COLONIAL v. IMPERIAL TROOPS

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 32

COLONIAL v. IMPERIAL TROOPS

In the speech which he made at the Grand Hotel on Tuesday evening, the 16th, on the occasion of the official welcome extended to him, Corporal Louden, of the second contingent, drew a comparison between the colonial and Imperial troops, inferring that the rank and file of the former were, proportionately, of more service than the latter, owing to the colonials being allowed to think for themsslves^ while Tommy Atkine was not. He stated, further, that " he did not think much of the British officers, and that colonial ones were far better." Exception has been taken to these remarks by pevoral correspondent?, and Corporal Williams, oi Robeits's Horse, at present in Dunedin, called in yesterday to xsay that he emphatically disagreed with them. He says it is all nonsense to say that colonials were allowed to think for themselves (which, of course, signifies that they act upon what they think). The colonial troopers had to obey their officers just as muoh as had the Imperial ones, and the colonial officers themselves were not free to do as they liked, for they had to act on the instructions they received from the Imperial officers. Supposing, however, the Imperial men were allowed the same liberty of action as Corporal Louden credits the colonial men with enjoying, what would happen? Would it not simply mean a lack of cohesion and order that would have prevented the British army from accomplishing what they have? Illustrating his point that Tommy Atkins was tied down and handicapped in his work by absurd rules, Corporal Louden" stated that if a trooper dropped out of the ranks from fatigue, he was courtmartiallod next day. This, however, says Corporal Williams, was not always done. Tommy was only court-martialled when the reason of his dropping out was not apparent, and when there might be grounds for believing he was shirking work. Nor was it true that Tommy " had to stand up and b© fired at while the colonial mounted infantryman got orders to dismount and take cover." Corporal Williams's experience was that the Imperial officer was just as "anxious to save his men as was the colonial officer, and, indeed, it was part of his training to shelter his men as much as possible. Corporal Williams's opinion of the officers is exactly the reverse of that of Corporal Louden. The latter, in his speech, stated that the colonial'' officers were, in his judgment, superior to th 3 British ones. In ftoberts's Horse — a colonial troop — nearly all this officers were Imperial men, and Corporal Williams declares "he never wants to serve under a better class of men. He saw and served under colonial officeis, as well as Imperial ones, but the former, though occasionally possessing the advantage, as a general rule did not nearly come up to the latter, and this was only to be expected, for the British officer generally had had a longer tiaining, and often a previous experience of warfare. With some colonial troopers the Imperial soldiers were not popular, because of tho rigid discipline they enforced, but the majority of them soon got U3ed to this strictness, and recognised it was for their owa good.

As there are about 1000 Jews in the army in South Africa, the Jewish Chronicle of September 21 states that "the Chief Eabbi asked the Commander-in-Chief to grant the necessary facilities to Jewish soldiers to keep the approaching high festivals, and received the following reply on September 14: — ' Every fscility will be given lo Jewish soldiers in South Africa for observance of Jewish New Year festival, especially the Atonement Fast on 3rd October.' "

It is proposed to erect a monument on Spion Kop to the memory of officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of the regiment who fell there. This monument will be 25ft high, with a marble slab bearing the names.

- A new .railway from Johannesburg to Vereeniging was almost completed at the beginning of September. Over 10,000 Kaffirs and 500 white men were employed on the job, and all along the reef as far south as the Consolidated Main Heef the new line threads its way. Scores of " dumps " and tailings heaps have been used for filli/ig in. Without doubt the construction of this railway has a huge political, as well as a commercial) significance. When completed, it will give an Imperial railway from three coastal towns to the Rand. The cost will be about £7-000 per milo.

"Willing from Mafekiupr Hospital on tho 10th ulfc. to Mr Watlien, Trooper Soth Kyle

(Mornington), of the New Zealand fourth contingent, mentions that he had had hard luck by catching the measles. Ec refers in highly complimentary terms to the management of the hospital, but adds that he long<3 to get out with the boys again, though he had had to put up with half-rations on the veldt, and was frequently drenched with rain. Trooper John Watt (Hampden) had been happily employed in the postal department at Mafeking.