LORD ROBERTS AND THE AUSTRALIANS.

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

LORD ROBERTS AND THE AUSTRALIANS.

"Its all right, the Australians are there. ' x This significant comment by British generals in South Africa, from Lord Roberts downwards, is likely to pass into history. This phrase was tioed once or twice in a conversation which the representative of tbe Sydney Daily Telegraph had with Captain Hilliard, of the second New South Wales contingent, who has been invalided. The captain's horse put his foot into a cat-hole at Heidelberg whilst, he and Ms company were galloping a kopjo (a new phase in Sout!> Africa warfare, and pvming very successful), and down he came, his foot being badly injurod, and slight conoushion of the brain re-ultpcl from the fall. He still wears the battered helmet which broke hid fall, and probably saved his life. Of Lord Roberts, Captain Milliard saw a good deal. He describes him as much younger "than his photographs show, and has seen him nip off his horse after a long clay's march in the broiling ran far quicker that the youngest and mo-t active member of his staff. Once; and once only, Captain Hilliard had a personal interview with the British Commander-in-chief. It came about this wise. At Osfontein the Boers tried to outflank the Australians, who were holding a difficult position and had held it for some hour?. Colonel Knight sent Captain Hilliard off to Lord Roberts to leporfc that the movement by the Australians had been successful, and that the convoy which the Boers had tried to cut off Tiad been got through successfully. He reached headquarters tired, hungry, and dirty and reported himself at the staff office. Whilst still talking in the passage to one of the staff a door close by opened, and Lord Roberts, keen and alert, came out. "Ah, vcu are an Australian," said the Fi eld-mar sh-U. Captain Hilliard at once delivered his renort, and, as he says, " I felt at home with him at ojicp.' _ "He patted me on the plioulder and said, with a smile, ' Oh, I knew you Australians were all right, i was not at all anxious about you. I knew you were having a fight and could take care of yourselves.' "" 'Here.' continued Lord Roberts, turning to the staff officer, ' take thin officer in and give him gomething to eat and a whisky and soda.' T was mighty glad of it," added Captain Hilliard, with a smile. " for I had had nothing to eat or drink all day."