THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4, 25 January 1900, Page 28

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

♦ THE SISTERS OF NAZARETH.

The following is an extract from letter received by Rev. MotherGeneral, Xazareth House, Hammersmith, London, from the Superior, Nazareth House, Capetown, South Africa :—: — ' We are very busy, as you may imagine, having so many added to our usual number. As you know, our House is filled to overflowing, and we try to do as much as possible for the poor refugees ; yet, with all our goodwill, there is a great deal we mußt leave undone. I am 6ure you are very anxious, as we also are, about our Sibters in Johannesburg and Kimberley. We are trying every means to send them letter*, but we are almost certain this is impossible at present. We are sure, however, that war will soon be over and peace re^ton d again. It is sad and terrible for many families here and at home as well. ' A few days ago, as we were passing through the streets, we encountered a regiment of soldiers just arrived from home. Poor fellows ! it was touching to see their look of joy and pleasure when they caught sight of the religious habit. Their faces beamed, and as they passed us each one gave the military salute. We were very much affected, and c.mld not help exclaiming — ' May God bless and prote< t yen all.' On inquiring afterwards we found they were the Munster Fusiliers, and that about 800 of their number are Catholics. < Sister M. de Chantal O'Kelly.' A KIGUTIXr, FAMILY. Captain G. oryo Anthony Weldon, who was killed at Glencoe, was a nephew ot Sir Anthony Croasdaile Weldon, D.L.. Kilmorony Castle, X Marp Tue latter's third son, Lieutenant de Weltden Weldon, was wounded in the same engagement. His eldest son, Captain Anthony Arthur Weldon, 4th Leinsters, A.D.C. to Lord Wolseley, h at the front on special service duty, and his second son, Thomas Hamilton Weldon, an officer (retired) of the Submarina Miners, led the defence of the Queen of Madagascar against the invading French. He is 6ft Tin in height. SOME MARVELLOUS RECOVERIES. Homo marvellous escapes will be recorded when the medical men rt count the incidents of this campaign, from their point of view (nays the Tune* of Natal}. There have been several instances in the Maritzburg hospitals which would have been deemed incredible while large bore rifles were in use. The majority of those wounded by the Mauser all agree that the pain is insignificant of the Mauser wound, even when severe only lasting two or three days. Of cases recently treated in the Maritzburg hospitals, we might mention two or three cms which have recovered sufficiently to be able to make the long journey from here to Cape Town by rail and sea. One man received a bullet in the back of the head, which passed clean through the brain, and made its exit through the frontal bone. He is able to walk about now, and is doing well ! Another received a bullet within half an inch of one temple, and it made its exit about the same distance from the temple on the other side 1 It traversed clean through behind the eyes, without injuring the optic nerves ; his sight is uninjured : he is able to walk, and is doing well ! Another had a bullet clean through his throat, from one side to the other. He could not speak for some days, but is now almost all right. The wounds seem to heal well in the majority of cases. THE IRISH REGIMENTS AT THE FRONT. Two Irish regiments— the Dublin Fusiliers and the Irish Fusiliers have suffered severely since the commencement of the war, ! in fact th^y seem to have been in the front of every engagement. i This is especially true (says the London Universe) of the Dublins 1 who made the dashing charge up the hill at Glencoe, and captured the Beers' 'almost impregnable position' — the words are General ! White's. With the Glosters, the Irish Fusiliers lost heavily by death, wounds, and capture at Nicholson's Nek. As for the Dublins, we should like to know how many of them are alive. One of their I last adventures was with the armoured train. In that unfortunate excursion for ' reconnoitring ' purposes many of the Dublins were killed and wounded, a few escaped to Estcourt, the rest were marched off prisoners with bluejackets and others to Pretoria. It is stated on the authority of an Irish nun, the daughter of Captain M'Carty, of Wexford, that the 4500 troops waiting to meet the Boers at Dundee were mostly Irish Catholics. About a fifth of that little army have been killed, wounded, or taken prisoners within the space of a oalendar month.