The evening times., 1900-04-09
ON BRITISH TRANSPORTS
A Sailor Writes of the Service in
the South African War.
The Part Played by the Steamship
Lord Dufferin-Dem Effect
on the Beers OF the Arrival of the
Irish GunboatS-The Magnitude of
the Task ON the Part of England.

BALTIMORE. April Second Officer T.
Chermside Of the Lord Line steamship
Lord Dufferin. of Belfast. sends these i'm
pressions from South Africa the letter be-
ing written at Durham about March l:
Since this fine Lord liner was with
drawn from the Baltimore and Irish ports
trade last year she has played somewhat
important part in the Transvssl war.
LAS soon as the Lord Dufferin had been
in Cape Town long enough 20 have her
presence felt the turn of the tide took
place in a most marked manner. The re-
lief of Kimberley occurred six days after
her arrival and from other points came
reports showing a decided change in the
aspect OF affairs. II is evident that Mr..
Dom Paul, who in future must walk be-
cause he cannot ride over roads lRhodes),
had heard of the arrival of the Irish gun
boats with heavy guns and ammunition.
This news had most demoralizing effect
on his men, not to mention the fact OF
some of our crew going to the front as
volunteers. among them Third Ofncer IT.
vine, who has Joined the Irish Brigade,
pet scheme of Lord Roberts.
81 had begun TO hope that Capt. James
Dunn and Chief officer Charles Fanssett,
who have a legion of friends in Baltimore,
would also go, if no longer a time than
a day to allow me TO pose as master OF
this great big ship for that time. Fail
ing in this, | suggested getting someone
to fill my place quite fifteen minutes be-
fore we sailed for Durham, but the pilot
coming on board just then prevented me
from realizing my hopes for medal. But
away with ambitious dreams,
NO one can realize the magnitude OF
the task Great Britain has had in trans
porting 10000 troops into this country
without seeing the work in actual progress.
At Cape Town the Lord Dufferin lay at
the wharf where for ten days troops were
being landed. Each day was a repetition
| of the day before. Two and sometimes
four troopships were berthed early in the
| morning disembarked their loads. and left
| the same day. TO be replaced by others
| This was repeated day after day., during
which thousands of troops passed down tb'
| gangways. carrying their luggage, stack
! ing, and piling arms on the wharves anc
| returning on board for their horses artil
| lery, carriages, and other war material.
| made one wonder how order could be eve
| restored out of such scene-a picture tha
| has never been witnessed twice in man.
| lifetime. Yet at O'Clock p. m. this mas
of chaos was ready for the route. Within
two hours later the wharves were deserted
| except for here and there sentry or trans
port officer. Each days sun set upon tina
! many more hundreds gone to the front
some to return again-others to acquir
| that little estate we are all entitled T.
| wherever We fall.
IF this war brings forth no other re
i suits than to show to other powers tina
the volunteers of England are Quantit.
in future to be reckoned with, it will no
have been altogether useless. as an objec
lesson. They are a fine body of men an
from an outsiders view are Infinitely su
perior to the same number ~of regulars
| They have that intelligence and knack o
thinking for themselves when in tigh
place which is sometimes lacking in Tom
my Atkins when deprived OF leaders a