HOW THE BOERS VIEW EVENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9940, 17 January 1900, Page 2

HOW THE BOERS VIEW EVENTS.

Our readers will be able to s«e, in the following rxcerpt 1 " fiom a recent number of tho Di^gerb' Ntwb, what tli - Boei thinks, or is supposed to think, or others think for him • A .UOUiiNFA'L FAREWELL. " he pai.idc of ICMJ sturdy warriors of tho Po'icp Cojimiando excited admira-

tion. The Afrikander men. have- received their mandate from their women folk, though tho shadow of Elands Laagte hung like a pall upon the mourning robe 3of many. Venerable old dames in kappies, and' maidcOT In chintz, and babies of all ages, upon whom the warriors showered a valedictory benison, clung and struggled fiercely round the carriages. "Withered tantes, buxom vrouws, and frail niclijes tumbled over each othor for a final embrace. It was admitted that no finer or more serviceable force had been sent off. By tho time it gets to Hie Natal border it will bo 800 strong. It 13 under the Commandant of Police, Mr Ltert M.J. van Dam, with Lieutenants Oosthuizen. Pohlnian, Murphy, and Jat'obsz next in command. Mr C. D. Schntte addressed the men : You aro going to defend your righto, your liberty, and your independence, that dearly-bought independence God has granted you, and which is once again contested. You are not going to fight for honour, or money, or mercenary ambition or sordid gain. The English Oencral of 1881, Sir ' Evelyn Wood, said in my presonco to General Jcnlbert: "I have nine medals; I shall have ten if I take Laing's Nok." Joubert replied: "You Englishmont fight for honour or for medals. We Afrikanders fight for our rights and the freedom which God ha 1 ? given us to repel the aggressor, and to thwart those who would violate aud possess our country, and these, indeed, for which every Englishman would sacrifice hia life." For thirteen years yon have worked under me, and I had hoped I might have been permitted to go with you and help defend our country. But Government has compelled me to stay against my wish. BRAVE BOKR AND BHTWSK BUTCHER. Never before has the fire of tho Boers beon more deadly, and never before have they shown greater courage in facing the foe. The Boers are fighting for justice, for their land and their liberty, and no wonder that ten rise to take the place of every one that falls. Never has the martial spirit prevailed among the Boors as new, and never have they been more united. It surprises South Airica, it astonishes the world. Let the Boer lorces continue to act as they have done, and no one will be able to question either their bravery or the Christian spirit that has animated them in the treatment o£ these who have fallen into their hands. The reporta respecting tho conduct of British boldiers, in butchering the wounded and firing upon the ambulance, are, if substantiated, sufficient to arouse the indignation of even the Kaffir tnbes, much more of tho civilised world. It has been customary, in a section of the English newspaper press, to denounce the Boer as the epitome of barbarous cruelty, A PIOUS GENERAL. General Joubert wired with reference to the bombardment of Ladysmith : "We aro thankful for the protection of God. We have forty wounded in our hospital. God is wonderful and God is good. It is wonderful how we escaped, as the place was very warm, but we were protected by God. I pray Your Honour and people to offer a prayer for His kindness in watching over us this day, as it was by His hand, and His hand alone, that we succeeded in holding tho position. Our hopo is in the Lord, and we will rely upon Him. We have still lots of ammunition, and are doing very well."