OUR MEN AT THE FRONT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9940, 17 January 1900, Page 3

OUR MEN AT THE FRONT.

a raw lines rnon an old wan GANUI BOY. COMPLIMENTED TOR HIS WORK Coiporal John H-Oiig, formi'ily 0 Wangnnui, and one of Wellington's rep le^entativcs with the nrst contingent a the front, Ims sent the following lette; to his friends at the Wellington C'entia Club — ARUNDEL CAMP, December 12. Dear Old Pats,— Just a few lines to lei yo i kuow that up to tho present I an safe and sound, and have c&caiJod al' Boer bullets, as, indeed, have all tht members of the New Zealand contingent. We hslvc been under iire now three time 1 ;, and tho morning before yesterday (Wednesday) ballets were tailing flbout U3 like hail. One went through the rim of Trumpeter Johnson's hat , anotliei grayed my ear, and srvenil pai&cd within a'i inch or so of many of our men. One hrrse, tlia.4 of Harms, was shot through the thigh. Tho Carbineers had one man killed and se\en wounded, and one oi tho other companies, three killed and lino wounded. The New South Wale<Icncers lost two horses. I think those are tho tot.il of our casualties. Yesterday we. were out on outpost duty, occupying a kopje (hill) overlooking the Boer position. AYe Here put there to natch, and to prevent being surprised from the flank. We saw a gland go between our aiKllery — three guns from the lioyai Hois- Artillery— and the s.uno .lumber on the Boor side. They started at daylight. — shortly after 4 a.m. —and by eight o'clock the Boer guns were silenced. Their hsses must have been pretty he.-uy, as the Royal lioi.se Artillery were landing shell after shell n:ro their position, md must have done gre.it axecuti'in It is impossible to le>ll the Boer casualties, a3 they carry off their dead at once, to conceal tlieir losses. Had daylight no*- come -ilipji it, did I'm afiaid «c should have lind a real bad time of it, as tho Boors, under r-ove'r of the nitjlit, had advanced several miles from where we 1 had located their the previous c\en in°-, and were advancing on us, with the idea of shelling the camp. Luckily, daylight cany) 111 tune to bhow one of our outposts the position, and three of our guns were ejuickly out to defend us. So the Boers, 111 place of being the attackers, were foiced to defend themselves. One of tlieir side deserted and came over to Üb, and he it was who supplied us with the information with regard to their intention to surprise our oamp. So far as I can lieai 1 , our losses, all told, were four killed and nine wounded, also ten horses. One of those killed, a sergeant fieim the Carbineers, would certainly have been recommended for tinVictoria Cross had lie lived. One of the t'ocpers of his company was retiring (there were three, one trooper, one -sergeant, and one lieutenant), and going at a good pace. His horse put Ins foot in a hole and broke his leg, at the same time throwing his rider, who was in great >t,wger of bei lg tak:n by the enemy. The lieutenant went back to his assistance, but his horse wag shot under him. The scrgfant thoii immediately went to their assistance, tinder a l:ca\y fire fiom t!io Biers. Ifp suceeodol in'reaUiino them aj they were on tho point of l'etreating, after sending a few thotd at the" entmy to stop them, but was immediately shot dead. The other two ejected their escape. I went a risky solo on Saturday last, and got, through.. Our regimental ser-geant-major told me there was a flock of sheep out on the veldt some two or three miles fiom the camp, winch lie had ascertained from a Kaffir whom our fellows had captured belonged to a rebel named itDiisburg, a man whom we have prisoner at Naauwport for supplying the Boers with arntß and ammunition, whilst professing to be a British subject and occupying land 011 British, territory. He (the regimental sergeant-major) told me I could take the Kaffir with me as guide, and to get any assistance- 1 rec(uiredfroni tho Caibineers. I elected to go ulone, snvr> for the guide. Coming Up with the mob about three miles away, I was making for cam)> with them, when I caught sight of another mob some two miles fuither on, so I thought it as well to try and secure these as well, so off I went, leaving my Kaffir on foot in charge of tho sheep we had, and threatening to shoot him if ho shifted before I came back. When I got up to tho second mob I found tliem 111 charges of another Kaffir, from wlioin I ascertained they belonged to the samo man. I ordered him to elrive the aheep in tlio direction I pointed out, taking him as a prisoner, and to assist in taking the sheep back to tho camp. There were 2067 altogether. Those and the Kaffir prisoner were what I had to show for my day's work. I wae complimented on the result both by our officers and by one of the Imperial officers. We aro having a rather hard time of it, frequently being sixteen hours in the saddle, and then having to do outpost duty on our return, sometimes for two hours, but more often for four hours. On Friday last we frere called out at 1 a.m., fed and sadclled our horses, had a cup of tea and a biscuit for our breakfast, and in the saddle by two ; out finding and locating the enemy all day, and not returning to camp until 8 p.m. Then I had just time to have a cup of tea, a biscuit, and some tinned meat, when I had to go out again in charge of an outpost party. I was supposed to be relieved at 1 a.m., but did not get relieved until 4.30. I was then put in charge of a 'fatigue party to clear up the lines, then to go to tho stores for rations and liorse fodder , then off again on the commandeering expedition after those sheep, not getting to bed until 9.30; then up again at 2 the following morning. Pretty tough ! I have strung this out much longer than I had intended; yet I still have a lot to say, but mußt dofer most of it until next mail. However, I must tell you the General's opinion of your New Zealand Contingent. He told Major Robin to tell us that ho was greatly pleased with tlio New Zealand men. They were good horsemen, punctual on parade, and, ho miißt say, the smartest in the camp at turning out on short notice. He also greatly commended them for their coolness under fire, more especially as this was tlieir first experience of active service. You will no doubt be pleased to know of tlio above, as you all assisted in sending us out here. Our boys will never forget the kindness and generosity of the people of Wellington, and I personally am for ever indebted to you for your friendliness shown me on the eve of my departure.