WITH THE CONTINGENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 29

WITH THE CONTINGENTS.

Trooper Fahey, in the course of an interview given to a reporter of the Southland News, gave some interesting details on various points connected with the operations in the Transvaal. He graphically described the awful bombardment of Cronje and his followers in the bed of the Modeler River at Paardeberg. and says that all who witnessed it can never have it effaced from their memory. Day and night the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry continued ; in the darkness the great blaze of bursting lyddite and the lesser flashes from thousands of rifles, momentarily lit up spots on the battlefield. The river bed, with its steep banks, into which the Boers excavated places of retreat, and the small bushes growing along its course, offered excellent cover. In appearance, Trooper Fahey likened it to the Makarewa River, at Wallacetown. Into Cronjc's confined hiding place there rained tons of lyddite, shrapnel shell, and load, working havoc with every living thing- exposed to it, the horror* of war being intensified by an appalling thunderstorm, during which it rained continuously three days and nights, in the course of which the men were totally without cover. So great was the electric disturbance that bayonct= left out of their «oabbards were blackened, and many narrow e=c.ipes were recorded. A comrade of the Royal Hoi>e Artillery was struck dead just in front of Trooper Fahey as they were going out scouting. The Boers made a most determined stand, many of them firing from trees, and before the final surrender the British losses in killed and wounded totalled over 1300. How Cronje and his followers, including aged men and youths and some womii, lived in the horribly polluted atmosphere s.o long, to say nothing of what is admitted to have been the most terrific bombardment in the history of war, is a marvel — in the words of Trooper Fahey it was an example of firm determination and endurance in the vain hope of relief that would have been declared incredible had it not been witnessed. Speaking of Colonel Robin, Trooper Fahey describes him as an ideal leader, and spoke in the highest terms of him. " I saw as much of him as anyone," he remarked, " and under all circumstances lie acted fearlessly, but with discretion, and he was most considerate to the men under him."

We have al°o been shown p. letter from Trooper Fahey in which he thus writes: — " I have almost recovered my old health again. Although delighted to be at home with my family, I was most disappointed not being allowed to go to the front again under command of Colonel Robin, who, as an officer and man, was loved by the whole contingent. He was beside me all the time until the stretcher took me off the field, and showed great concern over me, as he did over all his men. 7\ly hope now is that the war will soon be over, when New Zealand will rejoice over his home-coming."

Othois of the returned troopers have been expressing their m arm appreciation of the soldierly duel manly qualities of their New

Zealand leader in South +. frica, and it gives us the greatest pleasure tvj publish these extracts from letters placed at our disposal in which this appreciation finds utterance. Trooper James L. Taylor, writing from Wind> soY (Oamaru), in the course of a recent letter,' says of Colonel Robin that he is a born soldiei\ and had the welfare of each individual who" served under him at heart. Trooper Taylor it not likely to forget the associations whichf cling round his comradeship with Colonel Robin and the New Zealanders in the Soutlir African campaign, and writes touchingly as follows of the feelings aroused in the hearts of the men who fought together on the battlefield: — "You can have no idea of the strong ties which bind all who have served together on the battlefields of a foreign land, and !■ honestly think that were I strong enough 1 would be compelled to give vent to my feelings, and try to get back to 'the boys.' "

The following interesting letter from a trooper to his friends in Dunedin, dated Fabricken, July 21, gives some particulars of tho fighting on the occasion of Captain Bourne and the 19 New Zealanders being taken pr;.soner=: —

We get our mails very irregularly, and don' a have many opportunities to' write here at the front. We are at present about 12 miles out: of Pretoria, on our way to join another . column under General Mahon: We have been under Genera.] Hutton for some time past. We left Pretoria yesterday, and shall be vao\ - ing again to-morrow — always on the 'move. ."We arrived, in Pretoria on Thursday nighi, and got new "mounts just from' New 1 Zealand.* " and not before they were wanted. This is my fourth horse now. Hard work and little feed soon plays them out, and they die in hundreds along the road. I must- tell you about, the last scrap we had with the Boers. Last» Monday, at a place called- Reitfontein, about30 miles south-east of Pretoria, we had a church parade on the Sunday — the first since, our landing, — and when we were about to turn in at night, about 8.30, orders came fo'* 50 l iren to mount and escort two guns out on outpost duty. Away we went, and reached our destination about 1 a.m., lay down till 4.30 a.m., and had breakfast, and at daybreak were in the saddle 1 advancing. As the Boers wei-e firing from a'itopje, some of our troop and. a company of- the Imperial Mounted Ir.fantry tried to drive them off. We were only 2.3 strong, and had to advance over the open, veldt without a bit of cover, and as soon as we showed ourselves- they paid us some attention, and bullets were dropping around us like hailstones. "We got_to within 600 yards of the Boers in short rushes. We would run. a bit, then drop flat, fire away, then up and run again, and so on. Anyway, they were too strong, as they drove the Imperial Infantry back. We paw them running to their horse-i and galloping away. The Boers could be seen like bees on the ridge. We then had to retire in turn, just as we came — in short rushes — and the wonder is that anyone of us is alive to-day. By Jove ! it was a hot corner, old man : I never wish to get it ac sultry again. We only lost "one horse killed as we were refiring. We thought it was only a scrap between the outposts, as often lakes place, but it turned out to be a general engagement all along the -line, and when we -returned to the main position were immediately ordered to go to the left. The three contingents were hotly engaged. "We name up in time to cover their retirement, as it was too hot for them, but not. before they had lost 19 men, taken prisoners. "We were about to fall back then, on the artillery, when orders came for us to go further to the left and occupy the kopje, and away we went. Dismounted, five being; sent away on the flank as scouts, six holding; tho horses, leaving xts 12 men in the firing; line. \Ye got on top of the hill. It was a good way xvp, but only about 80 yards across on the top. We went over to see what was' on the other side, and saw three Boers. ¥s let them have it. They were dismounted, and did' not expect us, and two went down. We were very close to them, and then we saw. heads popping up from behind the boulder?. It was- too hot for us, and as they were outflanking us we had to run back to our side of the hill, and commenced firing. They didi the same from their side. Of course, wo could not pee each other, but had to fire to keep them from rushing us. Our scouts came galloping in from tho left to pay the Boers were advancing in that* quarter, and would get round u.-s. Just then we saw horsemen coming up at a gallop. They proved to be some of the Canadians. Our officer sent to them to come up as quickly as they could. Twenty of them came up. They were not long, but to us it seemed a lifetime. I smoked two pipes'bf tobacco, and rather enjoyed the excitement. It was aood fun ; one thinks nothing of the whistling- of the bullets. If; is afterwards when one has time to think what a narrow squeak we had. Well, after a while we had to get out of it somehow, or be shot, so three at a time ran down the hill, mounted, and galloped out- on the Veldt: lay down, and fired to covei the retreat of the others. "Wo all got away, but the six who were last had to fire the grass and tlien bolt. All hands got dov,n all right. It was about this time that Lieutenant Findlay was- shot. Ho was helped away to tho rear by Tom. Wright and Jim Hawkes, of Dimedin. As soon as we stood up the bullets simply hummed around up. We, however, managed to hold the Boers in check till dark, and then back to camp we n-ent, after leaving a strong picket. We reached camp about 8 o'clock, tired and hungry, having had nothing to pat, since 4-.30 that morning. Next day we were under arms again, but no fighting took place, the Boers not having any, as their plan to bieak through had failed. Donald M 'Donald, Ted Haydon, Billy Smith, and the othera doing general's guard were not in the fun. and were very wild at being out of it. I fired over 200 rounds ; some fired 270. I emptied my bandolier twice, &o you may guess it was pretty hot ; in. fact, it was a perfect hell. "What with the bcoai of the big guns, the pci earn of the shells through the air, bulleta flying above, and the crack of the rifles, with troops moving about, is rather exciting. Anyway, we are all satisfied that we didn't want it any warmer. Goodness knows when the war will be over. Loid Roberts is expected to make his final advance in a day or two. I saw him out here to-day. ' We move early to-morrow morning. Ever on the move, we never get more than one day's rest. Last "Wednesday we got an hour's notice to get packed and saddled for Pretoria, where we arrived on Thursday morning, got remounts, and left-again for here on Saturday morning". "We had about a fortnight in Pretoria on first entering it, on June 6. There was some talk of the colonials being sent Home then ; but our work is not done yet. I don't think any^ troops will leave South Africa before Sep^ tembcr, if then. "We are bound for Ly'den^ burg, where the Boers are making their was' now. The first, second, and third conlin} gents are all together in the one brigade, oj, rather all that is left of them — about 150 men s Where are the rest of the 700 odd? you wilj ask. Well, I don't know. A great many are),

sick, and others have joined the police. "Where ' the rest are I can't say. The Hotchkiss Battery was disbanded on arrival in. Pretoria, as the Major was ordered to rejoin his regiment in India 'to go to China. I understand we ; will reorganise again, and return homo as a j battery, as we h?\e the guns- to bring back. All the battery men are under Major Cradcck, ' who is a tplendid fellow. All the fellow <s , swear by him. All our officers are well liked. You will no doubt have heard that Major Robin has been promoted. We expect to fall in with the fourth and fifth contingents shortly, and a. welcome reunion it will be. iWe might as well be buried, for all we hear I of what's going on in the outer world. Tiio only news we get is through the papers our , iiiends send us; and of course they contain what is then ancient history to you. This will be a great country after 'things are settled. 'Any tradesman will be bound to do well, as there will be goott wages going. All of us can get a job, 'if we like to take it, on any of the Government works and in the mines. We had a game of football last Saturday — Canada v. New Zealand. Result : New Zealand, 26 points; Canada, nil. TROUBLES OF CAMPAIGNING. Trooper Claude Jewell, of the first contingent, in a breezy letter to a friend in Paeroa, gives an account of the troubles of campaigning-. Writing under date July 18, he says : — "■Pretoria is nothing, but a pageant of dirty khaki, with herring-ribbed mule transports and gauzy horses. I am becoming utterly callous. The result of the campaign sinks into insignificance beside the fact that I have this day, in consideration of the £urn of Is ! 4d, paid by me to the Army Service Corps, bought and purchased lib of good hard, strong shell tobacco, warranted to btay the nicotinian craving after having in vain attempted to do so by cremating the villainous dust the Boere call tobacco. All the starchy stiffness so associated with Tommy ' Atkins at home is not here; he does everything in his own free and easy way. Lord Roberts rides round just i>s if he were a mere human being ; he dresses sis plainly, but is loss dirty than a common poldier; his smile, which is the soul of kindness, captivates us. Kitchener does not smile — he (grins, — and lesser generals are too dignified to do either. I was captured a. second time lately by General Erasmus, and spent a night wilt the Boers. 1 was only disarmed, and treated with the greatest courtesy by Veldt Cornet de Lange and the general's secretary, /who gave me a pass back to our lines. You people in New Zealand must not run away ,with the idea that the British soldier is check ! dull of all sorts of virtues and magnanimity ; ; lie distinctly isn't; I have seen him in his natural condition at his worst, and it is only i "<.he strict discipline of the army that keeps T.A. from worse atrocities than the muchinaligned Dutch' farmer. However, I will be mistaken for a pro-Boer if 1 go on in this strain — I must desist. ".The New Zealanders are a power in the •land. You see them everywhere — stationinaaters, clerks, police warders, railway men — and there are even some like myself — :n the fighting line. We are still suffering from swelled head. " I am sick of mules and dust and bullocks and horses and bullets and shells' and Boers, and all I want is a quiet squat down on a ! chair — .a real chair — in New Zealand, with ' just an ordinary civilian — a mere human be- : ing, and a talk .about, something else .than •Boer and gore. For heaven's sake, if j"ou Hieac any talk of, a seventh, or eighth, or aiinth contingent, tell them in that persuasive ,way of '3 T ours not to come ; tell them there are enough fools here to finish the job, and it's : going to be finished for ever, Hurroo ! for home and country, for the quiet glades and Ss"lvan glons and ferny nooks of New Zealand, for ithe girls of our hearts and of our youth, for the pavement instead of the veldt, for the /peaceful gamp instead of the rifle, for the ■•billet instead of the bullet, for the kernel of 3ife in place of the shell of death. Hu-rroo ! for the home-bound boat, for the greasy sailor and the beaming, wet, coming crowd, for bread instead of biscuit, for the succulent chop instead of bully beef, the china cup and not the greasy mess tin. What-ho ! for the drizzly sky of 'New Zealand after the whitey-" "blue glint of the African panoply, for that peaceful bed undisturbed by the friendly kick of the perpetually unwelcome sergeant as be makes the frozen blankets rustle. A. ' vision of bread and butter haunts ay frozen dreams. Imagine a clean shirt, my boy. and a iaily shave, and a starched collar, and no 'South Africa in one's finger nails, and a pair of 10038 trousers with no leggings, and going to that clean white bed with no day clothes on, tind no spurs. Talk to mo of home, my boy. f»-icl I will listen to your description of Heaven. The pen is mightier than the sword — I ought to kuow, for I have tried both. Fancy shelling an egg and not the enemy. Oh, these delights ! thoy have led me into wasting my pencil — and pencil, my Christian friend, is precious to a soldier. I must commandeer some more, hang the expense. If you are ever tempted to seek glory on the untented field— don't ! " THE FOURTH CONTINGENT. "Mr L. Mathewron, of Kokonga, has received a letter from his son, Trooper William Mathewson, of the fourth contingent, from which -we make the following extracts: — "We aro now 60 miles from Bulawayo, on the way to Tuli. There was a sale of cattle a few days ago at Bulawayo, which, by the way, is a nice place, and from £20 to £30 was obtained per head. Goats resembling bairy sheep Fold at £3. Things have been ■ very clear here up till nov/, as the railway was, ' blocked by the Boers, and goods had to come i via, Beiia. We very seldom sleep in a tent, but just have our oil sheets and a blanket, . while our saddles serve as pillows. The land about here is very good, and would graze cattle and sheep well. We have just crossed the Malopo River, and are half-way to Tuli. We have had good water so far, but it is likely to be scarce on the next stage, where there is a span of 27 miles without water. Our rations were barely sufficient, so we bought a supply of milk and oatmeal, the price of the latter being 1r per pound. The mines are now working again, after a long stoppage, but the returns are only fair. The miners are paid 22s per day. The fever is bad here, February being about the worst time, and some who have had it are as thin as can be. We will wait at Tuli for the other troops — about 1600 in number. If a gold mine were found here lialf the gold would go to the Rhodesian Government, who do not appear to encourage prospectors, and altogether the country is- very heavily taxed for ' mines. A FAMOUS SCOUT ON THE WAR. In the course of an interview, Major F. R. Burnham, the famo.ip American scout, who had just arrived from South Africa, said that, ill his opinion, the difficulty of the country and the length of Lord Roberts' s line

of communications were not yet properly realised at Home. Instead of British communications being occasionally cut in the Transvaal or Orange River State, it was rather a matter for wonder that they had not been interrupted in Cape Colony it&elf. People were opt to forget that it was further from Capetown to Pretoria than from London to Vienna, and that the railway service was somewhat different. A Londoner did not think lightly of a journey to Aberdeen, but such a distance would be merely a little patrol for the troops under Lord Roberts. A high Germon military authority had stated that a single railway line of 500 miles could only support 40,000 troops. With 1000 miles of railway Lord Roberts had to support 150,000 soldier~, in addition to a large civilian population on the line of route, including such towns as Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Sufficient stress has not yet been laid, Major Burnham continued, en the extreme dryness of the South African veldt. Where in England a squadron of cavalry could march &ix miles, there they could only march two. The mobility of the mounted troops was fui"tber hindered by their own transport, for each cavalry brigade was bound to c,*rry its forage. The column's rate of progress therefore, was regulated by the pace of the transport waggons. It was folly to &ay, when the enemj r happened to be 30 miles distant, " Why don't the cavalry gallop* in pursuit, and wipe them out?" One 30-mile gallop would finish off every horse in South Africa. It was marvellous to consider the thousands of miles travelled by the cavalry division under General French," espscially when it was remembered that the forced marches were generally done on quarter rations for horses and half rations for the men.

The secret of the greater mobility of the Boers consisted in the fact that their ovn native horses were stronger than the imported English ones when the latter were fed on native food. If a mounted Boer had half a mile start it Ava« practically impossible for an English trooper to overtake him. It wa^ m-ore likely that -the Boer would increase the inrprvening cbYt.i<kpe. The English commanders made use of native hor&es whenever they cotild get them, and, but for these, hardly a scout could be mounted.

Major Burnham was most favourably impiessed by the City of London. Imperial Volunteers, and said they had astonished everyone by their physique and power of endurance. In his opinion, the Yeomanry, when they had learnt the life of the veldt, would be the finest soldiers of tho British army by reason of their intelligence. Nothing could exceed Major Burnham' & admiration for Lord Robert&'s colonial bodyguard. He had seen them lying down, holding their unsaddled horses, and at the sound of the bugle they had saddled up, mounted, and rode part within 30 seconds. The ve?ult was the same when the performance was repeated for the benefit of a cinematograph operator who arrived in Pretoria, and on that occasion one trooper accomplished the task in the space of 15 Ecqonds.

plat:: speaking to the boer delegates.

The Boer delegates were favoured with some plain speaking by Mr Thomas - Grant, of Chicago, when they went AVesW " You issued," paid .Mr Grant, addressing the Boers, " what is called an ' ultimatum ' to Great Britain, commanding her to withdraw ,her iroops from her own territory within a given number of days. Great Britain not having removed her troops as ordered by you, you immediately invaded the nearest British territory, took forcible possession of it, annexed it by proclamation to your own country, established local governments in every town that you occupied, levied taxes on the inhabitants, and, in fact, acted as absolute owners of the country. This is what you call 'fighting for your independence.' Tho British did not invade your country. Oh, but you say they intended to do so. That is a mere assertion, unsupported by any evidence. The fact is, you began this war in a moment of madness, when you were, suffering from what the French call ' tete montee,' and the American ' swelled head.' Now, when things seem going against you, you run round the world for sympathy. You say that you are fighting for the same principle that our American foiefathers did in the end of last century. I can use plain language as well as President Eruger, and I say that statement is a deliberate lie. Our forefathers fought because they objected to being taxed without any representation in the taxing body. That system of taxation without representation is the very thing that j'ou Boers have been carrying on in South Africa. You have been taxing Englishmen, Americans, Germans, and all foreigners without giving them any voice m the government of the country. My personal opinion is thjit the only mistake— the criminal mistake, I, Would say— ivhich the British Government made was in saving you from the Kaffirs, who, but for England's," interference, would ha-ve wiped you off the face of the earth.-"

MORE VICTORIA CROSSES

The London Gazette announces that the Queen has been pleased to signify her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned officers whose claims have been submitted for her Majesty's approval for their conspicuous bravery in .South Africa, as stated against their names :— Captain Matthew Fontaine Maury Aleiklcjohn, the Gordon Highlanders.— At the battle of Elandslaagte on 21st October, 1899, after the Boei position had been captured, come men of the Gordon Highlanders, when about to assault a kopje in advance, were exposed to a heavy crossfire, and, having lost their leaders, commenced to waver. Seeing ibis, Captain Meiklejohn rushed to the 'front and called on the Gordons to follow him. By his conspicuous bravery and fearless example, he rallied the men, and led them a«ainst the enemy's position, where he fell, desperately wounded in four places.

Second Lieutenant John Norwood, sth Dragoon Guards. — On 30th October, 18S9, this officer went out from Ladysmith in charge of a small patrol of the sth Dragoon Guards. They came under a heavy fire from the enemy, who were posted on a, ridge in groat force. The patrol, which had arrived within about 600 yards of the ridge, then retired at full ppeod. One man dropped, and Second LieuIwiant Norwood galloped back about 300 yaTilp through heavy fire, dismounted, and picking- up iho fallen trooper, carried him out of fi.ro on his back, at thf same time leading 'his horse with one hand. The enemy kept up an incessant fire during the whole time that Second Lieutenant Norwood was carrying the man until he was quite out of range.

Sorgoaut-major (now Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant) William Robertson, the fioulon HigMinders. — At the battle of ElancUlaagte, on 2Lsl October, 1899, during the final advance on the jnemy's position, this warrant officer led «t. cicces&he ru&U A

exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy's artillery and rifle fire to encourage the men. After the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp. Though exposed to a deadly crossfire from the enemy's rifles, he gallantly held on to the position captured, and continued to encourage tho men until ho was dangerously ■« ounded in two places. The Queen has also been pleased to approve the grant of the medal for distinguished conduct in the field to the undermentioned soldiers, in recognition of their gallant conduct in South Africa, 1899: — Sergeant-drummer George Lawrence, the Gordon Highlanders. Corporal-piner Kenneth M'Leod, the Gordon Highlanders. Lance-corporal Samuel Dryden, the Gordon Highlanders. Trooper A?. W. Evans, Natal Mounted Rifles. A letter with a somewhat interesting history arrived in Wendon, neat* Gore, the other day. It had been sent by Mr D. D. Scott, Otago University, from Cromwell, to Private Earle, No. 2 contingent, about the Ist of March ; but it never reached him. as it was seined by the Boers. Somehow or other it was subsequently rescued, and though slightly singed by fire, has reached tho home of the parents of the volunteer, with the word?, " Looted by the Boers " written across the envelope. , From a letter received in Wellington from Sergeant F. W. Bezar, of the fifth contingent, it appears that while at Bulawayo a telegram was read, from Mr Chamberlain, asking tho man to avail themselves of an invitation by the Queen to visit England after the war, when all would receive three months' .leave on full pay. All the men puL down their names a^ de-drou-j of accepting the invitation. Amongst the prisoners of war who are now jit Capetown (s-oys the Natal Mercury) is '" Lieutenant " Tremlett, who i.-< not unknown in Natal. As a matter of fact, some time ago ho commenced a poultry farm at Pinetown, mid especially in '" doggy " circles he wai a prominent personage. He will also be remembered in connection with tho ''conspiracy ca<e " in Johannesburg-, when the South Afiican League wa? on its trial. Tremlett come-- of a good English family, who are by no means satisfied with his receut escapades. A brother is an officer in the navy, a~id he himself played for i-om.-> year? with the l'aiaou* Blcckheatli Rugby team. Mr T. H. Reid, traffic manager of the Dunedin City trcim.vays. has kindly handed u« a letter rocehed from hi«. Jate brother. Sergeant A. M. Reid, who unfortunately died of enteric fever at, Johannesburg on August 8. Sergeant Reid, who was a native of Dunedin, was educated at tho Boys' High School. He was a member of the R Caller y, and when offers of -soluntccrs were railed lev for the second contingent hif- service 1 ? \vg~p accepted, and he was appointed s sergeant of the holcli-kiss-detachment of the second contingent, but when the battery was in South Africa he, joined the mounted infantry as a trooper. Sergeant Reid's misfortunes commenced before he reached South Africa, as he contracted enteric fever, which he describe- as b^iiiQ 1 similar to iyphoid, but much move painful and severe, about a fortnight-before landing, and he did not shake it off for about a month. After regaining his strength he was m splendid health up to the time of writing, although the forced march across the Vet Rivor to the camp near Pretoria, from which pltce the letter was written, was very trying, especially as fighting was going on almost all tho way. He says thp New Zealandera had been in some hot corners but always came out safely. Referring to his horse. Sergeant Reid said he was his be-st chum— in fact, -\bout his only one, but no one would recognise the gaunt, hairy animal as the fir?u prize show juniper in New Zealand. Continuing, ho says : "We aro under order*- to proceed to Lydenburg, 160 miles north of Pretoria, but are waiting for remount 5 !, as mine and Sergeant iSommerville's are the only sound hoives that arrived here." Referring to the country, he expressed a high opinion of it, and thought great developments would tafoa plac? in a fey vear--. With regard <o the enaage-ir-e-nt at Klip River, Scrpreant Reid said they engaged in some hoi work, and expressed surprise that the men canie out of it unhurt, particularly fo as they wove outranged, and simply had to stand up to an exceedingly heavy fire. The general complimented them a few days afterwards, saying he was proud of the colonial troops, 'and added that he sraw the New Zeplnnd Hotchkis t - Battery stand for three hours under the heaviest shell fire in modern warfare with the completed coolness he had ever witnessed.