The following letter has been received ly the Merchant Service Guild, the same having been addressed to the captains of the transport steamers by Captain Sir Edward Chichester,, RUN., the principal Transport Officer in South Africa, previous to his departure for home Naval Transport Office, Capetown.
"Before relinquishing my position of Principal Transport Officer in South Africa, T desire to convey to the masters of the several transports who have come under my orders, my appreciation of the ability displayed by, and ce-operation received from, the masters, officers, and crews, and in bidding them farewell, and wishing them future prosperity, I wish to express my pride at having been a, ssociated with the magnificent mercantile fle et which has conveyed the Army to South Africa with such expedition, satisfaction, and safety.
"E, Care. SE9ter, Captai'n, R.N., Principal Transport Olficer, South Afric 2."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.