LETTER FROM SERGEANT GANNON.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 268, 21 November 1901, Page 4

LETTER FROM SERGEANT GANNON.

Sergeant Arthur Te Wawata Gannon, a Gisborne representative, campaigning in South Africa since March of the year before last, writes from Bank’s Station, Kierksdorp railway, under date August 30 last. Sergeant Gannon, who is now Givi- . sional sergeant under Colonel Porter, was recently captured by the Boers. Our daily routine commences at one a.m., and continues up to six or seven p.m. So you will see we have long and tedious hours, watching every moving object within the radius of miles. Our eyes are so trained that we can easily distinguish a horseman eight or nine miles distant, though cattle may bo grazing about the same spot. In New Zealand one's eyesight is bathed at four miles. 1 have proved that when surveying on the East Coast. The monotony of campaigning is tiresome. Much depends upon the distance we have to trek, and the opposition wo meet from many kopjes when en ■ route. If our rearguard is attacked it means delay. A bad spruit to cross or soft ground for our convoy all impede our movements. Often we have to light in the open, each man holding his own horse. It is undoubtedly a good target for the enemy, but where there are a hundred odd men in extending order facing the foe, the horse and man target frustrate them. They do not kuow who to draw the bead on. When our convoy has moved a considerable distance we retire, with a rilie tire we cover each other in detachments. The Boers usually take every advantage that offers, and pepper us properly while on the move, il'e are well mounted. I am riding a New Zealand horse of the Fourth Contingent—a splendid beast. I have a nigger boy looking after him. Ho feeds my horse, and while we are trekking the boy will go to a farmhouse and commandeer mealies and green oats. The bov is named 1 Sausage.’ Ho washes my clothes, makes my bed, and gets everything I want. I would like to take him to New Zealand when I return. I regret to say the military authorities will not allow it. To give you an idea of what a good bov he is, duty often keeps me out till late at night. I have known the lad to sit up by the tire until my return, no matter how late, and have cocoa or coffee ready for me. In this country I first prize my horse ; the ritlc next, and then the lad who attends so well to both my horse and myself. In the field I tell you it is marvellous to witness the brotherly feeling existing among men—not only with our own men, but with the Boers I have seen kind actions. 1 shall never forget and be ever free to narrate that when they captured mo they treated me kindly. I expected them to say every moment, ‘Well, we are going to shoot you.' There are cases, however, contrary to my experience as a captive in the hands of the Boers. For instance, the squadron I am in was detailed for a night march to surprise a Boor laager near Losberg Kopje. We moved off about midnight, and at dawn sighted our field for operations. In extended order, spread out like a fan, we advanced at a fast canter towards the rugged position. When within good rilie range the Boers thought they were going to bump us off the position by opening a brisk rifle fire. We were not going to bo bluffed with a few pellets. Our squadron commander, Captain Simpson, a smart, cool soldier, with an eye like an eagle, despatched men to the right and left with the order ‘ gallop.’ The remainder advanoed to the spot where the fire issued from. The cunning Boors quickly grasped the movement and made for their horses. - Naturally wo pursued, following them over ditches and ridges, firing from our horses, bullets cutting up the dust in all directions. . Wo continued the pursuit of the enemy for over seven miles and captured the convoy, seven waggons, eight prisoners, horses, cattle, and sheep. In this chase Sergeant-Major Lockett, of our squadron, was wounded. Wo wore galloping through some underscrub and had just headed the convoy, Lockett, a particular comrado of mine, was riding a fast horse and lending. A troopor with a bit too in,icb dash galloped right into the enemy, and, let me tell you, the Boers were not slow in relieving him of all his Government property. Poor Lockett ; ho thought thoy were his own men. Ho halted for a second ; the enemy’ waved him over; when he got within about ten yards they fired— missed him. Lockett, n game fellow from Wanganui, grasped his rifle, presented it, but the bolt would not aet7 Tho cunning Boers noticed the handicap and fired again. The explosive bullet entered poor Lockett’s right arm. I miss him; we mess together. You can see that on this occasion no brotherly love existed. Tho Boers- that is, the middle-aged men —aro not cowards. The young Boers, those ' about 17 or 18, are murderers. I generally make them sit up. I could state hundreds of cases where men having studied the position quickly have just escaped. When the enemy is about you have to be on the alort, lest they should get a sniping shot—a thing they aro prone to do. The ecstacy of the whole thing is guerilla warfare. I will admit that it is great fun, but one does not like galloping into action of a cold morning. To be warmed up a bit is like a meal to us. Wc will then tackle anything. A peculiarity I have noticed is that under fire one gets very thirsty. I daresay the excitement causes this. If a man is wounded or dying he will ask for water. All Boers that we capture give us credit that wo can ride and fight, and when that admission is rnado by a Dutchman it means a lot. To see us catch and ride a buck-jumper takes tho wind out of their sails, and when we tell them that our best riders have remained at home in New Zealand, it fairly surprises them. The Boers are very ignorant. They seem to think wo aro wild men. Whether we be wild or tame, I am satisfied the New Zealanders are better men than the Dutchmen, and can surprise them, though it must bo understood they aro hard to take by surpriso. On several occasions we have done it before they have been able to grasp a rifle or show fight. On other occasions we have captured them at dinner, and having done so wo have made thorn stand up, and we sat down in their places and indulged in a splendid repast. There is not much ceremony now in dealing with the Boers. At first I was too ladylike. If I want information from a Boer or Kaffir I threaten to shoot him. It is all in the game, and as long as they persist fighting in a hopeless cause Maorilanders will shako them up. At present we are operating around the Vaal River, near Vreeniging Station, whilst parties of the newly-formed Armed Constabulary are building blockhouses on tho high, commanding kopjes. Only to-day (Augu; t 30) I was watching the heliograph from tho summit of Losberg kopje, about 30 miles distant. It is undoubtedly a wonderful instrument, and though I am not a general I really approve of these heights being held by outmen, because I have often had tho risky mission of scouting such ground. Blockhouses are now being built all over the country, with about a hundred odd men in each, well provisioned. There are formidable wire entanglements surrounding the stronghold, The flashlight being used by night and the heliograph by day, a chain of communication is continually kept up. Columns therefore operating in the various districts are quickly notified of tho movements of the marauding Boers. It is cheering, too, to think that in these blockhouses a small British party has always a stronghold to retire to. Today (August 30), we are going out from camp to fight a few snipers that are annoying the outpost. AVe will destroy the farms. The women will be taken, and handed over to the women’s laager, on the I line of communication, as we expect to strike tho line again near Vreeniging for supplies. It is rumored that we will trek in the

direction of Heidelberg. This month we have done good work, our small mobile column capturing 60 odd prisoners of war, also rities, bandoliers, ammunition, waggons, cattle, sheep, etc. Last month this small column of Colonel Garrett’s was second on the list for captures. The Cape papers praise the New Zealanders. One paper states that the New Zealanders will fight the Boers in the open and then mount and give them chase.