LATE CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1931, Page 5

LATE CABLE NEWS

GANDHI’S ERAVERY. SERVICE IN BOER WAR. CALCUTTA, June 10. A Press controversy has arisen following a contend ctiou by Major-Gener-al Sir Thomas Gallwey, who was the British principal medical officer during the Boer War, of a story of Gandhi’s bravery while a stretcher-bearer during the campaign which was related by Rev. C. F. Andrews at a meeting in London.

After asserting that, with seven other men, he found the body of Lord Roberts’ son, for which act he received special thanks frrni Sir Thomas Gallwey, Gandhi says: “It is quite true that there was no question of entering the firing line, as hostilities had been suspended for the collection of wounded. Jt is also true that although we desired to work underfire we were not allowed to do so, but after the reverse nt.Spion Kop the situation became grave, and General Duller came to my tent and asked us if we would enter the firing zone in order to remove 60 wounded from the foot of Spion Kop.

“•We were delighted to do so, and, led by Major . Bapty, crossed a pontoon and removed the wounded, including General 'Woodgate and Alajor Scott-Moncrieff, and carried them on stretchers for 25 miles. (We again entered the firing line at Vaal Krantz, and for these and other services I was mentioned in General Bullev’s dispatches, and, with 20 others, received a war medal."

Sir Thomas Galhvey had declared that Gandhi had not been under fire, and had not recovered the body of Lord Roberts’

CHILD’S “GRIME.” PRISON FOR TWO WOMEN. BOMB, June 20. An eight-year-old schoolgirl at Poggio, Marino, annoyed at the closing of the Girls’ Club as a result of the Vatican-Fascist dispute, scribbled in pencil across Mussolini’s portrait on lier copybook. According to the- “Osservatore Romano,” the Vatican organ, the school mistress immediately reported the indiscretion to the local Fascist secretary, who informed the* police. Tnis resulted in Signorina Buonaeura, president of the club, severely reprimanding the child. The local commandant of carabinieri (police) intended to drop the matter, but, incited by the Fascist secretary, he changed his mind and questioned the child, exhorting from her an accusation against Bounaeura, who was charged with having instigated the insult with the club secretary, Signorina Annunziata. The women were arrested and eventually sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.