The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
THE Beers AS FIGHTERS.
GOOD MlRksMEN STILL TO BE FOUND
IN THE TRANSVAAL.


IN THE TRANSTAAL.
Krugsr's Fortiaoations to Destroy
che Gold and Diamond Mines-Boer Tao
tics Against the EnGlish-Fighting Quail
ties Of the Mon and Women, Too.
The Transvsal Boer 10 always ready TO fight
he carries bis rife on HE shoulder and piece OF
btttons In his pocket. mouchng around over
che vcldt 90 that II q leld conet galops up TO tell
him that war has been declared he may start for
the front at once
Prospect Of an occasion 70 use his rife has ever
sent CLEAN into the ordinarily dull eye OF the
Boer and mado Of him changed man. Whether
che object be human being or wild duck mat
tsrp not 70 him, his one thought being TO glance
along . cleaning barrel and hit small objects at
long range Whom he shoots at British soldier.
therefore, he FIRST examines him carefully 70 600
h h 10 an ofioor. and then picks out some partc-
ulas button or conspicuous part OF tho uniform on
which 70 rest his sight He docs this partly from
force Of habit Just as ho aims at tho white breast
of duck, though IL 10 an unwrtten order In Boer
warfare 70 kill the oflcers or chiefs, II possible.
When ths captain oommandant secs an on
Ger " 10 his plan 70 select about six OF the best
mAEismon available TO ere simultaneously at him.
The higher his rank tho better. The man %
carefully selsotod may DO regarded a. doomed.
blooded and cruel. but IL must DO remembered
that tho Transvad burgbc hate the English as
they do Tho dreaded black spiders that infest the
country and always refer TO tho British soldier a.
vrinsts or rod-neokA Thers arc two explana.
Cons Of this name Ono Is that whom tho Eng
ish came 70 the Cape an old Dutohman noticed
that when John Bull got angry he grow rod about
the neck. In the Transvaal they say the name
arose when British dragons were quartered
there from tho red coat collars which made the
uniform conspicuous
For the English tho Beers have framed this
particular defiance: II you will have our coun-
try. take IL but shall DO our bodies and the
ash heaps Of our property and goods Paul
Kruger himself 10 the author OF the catch phrase
which was embodied In the celebrated third proc
lamAton made in 1881. when the British were
heotoring tho old farmers. II was no idle threat
o dramatic bluff. Any one who has seen these
long Legged, westher.beaten plainsmen get 10
gother at q rally has realized Immediately that
they would never give mp their country until all
were wiped out--men. women and children.
The Commnndant-Gencral Of the Bocr forces 10
Piet Joubert man 90 years old. with string of
military victories extending over one-haf . CEN
fury. In tho history OF the Trsnsvaal he has borne
almost - important part as Paul Kruger Until
this present agitation there existed strong rivalry
between the two For three successive times
Kruger was elected President by q small majority
over Joubert and since boyhood they have con-
Tested neck and neck for various honors When II
comes 70 fighting tho English. however they are
united Joubert has long been the military head
Of tho nation. and ia recognized to be the best fighter
and tecacisn in the country. He has divided tho
Transvaal into seventeen districts for mobilization
purposes each district being under a commandant
'hana atY tn In fnrn vid al nd
commands Of field cornota While Joubert 10 the
Commander Chief he still is subject to the orders
Of the volksraad and President Kruger and makes
no important moves without their consent
In spite OF the Doors being scattered all over the
Transvaal. the whole nation can DO modified in
two or three days proceeding which probably
cannot be duplicated by any other country. This
is possible owing to tho Beers constant equipment
in light marching order The moment that Kru-
ger decides TO declare Joubert either teeg
OF sends relays Of messengers 10 each commandant
This oflcer promptly notifies tho several field cor
nots In his district and tho latter either despatch
their assistants. who gallop here and there on tho
veldt sounding the alarm. else mako bon
fires al night and pillars Of smoke by day tho pre-
arranged signals for war.
From dull, apathetic, ill-kept and lazy dreamer
tho Boer IL thon transformed into quick witted,
cunning and energetic being. Tho Transvaal
burgher. indeed Is a most peculiar combination OF
phlegmauc Dutchman and wildly excited Latin.
On the veldt he will loaf around in the sun and only
move TO reload his pipe In the Raad chambers
the sergeant-a arms oftentimes Is unable 10 main
tain order. The members leap around. throwing
their arms, shout and carry on like anarchists.
II IL the rifles Of these old country Beers that
Kruger mostly depends. On the night that news
reached him OF the Jameson raid In December
1905 there was CONSERVATION at Pretoria The
first despatch said that 5000 British troops had
crossed the border and then a second, sent by the
British a decoy, stated that the troops were only
tho Chartered Company's police making a short
cut Joubert wanted TO take the few cannon that
were in Pretoria and go out to meet tho invaders
"0h, no. Piet" said Dom Paul Don't you
suppose 200 OF our old farmers with their rifles can
stop 1000 ruineks?"
The result proved that Kruger was right Tho
whole force that fought Jameson consisted OF 400
men in two divisions summoned from the open
veldt Jameson began the attack with artillery
The old Doors laughed at this
Every man take 10 rock" ordered Comman-
dant Cronie, and the farmers lodged behind rocks
and trees.
At the proper moment they advanced in proper
Indian skirmish In two divisions opening a dead.
ly FIRE at 800 yards The reformers then cut
loose with Maxtms, but for once the machine
guhs which had been used 10 NOW down the Afri-
can natives were Of no avail The Beers were
no scattered that they evaded the bullets. jaime.
son finally opened with twelve FOUNDER. but
Cronie told of twenty Doors to kill the eunners,
which they did with precision and accuracy.
That practically ended the fight
The strength Of tho Beers as military nation
lies in the fact that nearly every MAJ possesses
innate wariness and Ia himself genta al This
man Cronis who captured the raiders was not
q celebrated warrior yet he took hold OF the cam
pagn on moments notice mapped out his plans.
quickly led on Jameson until no had him surround,
ed and then went at him.
Until tho last four years, Kruger had taken
no precautions against a SIEGE relying entirely
on open warfare. After the Jameson raid,
however be began to follow the example OF more
advanced nations Tho first step was TO erect
forts OF Johannesburg and Pretoria Tho for
mer now reposos under the brow OF strong fort
hcAtions There arc six forts altogether and
they command broad expanse OF country In
these he has placed long range rife guns of French
and German patterns and quick firing guns
He has filled four warehouses with arms and
d.