ANTI-BRITISH FEELING IN THE FREE STATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6709, 30 May 1900, Page 4

ANTI-BRITISH FEELING IN THE FREE STATE.

A special correspondent with Lord Roberts' army, writing from Bloemfontein, says:—

1 had an interesting chat wifch Mr Heitnaar, a Dutch farmer, whq candidly admitted having fought against General French's forces, which afc xthat time included the New Zealanders, around Colesberg. He said, in answer to questions, that he had been anv'i^ willing combatant at first, that Ihe'u were hundreds in a similai position, but after the first two or three engagements it waa recognised that they had been compelled to go too far to retract, and they then entered fully into the spirit of the war being waged. He and others had fought as well as they could against the British, but when they saw a chance of giving in without being punished, as Lord Koberts had promised, they had withdrawn from the conflict, and were now peaceful citizens. I asked him if they thought the Free Staters as a whole were inclined to throw up the sponge: \flis reply was somewhat Startling. "No, the burehers are not going- to give in so readily as you people imagine. They are as eager to fight as the .British, and they will light for a long time yet. Very few burghers have given up arms, and some of these only handed in one Mauser, when two or three had been served out to them." His daughter, an attractive-looking damsel of 17, volunteered the statement that her two brothers were stiil fighting on the Boer side, and added that they would continue to fight until the last, until the British were defeated. " But that is impossible," I interjected; "If the pressnt number of troops is not sufficient the English can put twice that number in the field." "You' might number more than us," she replied, " but we can beat you in brains." " But surely you have not mixed with -Englishmen, or you would not be so vindictive," I remarked in conclusion. " I have been associated with them since I was a child. I was sent to school, and then to college with them, and I hate them ; they are so overbearing, so conceited. I like the Dutch far better." The little spitfire would haye gone on had her father not checked her and sent her indoors. I shook hands with the old burgher, and returned to camp, wondering and doubting whether there was such disaffection among the Orange Free Staters as we had been led to believe. When a mere slip of a schoolgirl talks to an entire stranger in that strain, what can be said of the feelings of those in the circle from which she must haye received such pernicious tuition ?