The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-08


 Of Cape Colony, South Africa. would have stood that for long. At last the crash came. It was thought that they were strong enough to drive us into the sea before the endorsements could arrive. Invitations for Boer ball in the aown @ , ,Hall or D4rban, the Natal port were issued for January 26 1900. By a curious irony that was the date of the disastrous Boer defeat on Wagon Hill.
 At present most of the country,- winch IS as large as the area of the American Civil War-is quiet, and though bushwhacking may go on for some time. we shall see to it that foreign compli- cations shall never occur there again Our policy Is our old one of complete local self-government, under which the BoerS Will have more than they ever had under the Diaz-like regime of Paul Kruger"
 Under whom did you serve when the
 - served as staff officer under Lord Methuen. commander-in-chief before General Butler came out"
 What battles were you in?'
 Well, there were several. I was in the battles of Belmont and Graspin, in both of which we defeated the Boers; then at Modder River. which in time of peace is the Newport of South Africa, in which after sixteen hours engage ment we succeeded in crossing the river and the Boers retreated to Magersfon- tein."
 Was this last the one in which you were so dangerously wounded?''
 Yes. replied MT. Macfadyen. We planned an attack on the position of the Boers which was to take place at the first dawn. This made it necessary to pitch darkness. In the darkness we marched faster than we thought and had come within a few wards of the Boer position without knowing it. A n hnr 61 hty IlN,r- lantern informed the Boers of our posi- tion, and just when the order to extend into open order was given, volley after volley were poured into us. In seven most famous Highland Regiments, had not an officer left unwounded and the brigade lost 700 men out of 1000. Our horses stampeded and about half a dog fantry, however, held the ground under what cover we could get and although it afterward proved that my injuries were severe. I staid with them. and we after sunset orders arrived to retire. The whole force fell back again to Mod der River. where We ehtrenched and re- mained until Lord Roberts arrived with re-enforcements to take command"
 Were you in the battle when Cronje' s force was taken%'
 Yes. I had been in the hospital. but was able to be out. That was few
  dam some distance to the rear undis- covered by the Boers. Then came Lord Robertss masterly movement to the northeast which resulted In our cutting off and capturing the whole of Cronje' 8 force which had repulsed us at Magers- fontein. The manoeuvers and engage ments occupied about ten days and the Highlanders called the surrender their tit for tat The spirit of the brigade was wonderful. Until the surrender oc- cured they seemed to be able to go without food or boots. The whole of the supply convoy was lost somewhere in the rear and the men were often reduced to half biscuit day, but no one heard any grumbling or. as they call it in the army, grousng.
 MT. Macfadyen told many interesting stories of incidents during the war, and also something of their privations.
 We realized" said he. that water is more valuable to country than gold or jewels. l felt at times that would gladly pay thousand pounds for a bath. No one knows the luxury of be- ing clean who has not been through a siege in South Africa. Once l remem- Der l did not take off my boots for three | weeks"
 MT. Macfadyen. tell me, please some thing about the Schreiners. You say you were secretary to w. P. Schreiner when he was Prime Minister. He is d brother of Olive Schreiner is he not?'
 Yes. The family are. not Boers, as is often thought The father was Ger man missionary of the Rhenish Mission. and he married Scotch woman. The friend and admrer of Cecil Rhodes. w. P. Schreiner was d protege of Cecil Rhodes, who introduced him to politics. Schreiner entered Parliament as Rhodes colleague for Barklay West. He was Attorney General while Rhodes was Prime Minister at Cape Colony. Then | he quarreled with Rhodes over the Jameson raid, and has not since been what he called a RhodaSife At fha time of the breaking out of the war he was Prime Minister of Cape Colony. and although a member of the Afrikander Bond. is rather pro- British than pro- Boer in his sympathy. His sister. Olive Schreiner,. on the other hand, Is violently pro- -Boer."
 Who is Olive Schreiner's husband?" His name was H. s. Cronwright until he married her. Then he took the name of Schrefner because she insisted upon 1t. He is dealer in sheep and makes speciality of the Angora goat"
 Are the other Schreiners pro-Boers?' ?'
 No. Theodore schreiner, a brother, is strong champion of the English, as is Mrs. Schreiner. the mother
 MT. Macfadyen talked freely enough on all subjects except himself. He could not be persuaded that any one would he interested ir Alfred Macfadyen beyond his connec ion with the .Government at Cape Colony, and the Boer var It was thr ough other sources that learned that after taking his degree at Oxford he was appointed professor at St, An dfews university, in Scotland at the carly age of p, a post he quilted to un- dertake literary work in London. He is thoughtful writer on varied subjects, and he writes with the same accuracy and deliberation which characterlze ms speech. few weeks ago the editor Of high-class Eastern newspaper offered MT. Macfadyen a sum for an article per taining to certain South African atairs. .
 ''I should be afraid to attempt 1t here' replied MT MaCfadyen. "I am not sure of ali the facts. If you will walt unuI return to Cape Town I can secure them and send you the article from there
 That illustrates the difference between you and We Americans" laughed the editor. If an American were onered money for an article he would write me story first and get his facts atterwaru
 MT Macfadyen's ingenious honesty IS apparent to the most casual observer wlth whom he talks He would compel the respect and admiration Of the most aro- ent Boer sympathizer.
 Moreover. the unrufled demeanor and gentle politeness with which ne rePlteu to the siege of questions which M WIT poured upon him that Sunday morning indicated the same spirit of persistence with which the Boers are accredited. Al least if thAre were nSA>inWard uesAles to retreat he gave no sign l.,
 It was afterward 9t dinner thdt Hs made a remark of which l have sinte frequently thought. Apropos 9I sOIiy, ,th