LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 14

LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS.

Private Low, of the Ist Suft'olks, -writing to his' friend, at Bethnal 'Green:,' ilells. Mm, of the.disaster which befell "t.hairregiaierit,and its^gal-.. lant .colonel. He Sivvs. they wtre^'ordered to fall in -at "half -past 1-2 arfn., witli sliripeT3\on". After the, warning shot of the sentry arXd'th'e' demoralising fires of ""the aroused 'enenly, our,' men could do nothing. . "',To_ see our., men"' ' falling- you would haye 1 ' thought- "they -were" skittles going' Howir." After' the^order^ to •re?, tire, Lojv^ got .into a ditch at the. bottom' ,-of^ ■"the- hill, and hid' •himself 'until dayliglit.-- "It. is a grand sight to see the hospital ambulance jof both rides --go out after the battle." _ r ; Private J. Stobbarfc, of Bradford, describing the Spion Kop reverse, says: "We were in action twenty-seven hours without ceasing. I tell you we were fagged out, and were -glad jivhen.tKs Boers, left the hills "we were firing J on. Our infantry fought -like lions, death meeting them as they advanced, under the cover -of- night. '.- . . The second day^in action we were pouring in shell pretty thick, and the Boers put up uhe white flag, and we,, got the order to turn nine. guns on to i.t, and they igot the benefit , of the doubt, ac nine* shells - burst just where the whits flag was sh.ow.ing. They did -the same the next day, and got' five guns into it.' 'We have 'tasted bread 'for twenty-three days, Jbut'.are 'living -like fighting cocks on other food, which is very good." - - Corporal F: -C. Cowley, -R.E., 17th Company, writing to his sister at Ballavoddan,' Andreas, Isle of Man, tells .how 'the Boers our Spion Kop were 'surprised. He. says: "It was night time, arid we 'had, to be very careful. "When we got to the base we' halted for a moment or two, and then pressed forward untilthe top >was sighted. Then the order. was , whispered down the ranks that no loading 'or firing was allowed. "W e formed up in column and .pressed, .forward. . Suddenly ,we were halted by a, Boer sehtry, wliq N wa3 taken lby -'. surprise, shoutingjin Dutch, '' Halt'! -Wlio goe& - there? 1 - The leading "Thorneycroit's*Mounted Infantry answered '"-*?..' -Duioh, a-nd when the« Boer as i ked'him_fpr,-ih(3,5,-countersign the captain*simplyv charged Kinv' "s" s with his^bayonet, 'passing, it- right_-through Kim-' ' from ' right; ;to .ieft.' The. poor" Boer"^sentry'/ never "spoke again. -.This, however, aroused^ the remainder, of the Boer picket, '•numbering h dbout 20,^ who f iired f ast and recklessly iupoiv - us, but througli 'the excellent .behaviour of our troops not a. man^was hurt."

PRAYER ISSUED BY ioRD -ROBERTS.

,Lord Roberts has' just given-a» fresh proof of his sense of the need and force of prayer. He has directed that a form of prayer by the Archbishop of Armagh 'shall "be^distributed to every soldier and offices, .under his command ,in South Africa. .In the order - directing this to ,be done, Lord Roberts says ha " earnestly hopes that it may "be helpful to all of her Majesty's soldiers who are, now serving in South Africa." Here Is the 'form v'of prayer r thus put" into the hands — and, we hope, upon the -reverent lips — of all , '-the ■ Queen's soldiers in Africa: — "Almighty ' Father, '•I 'have often sinned against Thee. O wash 'me in the precious "blood of the Lamb of Gpd. Eill me with Thy. Holy Spirit that I may lead anewa 'new "life. Spare me to see again those .whom I love .at home, or fit me for Thy presence in y peace. Strengthen xts to -quit* ourselves like men in our right and .great cause. Keep us faithful unto death, calm tin * danger, .patient 'in suffering, merciful as brave, 'true to our Queen^ourieaimtey^and our colours. If it }l)e -Thy Avill, ■ enable" Ssf^ -to win viotory N ,for England,* 4>ut\-\a.bove';aUty' ;grant us -the -'better -victory ,weV •■femirtati6a.Hr' .ana .sin,, over ,'life .and .'death:,-, that .we .rda^'be more than conquerors- -through IHim 'Who" ioved-iiß, -and- laid -down-His s lif c for -us " JesnaS-' our Saviour, the, Captain; of- the Army Jofi' God. . Amen." '* ".;'-£"•■'

s -— The - L o r d Mayor- of _Londpn- 'wears,- » - v&S^oof 1011 coM^ ns ; aia^r^ Watsonia O'Brieriii, a Novelty of reteenfciL ' -^oduction, is a pure white Flower of- rgroSS^Beauty, and -aamiribly mdapted'tfor cutlinglfor Bulbs to be 4eUyjJ in tke end o£ : M^«^