The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-09

We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing letter, written by British Of
ticer now serving Mt the front, to a
friend mt home, says the Dublin Free
mans Journal of Jan. 10. The rccipi-
cnt of the letter is Il wcll-known gen.
tlcman who has given us proof Of his
bona-fidcs, and in whom we have i'm
plicit confidence. We publish the let
ter exactly as it was written by the
British officer, omitting one or two
passages which might afford a clue to
the writer's identity, the discovery Of
which would be plainly fatal to him
in his profession:
"I am so oppressed with horror Of
approaching massacre that I cannot
refrain from writing my opinions, so
that If anything should happen to me,
you, at least. may know that | took
no part in the dreadful tragedy.
"But before going further I must
give you an idea of the state of affairs
in South Africa early in December.
The Bocrs in the Transvaal had been
tolcrably quiet for some time, but Dc
Wet had been very active in the Free
State. He had attacked E"wctsdorp,
and, after a short siege, captured the
place. taking, besides some guns, some
100 of our troops. He had at the same
time held Off a large force sent to re-
lievc the garrison, so that you may
S,lppOSc there was Il considerable army
under his command. 1t is well to bear
this in mind, as the authorities, in or
der to Justify the burning and lOOting
of houses and the hunting of women,
have tried to persuade the world that
the Bocr Opposition consists merely
of small parties OF banditti, prcying
on the country, against whom any
measures are instiliaMc.
"Aftcr taking Dcwctsdorp lie moved
south, and Lord Kitchener conceived
the idea of lrmming him in between
the Caledonia and Orange rivers. For
this purpose troops were pushed down
by rail from all parts OF the country.
till every station was blocked with
soldiers ana traffic became impossible
"a Gordon was formed north and
south, and it was confidently anlici
patcd that this able and willy man was
at last fairly corncrcd. He seems
however, to have taken matters cOolly
enough till the sudden heavy rains i'm
pcdcd his movements. Then, finding
that he would have been obliged to
impose long marches and severe hard
ships on his prisoners. he killed !:
number OF sheep for their use ard rc
leased them. Meanwhile Lord Kitch
cncr fondly believed that his enemy
was trapped, and could not escape.
81 have great hesitation in writing
what follows because it will seem in
credible to most people. But think II
is necessary, because I am convinced
that the man who conceived so dia
bOlical an idea will take care to guard
himself from the consequences, an(
impute the blame to others when thu
deed is done. Soldiers and rcgimenta
officers will be made to bear the blame
and, therefore, I consider the homo
of the army is at stake, and prefer
that the obloquy should fall on th'
real author rather than on those among
whom ] have served for so man,
years, whose friendship 1 claim, ant
whose honour is as dear to me as my
own.
"Loru Kitchener having, as III
thought, Gagged his enemy, sent sccrc
Instructions to the troops to take NJ
prisoners; that is, II the Beers, sur
NA"S" VII Ai1 oluC5, IIIIu
unable to resist, and hoist the whitt
flag as n token of surrender, thoy arc
to be shot down to the last MAJ.
"Now l have seen too much blood
Shed to be easily shocked, and If this
intention had been openly proclaimed
when the opposing parties were in sim
liar positions, ana the fortunes ant
tcrrors OF war were as likely to fal
on one side as on the other, though
would certainly regret the return o
. the English people to the barbarism o
our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, I woult
not have considered it matter af
fecting the honor Of the army; but tha
we should enter into struggle pro
claiming boldly our adhesion to tn
rules Of civilized war, that we shoul,