West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-28
"wAR II HHLLi.
Aud Specially as Carried ON by the
English in South Africa.

.'N"' N"c fathctsoufg sentinel.
The characterization of war by Gen.
Sherman has never been disputed. though
occasionally some one overly good viii oh
leet TO the direc,neSS of the language nc
used. But that "war Is hell'' is a fact No
longer open to discussion. In Africa the
work Of the British soldery is accompanied
by brutality and reckless devastation of
property that appals all christian people.
Lieut.. Morrison of the Canadian soidicry
in South Africa writing 10 the Ottawa Cri-
zen describes raid in which his command
took part, and sets forth how the work of
destruction, malicious, useless aud vene-
nous Is carried on Below VIC print two ex-
tracts from hls letter just as he wrote, nei.
ther adding nor taking therefrcm a single
word or letter. They speak for themselves
and they ough, to be an appeal TO all chris.
endom for Interference
From that on during the rest of the trek,
which lasted four days, our progress was
like the old time forays in the highlands of
Scotland two centuries ago The country
Is very much like Scotland and VIC moved
on from valley to valley "hf,ing'' cattle
and sheep, burning, looting aud turning
ou, the women and children to sit aud CIV
besides the ruins of their once beautiful
farmsteads. II was the first touch of Kiteh.
ener's iron hand. And we were the knuck.
les. 1t was a terrible thing to see, and
don't know that want 10 see another tfip
OF the sort, but we could not help approx.
ing the policy, though II rather revolted
most of us to be the instruments. am GLAD
10 say the artillery were exempt from il.
During the days that followed IL was our
duty to go into action on the hills and cover
with our guns the troops who did the burn.
ing. We did not get anything like a fair
share of the loot, but don't think my men
objected to that We burned a track about
six miles wide through these fertile valleys
and completely destroyed the village of
Wilport and the town of Dullstroom. The
column left trail of fire and smoke behind
Il that could be seen at Belfast. Some OF
the houses that were too solidly built to
burn were blown up. Away off on a flank
you would see huge toadstool of dust.
rocks and rafters rise solelnnly into the air.
aud then subsidc in a heap of debris. Ten
seconds afterwards a tremendous roar Ike
the report of a COW gun would rend the air
and the dust would blow slowly away.
Many OF the houses were surrounded by
beautiful gardens aboom with roses, lilies
and holyhocks, and embowered in fruit
trees.
As we sat by the guns we would see a
troop of mounted men streaming off towards
farm. With my glasses could see the
women and children bundled out, their
bedding thrown through the windows after
them. The soldiers would carry il out of
reach of the flames and the next moment
smoke woold commence curling up from the
doors and windows--at first faint blue
mist, then becoming denser until il rolled
in clouds. The cavalry would ride rapidly
away and the poor women and children,
utterly confounded by The sudden visitation,
would remain standing in the yard or gar.
den watching their home disappear in FIRE
and smoke.
The column marched into willpoort,
pretty little village surrounded by hills.
The guns were placed on the hills aud
trained on the place and the cavalry and
mounted infantry rode into ii and looted
and burned every house and shop, except
one belonging to British subject The
flour mill was blown up. We sat on the
hills and watched the scene. When the
mounted troops rode back they looked like
a gang Of dissolute peddlers. Their saddles
were hung like Christmas trees with shawls,
clocks, mandolins, tea kettles, lamps--every
sort Of imaginable ariicles-besides chick
ducks, geese, sucking pigs, vegetables and
agricultural products galore. All we gun
ners got was the merry ha ha and such
uneonsidered thaes as the bloated cavalry
choose to donate US.
War is hell its promoters are devils.