war because they know that it means a naval Sedan for France, and they count on overthrowing the Republic by a disaster similar to that which overthrew the Empire." The growing hatred between the two countries is certainly a matter of anxiety to- the French Government, which now, as formerly, maintains a most correct attitude toward England. An illustration of the present feeling of the French rcress, however, is shown in the publication of an extra number of one of the leading illustrated weeklies, entitled, " The Anglo-Franco-Russian War," and is devoted to the relation of a supposed war in 1900. The story is cleverly and realistically written, with numerous pictures depicting various British defeats, the assassination of Lord Cromer by an Egyptian patriot, the massacre of _ the British garrisons in India by I native mutineers, the landing of French I troops at Brighton, and their triumphal entry into London. Finally a chart is given, showing the dismemberment of the British Empire, in which the United States gets Canada as her share. An official of the Government, whose duty j is to follow France's foreign relations, adi mitted that the present state of public feeling on both sides of the Channel was becoming dangerous to the maitenance of amicable relations. He said:-r-

"This feeling is mainly created by ihe provocative attitude of the English jingo press, which is so unanimous in its attacks upon France that they would seem io be inspired. Public feeling in almost every country, including a considerable number of Americans, is ago hist Great Britain in the Transvaal war ; yet France alone is singled out for these attacks. There is no question pending between the two countries grave enough in itself to lead to hostilities, but if the present mutual feeling of animosity conlinues, I cannot say what may happen. The French Government is preparing for x-^y emergency. Our weak spot in case of war would have been the colonies,' but when t!ie measures now being taken are completed they will be beyond the possibility of capture or invasion. Algeria and Tunis are, of course, out of the question, and the Government's efforts ara directed towards securing the safety of the outlying colonies, such as Tonquin. Madagascar, the West African settlements, and the West Indian Islands. Stores, ammunition, a,nd improved armaments are being provided."

Confirmation of these preparations is found in the published announcement of the departure of stores for ihe colonies. For instance, a steamer is now on the way to Senegal with ammunition, which, it is stated, is destined to put Dakar in a position to maintain a siege. The Parliamentary Commission, moreover, has decided to increase the credit for military works at Biserta from 1,000,000 francs to 1.500,000 francs. Biserta will thus soon become a French Gibraltar. — New York Tribune.