LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 32

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

Mr Alexander Mathie, of the Hillside Workshops, lias received an interesting letter from his son, Trooper J. A. Mathie, of the fourth contingent. Writing from Barberspan on October 8, Trooper Mathie says: — "We have had a very rough, time during the last nine days. Two hours after we left Ottoshoop, en route for Liclitenberg, the Boers opened fire on us. The fourth contingent were the advance guard, and the enemy were in trenches on both our flanks. So we had to fight our way past them, which we managed to do by 11 o'clock. Just before reaching camp the same night we opened fire on a kopje with lyddite and shrapnel. We killed 20 of the eneraj'-, and took over 30 prisoners and six waggons of stores. Four of the fourth

contingent and six of the fifth contingent were wounded. A few days afterwards we had a pretty lively time, but captured 40 Boers, a convoy of 12 waggons, 400 head of cattle, 3000 sheep, a lot of arms, and 6000 round? of ammunition. We have looted and eaten e^ cry fowl and pig in the country, in addition to burning down numerous houses. The houses here are all deserted, as the Boers have fled, leaving everything behind them." Writing again at a subsequent data Trooper Mathie states: "We are camped in the centre of Oliphant's Nek, 40 miles from Johannesburg, and ore now awaiting orders. We have not seen any sugar or tea for eight days. We get a teaspoonfnl of coffee per man ncr day, as we are sbort of provisions. The crops on the Boer farms, which are numerous about here, are now ripe, and as a result our horses are well looked after. It is rumoured in camp that we will go to Pretoria, and thence to Mafeking, where wo will be disbanded by the Rhodesian Government, so we may probably be home within three months."

In the course of a letter written at Oliphant s Nek. on OcLober 6, by Trooper D. J. MAuley, of the fifth contingent, to his mother, he soys a good deal of fightine had been going on since his last letter", written' a month previously. He then refers to the incidents the men experienced almost immediately after their departure from Ottoshoop, but it is substantially the same as related ill other letters which we have published. Ihrea of the British wore wounded, and Trooper M'Auiey expresses wonder that the casualties were so few. TJic Bqers had 39 kiLsd, besides which a number of prisoners were taken. Another engagement followed two days later, when our boys were acting as rearguard, and three or four were wounded. Ho also mention? the capture of rifles, ammunition, and prisoners.

Mr Denis Heenan, Cumberland street. Dunedin, has received two letters from his eon, Irooper James Heenan, of the fourth contingent. The news contained in the letters is substantially the aims as was embodied in letters published a, few days ago. Trooper Hoenan appears to entertain a different opinion of tho country to most of the New Zealanclers. For instance, he says : " The Transvaal is a beautiful country, and it is no wonder that the Boers fight for it. It is barren and poorly watered in places, but in other districts the land is marvellously rich, and will grow anything. It is a country oapable of sustaining an enormous population from an agricultural point of view alone, without taking into account its mineral resources, which experts declare to be of great promise. It may not, like the land of Canaan, be flowing with milk and honey, but, take my word for it, some day, under British rule, it will flow with good silver and gold. It make 3 one feel strongly tempted to stay. I shall go back with the contingent, and then mako up my mind about coming here."

Mr William Thomson, of 209 George street, has received a letter from his son Willie, now in South Africa. This son went through the siege of Ma.feking, and towards its close contracted an attack of fever. On recovering ho joiued the Orange River Police for three months. The letter, which was written from Bloemfontein on October 16, states thai De Web was giving a good deal of trouble, but it was believed the war would soon be over if he was caught. The writer relates a' strange adventure which he met with a few nights before writing. He got o"ff the main track, and being very dark he could not pick it up. After riding about he dismounted, and none loo^soon, for he could see several Boers about. Fortunately for himself, or the Boers, they did not see him. But no sooner liad he got clear of this danger than he was surrounded by a crowd of the largest baboons he has ever seen in South Africa. His horse became thoroughly frightened, and gave him a lively half-hour; but (thanks to hid er.rly training in riding calves at Otama, Otago), having a good seat m the saddle, he managed to get away from the chattering apes. The writer, after referring to the rates) of pay, says that people in New Zealand Viould be surprised at the number of Boers killed, wounded, or taken prisoners ; aiid at the number of houses burnt, down by the troops". There 13 a surprising number of women and children left on the remaining farms, nearly all wearing black on account of someone killed in action. The police take any horde they like from 'a farm if their own gets knocked up, make short cuts across country, cutting all wire fences in the way, and shooting armed Boers without notice unless they are first shot by the Boers.