The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
BOER WARS SIDE LIGHTS.
SCOUTING WITH ARMORED TRAINS
IN THE NATAL COUNTRY
II Il Easy When There Arc No Neigh
boring Hilis-winston Churcbiirs Devo-
ton to- the wouuded-Julian Ralph's
Description ~ south African Dust.

II IL Easy When There Are No Neigh
boring Hilis-winston ChurcbilPs Devo-
ton to the wouuded-Julian Ralph's
Description of South African Dust.
| LONDON. Dec. 13.-Bennet Burleigh, writing
from Estcourt agrees with many critics at home
and abroad that Natal Is "tho least suitable Of
countries for armorcd trains" and proceeds to say:
| Besides, those we have arc poorly extcmpo-
rizcd affairs, though the best perh9ps, that could
be done In a hurry Imagine few Rim boiler pla ties
| placed round the engine and fiat bogio trucks
| boxed round seven feet high with similar sheets
| Of iron or steel and roughly ioopholed-the
whole painted khaki-and you have the armored
| train. There being no doorways, To get inside
| one OF those oblong iron boxes, which are quito
| uncovered at the top, you have TO clampcr up as
best you can, gripping the loopholcs and exterior
fastenings. Egrcss has TO DO made in the same
manner They arc all right against rife fire,
except when in cutting or passing under a hill,
when an enemy might have you at his mercy by
firing down into the opcn-toppcd trucks. II is
| well known lesson, also. that an nrmored train,
except in an absolutely fiat country, is unsutcd
for scouting or attack. unless backed and fankcd
by friendly force Of cavalry and guns. Our
armored trains here arc unprovidcd with Ma xims
or cannon"
In this letter he writes a full account Of tho
nrmofed train affair in which Winston Churchill
distinguished himself After describing how
Snui'hi anu INC o'hcis "ofkcu WIN misn' ana
main ana how the young correspondent accom-
panied the wounded in the train back TO Frerc.
b.s,va,h,, ron, ,bo,o IN. ,,,,r .r,or q, rs,co,,,
but "Mr. Churchill after handing in his revolver
and field glasses. said no was going back 10 tho
scene TO assist tho wounded, and stand by the men.
The last seen Of him was he trudged alone
away down into the arena Of battle, where tho
shot and shell were still screaming. spntering
rock and ploughing the ground. few OF tho
luckicr fugitiyes passed him on the way, but
w. '",' nun o'' !" NOM MS pun poso
m,. hutIeish concludes his letter mus;
War Once has forgotten to provide the officers
with A SUNNY of military man. If N.,,I7 I, %
-. ~ - " ' " '
happens a. une moment tha' even Colonies are
itnry or ordinary for tho GOOD reason ,b.,. Ar,
49,, t.,, ~. 80. w So ''"'O" ''e'' "'o
There seems to be good ground for this com.
plnint about mans Eo,lv ins, Wond,v rnornine
we go, the meaGrc war. Office despatch announc-
ing Gatacre s reverse. In this tho General said
ne had been missed by guides. Ireachety'
was al once the comment and there generally
no',o On ,,,,, .Sson u "ohuei ,hH' any euth
y. , ouou'" W p'"eeu IN ,oeei suucs "hch
It is well known that the whole OF the country
. a.. ',' -, "1 a''D ""h'o'e''
wh csG .e ", nc iaty cfc
s M 'hey reached ihis part oi south Airca;
n Dc snow thnt az lens, one battalion. the Second
hoSal Berkshirc. spent The month Of October
az az stntmoerg junction which they had placed
~ ma state Of deien,e when sudden order reacLrd
Queenstown, Were no surveys, no rcconnots
sa ga made OF me range which Hes to tho east
0i n, S,3Itm , Junction, These hills dominate
nor ohly inc railway nut the coach roads leading
10 Queenstown from the Orange River and are
81 I P importance In the plan tor the defence
possession. Arc there no large scale maps II
Nc district IN which our troops were Operating
who possessed elaborate maps Of the cncmy's
country but none Of their own"
Nov. 10 rsctirs I" m. snhier, m ni'cI on
When one thinks Of the rcws rcce wed here ,b%H
last three daysj his opening pa'arraph ' so,tnis
almost "minoilS I'll sounds ercws me he w,irs
- likcn the sending ont Il an army H. The re- |
Sc" an army or any nvmbri ~ s H. ream,f ,uti
out On the ycldt lie would at once think If he |
smIc South Africa looks now as Il il were ere
the dust bin II creation. Its ground Is iuose |
dust. Its air is flying dust Its Vegetation, |
As / wTit~ IN" men arc di,.,,,t,,. ,,,a i,
th,ir t ahi, ana CLIPPING brushes u II 10 paint
and strap and cloth. covered Wat, 'rrg WH hrn
would show white or DARK is Undergo nr this
sa me- win ,brit d,in,. uruiirs are q, ing the
cnine cords with mud mndaIins VIC "hi'r ughi,
notices, 20 that eYrfvibinr me- sE aIpg tSgimehtal
yelitN 30 Thai ~, srsii IT, ~ Hnah Iu%k Ike the
While Tommy is wholly And s al ' . nuutitS
In tone his officers ditTer frntn FL, u eal,hi,he
shiny buti0ns stnIs 49,, ~, ,'',n nm III wearing
and pipeclnycd belts and si,ans Sm"f Us, mus
ference has lain the danger 81 al in baitlr in ,ts
campaign. and front il has come Tho dean ~
fax too many All alike recognize this Yet how w
the officers dress like thr men W nave
The Tommics are all in favor ~ IN. chance
though II would greatly Increase their owm az,
ger and losses They arc enthusiastic for haVirr
and do away with their ornaments. 1Gsv NE Lis,
cuss the mortality nbnvc ib. ro,'t iheE uis,
one skirmish where one "ircoe eH ~, aiu altet
two were wounded, | did no, hear "a 1891 "'n
speak Of tho two Tommics who died Al ,hc snn,,
time With the officers the subject is differently