THE FIELD FORCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 90, 19 March 1885, Page 3

THE FIELD FORCE

In a letter from Korti, dated Decem-. ber '29, the special correspondent of the Daily News says :— " In the history of warfare, probably no finer, more soldierly, or better 'trained body of men ever followed a general to the field than the force now under Lord Wolseley's command. The conviction began to be impressed on everybody when only the South Staffordshire battalion,the Mounted Infantry and Guards of the Camel Corps Were assembled here ; it was strengthened when the 19th Hussars ar-> rived, after a long desert match, lookingwiry, active, 1 and fit,' as troopers, well should be, for the hard work of a campaign that must test the endurance of men, as of animals, most severely ; and as one detachment of heavy or light cavalry followed another into the camp, admiration was expressed m such glowing phrases that there scarcely, seemed to, be a term of comparison wherewith to justly characterise the appearance of a superb company of marines, whose workmanlike bearing made them conspicuous even beside the gigantic Household Cavalry. I. shall be giving a fairly accurate version of Lord Wolseley's opinion if I say that any leader might be content to trust his reputation m the hands of such men, and to throw m his lot with them, fully confident m their determination to fight like heroes for the honor of British arms. It is not only thftt the men show splendid physique and have proved themselves capable of bearing the severe labour or considerable hardship, but also that there is about every one of them an air of keen resolution that begets confidence." ' : '.' ■