The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
HOW TO REMAIN FREE
HOW SOUTH AFRICAN BOERS
BEAT THE INVADERS.
An Argument for Trained Militia
of the Common People.

inquire at once into the causes that ena-
bled the Beers to defeat British regulars
1t proved, of course, to be the old story of
determined craftsmanship proving SUI
perior in irregular fighting over academic
tactics. But much of the details proved
most interesting.
The pioneer Boer farmers took up their
abode in the land to live peacably by
farming, but feeling that there would be
constant danger of attack from barbarous
tribes, theydeemed it prudent to organize
themselves into trained and disciplined
body of men, and it was we'll they did so,
for they from time to tine had many
struggles for existence, more especially
with the Zulus.
The war with England was practically
forced upon them, but as soon as it began
disaster after disaster befell the British
simply because they looked upon the
Beers as a contemplate lot of ignorant
farmers, without organization and with
no fighting powers, consequently taking
no precautions, feeling that it would be
kind Of walk-over and soon ended.
The way Of the Majuba Hill affair was
this: The Beers had their spies, who
brought in news of all that was going on
in the Britishjcamp.
From them it was learned that the En-
glish general intended taking up a COM
handing position on the summit of the
hill, with some six or seven hundred men,
and that no extra defensive precautions
were to be taken, as the height was con-
sidered inaccessible
AS the English were advancing to ac-
complish their object the Beers arranged
for $50 of their men to lie concealed in
such positions at the base of the hill as
would permit of their readily moving out
In extended order at daylight next morn
ing SO as to steadily and quietly ascend
on the signal to do so, under the protec-
ton of their comrades in extended order,
some seven hundred yards distant in the
open.
On the signal being given the party at
the base moved steadily up, and such wad
the protection they received that the in
slant there was the slightest exposure on
the part of anyone on the summit he was
surely shot down, so admirable was the
firing and judging distance.
The English all this time felt them
selves comfortably secure on the top of
the hill, being in complete ignorance of
the steady and sure advance up the hill
side of the skirmishing party. So that
when the final rush was made by the
Beers so great was the surprise that it
created a general massacre and rout
This victory terminated an unsought for
war in way little expected by the Brit
M
During the campaign the loss on the
Boer side was insignificant, but that of
their opponents heavy.
The Beers are fine, smart, active,
wiry, well trained, disciplined body Of
men, always ready for an emergency,
plucky to degree, accurate judges Of dis
lance and thoroughly reliable shots. A
Boer is generally mounted, but under no
circumstances is he to be found without
his rifle, pistol, hunting knife and tele-
scope or binoculars
He is forever judging distance and MAX
ing test shots at special objects in every
imaginable direction and uder all condi-
tions and variations of the weather, SO as
to render himself practically perfect.
Once he takes shot at any object he is
not satisfied until he has hit it.
He will take good care to accustom
himself to Judge distance on and fire at
objects directly in the sun, as also when
the sun is shining from either flank, or
from the rear, so that he may become
sure under all circumstances; and it was
to this thorough and systematic training
that the Beers, as body, owe their sue
cess against the British.
Their skirmishing system was as per-
feet as it could we'll be- they were well
under control, and their distances in ex-
tended order were well kept.
Each file of the Beers had file of the
enemy told off to them to watch and
KILL and splendid, indeed, was their prac-
tice to the bewilderment of their oppon-
ents, who were shot down like so many
reed rats.
The Boer system was as follows: Front
and rear rank men acted as comrades,
encouraging and advising each other, and
besides being we'll armed and equipped
had the additional aid of good and power
full binoculars; they also wore wells the
color of the ground to conceal their faces,
and, while one man shot, his cOmrade
watched the result of the trial through
his binoculars, turn and turn about. The
British firing was wretched, partly be-
cause the home authorities carelessly sent
out young soldiers, most. of whom had not
completed their recruit drill, and who
had not gone through course Of mus
kerry.
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