THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT.
OPERATIONS IN VRYHEID.
Captain Tubman, formerly of the fourth contingent, but now attached to the seventh contingent, writes to a friend in Dunedin as follows: —
Colonel Garratt's column, to which the 7th New Zealand Regiment is attached, has been operating for the past three months in Vryheid district. This originally formed part of Zululand, and on its being annexed to the Transvaal Republic was known as the "New Republic." It was ceded to the Transvaal in return for the assistance rendered to a Zulu chief by Louis Botha, Lucas Meyer, and 800 burghers (drawn principally from the Orange Free Stale) against a neighbouring chief. On reference to the map of Vryheid (i.e., "Freedom") it will be found that the district comprised exactly 800 farms, one for each of the burghers who took part in the war. Botha himself received three adjoining farms. The system of measuring off the farms was a somewhat unique one. Each had four sides, not necessarily at right angles to one another, the length of each side being approximately the distance a man would cover in three-quarters of an hour riding at the rate, of four miles an hour. Streams, as far as possible, formed the natural boundaries between farms. A kopje higher than its neighbour would mark one of the angular points. Care was taken that each farm was well supplied with water.
The Vryheid commando, which is at present under Commandant Groblar, numbered at the beginning of the campaign about 900 burghers. It seems to have been particularly fortunate, as it still has a fighting force of 700. It is against these worthies that our column, acting in conjunction with that of Colonel Pultney, is operating. The process of thinning it out is certainly a difficult one. It is rarely that the whole of the commando is together. It seems to move in three detached parties, each under its own veld-cornet, who takes scrupulous care never to risk an engagement that might result in the loss of a few men. Their system of intelligence is so admirable that it is quite impossible to surprise them by day. A system of night marching, terminating in the rushing of the farms before dawn has until quite recently been very successful, but there are evidences that the Boers are beginning to be on their guard to prevent these surprises. Farm rushing carries a good deal of risk with it, and it is probable that had the enemy the same discipline as exists among our troops we would frequently be cut up. But the Boer does not like fighting in the darkness. If he is apprised of our approach he withdraws to a safe position to await dawn.
From frequent conversations I have had with prisoners recently captured, it would appear that the enemy have abandoned all hope of European intervention on behalf of their Republics. Likewise they admit their cause to he hopeless. They acknowledge their inability to successfully combat us. When asked. "Why do you, then, persist in fighting?" they reply that there is now nothing else left them to do. A point of honour they adhere to is that, having drawn the burghers of the Orange Free State, as well as a number of Capo and Colonial Dutch, into the struggle, it would be now grossly mean to abandon them to their fate. The latter will certainly never lay down their arms, for they know what awaits them when they do, so there is little hope of seeing the Transvaal burghers surrender in a body. Another idea, too, that they have recently conceived if that the expenses to us of continuing the war are so heavy that we shall soon be practically a bankrupt nation, and then we shall be compelled to make terms with them which shall secure to them their independence. This is no doubt the latest report circulated by the commandants to encourage the burghers to remain in the field.
For those burghers who have surrendered voluntarily they have the utmost contempt; and to those who have not only surrendered, but who have assisted us by joining our forces, the epithets they apply are not to be found in "Webster's International." Strange to say, those most bitter towards us are their women folk. From a capable way many of them slang us when we are bringing them in from their farms, I sometimes do not wonder at their men folk remaining on commando.
The official estimate given by the War Office shows that there are still about 11,000 still in the field. This number is being reduced by about 1000 fighting men per month. Of course, as the numbers decrease, there will be additional difficulty in catching them. However, under ordinary circumstances, all those in the field (with the exception of a few small bands of desperados) should be accounted for in about 12 months. Nothing but the complete subjugation of the race will ensure the future peace of British South Africa. I think it possible that had all the burghers surrendered after the fall of Pretoria we should have had to fight the war over again in about 10 years' time. Much as the continuance of the war may be deplored it is, perhaps, for the best, and may result in permanent peace. -Otago Daily Times, 17/1/1902.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN TUBMAN.
A private cable has been received in town in town intimating the death in the Transvaal of enteric of Captain George R. Tubman, well known in scholastic circles.
The late Captain Tubman was born on the 20th July 1871, and trained as a pupil-teacher at Mornington School, which he left to become a student at the Dunedin Training College. For a short time he acted as relieving teacher. In October, 1890, he was appointed head-teacher at Moeraki School, where he remained until October, 1895, when he was appointed as fourth assistant in the George street School, which position he occupied until the time of his departure as lieutenant with the Fourth Contingent. During the time Mr Tubman was teaching in North Otago he was an officer in the North Otago Mounted Rifles, and was looked upon as one of the smartest and most competent volunteer officers in the colony. He was a general favorite with the Maoris at Moeraki, where, on his departure for Dunedin, he was presented by one of the chiefs with a greenstone heirloom. No one regrets his death more than the Moeraki Maoris. One particular trait in his character was that he was of an exceedingly genial nature and by those who knew him it is said that Mr Tubman never refused assistance to anyone who was in needy circumstances, especially as regards his stay at Moeraki, when he often put himself to great personal inconvenience. Before he left with the Fourth Mr Tubman was presented by his fellow-teachers with a horse and a pair of field-glasses. The Tailoresses Union also presented him with a horse. The University was also the scene of his labors, where, with his love of detail in business matters, he was duly appreciated. Mr Tubman was married to Miss Bessie Culling, daughter of Mr Joseph Culling, of Hillgrove, in 1895, but he lost his wife shortly after their marriage. Mr Tubman was acting captain in the Fourth for a period of some six months at the scene of operations, and on the arrival of the Seventh in South Africa he was appointed captain, and after having brought up a specie train from Cape Town to the Transvaal he was appointed provost-marshal with General Garrett’s column, which post he held up to the time of his death. He could handle his men as well as the best in South Africa, and was more than once complimented by Colonel Grey. From the latest advice received here it appears that Mr Tubman was looking forward to coming back as soon as the Ninth arrived in South Africa; also that he was on furlough at Johannesburg, whence he was recalled in order to attend the trial of some rebels who were captured near Klerksdorp. The majority of his pupils kept up a correspondence with their late teacher, to which he replied as his time best permitted. The school flag was hoisted at half-mast on receipt of the distressful news. -Evening Star, 14/4/1902.
No comments:
Post a Comment