PATER'S CHATS WHO THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 62

PATER'S CHATS WHO THE BOYS.

A WAR NOTE OR TWO. You will remember that, some time ' ago, a British warship was ordered to Deiagoa, Bay. According to the Daily Mail, the go-ahead halfpenny paper in London, , there were some Boers in the vicinity of j the settlement, and the German Governor ( was afraid that an attack would bs made

by them. Accordingly, he sent word to ' the Cape and the Nicbe was despatched, 1 tLe papers srJd to rescue a broken-down col- , Her. The collier was Walfisch Bay, where j 15 officers, 65 blue jackets, 66 marines, a : 12-pounder, and a couple of mpxim were i landed. Nothing eventuated, however, and I the Niobe left alter a few days, leaving behind a small guard. A UNITED EMPIRE. In a late issue of the same paper, there j is a live article on the Unity of the Empire. .Russia, Fr?nce, and Germany seem incapable of comprehending the fact that colonies can wish to remain a part of I the Empire. Their colonies, where they have any, are so hampered by the Hcme j country that they are neither prosperous , nor capable of giving any material assistance I in time of war, and even if they could help I in time of stress, it wouldn't be on account ' of the freedom the colonies possess, but simply because blood is thicker than water. The Daily Mail writes something like this : — These nations have learnt that Eng- | lar.d can rely upon the support of a brave ! and warlike normlation in Canada and Aus-

tialia. The bearing of this upon the defence of India and the solution of the j Chinese difficulty is obvious. Australia j could, with very little exertion, put into the field 20,000 of the most admirable soldiers who ever went to war. Canada cc/.ild raise at least as many. The performances of the Australian and Canadian levies in the present struggle have been so good that they have come as something of a surprise even to Englishmen. They are brave, intelligent, and resourceful ; and, with discipline, Avhich they readily acquire when brigaded with regular troops, are all that can be desired. In the event of war in the East ! they would nov have to be moved down the i long and dangerous sea route from England. From Australia two divisions could be I rapidly and safely thrown into India in a ! fortnight, and from Canada in three weeks, and Hong Kong could be reinforced with equel spued. Xo oilier power in the vorld has the disposal of such resouiccs; and the consciousness of this f.ict is causing I our enemies no little uneasiness. They now \ see that in a struggle in which the interests j of lite great colonies were involved — and we 1 shall never fight except under those oon1 difcions — we should have the whole energy of j these new communities, each a State in it- ' self, a I our back. A FIC4URE OR TWO. The relict' of Ladysmith has now become ii matter of ancient history, but have we ever lealiscd what forces were engaged, and 1 1 heir significance, especially when tho rest j of the theatre of war is drawn into the view? Chamberlain made us think twice 1 when he told us, shortly after the opening ' of the campaign, the startling, but true, fact, that there were more colonial troops ia the field than there were British at

:-wn into the

Waterloo. Since then, I think I atn safe in saying the colonials have been fully doubled. But has it ever occurred to you that the British troops under Buller, V before Ladysmith, equalled Wellington's British contingent at Waterloo, and that Buller and White lost more British than ■Wellington did? More Britishers engaged in knocking out Joubert than in ovei throwing Napoleon ! It hardly seems credible.

FRANCE'S PET NIGHTMARE.

About the time of the Fashoda incident; Fiance was pretty perky, but when we made a wholesome display of our power, sho became a bit scared, and now, if what some papers say is true, she is filled with the teriorising idea that we intend to attack her as soon as her exhibition is over. Why; we should wait tmtil then is not stated. One paper, an influential one too I am told, the Gaulois, has forwarded the question, '" Doe? England intend to make war upon France?"' to many of our leading statesmen at Home, the answer bsing for publication. Of covrse all are replying " Certainly not !" though one or two are adding a sentence or two which will bear the meaning, '" We don't want to fight, but are quite leady to oblige you." Are we under a similar delusion? Personally, I think France is waiting a favourable opportunity, that being when she can get someone eke to assist, or when Britain is engaged in a war where her navy will 'bo called into requisition more than at present There's one thing: while each. fctivHis points to keep on the top side, there will always be the danger of an outburst.

MAFEKING RELIEVED

This issue will give you rhe Telcome nfcwc. Alter a biegc of üboul 220 days, we are told that the relieving ar/r.y has got in. At the time of vr-ritmg the r.e~<vs is unofficial, and some of us ara nofc so certain In oit tnthusiocm aa we phould Jikfi !.o be, but we think it is true. The Rothschilds in ioncldii received the news of Waterloo. before ih3 Government, and wpra, as a result, able io li>y the foundation for that vast accur.ivsbtion ia England wbidh makes them such fiußivicrs at the present mojT.mi. They bought stocks, tl.-en lov, and the ciilci 1 ! nev. set the victory resulted ma. srd'lcn jfKip- In this case lot us hope thai the uroj'tlci?! news is as true.

The pipei;-, syy that the mayor advertised b' forehand Igi' 11 half-holiday", but the ma&3 decided to taks no half measures. Severot shops were gcocl-naturedly mobbed and shuttsrd were put up t>t the dotible quick and doors bolted. One produce dealer went so far as to partly load up a cart, but the crowd saw the gocda safely back into tha store almost as soon as you could kay " Jack Rt bins on."' Even the confectioners' shops were closed. Nothing sold but fruit, lollies, flags, and — drink, and ihe ons thing that mt.ri-ed my pleasure was ths sight of so many young fellows the worse ior liouor. " Oh, it's nothing like it is at Home," said a man to me; but that's no rea?cn why any yourg fellows should bs drunk at all. The streets wera lively all tha morning, bui abcut 1 o'clock trams following in quick succession began to disgorge the:r human contents and side streets to feed the dense stream in the main artery, Princes street. J3r,den-Poweil favours were everywhere, Union Jacks were used as hatbands by the score. On contingent cay there had been only an occasional one. Young ladies wore streamers of red, white, and blue ribbons, suspended from ths shbuider and reaching at times almost to the hem of the skirt ; in some instances' they were fastened to the wrist. Parasols were similarly decorated. , There were more flags displayed, I think, than on any previous occasion, and the lines of bunting stretched, across the .streets were more numerous and effective. The night was an exceedingly picturesque one to an observer standing at Brown-Ewing's corner or near Braithwaite's. The procession was worthy of the event, though everything lacked that spontaneity which made the display on Ladysmith Day so successful and happy an effort. No thing was a surprise; we looked fnr something, and that took the edge cf£ tho keetmess of cur desire.

In 013 evening the -wildest excitement prevailed. At the meeting, the cheering, clapping, whistling — why -will some small hoys split cur ears so? — and thumping with sticks was enough to wake the seven sleepers. When the pipsrs marched on to the platform some of the skirlsrs even danced with .patriotism. The hali was filled long before the opening time, so the interval \va° filled up with snatches of songs. And it was a study to notice how a mass can be swayed. One man started '• Soldiers of th.c Queen..'^ At first he was almost inaudible, but those necy.' him took it up and by the time the tnird or fourth line was reached, the crowded mass was voicing the song with gusto, and in time^tb his beating. Then someone called for three cheers which were heartily given, and immediately after a little nipper piped in weak, but piercing tones, "Three groans for Kruger," which were let out with all the power that 3000 pair of leather lungs weie capable of. The mayor, Mr Oliisholm, was greeted with the chorus, " For he's a jolly gocd fellow," and the meeting commenced in earnest. All speeches were punctuated by crashing, earsplitting cheers, but the culminating point vas reached when Mr Robin stepped forward to say a iey\ words. The scene beggared description. He was offering from a severe cold, but he had received a letter