THE ENGLISH, IRISH, AND SCOTCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9, 1 March 1900, Page 6

THE ENGLISH, IRISH, AND SCOTCH.

In talks with Geneial Joubert, Commander Cronje, Commissioner Smit, Postm.ister-General Van Alpin, and other Boer leaders (siy* a correspondent of a 11 une paper) I gathered that the Boers make an exception of the rank and nle of the Scotch. Irish and colonial regiments. In them, say the Hoei-, the oflicers have con!idonee. As tor the troops recruited iv England proper — Devonshire. L mc ishire, York-hire. Manchester, and other prownces. cities, and rural dntricN — they are not counted upon. When it comes to a charge where desperate ami steadfast courage is needed Highlanders or Irishmen are called to thj front. This is sin unwritten but also an unbroken rule in English military science. The Irish soldier is a fighter purr> and simple A coward among thesu men is likely to be shot by his comrades. General White ha.s bicn making good u-e of this well-known quality in the Irish. The courage of the Scotch is different from that of the Irish. They too are inspired by the ties ot clanship and traditional pride. Hut the Highlanders do not light with the ferocity of the Fusiliers. With them it is quiet, steady determination to go through and light to the death. They have patience, while the Irish have not. When men are required to lie in the trenches anil bide their time under hot tire it is the Hi^hlmders who are wanted. The Irish cannot «tand still under fire. They are at their best only in a charge. That is why at Glencoe they were ordered to lead that reckless charge. The officers knew that their Irishmen would go at anything — white black, or brown — eichman to show what his country could do.