From the Front.

Manawatu Herald, 6 February 1902, Page 2

From the Front.

A private in the Vlth Contingent having seen a letter from Trooper P. Nation, of Levin, has had a fit, and can only become convalescent by Our agreeing to publish the following letter. He writes—“ Dunno you from a crow and you dunno me,” which is exactly correct,; but as fair play is bonnie play, as Trooper Nation Jias, perhaps inadvertently attempted to belittle the VI, it is only fair to give the views of the other side.

“ I take the liberty of writing you on a letter which appeared in the Manawatu Farmer of Oct. 11th, under the heading “Trooper P. Nation writing from Meyerton on Aug. Slsfe.” I admit the comparisons are odiou s but Trooper (?) P. Nation (don’t know what Nation unless it is Dutch, but, judging from his powers of imagination it is highly probable) has taken the initiative and so on rolls the ball.

We have read so touch ‘ skifca ’ from Troopers at the Front since coming over here, which has amused the boys of the Vlth so much so, that they deem it worthy of one from a Trooper of the Vlth. At the start Trooper Nation mentions ‘ togs. ’ The Vllth must have been a rummy crew, when they were made up with ‘ shreds and patches, and there was no likelihood of any young lady Boer being captivated.’ But now ! In our military uniform, bran noo! why we knocks ’em, we do—does-the Vllth.

Then ha mentions being ‘l6 hoars, in the saddle/if that is the longest space there,, he should shake hands with himself that he is not with Plumer, and that he has a * bugle ’ to wake him at reveille. The Ylth dispensed with theirs on arrival at East London unfortunately, but they send their sincerest sympathy to the Vllth and hope that it (their Jbugle) is a bally great gold bugle, not one of those little tin things that the Ylth left home with, and are so common with the regular regiments and some garrison stations. We have not he ird a' bugle on the trek so far, but believe all Hospital Convalescent Camps have ’em. £ut, from bis letter Nation is not a ’ Con. Camp Hero/ No I the Yllth must have one on the trek.

Nation says the Yllth are in an honoured place—(‘ Too bally true Soldier, Too bally true 1’ the Ylth are unanimous in this). Colonel Garratt (Sixth Dragoon Guards)

commands the column, and in it are picked to move from plawr to place quickly (Nation’s authority for this). Judging from rumour, the Vllth are proof as the Colonel has done rather considerable picking, keeping only about 60 for the veldt, sending 200 home to N.Z. as too fragile, and 360 to Newcastle to get over the effects of the hardships of the veldt, or, perhaps from colic, or some of the minor ills contracted from their visit to the Orange Grove —the * Spell of the Orange night ’— say, what is a spell anyhow—an orange one I mean ?* V We get i spells * on the mftrch sometimes, when waiting for the. Transport to cross a drift for instance, but an Orange spell in August I ain’t even heard of them. We have been in many an Orange Grove but there was only blossom ou the trees. t In -April and May treking to Piaterslmrg there were oranges—stay—was it the orange’ blossom that they fell beneath ? Yes, that must be it—their • noo’ military uniforms and the youngs lady aßoers —Nation says they captured ,600 of ’em. Hope - Nation gets out of it all right because such a narrator of the doings of the Vllth would be missed, ;Witho»tr#ny shadow of doubt. * ,- i : The boys of the Vl are eggerto know where he gets his information about our doings. He says, ‘the Vlth are spoiling for a fight and are grumbling because they cannot get a show and that they have not been in action up till date of his letter (81st Aug.) I Oar fellows wish me to say that this is the reason of the Vlth not being mentioned, in ' the 1 . N.Z. , papers in the 1 Noos of the War Column.’ Our inaction has pletely unnerved os with the pen, 1 ; but, oh crikey, had we a correspondent in our, ranks you would,-heo* something of thedeicgs of the ’Vlth in letters * From the Front.’ The ‘Silent Sixth’ would be shiners. There is no room on the cable lor ourjittle messages where we are off to, how many are sick, &0,, &c., but we are all here and at present there are 440 of odr 500 on. thfl iveldt. j • Nation must be rather ’a Clover joint too—he has a marvellous way of finding out things—fancy! ha ana another thinking of such a capital idea as making a • tent out of two blankets. It never occurred to any of the VI to do this—they have only one blanket and an oil sheet and just bag down on the veldt, and being such cold, slow, mortals, sleep till reveille when they are rudely awakened by a non-com shouting ‘ Arouse boys, and we will have a 1 morning ride over the veldt i Oh t for the sound of a bugle. Another thing about the Vlth and Plumer’s column. They have not been entrenched round Blockhouse sites. I wonder how long the Vllth had at that game ? Should think it easier times than on the veldt treking. Pluraer’s column has not been treking for the last nine months, but ho has simply been acting, agent for Cook’s Tours, and is giving the hoys - of the Vlth a little excursion. round South Africa—a sporting excursion at that-of course Kitchener directs our movements and ain’t we enjoyit good O ! . s 1 Nation mentions being fired bn by his own crowd. I don’t know much about the positions of the advance, screen and flank screen, have only been in the service nine months (on the veldt), and these positions are only seen once a day (all day); but bow the devil he came to be fired ,on, I dunno, and what on earth made him ‘ run up his hat on the end of ft bayonet,’ and how did ho manage it ? The Vllth must have tall hats, jailer, if anything than their letters. I’m sure I couldn’t run up mine v It -ip, an old hat, but even when served out . to me wouldn’t stand* it, we can hick our hats or sit on them, - but run up on' the end of a bayonet too is,,beyond us—we are only soldiers, no acrobats or bludgers.' The VHth live too well too, fanoy having cooks that make stew every morning! here every man is his own cook—stew every Sunday if he can remember the day l —all days are so much .alike. 1 ? ■ ~ i ”'• We never get any night marches either—and never run ipto the enemy —No we are only on Planter’* excursion. Lazabus.