Viljoen on the War.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XXV, 20 December 1902, Page 1543

Viljoen on the War.

When General Ben Viljoen steppe- 1 on the platform at the Queen’s Hall ta London he. was greeted with a hearty cheer of welcome. Before half a dozen sentences had passed from his lips he had gained the sympathy of his audience. Well-set and stalwart, with features that spoke of his French ancestry, Botha’s second in command wore a semi-military tunic that buttoned up close to his neck. A. carefully groomed moustache and imperial added to his martial appearance, while a humorous twinkle in his eye irresistibly suggested the Hibernian. General Viljoen was outspoken, but far too human to be offensive. If he gave free utterances to his views on the fault of British generals, he was equally frank in dealing with the shortcomings of his own side. His English was good, and his accent not unpleasant. General Viljoen’s first engagement was Elandslaagte, and he described with a touch of humour how he escaped the cruel weapons of the Lancers. For the British infantry he had the highest praise, though he thought they were over-disciplined, with the result that when their officers fell they too often became helpless. The Boer forces had not diseipliu.cnough. The weaker brethren were prone to indulge in precipitate retreat. “And then,” said the Boer soldier. grimly. ”we found the sjambok ;. great help.” General Viljoen referred repeatedly to “newspaper generals." They were to be found, he said, on both sides. It was not their fault that they v ere advertised, but in spite of them selves legends grew up around them “You in London.” he said, “were often told that De Wet was surrounded, that his escape was impossible, and this by men who knew no more about his position than you did. "Then, when it was found that he was a hundred miles away, the officer who had failed to catch him was bound to make a report that would satisfy you.” "We had some bad generals at the beginning of the war,” said Viljoen, at another point, "men who were better suited to lie parsons, or clowns, at London music halls. But we soon packed them off to take charge of herds of cattle or women’s laagers. I don’t know.” he added, ironica’v. "whether you did the same thing v. .h y ours.” The general testified to the Boer respect for Buller. “If we had had a voice in regard to the grant to Lord Foberts we would have given half oi it,” said he, “to General Buller."

Lord Kitchener he eulogised high ly. “We on our side respect him aa very fine soldier and a men of hiword. I am sure if he rt turns to South Africa at any time there will be no Englishman who will be bette. received.” Viljoen took part in the siege of Ladysmith. The abandonment of Spion Kop. he de-lared. amazed the Boers. After it hail been taken one Boer general retired so precipitately that he left hi- ammunition wag*gons t<. their fate. “Whatever induced you to abandon tie key to our position 1 never could make out.” When Viljoen and his men captured the 4.7 gun at Helvetia they wer - h’ghly elated to find that it had been •-.sristened “Lady Roberts.” and bore the name of her ladyship on itbreech. The general described grimly how be ran up against the Rcval Irish Regiment ami captureil the party after half their number hail been killed and wounded.

“1 again met the Royal Irish Regi ment.” continued Viljoen, with a shake of the head. “This time they ambushed me. and took me prisoner The officers were very kind, and the Tommies treated us with great courtesy. But they didn't conceal their enjoyment at having got hold of me." Viljoen had nothing but good to say of Tommy Atkins, though he admitted that T.A. never smilefl when compelled to change cloth -s with a Boer. Some of the captured officers were furious at having to give up their putties, and if in the process of exchanging an eye-glass was lost, and eould not be found, the owner was wont to rise to great heights of denunciatory eloquence. In the prisoners’ eamp at St. Helena. Viljoen was anything but happy. In 500 tents there was a service of song night and morning, an-1 from each cam? a fliff rent tune. Outside, the guards cried every quarter of an hour in the night. “All’s well” whether things were well or not. To add to the horrors a bugle sounded every half-hour, and Viljoen began to tremble for his reason. Many of the Boers attempted to escape. One burgher took his departure in a box addressed to London, and labelled “Boer curios." The porters who transported it to the quay unwittingly stood the unhappy man <l. his head. He was caught on board shin. Coming to the future of South Africa. General Viljoen declared it ■- ould -be hypocrisy to suggest that the bitterness engendered by the war eould he allayed in a moment. But ' ith tolerance on bot h sides there was every reason why peace and good will should reign. The Boers felt they had done their fluty, and they were now anxious for reace in order that they mio-ht. return to their or-'inary pursuits. \ ittle kindness shown towards them now in their hour of poverty would '■.ear rich fruit in the future."

lhe general’s lecture concluded amid loud applause, though the audit nee was not a very large one.