The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-18
Lieut.. Col. Kekewich Also Raised in
Rank for His Successful Defense
of the BeIenguered Town.
NOTHING YET FOR RHODES,
WHO SPENT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
IN FoRTIFYING THE PLACE.
sketch of General French, the Now
Famous Cavalry Leader, and Re-
view Of the Kimberley Campafgn.

LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE Queen has pro-
NOTED General French to be major general
French heretofore has only ranked as .
colonel In the army. with the local rank OF
lieutenant general. Lieutenant Colonel
Kekewich has been promoted colonel Tor
services in the defense of Kimberley These
promotions by the Queen are coveted hon.
ors and mean a great deal more TO the re-
cipients than promotions In the regular
way Her Majesty is taking great interest
in the work of her officers in South Africa
Victoria Is also not unmindful Of the wid-
ows and orphans of the soldiers who have
fallen in her service. Indeed. her personal
interest in the men fighting her battles is
being constantly illustrated by her visits to
Nettley Hospital and the private houses
where lie officers and men who were
wounded in South Africa A few days ago
her Majesty stood godmother to the child
of a majors wife, whose husband was
killed at Elandslaagte. and she has now
summoned TO Osborne Bugler Dunn. aged
fifteen. of the First Royal Dublin Fusiliers,
who was the first to cross the Tugela river.
though the men OF the regiment tried to
keep him back. While running with the
soldiers, holding his bugle In his right
hand, Dunn sounded the advance A
bullet struck his arm and the bugIe fell.
The boy Immediately lifted 1t tp with his
left hand and repeated the call. He was
brought to Nettley Hospital. and was
visited there by Princess Christian and
Princess Henry of Batte1berg, who asked
the boy what he would like the Queen to
do for him. He replied: II hope her Maj
esty will send me back to the front. I'm
to have a medal and three bars. because I
was in three engagements. Ny father has
only two bars to his medal" The lads
father, a sergeant, returned TO the front
this week. having recovered from his
wound. On his arrival at Portsmouth
young Dunn was tenderiy borne on the
shoulders of the delighted popuiace.
London is fairly ringing with the praises
OF General French. A very distinguished
officer said: 1T is a suspicious thing TO
prophesy after an event, but Johnny
French was under me years ago in India.
and when he was only chubby lieutenant
in the Nineteenth Hussars saw enough OF
him to know that there was I'm him the
making of such a cavalry officer as would
have delighted the soul Of Stonewall Jack
want to serve under him. 1t is learned that
the young Duke of Westminster. who is a
stepson of George wyndham, will join
Frenchs division when he arrives at the
Cape. and not serve on Sir Alfred Miners
staff.
The Kimberley garrison. which was re-
lieved by General French, consisted of $500
men. including half a battalion OF the
North Lancashires and detachment OF
the "Black Watch and five bodies OF
local forces Cecil Rhodes has been the
chief organizer of a most gallant defense,
but Colonel Kekewich has been a COM
mander second only to Baden-PowelI in
resource and practical ability He is a
Devonshire man. The main episode OF the
siege has been the sortie led by Major
Scott-Turner late in November. The pres
ence OF Cecil Rhodes made the capture of
Kimberley an objective point of first i'm
portance.. but II also armed the town with
his resources. energy and capital for its
defense, since he has expended a fortune
in providing a new water supply. strength
ening the fortifications. casting guns. en-
ploying natives and securing supplies. Now
that Kimberley is relieved Ar. Rhodes's sa-
gacity i'm rushing to the defense Of the dia-
mond city at the outbreak of the war IL
recognized