Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

12 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

CONTENTS OF INNER PAGES. |

STAGGERING HUMANITY

NOTES BY THB: WAY.

YEOMANUY AND VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

YEOMANUY AND VOLUNTEER NOTES. The service section of tho 5th S.W.B. will leave Brecon next Saturday. They are now putting- in five drills each day, including gymnastic exercises. The men ara well looked after and get bacon for breakfast, roast and boiled beef for dinner, and and potted lunch tongue and corned beef with Worcester sauce for tea. Now the men are going off to Africa it is to be hoped that the good people of Montgomeryshire will see that those who well dependent on them are not overlooked. MajDr Forbes has been appointed second in com- mand of the Welsh Battalion, which will cause his direct connection with the men stationed at New- town to cease. By a new regulation, Captain Fearnie and Lieut Cox have been ordered to return to their Militia Battalion, which is mobilising, so that the Newtown Company is now practically without officers. Capt Luxmore has failed to pass the medical examination and will not, therefore, accompany the men. The Welshpool contingent, B Co, of the Yeo- manry will probably leave us next Thursday. The only reason why their departure has been so long postponed is entirely owing to the difficulty of transport. The authorities were perfectly aware that oar Company was fully equipped and as effi- cient as any of the newly-formed squadrons, and they would gladly have sent them earlier to the front had the transports been available. We shall be sorry to lose them. The town has made them welcome, and they have appreciated the welcome. The hospitality has not been abused, and it is this which must be regarded as responsible for the very kindly inter3st the town has takan in the Yeomanry. But the otherwise happy week has been marred by a blow of unutterable sadness. When the news came that Capt Armstrong had been ordered to join Lord Roberts's staff, every man in the troop felt that he had lost something. This became known on Wednesday afternoon, and all the yeomen with whom we spoke had nothing to talk abor.fc but their loss. They were devotedly attached to Capt, Armstrong, they loved him as they would a best brother, his very presence assured and electrified them, thoy could conceive no one else as their leader, he was their hero, and they well nigh worshipped him. lie was a soldier and a man. lie was kindness itself and every man in the troop considered that there was something which he owed to Capt Armstrong, a something to bo wiped off the siate, a debt only to be repaid by lasting gratitude and fidelity. And those townspeople who had the good fortune to knojf him thought equally well of him. Here's to you, Armstrong. ■Jfc When the men recovered from the first effects of the sadness, they decided that the send-off should be worthy of the man. They heard he would return by the half-past nine train that night, and there was a crov-d "f yeomen waiting to give him welcome. But he failed to arrive until the early morning mail, when most were soundly sleeping hnd ma-HY heavily snoring. He left again by the afternoon trnin for London, and had he been Lord Roberts himself the send-off could not have been heartier. The men were brought up early from drill and assembled outside the Royal Oak. A large crowd of townspeople were gathered there and along the road to the station, and the band < f tho 4th S.W.B. took up a position at the head of the procession. They struck up with Au Revoir," I and every mar, from his heart wished that it only Au Revoir and not Good-bye. Following the band came a large com- pany of troopers under Sergt.-Major Tupper, and then ii carriage drawn by the rest of the troopers. Every man sought to have a pull at the shafts, ,iud those who could not do this pushed beliii,d or held on somewhere near the wheel. In the carriage were Sir Watkin, Capt Armstrong, Capt Dugdale, and another officer, and cheer after chet'r followed them to the station. The scene at the station was one which will be long remembered. It was one of indescribable enthusiasm. The men took their friend from the carriage, lifted his burly form shoulder high and carried him to thp. compartment. Cheers followed cheers, hands were shaken and above the dir. of good -vislies could bo heard the last words which he addressed to the men As I am not oou.irg with yon, I hope you will look after Wyiiu." Th.), there was more handshaking and as the train left the station the men gave volleys of cheers, the band played Auld Laung Syne" and "The giri 1 left behind me" and leaning from the compartment, until the train receded from view could be been the gallant captain waving his farewells. Then te men were marched hack to the Cross, encountering a herd of bmlocks on the way, one of which seemed to have a particular affection for the big drum. At the Cross the men were distnissed. It is interesting to note that Captain Armstrong did all in his power to ensure the early departure of the men, and that it was he who informed them of their probable speedy despatch for the front. The excebent training of the men hai put them in splendid trim. They have been drilled on foot and on horse, trained -In jumping, in field move- ments, in shooting, and in other way=<, even to bayonet exercises. They have attained a high standard of fitness nnd as their training will be continued on board ship and at the Cape there is little doubt that they willllgain be heard of. The good wishes of all the townspeople go with them, and we only hope that when the war is ever there may be a re-union, which will call to mind the festivities of Thursday week. We are not surprised to hear that the Reserve Section of the 5th Volunteer Battalion South Wales Borderers has been abandoned in consequence of ..lr\o .r. "¿'-=- kiio ISLnugeDL regulations. The line measure- ments of the chest require one inch more than those of the V olunteers, and this one inch has made all the difference, as, but for this cause alone, we can state on the best authority, the Reserve Section could have easily been found. It is sincerely hoped that the War Office Authorities may yet deem fit to relax this stringent regulation. We note that ar Company of over 100 men of the London Irish were this week reduced for this cause to one section. In the next place, owing to the Battalion being a small oae in point of nnmberi and barely of tnree years' standing it has been found difficult to fulfil the conditions of efficiency for the last two years and this has also knocked out many anxious to join. Again, the higher standard of height required for the line, the age requirements, and the necessity of being a marksman under the new conditions which stipulated that a man tnnst have been a first-class shot last year have also told on a certain number. Finally, 9 officers and about 130 non-commissioned officers and men volunteered for South Africa, and but for these various regula- tions they would have supplied more than a full Company.

WELSHPOOL.\

CASTLE CAEREINION.

TRKWEli'X.i '

LLANFYLLIN.

BYRWYDD.

LLANIDLOES.

EVERY WEAK MAN,

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