SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICA.

AUSTRALIAN'S EXPERIENCES. I TRIBUTE TO THE BOERS. A North Sydney resident, Mr. Harold Walker, who has been in commercial life in South Africa for some time, returned to that country shortly after the outbreak of war from an extended tour through Germany, Belgium and France, and immediately volunteered for active service. He went through the campaign in German South-west Africa as a member of De la Key's scouts. In a series of interesting letters written to his mother, he says that Germany has long desired to make that colony a jumping-ofi, gro'nnd as an attacking base against the Union of South Africa. Railways have been laid'right up to the boundaries, and every otlher strategical point prepared with great thoroughness. The Boers had been promised their country back again as a reward for their assistance, and but for the loyalty of men like Botha and Smuta, who have enormous followings, British rule in South Africa would have ended a month after the outbreak.

It is interesting to note that after a few months in the. erauiiany of the Boers Mr. Walker's opinion changed regarding their capacity for fighting. In his first letter, written early in the year, he does not speak appreciatively of Boer methods. Four months later, writing of the. samc body of men, he says—quoting the opinion of General Lukin—"No other body of men in the world could have penetrated 200 miles of .this vast country of desert and sand in the time. It would have-taken an .English army eight months to do what they have accomplished in two. The hardships endured on tlie march were tremendous. At times both men and horses were without food or water for four days while trekking for 15 hours a day beneath a blazing sun." The .wr.'lei"'relates how on one occasion the scouts came up with tlie Germans, and he, with a comrade, getting within 2ooyds of six of them, was creeping up to try and "bag the lot," when they were signalled to return to the captain. They were then informed that the column of 350 men were to return to Kan bib—47 miles behind—niul, although they prayed to be allowed to attack the enemy—they had then been without food for two days—the explain was obdurate, and there was no fight.