Sensations of Battle.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 110, 17 February 1900, Page 3

Sensations of Battle.

Major Arthur Griffiths, whd erved in the Crimea, and wa& present at the siege and fall of Sebastopo], has contributed to " Pearson's '' some interesting accounts of the sensations he felt when ho was in battle. He has no accurate impression of his sensations, but he remarks, though iv no spirit of bombast^ that the risks he ran never troubled him much. He belonged to a set of siliy, reckless youngsters in the Crimea, who chafed at the enforced inaction that was so often the rule for long hours in the trenches before Sebastopol. Sometimes, to break the dull monotony of their lives, they would stand up on the trenches, and then go out in ths open at the rear until the place" became too warm for them. Major Griffiths thinks that demeanour under fire is very much a question of nerve and temperament, but also depends on teacb^ ing and example. The man who is under fire for the first time is liable to excusable fits of discomfort. A good example of this is the historical incident in the earty career of Sir Colin Campbell-. He was a raw ensign, a mere child in years, when he first saw fighting at the battle t)f Vimieia, in. 1808. His captain, an old campaigner, noticed his unsteadiness^ and promptly applied his owa cure. Taking the youngster by the hand, he led him out well tot the front of the regiment, nov? fully engaged, and walked hint slowly up and down under a very hot fire. Colin Campbell soon gained complete confidence, and never suffered from nervousness again. The preparation for tlie attack on some highly-entrenched position comes within the class of high tests of courage, an(f sometimes occasions a qualm m the breasts of the most gallant men. Often, in the most anxious hours of expectancy, the men are light-hearted enough. An old story, told to illustrate this, is worth repeating. A company sfood awaiting orders to advance, while the shot and shell fell thick around it. One man, to relieve his pent-up feelings, and to show his fine unconcern, Ix-grin to whistle a tune. Ha was checked by his officer, who said it was wiong to whistle on duty-. At that moment a screaming shell whistled overhead!, as it passed on its murderous errand. "Yori creature has no right to whistle," grumbled the soldier ; " I'm\ thinking it's on duty* too." The 1 transition from quiescence id activity is always hailed witli delight. Stern joy, according W Major Griffiths, is the uppermost feeling then. To come to close* quarters with the enemy is thd strong impulse that dends forfcH the skirmishing line with a gay rugh, and brings on the puppoirts with a determination to help the* advance with all the strengtH they have.

In Queensland there is a decrease of five and a half million sheep and a' hundred thousand cattle compared! with the previous year — ruainly owing to the dought. Ex-President Cleveland will prob-ably-visit Buffalo next month to attend the opening of the new club - rose- at the Cleiel&nd Democracy. The son of President Pretoriourfj now under arrest at Frere camp, is ail old farmer £ofj 74. 1 Juberfi is eajd ttf have stayed two nights with hiro,,ancl he is knowa 'Jo have f implied, f 99s tg