Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-04-27
THE BOER LIKE A COCOANUT.
"E's Not Much to Look at, bnt
'E's White and Sweet Inside
When Yer Know I'm"
From the London News.

From the London News.
The following is from correspondent S
letter, dated "Bloomfontein Hospital"
l have made it my business to get
about among the private soldiers, tc
question them concerning the treatment
they have received since the moment the
Mauscr rifles tumblcd them over, and
say emphatically that in every solitary
instance, without one single exception
our countrymen declare that they have
been grandly treated-not by the hos
pital nurses only, not by the official.
alone, but by the very men whom they
were lighting. Our "Tommies" are not
the men to waste praise on any men, un
less it is well deserved, but this is Just
about how Tommy" sums up the sit
uation:
The Boer is rough looking beggar in
the field; 'edon't wear no uniform, nd e
don't know enough about soldiers drill
to keep himself warm, but e can fight in
his own bloomin' style, which amt our
style. If ed come out on the veldt, nd
fight us our way we'd lick 'imcvery time,
but when it comes to fghtin IN the kopjes,
why, the Boer is n dandy, nd if the rest
OF Europe don't think so, only let 'em
have a try at I'm nd see. But when e
has shot you he acts like blessed Christ
ian, nd bears no malice. 'E's like a
bloomin' South sea cocoanut not much
to look at outside, but white md sweet
inside when yer know I'm, nd it's when
you're wounded nd prisoner that YOU
get chance to know i'm, see" And
Tommy is about correct in his Judgment
The Beers have made most excellent
provisions for the treatment of wounded
after battle. All that science can do is
done Their medical men fight as hard
to save British life or a British limb as
medical men i'll England would battle to
save the life or limb of private person.
At the l'locmfontein hospital everything
is as near perfection from a medical and
surgical point as any sane man can hope
to see. 1t is an extensive institution.
One end is set apart tor the Boer wound
ed, the other for the British. No differ.
encc is made between the two in regard
to accomodation-food, medical attend
ance, nursing, or visiting. Ministers of
religions come and go dailv-almost
hourly-at both ends Our men when
able to walk are allowed to roam around
hegrounds, but, of course, are not allow
ed to go beyond the gates, being prison
ers of war. Concerning our matron.
Miss NJ. NJ. Young, and nurses, all | can
say is that they are gentlcwomen of the
of the highest type of whom any nation
i'll the world might well be proud
| had written to the president of the
Orange Free State asking him to grant
me my liberty on the ground that was
a non-combatant Yesterday MIR. Stcyn
sent his private secretary
and carriage to the hospital with an in
timation that would be granted an in |
teryiew. Twas accordingly driven down
to what believe was the stadhouse. In |
Australia we should term it the town |
nall. The president met me and treated
ne very courteously and, after chatting
oyer my capture and the death of my
rlend, he informed me that might have
NY liberty as soon as considered my
clt sufficiently recovered to travel The
PRESIDENT explained to me that it was
lot his wish nor the desire of his col
eagues to hamper me in any way in re-
ard tony work. "What we want more
han anything else" remarked the presi
ent, lis that the world shall know the
ruth and nothing but the truth in refer
nee to this most unhappy war, and we
'lll not needlessly place obstruction in
our way in your search for facts; if we
IN by any means place you in the British
mes we vii! do so. If we find it impos-
bic to do tnat you understand that
lert is some potent reason for it,"
This, said the president, is not Il war
tween us and the British people on
~ question of principle; it is war I
reed upon us by a band of capitalistic \
lventurers, who have hoodwinked the
'itish public and dragged them into an
lholy, and unjust struggle with PEG.
= whose only desire was to live at a
ace with all men. We do not hate Or
ur nation; we do not hate your soldiers y
ough they fight against us, but we do y
te and despise the men who have -
ought cruel war upon us for their {
n evil ends, while they try to cloak
'ir designs IA Il mantle of righteous