I.It ain't a fatigue to see him,'E's a taller than usual man,As 'e struts down the road 'e's as smart as be blowed,And 'is swagger would stop Big Ben,'E's a fair take-in for the ladies,For of course it's a maxim triteWhen a cove's in the Guards, why it's just on the cards'E's a bit of the best All-Right.CHORUS.Whether 'e wears a 'elmet,Or 'airy 'at on 'is nut,When all's done and said, 'E is 'Ousehold Brigade,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(Shouted ad lib.): THAT'S RIGHTWhether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.II.O' course 'e's fond of 'is lady,'Is lady she doats on 'im,And it's princip'ly that what's the cause of 'er 'at,With its feathers and twisted brim.When 'e takes 'er out of a SundayShe says, "What a lovely sight!"Oh! there isn't a doubt, But I'm walking about"With a bit of the best All-Right."CHORUS.And when 'e looks in promisc'ous'Taint often the door is shut,For she's fond of a mash, with a curly moustache,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(As before): That's RightWhether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.III.And then, when the war-clouds gather,On Service 'e goes away;And it's "Goodbye, Sal, God bless you, my gal!"And the woman is left to pray.Then whether it's toil and 'ardship,Or whether it's march and fight,'E's a joker, we know, As is certain to show'E's a bit of the best All-Right.CHORUS.Whether it's sword or bayonet,Whether it's lance or butt,'E's bound to go large When they're sounding the Charge,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(As before—only more so): That's Right!Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.
I.
It ain't a fatigue to see him,'E's a taller than usual man,As 'e struts down the road 'e's as smart as be blowed,And 'is swagger would stop Big Ben,'E's a fair take-in for the ladies,For of course it's a maxim triteWhen a cove's in the Guards, why it's just on the cards'E's a bit of the best All-Right.
CHORUS.
Whether 'e wears a 'elmet,Or 'airy 'at on 'is nut,When all's done and said, 'E is 'Ousehold Brigade,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(Shouted ad lib.): THAT'S RIGHTWhether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.
II.
O' course 'e's fond of 'is lady,'Is lady she doats on 'im,And it's princip'ly that what's the cause of 'er 'at,With its feathers and twisted brim.When 'e takes 'er out of a SundayShe says, "What a lovely sight!"Oh! there isn't a doubt, But I'm walking about"With a bit of the best All-Right."
CHORUS.
And when 'e looks in promisc'ous'Taint often the door is shut,For she's fond of a mash, with a curly moustache,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(As before): That's RightWhether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.
III.
And then, when the war-clouds gather,On Service 'e goes away;And it's "Goodbye, Sal, God bless you, my gal!"And the woman is left to pray.Then whether it's toil and 'ardship,Or whether it's march and fight,'E's a joker, we know, As is certain to show'E's a bit of the best All-Right.
CHORUS.
Whether it's sword or bayonet,Whether it's lance or butt,'E's bound to go large When they're sounding the Charge,Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.(As before—only more so): That's Right!Whether 'e's 'Orse or Fut.
The Cradock Dutch newspaper, theMiddellandsche Afrikaander, says: "Our English contemporaries are greatly mistaken in thinking that the war has now virtually ended. The Republicans are now going to act on the defensive, and now one can expect a deathly struggle. The war has now lasted nearly six months, and, however much we desire it, there is no prospect of peace as yet."
We try to Name the New Colony, and describe the Kornespruit Fight.
Our ten thousand readers had been invited to send in their suggestions for a new name for the Free State, and then to express their opinions upon the names thus suggested. The first person to have sent in the name preferred by the greater number of readers was to receive five guineas, and perhaps the honour of naming a new colony of the greater Empire. The names suggested by the Army and the Bloemfontein readers ofThe Friendwere as follows:—
Alexandra, Adamantia, Albertia, Altruria, Atkinsdom, Aurania, Brand State, Brandesia, British South Africa, Britannia, British Colonia, Brandsland, Buckland, Burghers' State, Central Colony, Centuria, Campania, Carnatia, Cameraria, Chamberlainia, Cecilia, Crucipatria, Colonia, Cisvaal, Closer Union, Conquered Territories, Crown State, Centralia, Capricornia, Cilionia, Concordia, Diamond Colony, Diadem State, Empire State, Esicia, Empressland, Frere State, Fonteinland, Fonteinia, Freer State, Frereland, Federalia, Filia State, Federaldom, Grassland,Gariep Sovereignty, Guelfland, Helenia, Immigratia, Imperial Orange Colony, Imperia, Jubileeland, Kandaharia, Khaki State, Khakiland, Kopjesia, Lanceria, Leonida, Marchland, Mimosaland, Malaria, Milneria, Midland, Middle Colony, Mid-South Africa, Modrieta, New Ireland, New Alexandria, New Victoria, North Cape Colony, New Albion, New Era, New Canada, New Colony, New Rietana, Northern Province, New Gualia, New Victoria, New Edward's Land, New Egypt, Orange State, Orange, Orangia, Orangeland, Orange Colony, Orange Sovereignty, Provincia, Pasturia, Pastoria, Queen's Free State, Robertsland, Rietania, Robertesia, Robertsin, Robertina, Robertonia, Robertshire, Roberterre, Roberton, Robertsdale, Robertsia, Robiana, Robermain, Reconquered Land, Regina Land, Stellaland, Stellarland, Sylvania, Suzerainia, Steyn's Folly, Salisbury, Tableland, Trans Garep, Transgarepian Territory, Trans Orange, Uitland, Union Era, United British Empire, Union State, U.S. South Africa, Victory, Victorialand, Victoria Robertsia, Victoriafontein, Veldtland, Veldt.
The voting closed on April 7th, and on April 9th we announced that the name Brandesia, honouring a late President of the State, an upright man and a friend of Great Britain, had secured by far the greater number of votes. Taking the whole vote, and separating from it the votes for those names which were formed upon or out of the name of Roberts, it was seen that the desire of the Army to honour its Chief was stronger than the expression of the Free Staters in remembrance of President Brand. But "Brandesia" secured the most votes, and Mr. P. Johnson, whom we were not able to discover afterwards, won the five guineas. Private W. Cooper, H Company, 5th Regiment of Mounted Infantry, won the two-guinea prize for guessingnearest to the five names that secured the greatest number of votes. Now that the Government has named the country "The Orange River Colony" we see that whoever sent in the name "Orange Colony" really deserved the most of whatever credit goes with guessing blindly.
Coming upon Mr. James' clear and accurate account of the Corne Drift (Kornespruit or Sanna's Post) ambuscade reminds me of how the heroic survivors of that red-hot fight drifted back to town, drifted into the hotel dining-rooms—actually drifted into my bedroom in the case of Colonel Pilcher—and I missed the chance at the time of looking at them with eyes that saw the hell they had been through; without the understanding by which I could measure their pluck.
There had been a fight at the Waterworks, and we had been beaten, and had suffered a shocking loss of men and guns—that was all that most of us knew on the Sunday that followed the fighting on Saturday, March 31st. Afterwards I saw a score of the dare-devils who had squeezed out between the fingers of Death's clenched hands, and I made the fight my most serious study in the war—but I missed the chance of seeing it for myself, and then I lost the glow of knowing what I looked at when I saw the survivors come in.
Mr. Gwynne went out to the scene and caught a glimpse of the end of it. As there are few living correspondents better equipped to judge events in war, and as it is the pride of more than one general to obtain his views and accounts of the actions he witnesses, I will quote a bit of his editorial of April 5th, in which he touches upon the Sanna's Post affair: "Perhaps neverin the history of British campaigns have our soldiers shown more splendid courage, more dogged resistance and greater coolness. General Broadwood has covered himself with glory by the masterly way in which he extricated his little force from a veritable death-trap. And who is there who can pay adequate tribute to the behaviour of our gunners, and the gallant band of British soldiers who held off a greatly superior force under most difficult and trying circumstances?"
It was while Mr. Gwynne was at the scene that a Boer suddenly appeared and advanced toward him unarmed like himself; indeed, Mr. Gwynne believes the man was a war correspondent. The two talked of the fight: "Your people showed wonderful courage," said the Boer; "we thought we had bagged your whole force. I am bound to say that had the Boers been in such a tight place they would have surrendered."
"The following is a literal translation of a genuine Boer document recently discovered. It has been forwarded to us for publication by an officer of the Intelligence Department, to whom we tender our best thanks."
In order to form an opinion on the manner of operations of both hostile parties, at present or in the future, it is necessary, as far as possible, to endeavour to obtain an understanding of the different properties and conditions of both belligerents.
From a physical point of view, the Boer stands far above his enemy in respect to bodily strength and perseverance.
He inherits from his Teuton ancestor a quiet and patient nature, coupled with a strong frame, which makes him less liable to be affected by troubles and loss of spirit under the continued strains which are inseparable from the campaign, while the Huguenot blood which flows through his veins continually gives him fresh power and energy, which is much in his favour in a final attack; further he is filled with an unlimited faith in his God and the assurance of the righteousness of his cause, which fills him with superhuman strength and lion-like courage.
Open-air life has given him a clearness of sight, and perseverance which is probably without equal in the world's history, while his monotonous life is the cause that he, though a lower member of the force, can act independently. By lack of discipline and organisation, his movements are sometimes clumsy, which, however, tends to his benefit in an uneven field, and taken altogether are little to his detriment, as he is not bound by special rules respecting formation or otherwise. In contrast, the British troops are (notwithstanding there may be many brave soldiers found among them) on account of their organisation and equipment, &c., little adapted to keep up their heads against the mental and bodily strain of a continued and wearisome war.
They are mostly obtained out of cities and towns, which leaves much to be wished for in their clearness of sight, steadiness of arm, and power of self-reliance, while the discipline, organisation, rules and directions to which they must hold weaken themmore, so that they are merely tools, standing under their officers' commands, of a fighting machine. The officers in many instances are young and without experience, and mentally and bodily unfit to fulfil their serious and responsible duties, chosen to be officers not for their ability, or natural talent, but because they are sons of the noble, or of the respected of the land.
It is, however, not intended here, by any means, to throw the blame on the valour of the officers or men.
When the nature of both armies is considered, one comes to the conclusion that the British troops all gain an advantage in an attack on equal ground, if a strong force is used in it, while the Boers will obtain one in case there are fewer attackers brought into the field. The English will benefit by defending, especially if time be given them to build defences, and also where towns and camps must be held.
Over hilly and uneven ground the Boer has by far the best chance to attack, while in an eventual defence he has everything in his favour, and is practically not to be got at.
The British authorities have apparently too much trust in the result of their Artillery. It is plain that they cherish the idea that it will have a demoralising effect on the Boers, and therein they have fortunately been mistaken. They did not calculate that the effect could not be so great on scattered troops, and that the result cannot be equal to the expenditure and difficulties of transport. On the other hand, the Artillery of the Boers necessarily has a powerful result on troops which, like the British, are formed in close order, notwithstanding, according tothe ideas of the writer of this, enough use is not made of "black gunpowder" with a view to find the distances by trial shots with that powder, to be afterwards followed by burstable shells with "time fuse" to produce great destruction.
As the ground is mostly soft, shells which burst on impact, so-called percussion shells, cannot mostly be used with favourable results, except under special circumstances. To bombard camps or towns "cordite" or "melanite" should not be used, as both explosives contain no inflammable properties, which are so necessary to set houses, waggons, forage, &c., on fire.
The greatest care should be taken that the mounted Boers should not be exposed in the open plain to the attacks of the enemy's cavalry, unless they are protected by quick-firing Maxim-Vickers guns and shells, seeing that the British Cavalry have a great advantage at short distances in the use of lances, swords and pistols.
It is highly desirable that the Boer commandos should not be accompanied by many commissariat waggons laden with provision, tents and other things, as they tend to hinder them, and prevent their executing quick movements.
In calculating the chances in this war, it has always been considered that the Boers have their greatest advantage in being independent of commissariat transport, and although provision must be made to be in touch with certain points with the necessary provision for the commissariat, these, notwithstanding, must be viewed as items wherewith, considering the great interests at stake, too much care is not needed to be taken.
On this ground the British troops are far ahead of the Boers, on account of their proper organisation, and it is indeed to be regretted that a like department has not been established, especially as the Boers would be specially fitted for it, and have up to this time made so little use of their talent in this direction. Herein a serious instance is brought as an example, namely, the fact that the English troops could retreat in order from Dundee, without its being directly known. Also the disaster at Elandslaagte must be ascribed thereto, where small isolated troops, consisting of a mixed commando, were surrounded in positions not advantageous to their mode of warfare, and, even had our troops at that place been in a defensible position, they were "not in touch" with other troops, who could hasten to their assistance.
As to plans which are reckoned to be the best to obtain the victory for the Republican arms, it is an axiom that the deeper one penetrates into an enemy's country, the more one's power is weakened by the necessity for keeping up communication, but there is an exception to every rule, and this war at the present time makes the exception. The Boer forces strengthened their resources, instead of weakening them, by their invasion of Natal and of the Cape Colony. A great proportion of the inhabitants of these Colonies are friendly, and they will thus always keep communication open, even when they take no active part in warlike operations. Taking this as granted, the conclusion is arrived at that the whole design of the Republican commanders should be to push their troops as far as possible, until they reach a war basis or boundary line.
Our Governments employ too many troops for Bechuanaland and Rhodesia without obtaining benefit therefrom. A picked commando of 1,000 men would possibly be sufficient to keep control over Mashonaland, while 1,500 at Mafeking would suffice to cut off the Bulawayo division, and in that case the troops which are now occupied about Mafeking and Kimberley could be better employed and with likelihood of good results, by being pushed South. If a sufficient number of men are left behind to dispute an eventual sortie from Kimberley and Mafeking, there is little benefit obtainable in the investment of towns which probably can hold out six or eight months. As long as they are well watched they cannot do much harm.
Much more could have been gained in Natal immediately after the Imperial troops were surrounded at Ladysmith, by sending a strong commando at once to the "Town Hill" at Pietermaritzburg, and if that commando was not strong enough to offer resistance, on retirement it could have broken up the railway, and thereby the siege of Ladysmith, which is now being prosecuted, would have been a shorter and less troublesome task.
It appears that the Boer forces have not directed their attention to making a series of attacks in the night. For such a purpose their troops are specially adapted, and the result on the enemy would certainly be terrible, as the loss of sleep would weary them bodily as well as mentally. A certain number of men could be picked to trouble the enemy every night; for instance, 500 men at Ladysmith, 100 at Mafeking, and 250 at Kimberley,without doing that injury to the Republican troops which would tend to weaken the command of British officers, and make the men grumble and dissatisfied, even if the number in killed and wounded was not especially great. There should also be, when British troops are marching, a division of picked sharpshooters to be used in attacking them on the flanks, without much damage to the Republican troops, while doing much damage to the enemy. The killing of a mule or ox belonging to a waggon or gun necessitates delay and inconvenience.
Under ordinary circumstances, this war will necessarily continue some time, possibly even over a year, and seeing that there is such a number of burghers commandeered, it would be well if the authorities could arrange a plan to relieve them, say, for instance, ten in each month per hundred. Some men of every commando will be desirous to visit their relations in case of sickness, or to rest, or to attend to private matters. When not relieved it may be that the men may become listless and dissatisfied; while the force will not be appreciably weakened by the absence of 10 per cent., such a rule would be pleasing to the burghers, and in every sense satisfying to their officers.
The outline of the history of Colonel Broadwood's column appears to be as follows: When Colonel Pilcher made his dash for Ladybrand, the place wasfound teeming with the enemy. In fact, when the Landdrost was carried away, fire was opened on the abductingcortègefrom the very garden gates of professed loyalists. The whole country-side was so disturbed that it was time for the little column holding Thaba 'Nchu to fall back upon Bloemfontein. Information was despatched to headquarters and reinforcements urgently asked for. When commenced, the march from Thaba 'Nchu became virtually a pursuit. The enemy were reported on the flanks and rear of the column all through Friday, March 30.
On Friday night the column arrived at a camp this side of the Modder, about two miles distant from the Waterworks. The actual rear-guard was not into camp until after 2 a.m. on Saturday. So anxious was Colonel Broadwood for the safety of his column that he determined upon a start before daylight. At 6 a.m. the enemy opened on the camp with rifle fire. The order was immediately given for the force to stand to their horses, and in a quarter of an hour the head of the transport column was leading out of camp. At 7 a.m. "U" and "Q" batteries R.H.A. moved off in battery column, following the transport. Roberts' Horse, in fours, moved parallel to them on their left.
About three miles from the camp the road crosses a drift known locally as Corne Drift. The approach to this drift is peculiar. The actual crossing practically lies in the apex of a triangle, the two sides of which are formed by a railway embankment under construction and a bush-grown donga. Opposite the drift is a farm-house and some rising ground commanding, not only the drift itself, but all theapproaches. This drift the enemy had occupied before daylight, and here they lay in ambush for the advancing column.
Their dispositions were most perfect, as the head of the column marched right into their arms, and they were able to take possession of the transport without a warning shot being fired. When "U" Battery, which was leading, arrived at the drift it found that it was surrounded by dismounted enemy. The spokesman called upon the gunners to surrender. They told the drivers that they might dismount and keep their coats. The surprise was absolute. Major Taylor commanding the battery managed to warn "Q" Battery. Then the ruse was "up"—as soon as the enemy saw this they opened fire from all their points of vantage. From the rising ground, from the cover of the donga and from between the wheels of the captured guns and waggons. As soon as the firing opened, the teams of the captured battery stampeded and added to the general chaos of the moment.
Under a blaze of fire, four guns of "Q" Battery and one of "U" trotted clear, and came into action about a thousand yards away at the tin buildings which are destined to be the Corne Drift Railway Station. A few seconds later Roberts' Horse rallied upon them. But here the nucleus of the front was formed which saved the whole force from disaster.
The carnage was ghastly for a few minutes, but as the gunners stood devotedly to their pieces and Roberts' dismounted troopers commenced to keep down the fire, Broadwood was able to form dispositions by which to extricate the force. This was done—the British cavalry were sent toclear the flank of the donga and, covering each other, the mounted infantry corps were able to withdraw after the remnants of the batteries had fallen back.
The action of the gunners was magnificent. In the face of a bitter short-range fire they stood to their pieces until, of the five gun groups, there were only ten men and one officer left unscathed to serve the guns. Then with dilapidated teams and manual haulage they dragged the battery out of action, only to come into action again when Broadwood strained every nerve to regain the baggage and the guns. And even while this action was taking place the relieving division was only four miles distant. It was a sad yet brilliant affair. Sad that the column ever fell into the ambush—brilliant in the manner in which the force was extricated.
The man what writes a poemIn praise of our Tommy A.'sAin't got no call to studyTheir manners, nor talk, nor ways,'E's only to fake up somethingWhat's Barracky—more or less—And civilians don't know as it's rubbish and soThe Ballad's a big success.Don't 'ave no truck with the drill-book—You might get a bit at fault,It's best to confine your attentionsTo simple commands, like "'Alt";For a 'aporth of 'IndustanieAnd a pennorth of Sergeants' mess(Though the meanin's all wrong) is enough for a songTo make it a big success.If you wants to say anything coarse-like,Well, say it out plain, don't 'int,And fill each line with expletivesAs don't look pretty in print—If you sneers at the "Widow of Windsor,"And laughs at 'er soldiers' dress,And connects the word "'Ell" with an orficer, well,Your ballad's a big success.Take the slang of the camp(What's easy to vamp)And some delicate soldier wheeze,Call the Guard-room the "Clink,"And describe any drinkAs a "Fall in" or "Stand at ease";Then you mix the 'ole lotAnd you serve it up 'ot;From ingredients sich as theseForm that singular saladA Barrack-room BalladIn Rudyardkiplingese.
The man what writes a poemIn praise of our Tommy A.'sAin't got no call to studyTheir manners, nor talk, nor ways,'E's only to fake up somethingWhat's Barracky—more or less—And civilians don't know as it's rubbish and soThe Ballad's a big success.
Don't 'ave no truck with the drill-book—You might get a bit at fault,It's best to confine your attentionsTo simple commands, like "'Alt";For a 'aporth of 'IndustanieAnd a pennorth of Sergeants' mess(Though the meanin's all wrong) is enough for a songTo make it a big success.
If you wants to say anything coarse-like,Well, say it out plain, don't 'int,And fill each line with expletivesAs don't look pretty in print—If you sneers at the "Widow of Windsor,"And laughs at 'er soldiers' dress,And connects the word "'Ell" with an orficer, well,Your ballad's a big success.
Take the slang of the camp(What's easy to vamp)And some delicate soldier wheeze,Call the Guard-room the "Clink,"And describe any drinkAs a "Fall in" or "Stand at ease";Then you mix the 'ole lotAnd you serve it up 'ot;From ingredients sich as theseForm that singular saladA Barrack-room BalladIn Rudyardkiplingese.
Being among a group of Australians the other day, I noticed them watching the Guards drill, and, asthey seemed to be interested, I thought it a good opportunity of getting their ideas of Thomas Atkins. With the object in view, I engaged one of them in conversation. I ventured a remark on the drill.
"Oh, yes, they drill all right," said the Australian, "but you see they get a bit too much of it, I think; I mean as regards the goose-step business. You know, we Australians," he went on, "never have too much of that. It may give a man more steadiness in marching on parade, but we don't have many show parades during the year, Queen's Birthday being the most important."
"How often do you drill there?" I asked.
"Well, you see—of course I'm speaking of New South Wales. There we have about twenty-five half day drills during the year. These take place on a Saturday afternoon. Out of these they take sixteen and give us an encampment at Easter. It is at this encampment that we receive the most good as regards learning our work. I was almost forgetting the annual Musketry Course, when we get through our firing. Of course, we have plenty of firing practice on our other parades as well."
"How did you chaps come to be sent to Africa?" I asked.
"Oh! we all volunteered," he replied, "and a great job they had of it in selecting the men to come. So many wanted to come and so many were disappointed, and I can tell you that if they would only send them, there's thousands who would come. Why, to give you an idea of it, do you know there are men in the ranks who are worth thousands, and some of the highest families are represented in the war in the ranks?"
"How do you get on with the soldiers from home?"
"Oh, we get on first-class; but what we would like is more opportunity of mixing with them and becoming better acquainted. You see, there's so much work to be done that we don't get a chance to mix together. Down at the Modder where we did get a bit chummy, Tommy would have done anything for us. He would have given us the shirt off his back if we'd wanted it, and we can't help liking him, as the song used to say, because you can't beat him down. No matter in what circumstances you find him he's always in a good humour and ready for what's coming next. You can see him in rags that used to be in khaki, and you can see him just after he has received his kit-bag and he's always the same. He seems to have plenty of money and spends it just as readily as if he had the Bank of England behind him. But I think if you want to see him in one of his happiest moments, you want to look at him when he is carrying a bag of bread and other treasures out of Bloemfontein."
"Then you Australians rather like Tommy?" I said.
"Like him? Of course we do. We've fought alongside of him, and what we want is more of him—that's all. You know, we want to show the world that we are all one, no matter what part of the world we Britons come from, and we're going to do it, too."
I was very pleased with my new-found friend and his outspoken way, and glad to have got rid of an idea that the Colonials didn't take well to Tommy.
Full of matter which is no longer a tenth as interesting as it was there and then.
Number 21 ofThe Friend, dated April 10th, was a splendid number for Bloemfontein, and for the time, yet there is nothing to reproduce except an Australian's trooper's poetic salute to the eucalyptus, or gum-trees, that he recognised as fellow inhabitants of his distant land, whence they have been sent to cheer the waste places of California, the American Plains, and all South Africa.
Three solid columns of the paper were justly given up to Mr. Kipling's exposure in the LondonTimesof the treacherous element of the Cape population, and its relations with those neighbours who are honest and loyal subjects of the Queen and with the army. Two columns of "Reuter's" despatches from abroad, one column of similar telegrams from South African points, and a notable leader by Mr. Perceval Landon on Mr. Kipling's article, made up the contents of the reading page.
Mr. Guthrie, M.P., now required two columns of the paper in which to announce the cases and parcelshe had in hand for the soldiers. The railway had just delivered to him five truck-loads of those most welcome necessaries and luxuries sent out from home.
THE FRIEND.(Edited by the War Correspondents with Lord Roberts' Force.)
No. 21.]
[Price One Penny
BLOEMFONTEIN, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1900.
The Field-Marshal Commanding in Chief having decided that twenty Railway Trucks are to be placed at the disposal of the tradesmen of Bloemfontein for the conveyance of food necessaries, it is requested that those wishing to take advantage thereof will communicate with the Director of Supplies at his office at the corner of Green Street and Douglas Street, between the hours of 2 and 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday next, 11th and 12th inst.
As the amount of truck accommodation will be divided by the Director of Supplies among the various applicants, a statement of the Supplies required as a first consignment must be submitted. When the statements have been received an allotment will be made among the applicants.
Gum trees! Here in the Dutchman's land?(You'll lie of a kangaroo)Seen them?—Yes—Well, I'll understandThe truth when I see them too.Lord!—There they are, by the old brick wall,Shiny and green and high,Best of the sights we've seen at allIs this, to a Cornstalk's eye.Back, by the creeks in the far-off plains;Over the ranges blue;Out in the West where it never rains;We whispered "good-bye" to you.We left you alone on the high clay banks,On a fringe round the dry lagoon,Where your white trunks gleam by its empty bedIn the pale, soft summer noon.It's carry me back to the Castlereagh,Or pack me along to Bourke;On the Wallaby-track to the west of Hay—Wherever there's sheds or work.It's cattle on camp or colts to brand;It's brumbies about the Peel—It's all we've here of our own good land,And this is the way we feel.Oh, hurry the show, and give us a lead,And march us beyond the Vaal,For the lambing's near, and the ewes will breedAnd it's close up time to "tail,"And we've shearing them, and the wool to load,And the ships are at Circ'lar Quay—So loot it along the red Veldt road,A sight for Oom Paul to see.And when we are back on the Murray lands,Or up in Mouaro hills,You may collar the Fonteins, and Drifts, and Rands,And the Boers will pay the bills.But we'll be back where the gum-tops wane,Or the Myall hangs and droops;With a good veranda round the house,And none of your dirty stoops.So hurry it up, for we've work to doIn a far better land than here.We will swap the veldt and the parched Karoo,For the plain and ranges clear.But we'll never forget, in the days to come,The friends that we've left behind—For the Dutchman who planted yon tall, white GumWas a little bit more than kind.J. H. M. A.
Gum trees! Here in the Dutchman's land?(You'll lie of a kangaroo)Seen them?—Yes—Well, I'll understandThe truth when I see them too.Lord!—There they are, by the old brick wall,Shiny and green and high,Best of the sights we've seen at allIs this, to a Cornstalk's eye.
Back, by the creeks in the far-off plains;Over the ranges blue;Out in the West where it never rains;We whispered "good-bye" to you.We left you alone on the high clay banks,On a fringe round the dry lagoon,Where your white trunks gleam by its empty bedIn the pale, soft summer noon.
It's carry me back to the Castlereagh,Or pack me along to Bourke;On the Wallaby-track to the west of Hay—Wherever there's sheds or work.It's cattle on camp or colts to brand;It's brumbies about the Peel—It's all we've here of our own good land,And this is the way we feel.
Oh, hurry the show, and give us a lead,And march us beyond the Vaal,For the lambing's near, and the ewes will breedAnd it's close up time to "tail,"And we've shearing them, and the wool to load,And the ships are at Circ'lar Quay—So loot it along the red Veldt road,A sight for Oom Paul to see.
And when we are back on the Murray lands,Or up in Mouaro hills,You may collar the Fonteins, and Drifts, and Rands,And the Boers will pay the bills.But we'll be back where the gum-tops wane,Or the Myall hangs and droops;With a good veranda round the house,And none of your dirty stoops.
So hurry it up, for we've work to doIn a far better land than here.We will swap the veldt and the parched Karoo,For the plain and ranges clear.But we'll never forget, in the days to come,The friends that we've left behind—For the Dutchman who planted yon tall, white GumWas a little bit more than kind.
J. H. M. A.
To the Editors ofThe Friend,—Sirs,—In your Saturday's issue an appreciation of the R.A.M.C. appears, in which theMorning Postcorrespondent speaks of their services as stretcher-bearers at Magersfontein with the Highland Brigade, whereas the R.A.M.C. has furnished no stretcher-bearers to the Highland Brigade, the whole of this dangerous work having been done by the Regimental bearers, and "A" Company Volunteer Ambulance (King William's Town), and as this company—consisting principally of mere striplings—has "faced the music" right through, and kept shoulder to shoulder with the veterans of the Highland Brigade, they surely should be credited with the work they have so gallantly performed.
Yours very truly,
Britisher.
Where only the Women were frank—The art of the War Artist.
Miss Bloemfontein was not alone in disliking to recognise the presence of the British army. Her mother was not the only person who could not bear to see Englishmen marring the scenery of the pest-ridden little town. Even while the tricky among the people joined in singing "Soldiers of the Queen," one man in the crowd turned to a war correspondent and said, "You English are strutting about very proudly and confidently, and think you own the country, but when you go away from here you will be sniped at from every bush and spruit wherever you show yourself."
I took a little walk up past the English Cathedral one day and saw a woman seated upon her frontstoep, sewing. "Good morning," said I, "do you speak English?" She rose and glared at me with scorn in her eyes. "No," said she, "but I hate the English."
A little girl ran out of a doorway a few houses farther along and called to me, "Mister, mister! Please wear the red, white and blue," and she pinneda knot of the British and American colours on my coat lapel.
"What sort of a lady is it who lives in that house?" I asked; "she says she hates the English."
"Oh, she is Dutch," the little girl replied; "almost everybody here hates you."
I turned a corner and went down a side-street. Two young women in a doorway beamed upon me. I was out to study the town and the people, so I halted and engaged them in conversation. One was married, and her husband, who was of English stock, had cleverly managed to be away when the war broke out, after which he found it impossible to return and join a Boer commando as he would have had to do, being only a poor working man.
"We are on the police books as English sympathisers," said one of the women. "We have had to be very careful, as we were warned that if we gave further offence we would be punished. What happened was this: You see the town is full of Germans, who have been most bitter against the English. We went to the railway station when some English prisoners were being sent to Pretoria. As the train moved off we waved our hands to them and wished them better luck. A German saw us do it, and reported us to the authorities, so we were taken up and examined, and had our names put in the 'black-book.'"
A score of the honest people of the town who had been avowedly true to their English blood, which was by no means the case with all the British Uitlanders, told me that they suffered petty persecution all the time until the town was captured. Note what "MissUitlander" said in her reply to "Miss Bloemfontein" inThe Friendof March 26th:—
The "loving hand" you boast of having extended to us has long since been covered by an iron glove, the weight of which we have daily been made to feel, and tothatyou must associate the joyful flaunting of our colours in your face. His coming meant freedom—the sweetest thing in the world—to us.You called our brothers and sisters cowards as they fled your oppression and bitter and openly expressed hatred. You threw white feathers into our carriages as they passed you by. You loudly bemoaned your fate as a woman and longed to don masculine garments to aid your beaux in exterminating the hated English. Could we remember a "loving hand" then?You were quick to tell us that there would be no room for us to live beside you so soon as Mr. Englishman was driven back to the sea. The hated English had never been wanted, and would not be allowed to stay. And since you continue to make no secret of your hatred, the same remedy is now in your hands. But it will be difficult to find a spot where Mr. Englishman is noten evidence.
The "loving hand" you boast of having extended to us has long since been covered by an iron glove, the weight of which we have daily been made to feel, and tothatyou must associate the joyful flaunting of our colours in your face. His coming meant freedom—the sweetest thing in the world—to us.
You called our brothers and sisters cowards as they fled your oppression and bitter and openly expressed hatred. You threw white feathers into our carriages as they passed you by. You loudly bemoaned your fate as a woman and longed to don masculine garments to aid your beaux in exterminating the hated English. Could we remember a "loving hand" then?
You were quick to tell us that there would be no room for us to live beside you so soon as Mr. Englishman was driven back to the sea. The hated English had never been wanted, and would not be allowed to stay. And since you continue to make no secret of your hatred, the same remedy is now in your hands. But it will be difficult to find a spot where Mr. Englishman is noten evidence.
Such was Bloemfontein to those who saw into its heart and knew its temper. Some of us conquerors saw a little way behind the garlanded curtain the false-hearted pretenders of friendship drew down before our faces, but for what now seems a long time the Army fed itself upon the honeyed lying of those people who had not the courage or honesty to play the part ofopen enemies to the last. As for Tommy Atkins, he seemed oblivious of everything but that which he enjoyed—which was simply to walk about the town spending his money, and taking insults and bouquets equally as a matter of course, just as they happened to come.
Let the reader note two things of the first interest, and of great human and historic value. The persons who did not come out and pretend to be our friends were the women. The part of the population that did not join in singing "Soldiers of the Queen" was the feminine part. The only person who openly and plainly espoused the cause of the Boers was Miss Bloemfontein—a woman. The only person who answered her and proudly asserted her loyalty to Great Britain was Miss Uitlander—a woman.
Everywhere in every war it is Lovely Woman who fans the flames, who urges on the fighting, who charges the men to win or die, but never to give up; who nurses the hatreds of the strife to her breast and keeps them hot. Everywhere it is the civilised and the savage woman who does this, and only the half-civilised have made a contrary record, for I am told that in one strife there was an exception. That was "the Mutiny" in India, where the ayahs and other Indian female servants stuck to their posts in the British households, and played no part in the awful affair.
But in the great Civil War in America it was the women who kept the strife in progress fully a year and a half, if not two years, after their husbands and brothers realised it was useless, and that the North must win. "Go, and do not come back while there isa Yankee alive!" they said to sweethearts, sons, and brothers. So has it ever been in times of war. The women, roused from their quiet lives and excited by the animosities which develop war and the horrors which go with it, remain undisturbed by the considerations which cause men, with their wider interests and experiences, to waver in their faith. And among the savage peoples of the earth it is, as a rule, the women who garnish war with its most fearful accessories. The bucks and braves do the fighting, the women follow after them to torture the wounded and mutilate the dead.
Think you that this is a terrible indictment of a sex? Do you see in this nothing but the anger and the cruelty that lie on the surface? Then you are to be pitied, for the moral of these reflections is that in womanhood are treasured the faith which inspires mankind, the convictions that nerve our arms in a world which progresses only through strife, the enthusiasm which not even the hell of war can destroy.
The leader of April 14th was my own, entitled "Mr. Lecky on the War." Again we had a complete newspaper full of the too-often delayed or strangled Reuter despatches, which told us of other wars, in Ashantee and the Philippines, of the Queen's visit to Ireland, of the Prince's narrow escape from an assassin, and of all that was going forward in our own little contention with the Boers.
This number was singular in containing no original verse. It did, however, contain something more full of sentiment, and, if possible, more unexpected and foreign to war; to wit: a notice of a wedding:—
By special license, on the 11th inst., by the Rev. Franklin, at her father's house, Alexandra Cornelia, youngest daughter of W. H. v. B. Van Andel, Orphan Master, to Arthur M. Stone, eldest son of the late T. C. Stone, Esq., from Folkestone, England. No cards.
Orange-blossoms might, possibly, be looked for in the Orange State, but blended with the bandages and laurels of war they seem peculiar. One cynic asked us, when he read the wedding notice, "Is this prophetic of concord, or is it merely strife breaking out in a new place?" He was a soulless man. I am sorry I have quoted or noticed one so deficient in feeling, poetry, humanity, and sentiment.
In furtherance of the knowledge that the Army was tired of being fooled, and growing weary of the upstart behaviour of the too often treacherous negro natives, we published a notice by Assistant Provost-Marshal Burnett-Hitchcock: "No pass is sufficient for a native to pass through the outpost lines unless countersigned by a Staff Officer, and it should state where and whence the native is going." Other rigid restrictions upon the freedom of the negroes are enforced by this order.
The same energetic officer also forbade the selling of any article within the town by hawkers and camp sutlers, under a penalty of fine on conviction. This was in order to protect the local tradesmen from army competition—including those who barricaded their shops when the Boer combatants fled from the town, lest we should loot their stores of goods, who thencalmly told us they put up the barricades because "the Boers were such thieving scoundrels," and who, now that they knew our temper only too well, regaled us with accounts of how, while they were in commando, they had fought us at Belmont, Graspan, Modder, and a dozen other places.
We published on this day an article by Mr. H. Owen Scott on "The War Artist of To-day," in which he, a photographer, seriously extolled the work of the camera as compared with that of the genius and training of the true artist. We hoped the real artists thus relegated to a subordinate and vanishing place would enliven our columns by their replies.
THE FRIEND.(Edited by the War Correspondents with Lord Roberts' Force.)