Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-26
Fl. s -
The Possible Comba,ants in South Africa.

The Possible Combasants in South Africa.
In view of the possible war in South
Africa it is of interest to know some
of the racial statistics of the Dutch,
British, and other white inhabitants OF
the Transvaal and the neighborinS
colonies. II. A. Dryden, who has spent
most of his life in South Africa, has
an interesting article on this subject
in the Fortnightly Review, and we are
indebted to the Boston Transcript
summary of this article for the hgures
given below. From a military point OF
view they are of much interest at thiS
time when England is rushing ships
loaded with troops toward the scene OIL
prospectiye trouble. Mr. Dryden be-
gins his article by declaring that he IS
strongly opposed to the forcipie an
nexation of the Transvaal because IL
would lead to a bitter Civil War, in
volvinp the whole of South Africa, II
war which would spread inevitably
moan videspread ruin and disaster to
all the territories
1t is significantly pointed out in the
article that the Dutch population of
the country in point of available fight
inv mon is far in excess of the British.
In the cape Colony alone there are go
600 Dutch Africans against 10000
British. Germans. French. and other
are informed by the writer that this
colony could take the field at a mo-
ment's notice with from $4,000 To 1000
Dutch farmers, experienced horse
men. mounted on their own horses. and
experts with the rifle from childhood.
on the other hand, the British settlers,
by probably more than one-half, are
found in the towns engaged i'll bust
ness. most of them unfamiliar with the
rifle. Including the corps known as
the Colonial Volunteers, who are
chiefly recruited from British settlers.
Mr.. Dryden asserts that the British
side in this colony at the opening of
a conflict would be represented by
about l., 600 to 1900 men at the most
favorable computation. This means
that the Beers could put into the field
a possible 10000 to $4,000 men against
a possible 1000 in the Cape Colony
alone.
In the Orange Free state $4,000
Dutch farmers, qualified to fight on
horseback or on foot. could be called
out against 1000 British. In British
Bechuanaland the forces would stand
about equally divided, about 800 Dutch
to 500 British In Natal the forces
would be about 1900 Dutch to 5000
British: in Rhodesia1-it would stand
about 900 Dutch "a 10000 British,,' and in
the Transvaal Republic it would be
>. 600 Dutch to 5000 British. In the case
of a great racial war the 10000 British
regulars in South Africa at the pres
ent time, if added to the available
forces already referred to, would give
England force ,of about 49tsD men.
against which the Beers would be able
to oppose without delay oVer $4,000
men, or more than double the number.
This constitutes the difference in the
numerical fighting strength of, the two
in
Mr. Dryden is sufficiently candid to
say that in any other country the diff
ference of such numbers would not
matter much, the British having over
and over again proved themselves
capable of winning battles under heavy
odds" But in South Africa he init
mates that the fighting qualities of the
Beers. their skill as marksmen. their
individual initiative acting as irregular
acquired in a warefare of $40 years
with wild beasts and the native races,
renders them far more formidable than
any other troops in the world.
He has no hesitation in saying that
in case of a racial war England in or
der to wn would find it necessary to
employ, in addition to the British
fighting men now in South Africa, an
army corps of 10000 men, suitably
equipped and all seasoned men, under
the command of her best generals. I'm
der such circumstances he is of the
| opinion that England might conquer
the Dutch Africans. But a shoulder
ing civil war might continue for gen
eratiOns. .-....
The present experience of New York
city under Democratic rule shows that