LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 29

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

An interesting letter from Trooper Waldie, of the first contingent, who previously worked at the Hillside Workshops, has been handed to us for perusal. Trooper Waldie, it v, ill be remembered, was captured by the Boers at Bloemfontein waterworks, but was released subsequent to the occupation of Pretoria by the British. Wilting on Juno 24 from Kroonshv.l to Mr J. Barnetc and his other shop mated, he commenced by expressing his pleasure at receiving the cablegram despatched to him when ii was known that ho was relea&ed. Ho then goes on to describe lv» expediences lrom his departure from Kimberley till the engagement in which he was captured. On that day Hie Boerd opened with a heavy artillery fire at daybreak on the rear of the British troops. Tho latter made off, nnd had proceeded about two miles when ih- i y weie met by a fire in their front. The mules in the waggons and the horses attached co the guns were shot. The British realised that they vi ere captured, and hundreds of J3ocr& relieved them of their arms as well as seven gun?. Just then the remaining five British guns raine into oction. The transport, fcays Trooper Waldie, saved the ISoerj from being blown to piecss. No legs than 160 waggons,, fceven guns, and 400 men were captured by ilie Bosrs sfter two hours' sharp fighting. The British artillery retired and the prisoners wove marched off to Winburg, a distance of 120 miles, which occupied four days. This was a march never to be forgotten. The Boers marched their prison-era till they were nearly dead, lest they should be re-captured. . On arrival at Winburg the prisoners were given bread, meat, and water, and were sent on to Kroonstad, from whence they went to Pretoria, then on to Waterval — 15 miles from Pretoria. At Waterval the prisoners' earnr was surrounded by barbed wire, about 12ft wide and 20ft broad in the bottom. The rations consisted of rice, mealies, flour, and sugar, and the prisoner? were provided with two buckets and a teapot. On the way there v.'as .cricket, football, etc., and concerts were held at night, while 61 gambling tables were provided. On June 6 great excitement was caused, owing to the arrival of the British at Pretoria. The Boers managed to take 900 piisoners away, but the British prevented the removal of the remainder, who were consequently released and taken to Pretoria. After a few days they were sent to Klip River Drift, where they entrenched to meet an attack, which, however, never came. Two days later they were removed to Kroonstad. Another train with more prisoners, moils, and winter clothing followed the train in which Trooper Waldie travelled, but the Boers, under De Wet, shelled it and blew up the line both in front and behind it, besides burning the mails and winter clothing. Trooper Waldie says he will not be sorry when the war is over and the men aye on the w r ay home. His description of Pretoria is not very commendatory. ' He states that ho had been unable to procure a, pair of boots, of which he had been minus since February. He concludes by expressing good wishes for his comrades in Dunedin. Trooper Hugh Smith, cf Balclutha, writing to his mother from . Pretoria on July 15, stated that he saw all the New Zealanders who had joined the police afc Pretoria. They did not appear to like their work, and were •sorry they "had left the contingents. Tie says Hie finish peoms a long- way off yet, although n number of Boers gave up their arms every rlav.

We have Leen permitted to make the following extracts from a letter received by his parents from Lieutenant R. TuLmun, dated from Manyim Nyame, Rhodesia, July 12: —

I intended writing you from Bulawayo when wo arrived there 10 days ago. but they hurried us away south. We expected to be a few days there, but had only time to get rations and horse feed and forage, and off we had to go. We expected we would be railed to Mafeking, and then ride across country to Pretoria,' but trouble is threatened in Northern Transvaal, end we were ordered to Fort Tuli, ju&t on tho border. When we reach there we ero&s over to Zout.&pivnberg Hills, where we arc told to expect fighting. Then wq go on to Pielersburg. We are six days' march from Tuli and six more from ZGuts--ranberg. so we will be there soon enough. We can't go faster than the bullock waggons that, have o\ir baggage and forage and rations, and that is only from 15 to 20 miles a day. We have been for the past week in a great forest, and the country is very rugged and broken, and travelling very difficult. There is very little settlement by whites heve. There are a few quartz reefs at work, but this is the first inhabited house I have seen for 60 miles. • There are thousands of Matabele natives around. They rose in rebellion here in 1896, but were wiped out. I don't like the wretches. I have got quite used to the trekking now, .aid don't mind sleeping out a bit. The day are as warm as mid-summer in New Zealand, although it is winter season here. The nights are very cold though, and the dews heavy, with occasional. frosts. ,1 sometimes feel glad when it is time to get, up, for it is so cold. The sky is always blue here, and there is no wind, so travelling is very pleasant. The only thing, l don't like is the- fever. Every day someone goes under with it, but, thank God, I have kept splendid. I take quinine every day, and that* is a good preventive. It is very liable to come back at any time when once you have had it.

We are now in the heart of the lion country. There are scores of them about here, and we have to be very careful lest they get among our horses and men. Six "men were lost, one after another, between here and Tuli this lasc fortnight. A waggon passed us today that had two bullocks lost laFt night — carried away by lioas. There are any amount of antelope (wild deer), giraffes, elephants, wild pigs, and pheasants and partridges, so there is plenty cf sport ; but we daren't venture off the road ior fear we are, snapped up by a lion.

1 lo«fc one of my horses — the colt Con, — but I think I told you of it. lam terribly porry, for I had taught him to lie down, and I could fire over him or ofr his bac'-. He was the finest animal I ever rode. The teachers paid £25 for him

We have only about half our contingent with us ; the rest are goodness knows how fai back— most of them in the hospital?. There is only another officer besides me with our company, and one officer with the ctlier company, so you can see we are kept very busy. 1 was appointed adjutant of the regiment last week, vice Captain L>avy, in hospital, and this was in addition .to my ordinary duties I saw some huge alligators in a creek to-day when I went for a wash, but T quickly left the place and came home, for I did not have my rifle. On my way back I saw a puff-adder about 3ft long and killed it. They are deadly poisonoii-.