The evening times., 1899-11-20

SchStai Naitc udS piONCu uihSSii dPOAa
various occasions in India and elsewhere
capable soldier, but had his army been
led by an experienced Boer fghter-say. a
clever commander of Cape mounted police
it Is probable that hundreds OF lives
would not have been lost in storming un-
tenable positions. that large body of cav
airy would not have been ordered to pur-
sue an enemy rashly who was only p ay-
ing 'possum, or that two battalions of in
fantry with supporting cannon would not
have been placed so far out Of touch with
the main body as to become mere play
things for a swarming enemy.
The object of a leader who understands
Boer tactics should have been to fight
them with their own weapons, to Kill
Beers, not to get his own men killed II
he could help it. In the attacks upon
Glencoe and Farquhar's Farm, British
officers appear to have courted death. 1t
was all very fine, but was 1t war? Before
such marksmen as the Beers they had not
the ghost of a chance. They carried
swords and other insignia of rank, while
the Boer commanders, who despise fuss and
feathers, were most likely sitting, rifle in
hand, putting their men behind convenient
powders. If the British commanders con-
sidered themselves outnumbered and saw
but little hope Of their being able to ami
hilate or seriously cripple the attacking
forces. their proper tactics. in view OF the
approach OF their commander-in-chief and
heavy re-enforcements, would seem to
have been to stand on the defensive,
strengthen their position, make good use
of their artillery, invite assault by infan-
try in the open-aIthough the Beers are
too cute for that-and strike at the enemy
by means of well-planned sorties when
ever he gave them the chance. To attempt
the capture of Boer positions across the
open and up the rugged hillsides, seems
simply to have been. under the circum-
stances, an utterly foolish waste Of life
very brave, but very poor tactics, as we
learned to our sorrow at Fredericksburg.
The story of the surrender at Nicholson's
Mex is a very remarkable one. The order
which sent two regiments Of infantry. with
sundry guns. to such an untenable position
was. to say the least, a thoroughly unjusti-
fable one: but the force being there. and
having sufficient ordnance and ammunition
wherewith to give a good account Of itself.
how came II that these mules were per
mitted to bolt? l have seen many mule
stampede in my time. but I never knew
Union teamster to let his babies skee-
daddle
l have no special cause to love the
memory of the Union teamster. Co
ing into action one fine morning in Au-
ly sporting elegant wooden shirts which l
had recently purchased on Pennsylvania
Avenue. and which had been stolen the
previous night, while l lay dreaming OF
truff1es la maitre dhotel at the Ebbitt
House. beneath the silent stars.
The Union teamster was no dude; he WAS
as prOfane as an unbaptized boatswain's
mate; he had little respect for private prop
erty as such. be he would not permit a
a,,vv, l,,p, hi IN
of with the brigade ammunition-dashed il
he would. There were many officers at
Nicholson's Mex; was there no one smart
enough TO send few chocolate drops into
these mules extremities? Better sacrifice
all your mules, under such circumstances.
than your guns and your reserve ammmu-
milton. 1t is a fishy story and wants elu-
cidation.
There are no braver men than British
army officers. bYt something more is want
ed than bravery in presence of fOrmida-
BILE foe. All men are brave as rule en-
masse. unless they stampede. 1 was brave
as a major general myself. even during my
first fight. because l knew that there was
an army corps between me and perfect
safety. and that there were no caves or
subterranean passages within easy range.
am willing to acknowledge that upon that
occasion my knees appeared to be undergo
ing civil service examination, and that
they seemd to cry out for stimulant-root
beer or something. l own up like a man
these knees stampeded, but they didn't bolt
like the mules at Nicholsons Mex.
An officers business il seems to me. il
to see that as many OF the enemy get kill
ed as possible He must risk his life. ii is
true. but there is Eo cowardice in taking
advantage of cover. CT in keeping his head
out of range Where should We have been
at New Orleans had General Jackson. by
the Eternal" not placed his men behind
cotton bales? General Jackson would have
appreciated General Joubert.
The line officers of the British army are.
a very gentlemanly and highly educated
set OF young fellows. but the rage for COM
petitive examinations and for book-learn- |
ing in England does not always produce |
the best material for the army. Ii does |
not follow because young man is a stu |
dent and plodder that he will make a |
brilliant soldier. have heard the opinion |
expressed that the best material |
from which officers could be obtained is |
frequently rejected at Sandhurst.
The hunting shooting. fishing. mountain |
young man, the youth of dash and |
spirit and strength is set aside because he |
hates books and cannot master foreign |
tongues. while the student who would have !
made successful barrister. or literary |
nan. or politician takes his place. sol |
lier is born not made. The Duke of Wei
ington never could learn to spell-he !
would have been rejected at Sandhurst- |
and the officers who charged at Waterloo |
we're not famous for their knowledge OF Ian
,uages. even their own. The young Off |
.ers of today strike one as being pale. thin,
md round backed crammed to death In |
TACT; and even after they have Joined the
,olors it is cram, cram, cram. / am told, /
% the end of the chapter.
Such youths may suit the military pad
lists of the present time. but they are not |
precisely the sort that the Beers have most !
o fear Nor are the officers of the Brit
sh army kept up to their special military |
work as officers are in continental armies. |
They appear, in uniform as little as possi-
lie; they are out Of touch with the men.
rusting far too much to their sergeants. /
md practical military duty appears to be
luite a secondary affair compared with |
tudy in quarters, sport, and social attrac-
ions.
Look here. young fellow said gruff |
I'D colonel of the Crimean period. to a |
German student-looking sub. whom he |
net one day in the main street OF coun-
~ town, this won't do, you will never
make a soldier; you must hold up your
read, slap your leg with your cane, wink
It the girls, and say damme!"
Far be it from me to decry general |
knowledge as a test of fitness for military
command; / simply contend that ability |
to memorize-whieh is about all that |
ramming amounts to-is not everything:
hat there are other qualities which are