The Irish standard., 1900-07-28

PSdh lHlllldly SlllSS, WAO saw IL only
in the light OF the astounding defeats
OF large Britis,. forces by small bodies
of burghers. They did not judge it
from an intimate knowledge of its whole
working. 1t was system which orig
mated in the necessities OF warfare with
savage foes, and was never intended
for conflict with civilized enemies
welding disciplined forces. A burgher
can fight or not, just as he pleases. He
is virtually his own officer, and can
leave the field of action whenever he
likes. l have been assured that thou
sands of Beers looked on in comman-
does in active engagements during the
war, without firing single shot 9th
ers would fight or not, just as the i'm
pulse of the occasion would determine.
Then there was much jealousy between
large numbers Of Free State burghers
and Transvaalers, with chickering's aris-
ing out of Cronje's surrender while,
unfortunately, there was not the best
feeling subsisting between the generals
who were in command of the Federals
in front of Roberts on his march
northwards.
anyhow, some $4,000 Beers fell back
before the thirty or forty thousand
British, who pressed forward from
Bloemfontein, and refused to fight.
They retired sullenly, but in perfect
order, and did not lose single gun
in this retreat. A few thousand men
under Louis Botha tried to bar the way
at few positions. These were mainly
Uitlander volunteers and young Beers.
Among the former were COL Blake's
Irish Brigade who fought most deter
minedly at Brandfort, the Zand river
and at other places. 1t was rumored
in Pretoria that they were cut to pieces
at Kroonstad by the advanced wing OF
Roberts force, but this turned out not
to be correct. Blake and Mcbride ex-
tricated their men from seemingly
hopeless situation, and rejoined Botha's
force, with the loss of only few killed
and wounded"
R.-Then Botha is still at the head of
this force of 5000 men?
Mr.. Davitt.-Not now in command
of so many. l would say he has about
10000 at his disposal, while Christian
De Wet will probably have three or five
thousand men. Botha has close on
twenty guns, and plenty OF ammunition,
and if he resolves upon falling back
with this force, or even with half of it,
as far as Lydenburg, he can hold out
in the Businesses of that miniature
Transvaals Switzerland for six months
at least, in defiance of all Roberts men
and resources. 1t is General Botha,
and not President Kruger, who has now
the authority of the Boer government
IN his hands, in virtue of the changed
situation at Pretoria. and this is the
commandant general who will decide
how long the struggle shall last. Botlla
is splendid fighter, and as fine type
OF manhood as any race on the earth
can produce. He is honorable to a
fault, and will always fight in that
character. General Christian De Wet
is probably the mos. successful of the
Federal officers, and as he knows every
kopje, donga and valley of the part Of
the Free State where he has defeated
the English so often, he can be relied
upon, even with his present small force,
to give very busy time to the half
dozen generals and their respective bat
talions who are trying to hem him in.
1t is said the English have burned his
homestead. If this is true, they will
have cause to regret so mean an act of
petty vengeance before they have done
with Christian De Wet
R.-You referred to the Irish Brig
ade, Mr.. Davitt. There has been much
interest taken in the doings of this regi-
| ment by great section of the Irish
people. Have you anything to say on
| this topic?
Mr.. Davitt.-Very little, indeed, that
has not already been published. met
Blake and Mcbride in Pretoria on
few occasions, but did not meet the
men of the brigade, as they were or
dered to Brandfort when 1 had intend
ed revisiting their camp in Natal. They
were some $50 strong only. 1t is
claimed that it was they who determined
the fate of the British at Modderspruit
at critical point in the fight. Blake is
a good fighter and rcsourceful officer
in action. He was popular with all
classes in Pretoria. Major Mcbride,
however, was the real organizer of the
brigade and is one OF the most reck-
lessly daring fighters on the Boer side
He is very modest young fellow in
conversation, and was very retccnt
about his own doings in his conversa-
tions, but have heard several Boer
officers speak in the highest terms of
his pluck in the fighting round Lady
smith, at Modderspruit and at Colenso.
There is second Irish brigade under
Colonel Arthur Lynch, an Irish-Aus-
tralian, who contested Galway city in
1892 He had about $50 men in his
command when l visited Dundee, but
three-fourth of this Irish" body were