The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-23

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mitted some of them have yielded to
the impulse to fight.
| "You must remember" said DR.. Mac
namara, chat military conditions exist
ing in the Transvaal are different from
what we know. There is no organiza-
ton there in the way of regiments,
brlgades, and corps; in fact, every man
there is his own regiment and his own
general. When they decide to attack
the enemy they go out in strength,
never more than from 100 to 200 strong.
They are generally mounted infantry,
and when the battle is decided, whether
it is won Or lost, they disappear rapidly,
almost mysteriously.
Under such conditions there would
be no place for system OF ambulance,
as we understand it, and this was made
plain to our boys when we arrived in
Pretoria about April 12. We were re-
ceived most cordially by Secretary of
State Reitz, and later on were pre-
sented to President Kruger, General
Botha, and other prominent leaders in
the Iransvaal government, who thanked
us warmly, and in thanking us thanked
the people Of the United States for their
marked demonstration of sympathy in
our going out to assist them.
I'VE found, however, that Our boys
could not operate as an ambulance
corps. 1t was necessary to divide up,
each man making himself useful wher-
ever he could; but in no case, as far as
l can learn, did they lose their character
as members OF the ambulance corps.
They went in ones, twos and three, di-
viding themselves among the different
commands and working on the same
line and with the same intentions as if
they were operating as an organized
body. Of course, later on, I have no
doubt some of the Irish boys, finding
that there was little occupation for them
as nurses, turned soldiers; and while
being loyal to my obligations as medi-
cal leader of the expedition, I, perhaps,
cannot, under the circumstances, criti-
else them. Knowing the Irish charac-
ter and how great the temptation is to
get even with the ancient enemy of nv
people, l cannot blame these young fell
lows.
Il must say that during my brief stay
in Pretoria l was greatly pleased with
the people. Nothing but courtesy and
kindness was shown lis on every side,
and found there state of culture that
would do credit to any part of this
country. Especially would I express
my appreciation of the kindness of
President and Mrs. Kruger for the
wholesouled hospitality and for the
warmth of their reception. I may add
that the Catholic dignitaries there also
exerted themselves to make us welcome
and feel at home. And it might be
some pleasure to the relatives of my
associates in this country to know that
on the morning preceding their depar-
ture for the scene of tostilities every
member of the Irish ambulance corps
approached holy communion and at
tended high mass.
PERSONALLY, would have liked to re-
main there, but I am doctor, and 1
went out there as a director of the am
bulance corps. I found that, on reach
ing the scene of my intended occupa-
ton, there was nothing 1 could do. OF
course, could not fulfill any of the
functions of an ambulance director
without having an adequate staff to as
sist me- But under the conditions as
they obtain in the Boer army, the ope-
ration of ambulance organizations, as
we understand them, is an impossibility.
On leaving received nothing but the
warmest encomiums on the action of
our ambulance corps, and they have
done much TO demonstrate that the peo-
pie OF this country occupy the position
which they ought to occupy towards
the nation struggling for freedom in
South Africa"
DR.. Mcnamara was born in county
Clare, ireland, in 1868. For over 300
years his ancestors have lived in county
Clare, and among his distinguished con-
nections he counts Major Macnamara,
better known as "Fire- Ball Macnama-
ra," and also O'Gorman Mahon, the
Irish chieftain, both cousins Of his ia.
Their. AS youth DR.. Mcnamara at
tended the Christian Brothers school
at his native place, but left at II years
of age to enter Dublin University. A
year later he became student in the
Royal College of Surgeons, and after
pursuing four years course was grad
,tated with high honors.
Coming to Chicago in 1883, he was
appointed druggist at the Cook county
hospital, where he remained four years.
For a time he was assistant surgeon to
Dr. Fenger and then opened an office
in the vicinity of the Stock-Yards,
where he built up large practice. He
is married and has two children.
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