The Irish standard., 1901-03-30
VISITORS FROM THE vHLDTs.

VlSlTORS FROM THE VELDTS.
Those who had the good fortune of
listening to the lectures given in Min
reapolis during the present week by
the Boer commissioners, II. d. Vilioen
of Cape Colony, and Philip l.. Vessels
OF the Orange Free State, were highly
entertained. They have now IL clearer
idea of the condition of affairs exist
ing in South Africa and understand
things far better than by reading
books. magazines ana newspapers on
the subject. The stereopticon views
and moving pictures cast on the large
screen We're an object lesson to the be-
holders and made an impression which
will remain indelibly engraved on
their minds. The natural scenery of
the two Dutch republics, as unfolded
to the view of the spectators, was an
ocular demonstration that the brave
hurghers have a country worth fighting
or, and the battle scenes convinced the
audience that uncouth and uncultivat-
ed us the Beers have been pictured by
the British they know how to fight
and die. if necessary, in freedoms
cause. At no time more than 10000
strong they have held out eighteen
months against ten times their number
of disciplined troops and have knocked
half the British army hors de combat.
They have developed military genius
which has astonished the world. John
Stark and Israel Putnam Of the Ameri-
can revolution, both farmers, are cast
into the shade by De Wet and Botha.
the farmers Of the African veldts.
The two gentlemen who lectured in
this city are no ordinary men. Viljoen
was a field cornet who recruited in the
district of Aliwai North, and Vessels
was in the secret service of the Free
State. The former crossed over from
British territory with squad of Afr-
canders to help his brethren of the re-
public, and in his first battle fought
and defeated seven times the number
under his command. He was subse-
Quently captured and had narrow
escape from being shot as "traitor''
by Lord "Bobs." The gallant De Wet
rescued him on the morning set for his
execution. Mr.. Vessels ran big risks
in ferreting out information for his
government. He spent considerable
time in Cape Town before the war and
ascertained that the British were pre-
pairing for action five months before
Kruger issued his ultilnatum. They
thought to catch the Beers unawares
but egregiously failed through the vigi-
lance of Mr.. Vessels, who went by an
assumed name and kept President
Steyn informed of the movements of
the enemy during the period of peace
negotiations. Sir Alfred Miner was
the guest of the Vessels family at
Blocmfontein before the outbreak of
hostilites and partook of their hospi-
tality. While smiling blandly and
aiming pSuCc uAu SOOu Will UclWcCll
Boer and Triton he was treacherously
trying to make the Kaftirs and Basutos
rise and slaughter the Beers in their
homes. But the savages were wise in
their generation and refused to become
the allies of John Bull.
The Boer commissioners are college
graduates who speak English fluently
with 4 slight accent. They talk mod
estly of the exploits of their people
and gain the complete sympathy of 1,
liberty-loving audience. The views
they exhibit on the canvas of burning
homes and starving women and chill
dren move their audience more than
the most fervid oratory. These pic
lures of devastation are taken from the
Illustrated London News and portray
the barbarity of the British from their
own artists. British cruelty cannot be
denied while the evidences of it exist
from the camera of eye witnesses on
the spot. The stories of British br,l-
tality given in the London papers from
English soldiers are enough to make
sensitive people shudder and boil with