War Items

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 2, 5 June 1900, Page 3

War Items

The '" sword of honor,'" for which the leaders of the Paris " intraasigeiit " Bubs.ci.ibed 14,420 franos will not reach Cronje for 8ou<« time, as the sculptor, Pallez, has hardly got going propeily on the hilt yet. The design, which i-3 very handsome, covers the whole portion of the weapon available for decorative purposes — the hilfc, guard, and shield — and represents a Boer in fighting rig strangling, if you please, a crooned '• British Leonard." Americans in particular will be interested in tha story of the capture by the Boers and the clever escape of their famous scout, Mr Burnham. He was twice made prisoner, and twice regained his liberty, the second time by biding under a waggon during a wight march, and rolling down a depression in the ground. The convoy passed on, and after lying motionless for twelve hour a, he was able to make his way to Bloemfontein in safety. Lord Boberts, it seoms, is the chosen victim at present of the autograph hunter. E ver since he landed in South Afiica he has been delugc'd with appli cafcions for his autograph by every post, and the applicants follow bun everywhere, and intrude upon him even at times when he is engaged with momentous affairs. '• Bobs '' iiuds the experience not without its humorous , side, but it is also very annoying, and he is obliged to refuse all requests for his autograph. j Expressing his delight at the receipt of a bottle of Irish whisky from the Old Country, a private of the King's Rifles says :—": — " I could hava sold it for £5 as I marched through Ladysmith, but I would not do it for £100. The whisky is grand. I've just sampled it again. Fancy being pufc in the guard room for drunkenness 100 milea from a public Louse. I would get fohot, bul I'll watch it." The German artilleryman-armorer evidently turned the wrong corner of the kopje when he ran into a patrol o ours (writes a private of the Bhodesian Regiment to the London Evening News from Gaberones). He was, he thought, following the spoor of a Boar patrol. "Ach," he said, "I dink I haf made some mindake." " Yes '' replied one of ours, " I should think you have. Give me your rifle." Tho Volksraad or Parliament of the Transvaal keeps reasonable hours. Both chambers sit from 9 am. till 1 p.m., and from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. A few minutes at the close of each hour

of T-he sitting are, however, devoted not to speaking, but to smoking and general conversation. The members of both Chambers of the Legislature receive a salary of £2 per diem for each day of the session. President Kruger, who has the right of speaking in either Chamber, is a highly-paid official, his. salary amounting to .£BOOO per annum. The late General Joubeifc, who hold three offices, as Commander q{ tho Forces, member of the Executive, and Minister of Native Affairs, received a saLuy of £8000 per annum. A favourite btory of tho lato General Wa-achop, y a*s of two suldioia in the Grrdon Highlanders, one of whom was rjoiug moo battle for the first time. The crack of the riflo -was heard in front, and the bullets began to fly. The recruit, feeling that his horn- had come, shouted to his mate in the first line : " Dinna bob, Gaordie, I'm ahiud> ye." Brolher Boar must expect reprisals, ■ and that bestowed by one ot the 13th Lancers was as efijcfcive as it was wail deserved. Telling the story to iho London Evening News a private *&ys :—": — " One amusing thing occuired after we had dislodged tha enomy. though it wasn't very amusing to the J3oBi ¥ concerned. Several Boers who liadibecn leU horseless wore smartly captured by the Lancers. Ono Lancer had a pnsouer, and it seems this Boei had fired *i»u shots at Tommy bsiorc he was taken. When the tioopor did - get him he had his own back. Sotting , his prisoner in front of his horse, the ' Lancer, amid roars of laughfoi*, tested the sprinting qualities of his prisoner fct.ll the way to the camp, three miles off, occasionally helping niim torwaid with a prod from his lance." On M.ifaking day several persons in Invtiicaigil! in the excu.enujnis of ehoufrmg " iiula Britannia " and other things, dropped artificial teeth from their jaws, and ware oblivious of thenloss foi Borne considerable umo afier wards. " The Boers " nays a co iteraporary, " for a long time objected to the intioduction ot railways in their country because railways are not mentioned in the 13ible." They seem l o ha\e always [' thought that good book gfc.rroloub about Lfum Dum bullets and Creuset cannon, however.