WAR EXPERIENCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1925, Page 4

WAR EXPERIENCES.

SIR .JOHN FRENCH AND GENERA! , SMUTS.

Speaking at a gathering in London in Ulir lo Ceneral Smuts, in proposing the Soul li African’s health, Hold-Mar' shal Sir John French went on to sav at the dinner:—

It is true that the eminent General whom we are entertaining at this moment just shines amongst us as a highly successful commander in the field, and it is in the light oi his great military talents that the whole British .Empire to-day regards him. H this were all, it might he right that his health should Isc proposed by a com-

rade in arms, but it is not net ossar.v for me to reiterate the well-known fact that he is also a great lawyer and a great statesman. Although I ieet my-

self unfitted to speak on such a subject in the presence ot so distinguished a gathering and on so historic an occasion, 1 am yet glad of the opportunity in order to recall a period ol time sixteen years ago, a time to which the General himself has more than once ebulliently referred si me he Inis been in this country, when I had the honour (and I Icel it to have been a great honour) of opposing him in the bold. With consumate bravery and ability

he commanded the liner lorces in Cap, ('oolnv throughout the la-t year oi 11 it South’ African War. General Smuts, live know. Look a large and important

pur! in the conduct oi the Inst two years of the war, Imt I prefer to choose ;,n ihtstralioo ol his nnlital'y genius. Dial part of the campaign tor which lie },,,,! vhe sole responsibility, and in which I had the best reason to feel and appreciate his power and ability as an opponent. "If you he a great general," said Sulla lo Marius. " c,,me and light me." " H you he a "real general," replied .Marius to Sulla, "compel me to light you.” I say, without hesitation. tlial day after day. week alter week, month after month, our distinguished guest, with every disadvantage in the way of number, arms, transport. c(|uipment, and supply eluded all my attempts to brill" him to decisive action, and impressed mo tar more than auv opponent 1 have ever met, with his power as a great commander and leader of men. The British Army has. as I hope and believe, fairly earned a reputation lor ooiidtuTiii" war with that generous chivalry which can alone justify il in the eyes of civilisation, and I

rejoice lo look back into the past, and t,, realise how our enemy of that time, (ommalided by slab men as Rotha and Smuts, continually vied with us in the constant maintoiiain o <d those finer sentiments which Inave enemies should ever cultivate. I have always held the opinion that auv kind of public comment., critical or otherwise, upon military operations is not only useless mid loulish. hut ab- .. Jut Iv ituiiisL until th<‘ lull laets ol sad, .merauna • are fully known and im •u- tool!, when all the cards on both are laid uireii tie table. Hie rc--O'l' ~ , ; jhe eaii'iKiigil in EeM All'ica up lo Ran. are so apparent and decisive lli.ti I do not think I can tie accused of not observing this principle when T describe ihos 1 operations as in tlie highcD degree successful and as another evidence ol General Fund s great military powers. I had a most ini,'resting conversation will, him the other day. in which lie graphically described to me his plan of campaign, and his story, though told in the simplest and plainest ol languages, revealed to lac unmistakably the working oi th" mind of a great strategist and tactic-

I havref,'l ied in General Smuts as a great leader and a great statesman, h is to my mind an extraurdinary fact that some o| the greatest soldiers in the vinrld's history have not made tile profession ol arms the ehiei study ol their lives. We know that Cromwell. I e■. Grant and other bullous soldierwere not brought up to lead men in the field, and il may hardlv i><: said even in the ease if, u.ient Nape, on himself that the military art nione engage,l his constant thoiignl. Gur gum t of in-night will go down ,o hmlory with those oilier greal names vs living; illustrations of what we mean when we talk el hoi'll leaders ol men. IVi'soimlly. I do not know which I am proudest of- of having crossed swords with him. or lought by his side. Roth as an opponent and as a Irieiid he has lan.-hi e- all areal lessons. GENERAL S.MI'TS’ RKI’I.Y. I cannot express i>, you how deeply I appreciate the honour which you have done me. Ever since I came two mouths ago. to till- noiintry I have retched mulling but kindness and hospitality every w here, ami this hospitality ha-, e 11 1 inill a I I ill the uniipie baiiiplel at which we are present to-night. I appreciate it all the more because I know it is given at a time when the greatest struggle in the world's history is Icing do; ided, and when nobody feels inclined to indulge in festivities. Ur,mi the Government of tlie country. I have received many marks of confidence. which I have endeavoured to requite in the only way possible to me, be giving them lev frank and liuncd views on every f|iiesliou. When I return home, as I hope shortly to do. T shall he able to tell the people of South Africa that I have boon received here hy von. not as a guest or as a welcome

stranger, hut simply ax one of your selves, though speaking with a dill'er cut accent and laying a did',‘rent cm pliasis on litany things, as no doubt he eoiiies a barbarian from the otitei marches of the Empire. 1 am profoundly thauktiil to you Lord Krciifh, for the words which have fallen from you. The words ol eulogy you have expressed in regard to mysell are largely, I think, undeserved : but at any rate. I accept them as e,inline from an old opponent and coinraile it anus. I know they are meant in th: best spirit, and I accept them in that spirit even where I fee! I do not.deserve them. Your words to-night and the great compliment you have paid me fix presiding at this gathering, recall to my mind many an incident of the stirring times to which you have referred when we were opposing commanders in the last year ol the Boer War. On one occasion, I remember. I was 'itri'iinndi'd in a very nasty Idoek of mountains by Lord French. I was lace to face practically with disaster. Nothing was left to me hut the most diligent scouting to find a way out. I did some of the scorning mysell', with a small early. I ventured into a place which looked promising, and which bore the appropriate name of "Murderer's Gap." I am sorry to say that 1 was the only man who came out alive from that gap. In an account which I saw subsequently "f ibis incident I saw the remark made that "one Boer escaped, hut he probably had so many bullets iii him that he would he no further danger." Well. Lord French. I have survived to lie your guest this evening. I was in a verv tight corner there. I did

<ift out. mid two days afterwards 1 did break through ” —blessed words in tlio.se times. At night I on me out of those lnountiiiiis to the railway. It was a very dark night, and my small force was just on the point of crossing the railway when we heard that a train was coming. 1 allowed the train to pass, and we stood alongside and looked on. You can imagine what my teclings were when I heard some time

afterwards that the only freight on that train was i.ord i ivndi, v. ho was moving front one part of his Iront to the other to lind out how 1 had broken through. If I had not missed that ell a nee I.ord I* fetich would have keen on that occasion my guest. No doubt a very welcome, though a somewhat embarrassing guest. Now to-night I am his guest. I hope not embarrassing, though very much embarrassed.