The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10
HIGH PRAISEOF THE BOERS
The Aftermath of Spion Kop De-
scribed by Chaplain.
General BOthR Asks Reciprocity in
the Humnnities of Making War
Objects to Taking the Wounded as
Prisoners md the Appropriation
of His Ambu1ances by the British.

of His Ambuiances by the British.
CHEVELEY CAMP, Feb. 6,-The follow
ing are extracts from the report made by
Chaplain Collins to General Warren, on
what took place at Spion Kop after the
battle:
Il have the honor, in compliance with
your request, to make the following report
on what occurred on the Spion Kop during
the three days Thursday. January %;
Friday, 26 Saturday, 20 during which
was engaged in the painful duty of burying
the dead who fell there on the previous
Wednesday.
AT daybreak on Thursday l went to the
scene of the previous days conflict. On
reaching the plateau of the Spion Kop L
found several OF the officers of the r. A. NJ.
c. attending to our wounded, and also a
considerable number OF Beers in possession
of the ground. Numbers OF other Beers
were streaming up in all directions, and
soon there was a very large force of them
present in all parts of the plateau.
Shortly an officer of the K. A. NJ c.
[Royal Army Medical Corpsl came to me
L
the commandments had forbidden. so he
understood the removal of the wounded.
On enquiry | found this to be the case and
after explaining to field cornet that delay
in removing wounded men was very
serious matter and certain to aggravate
their suiferings, he allowed the removal of
the wounded in our immediate neighbour
hood. For about half an hour 1 was then
engaged going about with the two medical
officers collecting Identification papers and
letters belonging to the dead.
"A clerically dressed Boer, who said he
was secretary to General Botha. then came
up and asked me to go and speak with the
General, who was on horseback at short
distance. In polite terms the general
asked me who had given leave for the re-
moval of the wounded. l told him that
the removal had already been objected to,
but that one Of the field comets had sub
sequently allowed it to take place. The
general then said that he was in supreme
command, and that he had given no per-
mission.
RePrisals of the British.
" Beside1,' he went on to say, there are
several reasons why should not allow you
TO carry away your wounded and bury
your dead. We are now in possession here
| have had no official application made
either to remove the wounded or to bury
the dead. have also to complain that &.
letter has been sent in by your senior
medical officer. saying that We do not al
low your wounded to be taken TO your
hospitals. Such charges should not be
made. They will emhitter this conflict.
We wish nothing more than that after
every engagement all should be carried on
in Christian way, but there must be reci-
procity. What can you say to your keep
H.
hands? Again. what has been the be-
havior OF Lord Nethuen? HeStook four of
my doctors prisoners and my ambulances
and sent them to Cape Town. The four
doctors he has since sent back, but the am
balances he has kept Is that a Christian
or even humane way of acting? There
IS General Kekewich. He has refused to
recognize any longer the Geneva Cross
when used by US. Only the other day, at
Acton Homes, you took twenty three OF
twenty-five of our wounded as prisoners.
Is all this to go on? Now yeu want me to
give up all your wounded?'
In the above quotation l have written
down, with as great accuracy as possible,
the exact words used by the general. His
secretary also read a manuscript letter
written by some enc in which an accusation
was made of wounded man being left in
a roadside house to die alone and unat-
tended. This had some connection with
the fight between Frere and Cheveley,
when the arm0red train was captured.
had intended to ask the secretary to give
me copy of the letter at the end of the
interview. and so | did not attend as care
fully to its statements as | should other
wise have done. ] cannot therefore quote
what was said with exactness.
In reply 10 the general | said | was not
in a position to discuss the points which
he had raised, but there was one matter
on which he had animadverted and on
which could give him the fullest informa-
ton That was the reference he had made
TO the twenty-three or twenty-five wounded
Beers made prisoners at Acton Homes
was present. | told the general. when the
mounted orderly came in TO Gen. Sir
Charles Warren's headquarters with the
news that these wounded prisoners were
on their way. The orderly reported direct
to the general. |. myself heard the gen
eral give orders to the p. VI. o. principal
medical officerl to see himself these
wounded on their arrival. to have their
wounds attended to. and that they were to
have nourishment and rest before going |
on to Spearman's Hill | assured General |
Botha that all these wounded haG either |
walked or ridden in to our headquarters. !
and that none was badly wounded This |
explanation seemed to satisfy the general. |
He then said
Fighting in Christian Way.
Well. the time is going by and these
wounded men should be seen to. 1t is |
one thing my dealing with General War