IS IT FAIR?

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3537, 9 April 1901, Page 4

IS IT FAIR ?

Lord Methuen, in his despatch deserib ing the battle o:- Graspan, used these emphatit words : —" The heights gained, I found I had taien the whole Boer force in flank, and entirely cut them off from their line of retreat. My guns played on the masses of horsemen; but my few cavalry, dead beat, were powerless, and for the second time I longed for a cavalry brigade and a horse-artillery battery, to let me reap the fruits of a hard fought action." "Daily Telegraph," February 21st, 1900. " And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded ' Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to-day as heretofore?' Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh saying, 'Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, make brick; and behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people."—Exodus v. 15-16. All laud and praise to Boberts give Without or stint, or bound; Let Kitchener receive the same, But let the praisef go round; Let Paardeberg be glorified, And Kimberley extolled, But don't forget those Generals Whose 1 fate "Bed Tape" controlled, : We sent Lord Boberts to the war, I Nor stinted him one hair, But did we when the others went? If not, then, was it fair? We sent Methuen to the front Without the proper tools; We did the same with Buller too, And made them look like fools. We understaffd the forces sent, We light esteemed our foes, And where they wanted Batteries, We sent them what we chose; For Cavalry we sent them Foot, For big guns, small, and spare, And through this war, we've done the same, But do you think it's fair?

With mobile forces like the Boers, They wicg'd their course with speed; Now here, now there, and everywhere, Wherever there was need ; We followed at a snail-like pace, The best- at our command, .But all too late to circumvent, Or fight them hand to hand; Such our position was, till late, When Boberts, you're aware, Went in, with proper tools, and won! But do you think that's fair? Yes, is it fair, to those who went At first, without the tools, Nor horse, nor men, • nor guns enough, Thus placed between two stools—(The lack of assuch^ And Boers in greSt;excess;)' I think it's now agreed by all, Here was a pretty mess! But whose the mess, and whose the blame, Will "Bed Tape" take its share? " Bed Tape" and shirks it all, But do you think that's fair? Had Buller, and Methuen, too, Like Boberts been equipped With all'munitions like to his, They would the Boers have hipp'd, Nor shall we now withhold our prrvise, For they*, have gallant been. They've fought like heroes, dogg'd and brave, In many a bloody scene! All laud and praise to all the brave, To each an equal share, Not more to one than other give, And than, I think is fair. I have no wish, and no desire, To underrate Lord "Bobs," A very gallant gentleman, The bravest of our "nobs," He's everything T>ecomes a man, A hero or a god! But that the praise should be all his I fhivik is more than odd; On equal, terms place all our men When fighting's in the air, And then apportion praise or blame, And that I flunk's but fair!-. Lowestoft, March Ist, 1900. J.L-0.