The Irish standard., 1900-01-13

|
out his reforms, we believe he can be
induced to become his own successor in
the gubernatorial chair.
THE IRISH BRIGADE IN AFRICA:
The Irish brigade in the service oi
Dom Paul bids fair to equal in gal
lantry and martial rcnown its famous
prototype under Lord Clare at Fonte-
noy, which turned the tide OF victory
against England and caused the British
monarch to cry out in anguish: Cursed
be the laws that have made me such
subjects In recent issue OF the Irish
Standard, it was stated that the Irish
brigade with the Beers had participated
i'll the first battles in Natal and had
displayed the characteristic bravery OF
the race on foreign fields. They figured
conspicuously at Glencoe, New Castle
and Ladysmitll and succeeded in bag
ging' some of their own countrymen
in the livery OF England. They also
captured detachment OF the Glouces-
tcrs running them into cattle pen.
1t was first said in the British re-
ports that the Irish brigade was insig-
nlficant in numbers, the actual enroll
ment being only 200. DR.. Leyds de-
clared it was about 1000 strong, show
ing that the censor had Topped off one
cipher, very easy thing to do. We
have now authentic news as to the real
strength OF the Irish auxiliary from Mr..
T. Gillingham, a justice Of the peace at
Pretoria, and commissariat superin-
tendent OF the Transyaal. He was born
at the Cape, OF Irish parents, but in his
sympathies he is thorough Africander.
At the time of the Jameson raid he Of
fered to raise an Irish brigade and sug-
gested that Irisll-Americans might as
sist the Transvaal. He is now COM
pletely in Dom Paul's confidence and is
consulted by him on matters of state,
and has been rewarded for his services
by valuable concessions. During the
1893 centenary, Mr.. Gillingham visited
Ireland and made most favorable i'm
preston on Irish Nationalists. In re-
cent letter to an Irish physician in Lon
don, he says:
can Irish brigade left Pretoria and
Johannesburg on Oct. 7, just two days
before the ultimatum, so as to be ready
TO step across the frontier in case the
British didn't give UP swamping us with
troops everywhere.
The boys chose an Irish American
named Blake, colonel, and elected him
colonel of the corps. We arrived at
camp in time to cross the border into
English territory.
That was spectacle that many in
Ireland would like to see: 1900 hardy,
resolute men, armed with the best
weapons that money could procure,
their bandoliers bursting with Mauser
cartridges, and, though sporting none
OF the millinery and uniform business,
all dressed in the serviceable style, with
just bunch OF green ribbon to mark
the color OF the true.
If you weren't going against SOL
diers who cannot hit haystack,' said
the general, I wouldn't let you wear a
mark like that
John MacBride, who now is major,
carried flag-a real Irish fag-into the
enemys country, and I can tell you he
was proud to do so.
"Joubert's orders were that the Irish
brigade was to occupy Majuba Hill, but
we didn't stay there, for the English fell
back SO fast that we had to put our best
foot foremost to keep up with them
"At the first engagement we had with
the English we took couple OF hun
dred Of them prisoners, and they have
been coming just like old friends by the
thousand every other day afterward. 1t
was lot OF Dublin Fusiiers we bagged
first, and you bet as we brought them
into Our camp the boys gave them a
pretty talking to, and gave lots OF them
our manifesto, and asked them if it
didn't find its way to their hearts.
Most OF them looked awfully
ashamed OF themselves, but there were
some who looked as black as night, and
a ID sight blacker, when they saw our
green flag waving above thousands Of
riflemen, as they were led to prison.
"In four battles now the Irish brigade
has had the proud duty OF guarding the
cannon, and we'll they have done it. No
English hand has touched cannon
guarded by the green flag men. After
the fight at Ladymitf, where the bri-
gade made bigger mash than ever
for themselves, Joubert addressed them
on parade, thanking them for their
courage and dash, expressing the deep
est regret for the Irishmen killed and
wounded
"Irish brigaders,' said the general,
your action and service this day will
never be forgotten by the Beers, and
though you were strangers among us,
you are now part of ourselves. Your
bravery in the field, still more than
your oath Of republican allegiance,
makes you true burghcrs OF the repub-
lic.'