The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-09
ON BRITISH TRANSPORTS
A Sailor Writes Of the Service in
the South African War.
The Part Played by the steamship
Lord DuTeFin-DemOraIiz Effect
the Boer~ Of the Arrival of the
Irish GunbORtS-The Magnitude of
the Task on the Part OF England.

BALTIMORE, April Second Officer T
Chermside. OF the Lord Line steamship
Lord Dunerin. Of Belfast sends these i'm
/ pressions from South Africa the letter be-
ing written at Durham about March 1,
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 Transvaal war.
AS soon as the Lord Dunerin had been
IN Cape Town long enough TO 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 (Rhodes).
had heard Of the arrival Of the Irish gun
boats with heavy guns and ammunition.
This news had a 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 Oficer II
vine. who has Joined he Irish Brigade,
pet scheme OF Lord Roberts
Dunn and Chief Oficer Charles Fanssett.
who have a legion Of friends IN Baltimore.
would also 60 il no longer a time than
a day, 10 allow me 10 pose as -iaster OF
this great big ship for that time. Fail
| ing In this, / suggested getting someone
I TO hll 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 a medal. But
/ av ay 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 az
the wharf where for ten days troops were
I being landed. Each day was a repetition
Of the day before. Two and sometimes
four troopships we're berthed early in the
morning disembarked their loads, and lef
the same day TO be replaced by others
This was repeated day after day.. durinl
which thousands Of troops passed down tn
gangwayS carrying their iusgage, stack
ing, and piling arms on the wharyes an
returning on board for their horses. srtil
lery, carriages, and other war material.
made one wonder how order could be eve
restored out of such a scene-a picture tina
has never been witnessed twice in a 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 10 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
suits than to show TO other powers tina
the volunteers Of England are a Quantit
in future to be Teckoned with, it will nc
have been altogether useless. as an objeC
lesson. They are a fine body Of men an
from an outsiders view are infinitely gu
Derior to the same number of regular
they have that intelligence and knack {
thinking for themselves when in a tigf
! place which is sometimes lacking in Tom
my Atkins when deprived OF leaders q