WITH THE CONTINGENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 9

WITH THE CONTINGENTS

A VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS.

SICK NEW ZEALANDERS ' AT KIMBERLEY.

<BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,J. A. SHAND.)

MILITARY CAMP, East of Modder River, • " March 3, 1900. Having witnessed the arrival at Capetown of the Second Contingent of the New Zealanders, and taken several interesting snapshots of the colonials, I proceeded to Kimberley with the object of rejoining No. 1 Contingent, the majority of' whom hael been resting in the interval. Many horses had been rendered useless, and remounts were urgently requireel. These came to hand in good\ time, and as I journeyed from Capetown to Modder River I learnt that the New Zealanders were again on the march, but that nothing of importance hael transpired. The Boers were entrenching themselves about 30 miles west of Bloemfontein, and intended making a stand there at Victoria West. I was surpriseel to find portion of THE SECOND CONTINGENT encamped, anel decieleel to leave "the train, wait a few hours at Victoria West, take some photos, and proceed to Kimberley. The following day I learneel that the New Zealanders "would probably be sent to Carnarvon, a district lying north-west, and removed many miles form any railroad, so there was every indication that the Second Contingent would have their fill of forced marching. The rebels in Carnarvon were becoming troublesome, and required the presence of an armed force to keep them in check. After Carnarvon a move was to be made to Prreska, another disaffecteel district, that apparently was becoming troublesome. Major Cradock and subordinate officers had done their work well. The tents were ,\vell pitched, horse lines regularly laid, anel everything about the camp spick and span. The previous night an alarm was caused, anel the whole camp" was 'soon armed and reaely for action. Someone had approached the New •Zealand lines during the night. He was challenged by Trooper Nelson (of Manawatu) three times, but declineel to halt and give the countersign. The New Zealander promptly fired, but discreetly pointeel his carbine high, anel *jhe shot flew over the affrighted stranger's rate*. Instantly the camp became active, and

in a few minutes every New Zcalander was ready and anxiously awaiting order?. The stranger managed to escape, but I question whether any other individual will end savour to cross the New Zealrmders' lines without; first taking the trouble to ascertain the counI tersign. Major Cradock informed me that he was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the remainder of his men, as well as the Hotchkiss battery, and expected to move forwarel as soon aa these details arrived at camp. I left officers and men in splendid health and excellent spirits. All were very keen at getting |to the fighting front and receiving their j baptism of fire. I expressed the opinion that j they would have enough of fighting before the ' war was over, and, with the hope that they would come through as fortunately as No. 1 Contingent, took my departure. THE ORANGE RIVER. After reaching the Orange River, the train was under military , control, and necessarily slow progress was made. We passed about 3000 of the Boer prisoners on their way to ! Simonstown, and endeavoured to snap Albrecht, the artillery commander, but as soon I as he designed my object, he quickly withj~drew his head and closeel the window with a bang. I saw the battlefields of Enslin, Grass- : pan, and Honeynest Kloof, and arrived at J Modder River about 5 p.m., the train being , thro? hours late. Another elelay occurred here, 7 anel having to report myself to the pre"ss osnj sor,, Major Heatlej^ I W as compelled to rei main at Modder for 24 hours. Lord Roberts | had issued instructions that preps representatives were not to go to the front without specific orders being received from Lord Stanley, anel I was therefore compelled to possess my soul in patience. Protests being ineffectual, and continual complaining powibly ending in my being sent down for a f ew> weeks, I dis- , creetly agreed with the Major that it was I rather annoying, anel, with the fate of several j better known war correspondents who made j themselves obnoxious to staff officers before j me, I murmured not, but proceeded to find j quarters for the night. Every place was ; packed with officers, and the only hotel had ; been taken over by Lord Methuen as headt quarters for himself and staff, and the only I haven of refuge appeareel to be the Boer pri- [ soners' camp. In temporarily leaving No. 1 Contingent of the New Zealanders I had not taken my tent with me, and when I decided upon making another appeal to the liotell keeper, he sympathiseel with me. Poor fellow, j he knew what military occupation meant, anel at last consenteel to reserve the bar parlour for my use. Quickly I unroped my sleeping valise, and, despite the animated conversation i of the hundreds at the bar, I was soon fast j asleep. Well was it that I had a roof over imy head that night. At midnight a terrific j storm arose. Rain fell in torrents, the water '' coursing through tents with the fierceness of a rapid, and flooding out the thousands under , canvas. BATTLEFIELDS. Ud afc daybreak the following morning, I

visited the scene of the ' battle of Modeler River, saw the farmhouse where the Highlanders bayoneted 19 Boers for firing on wotinded Britishers, and the spot where the Guards made their gallant stand. I then proceeded to the bridge over the Modeler destroyed by the Boers, and inspected the ■bridge constructed in nine hours by the Royal Engineers, and over 'which the trains still run. Lastly, I visited the graves of some of the heroes who fell at Magersfontein, including the last resting-place of Lieutenant-colonel Coode, Second Black Watch (who, I believe, had several friends in New Zealand), Captain Carnegie, of the Gordon Highlanders, and over- 80 officers and men of the Black Watch, Gordons, Seaforth, and Argyle Highlanders, and Ninth Lancers. I took snapshots of all these places of interest, and they should reach you by the same mail that conveys this budget to New Zealand. Meeting an officer of the Rimington Scouts, I decided to ride across the veldt to Paardeburg, where General Oronje had made his last stand a few days before. We had covered about 10 miles, when suddenly the sky was darkened with angry-looking clouds. Thunder clap" after thunder clap followed each other in quick succession, sheet and forked lightning darted here and there, and we recognised that w© were in for A SOUTH AFRICAN THUNDERSTORM. Hastily dismounting, we endeavoured to find some place of shelter, but on the level veldt this was impossible. My companion called attention to two small kopjes about three miles distant, and as the first spots of rain fell avc mounted again and urged our horses on. The rain fell in one sheet, drenching us to the skin in a mosaent ; but we made 'good progress until the rainfall ceased and hail commenced to drop from the inky clouds above. Faster and faster the stinging balls of ice fell, until it was impossible to hold the reins. The horses, poor brutes, stopped, unable to face the awful storm, and Avith their heads sank almost between their forelegs for protection, wheeled round and turned their backs to the fusillade. Our hands were bruised and bleeding, our faces splashed with red dots where the stones, larger than aver-age-sized marbles, had struck us; but by crouching tinder the stomachs of the affrighted horses we managed to save hands and faces from further injury. For half an hour this awful storm raged, and as the hailstorm ceased and the rain began io fall again' in torrents, we decided to return to Modeler River. An officer rated us for disobeying orders in returning to the front without first consulting the chief press censor ; but as we hael returned, thanks to the storm, I heard nothing further of the matter. I subsequently learnt that a Canadian correspondent representing four influential papers had been sent to Capetown for a month for a less heinous offence, so I had occasion to congratulate myself on the timely intervention of the storm. Modeler River Camp was simply flooded out. Horses had stampeded, oxen hael wandered across the veldt, and for a few hours confusion anel discomfort reigned supreme. With almost Dutch-like stolidity officers and men removed kits, and set to work to put tents anel surroundings in oreler, and when the warm summer sun again burst forth the camx> was in splendid oreler, anel a visitor wonlel never have known that a few hours before the tents had been floodeel and the whole camp a sheet of water. This is but one of the eliscomforls that the British soldiers have to bear when on active service.

ARTILLERY. Reports came to camp that the Boers, or, rather. Dutch disloyalists, were congregating about 10 miles west, but every preparation was made to repel any'sudden attack, and we felt perfectly secure against a second invasion. I witnessed the departure of two batteries of 15-pounders, which were intended to support the advance of General French's column, which was working towards Bloemfontein, or north of that point. This must bring the artillery under Lord Roberis's command up to over 112 guns, but so far as my limited experience of artillery goes, the 12pounders have been of very little use against the splendid artillery in the possession of the Boers, whose long-range guns have made splendid practice. SICK NEW ZEALANDERS. Hearing that several of the New Zealanders were lying in the hospital at Kimberley, having been brought there on March 4, I made a hurried visit to the Diamond City, travelling in a railway truck from Modder River. I learnt also that in the interval Lord Roberts was waiting for reinforcements/ anel that General French's column, which inclueleel the New Zealanders, was resting after the arduous labours of the post fortnight, so that this sudden diversion of my plans was really the most practical manner of spending the interim. To my surprise anel eleep r,egret,l found that the dreaded and deaelly enteric fever had laid low -six New Zealanders — Corporal Syrnes (of Ohristchuroh), Corporal Orbell (Otago Hussars), Troopers J. M'Conway (Marlborough), H. Burrows (Marlborough), G. -Arnold (Clutha), C. Edwards (Waverley), and J. Hubbard (of Aueklanel), the' latter suffering from rheumatic fever. Some of the cases were described as serious, but the medical officer in command informed me that the men were of splendid physique, and as plucky as they make them. He said to me as I left the hospital that he hoped that the sextet would be on the fighting line before long. In company with Mr S. J. Pryor, managing editor of the London Daily Mail, 1 paid a vipit to the African Consulate, and discovefeel Julian Ralph, the well-known journalist, who had been invalided for a fortnight owing to an unexpected collision with a mule team. As my time was limited, and half the business places of Kimberley were closed owing to the fact that after the sie^e they had r.o gooels to dispose of, I was unable to personally arrange for special attention to be paid to the New Zealanders in the matter of delicacies, but in return for a few unimportant favours conferred on Messrs Pryor and Ralph, who have proved themselves true friends' of the colonials at the front, they promised me that the wants of the Maorilanders would be anticipated as much as possible, anel that they would see the New Zealanders were jwovicleil with every comfort likely to facilitate their recovery.- Knowing what I do of the gentlemen named," I was~ entirely satisfied with this assurance, and returned to Modeler River per usual cattle truck, perfectly assured that the suffering New Zealanders would have at least two staunch friends in Kimberley while Messrs Pryor and Ralph were in Diamondopolis. MAFEKING RELIEF COLUMN. While matters were rather quiescent with Lord Roberts's column, lively scenes were being enacted between Modder River and north of Kimberley. Suddenly orders were read ai the latter place that all available

forces should be sent northwards from Modder River. All the available men were entrained as rapidly a? possible, special trains being run clay and night at intervals of four hours to convey the soldiers to their destination, unknown at the present time to many ; but I believe towards "Mafeking, where ColonelBaden Powell and his small but gallant gar-, rison had withstood the harassing attacks o£ the Boers for months. Before these lines reach you and are read by the public Mafe-' king s'hotild be relieved from its beleaguerment, and, like Kimberley, there should be general rejoicing. Four months in a beleaguered city is a fearful experience. Siege soup (from horse or mule flesh), Joints from favourite mares or mules, and mealie bread anel pasties are not edibles on -which the participants are wont to grow obesive, and the dread uncertainty of investment by the Boers and the many indignities that usually follow such an event are not calculated to cause one's heart to burst with rejoicing and praise. "But the defending garrisons have withstood their multifarious trials and troubles in a most heroic manner, anel have surprised those?' who knew them best by their equanimity anel indomitable courage at such critical periods. Batteries were transferred at a few hours' notice, Maxims were placed in working/ order and lodged on railway trucks in a few moments, and infantry corps had struck tents, and were paraded at Spytfontein, Magersfontein (both the scenes of chmdly battles at which-we lost ovar 2000 men killed, wounded, or missing) in astonishingly short spaces of time, and officers and men, after a short, respite on the \eldt, were ready for action. It was a splendid- sight to watch the regiments prepare for a«tion. Their mobility, under the circumstances, was nothing short of marvellous, and their forgetfulness of pasfc battles in which officers had lost collegiate companions and Tommy had lost his mess mates was one of the most striking factors that impressed me. The Northumberland Fusiliers (the Fighting Fifth, as they dearly love *o be called) were among the first to entrain, and as the 800 men (including officers) paraded and took "their places in carriages and trucks, anxious io meet the foe in bloody battle, one, without any fanciful imagination to assist in detailing the pictures couid recognise the factor that has placed clear old England on the high war pedestal she at present occupies. » The entry into , Kimberley of the Fusiliers was one of the most interesting events occurring in the late beleaguered city, and the residents of the Diamond City, judging by theii? cordial reception of these and other troops, did full honour to the occasion. With the forces now available, I look upon the relief? of Mafeking as practically an accomplished fact, and I trust that the mail conveying thia budget may be considerably subseqtient to the occupation of that gallant little town by the British forces. DEATH OF TROOPER BURROUGHS. Returning to town, I was .grieved to heap of the death -of Trooper Burroughs (of Marlborough), who died at Kimberley Hospital on the 6th March. He was a very popular member of the contingent, and- his commander deeply .regretted his death.

For the Planting Season, 1900, Nimmo an t » Blaik have for Sale the "Superlative" and "Hornet" Raspberries — both new sorts, and vastly &uperior to the varieties grown here* Prices on Apulioation.