PROPHETIC NOTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1917, Page 4

PROPHETIC NOTE.

LETTER BY GENERAL' DUFF. Mi- XL XL Champion, the wellknown writer, is in possession of a letter from General .Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander-in-Chief in India, which, read in the light of present events, has a prophetic ring. Mr Champion, who is first cousin to Sir Beanchamp Duff, received the letter about 12 months ago. It was wirtten from Simla on Jnne 20,1916. Following are extracts, the remainder of ifie letter being private in character : “ I was really glad t.o get your letter of April 12, for I had not heard of yon for a very long time. Yes, as a family we have been pretty Lard hit by this war. Until just the Other day every one of ns hit was killed, and none ever wont back to England wounded. I have had a pretty hard time this last two years. Until they try it no one can realise what it is not merely to send troops from India—for that is comparatively easy —butto maintain Indian forces in the field with aB their special foods and clothing in every quarter of the globe, Up the Tigris is the worst place, of course —490 miles of the worst riyer in the world, which will not admit of any dranght more than Oft 3in. “ I have had to buy all over the world, apd then canpot get epough ships. With so spmU a dranght they cannot travel at sea under their own steam. If one tows them they sink, and they are too big to put on an ordinary ship’s deck- It is a pretty problem. Tq get over it I arn creating a big dockyard and building when I can get materials from Home, but that is not easy. “There is a pretty influential party in England which is crying for my blood. I do not know if you realise that I am the last man of those who held high military positions before the war who has not been shunted elsewhere or broken. The crowd I spoke of has now got its knife into me. X do not think I mind much. I always did X ike a fight, and I rather think I tj&n give ad good as I get.” Mr Champion is a son of Majorgeneral j. H. Champion, formerly of the Xndiap Army, and holds the Afghan war medal as an artillery officer.