War's Brighter Side Part 35

ROBERTS, Field Marshal, Commanding-in-Chief British Forces in South Africa.

SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN.

BY FRED EYRE, YORKSHIRE GREEN HOWARDS.

Far in a land so distant, Out on the battle-field, Raising the lance or carbine, Or a sharp-edged sword they wield.

There lie the British Soldiers, Fighting for home and Queen, Marching by day, and by night as well, Hard times are often seen.

Weary they tramp for their Country, Marching when only half fed; He'll rest where he can when they're halted, Without sheet or blanket or bed.

Dreams of sweet home and of childhood Will pa.s.s through his weary brain, Restless he'll lie till morning, Then he'll move on the march again.

But what of his wife and baby, That he's left far behind at home?

Where is their love's protection?

Where is his heart to roam?

Urged on by a stern Commander, Pushed by a Sergeant there, Bullied by bits of Lance Corporals, No wonder the poor soldiers swear.

Now then he's fighting like blazes, The artillery guns loudly boom, His rifle comes up to his shoulder, And another brave Boer meets his doom.

Crack! crack! 'tis the brave soldier's music, His spirits rise up--he can feel, It's this music that raises his spirits, And makes them as fearless as steel.

He is fighting for Queen and for country, For his dear little baby and wife, He knows that the foe must be beaten And for this end he'll risk his dear life.

At last the day's fighting is over, The wounded and dead lie around, All now is quiet and peaceful, From the guns we can hear not a sound.

But his poor wounded comrades lie moaning, And gasping for life's loving breath, But the great G.o.d of Love calls their spirits, And they're clasped in the cold arms of death.

All things seem so strange and so dreary, As sadly he gazes around, He heaves a deep sigh and a tear dims his eye, As he lies on the cold sodden ground.

NEVO!

But still we are here, what is left of us, n.o.ble and brave to be seen, We've proved ourselves brave British soldiers, _And willing to die for our Queen_.

JOKES TO BURN.

_To the Editors of_ THE FRIEND.--SIRS,--Is it true that a certain cavalry general, on finding good gra.s.s for his horses for the first time at Koodoesrand, exclaimed, "By Jove, this will supply a long-veldt want"?

That, to remind the burghers of the disgrace of Bloemfontein's fall into British hands, President Kruger has changed the name of the Transvaal capital to "Oomfontein"?

That the landdrost has caused to be written on the gates of Kroonstad, "Nil sine Laboere"?

That the Welshman called Mr. Kruger's son "ap-Paul" and the son's father "appalling"?

That the man who said that President Steyn "showed no signs of stayin'" when we got near Bloemfontein was shot on the spot by his rear-rank man?

That "The Gay Lord Treks" and the "Manoeuvres of Steyn" will be acted in London in the winter?

That, in view of the late change of political opinion of the chief Bloemfontein newspaper, its name is to be changed to "Our Mutual Friend"?

An early answer to some of these important questions will oblige,

Yours truly, H. ATTER.

Glen Siding, O.F.S., March 30th.

ARMY TEMPERANCE.

BY CHAPLAIN T. F. FAULKNER.

A most interesting meeting was held at the Town Hall on Monday evening in connection with the "Army Temperance a.s.sociation," an organisation which owes its existence to the efforts and personal interest of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts which, as one of the speakers on the platform so rightly said, are always exercised in everything which is to the benefit of the British soldier. As, therefore, there are at present with our troops at Bloemfontein the President and Founder of the a.s.sociation, two members of the Executive Committee, and many hundreds of members, it was a happy conception to call a meeting of those interested in Temperance work under the auspices of the a.s.sociation, and one which commended itself to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, who, in spite of many things which daily press upon him, readily consented to preside and speak at the meeting.

Much is due to the energy of the Rev. Canon Orford for arrangements made, and the kindness of residents in the city, all of which tended greatly to the success of the meeting. Disappointments were inevitable. Sudden movements and the exigencies of the service robbed us of the company of many who would otherwise have been present, and we missed the promised help of the band of "The Buffs."

On the platform were, besides the Commander-in-Chief and his personal staff, the Very Rev. the Dean; the Venerable the Archdeacon; Mr.

Meiring, of the Customs, Mr. Falck, of the Post-Office; the Revs. T.

F. Faulkner, F. B. N. Norman-Lee, and H. T. Coney, Chaplains to the Forces; Captain A. H. Webb, R.A.; Mr. G.o.ddard, and R. Grindel, Esq., 2nd Coldstream Guards.

Lord Roberts in his address expressed his great pleasure in being able to preside, and sketched clearly and briefly the history of the beginning of the a.s.sociation in India, its rapid growth in spite of antagonism, its ultimate and acknowledged success, and eventually its introduction into England, where now it can boast of a branch in almost every regiment and depot in the kingdom. He particularly emphasised its being a _temperance_ and not only a "total abstainer"

society, and lastly pointed to the work done by the troops under his command during the past few weeks as an evidence of what can be done by temperate, or in this case almost entire non-abstaining, men, than whom (he said) he had never seen any to march better, endure privations more contentedly, or to be better behaved.

Mr. Lodge followed with an excellent song, admirably sung, which promptly elicited an "encore," which he kindly granted.

Rev. T. F. Faulkner then gave a short address about the principles of the a.s.sociation and how they might affect and be affected by the exigencies of the march, and expressed the feeling of grat.i.tude and pleasure which all A.T.A. members must share at the interest shown in their undertaking by the clergy and citizens of Bloemfontein.

A treat was then accorded to the audience in two songs sung by Miss Fraser, who most willingly responded to the vigorous appeal of our soldiers. Such singing by a lady we had not heard for a long time, and the men were not slow to detect the high order of Miss Fraser's powers. The Very Rev. the Dean gave a warm welcome as temperance workers in the name of those in Bloemfontein who had the work at heart, and spoke of the encouragement to them which such a meeting afforded.

An amusing song by Capt. Webb, R.A., also loudly encored, formed a pleasing contrast in the programme. Mr. Lodge and Miss Fraser were so good as to sing yet another song each, much to the delight of our members. Two short speeches by Mr. Grindel and Capt. Webb on the subject of the a.s.sociation's worth and object and the members' duties in connection with it, brought the programme to a close save for the few graceful words spoken by Rev. F. B. N. Norman-Lee, in expressing the thanks of the meeting to Lord Roberts for his presence, and to those who had, by their kind help, conduced towards the success of the meeting and the pleasure of those who had attended it. The Rev. H. T.

Coney, who had taken an active part in getting up the meeting, proved himself an excellent accompanist. The National Anthem closed the proceedings.

_The same by Another Contributor._

The presence of the Field Marshal, who may be called the father of the a.s.sociation, attracted many who, perhaps, have not been identified with the movement. All who attended were repaid by getting a sight of the man of the hour in South Africa, and listening to his speech of introduction. In well-chosen words he gave a brief outline of the founding of the a.s.sociation, its growth from the Total Abstinence a.s.sociation first founded in India, and the gradual broadening of its scope and purposes. He told of the influence of the A.T.A. in the army, how it was free from prejudice and sectarianism, and he pointed out to the soldiers the advantages of joining. Every member was known to his commanding officer, and for important posts men were often chosen because of this membership.

The soldiers who filled the body of the hall dwelt on every word that fell from the lips of the man they loved. When he spoke of the "Army it was now his great honour to command," the Field Marshal showed his depth of feeling in his voice. He was proud to be the leader of "the best-behaved army in the world"; he spoke of the splendid way in which the troops had marched, of how uncomplainingly they had endured the hardships of the campaign and how well they had fought. In a half-joking manner he spoke of them as having all been members of the A.T.A. Modder River water was all they had to drink, and sometimes little of that. In a graceful way the Field Marshal thanked the people of Bloemfontein for the interest shown by their attendance, and he expressed his grat.i.tude to Miss Fraser and Mr. Lodge for voluntarily helping the success of the meeting with their songs. Constantly the soldiers interrupted the speech with applause, and when Lord Roberts had concluded, it was some time before it died away.

VOICES FROM OVER THE SEA.

BY G. SIMES, OF ROBERTS'S HORSE.

Though thirteen thousand miles of foam Divide us from the land That bred our sires, yet we their sons With you united stand, And in this year of warring strife From over all the earth We haste to help the grand old land That gave our fathers birth.