The age-herald., 1899-11-27
"COMMANDEERING" ,"
How it is Practiced by the Boers in
 South Africa

In the art of raising, equipping, and pro- visioning an army the Boers past-mas- ters. No Caesar or Bonaparte could be less scrupulous The rulers of our two republics are at peace with the world, but they are preparing for emergencies. They have therefore taken everything they wanted, no matter whose property it was, except that by preference they always selected the Ult- lander's Treaties international law, com ity of nations, and all other such rubbish have been brushed aside. Great Britain has a special treaty which exempts her subjects from every species of communicating, and therefore is 1t that they have been made the first victims. But l must do the barbarians the justice to say that they have displayed a large amount of international impar- tiality.
 Jerome Sharp an American gentleman in Johannesburg, had two fine carriage horses, such a pair as ordinary Boer would possess. Strong in the belief that the stars and stripes would protect him anywhere he declined the advice of friends to send them over the border. few days ago the field cornet demanded them. But I am a citl- zen of the United States" ''That makes no difference" was the cool rejonder of the insoent official; out of the shafts came the two horses, and were driven off to the com mando. In liberal way the Boer handed to the Yankee sort of l. O. Y. for the value of the animals, and when the Boers have driven the English out of South Af- rica he may get payment flor value re- ceived," from the Transvaal treasury. A friend of mine, a member of the Uitlander council. and one of those who were wanted at Johannesburg, had large number of horses employed in the distribution of the bread supply of good part of the city and the Rand. Down came the burgher official a,,1 raI fha cto " Paul Kruger had need of the nags. The reformer's servants know better than to argue. The Castle brewery had been de- prived at one swoop of nearly every horse and mule; so that if the few thousand folk remaining In Johannesburg want bread or beer they must go and fetch it.
 The case of the British burgiher is hard est of all There are a few hundred men who have been settled In the Transvaal for a number of years. and, through official employment and for other reasons. nave become burghers. Many of them innocent ly believed that under the suzerainty they still enjoyed Great Britain's protection. Grave mistake; them the Boers had right to commander, and, on their refusal 10 fight against their own country, to confis- cate all their belongings. To a man these Brltons have resisted the impressment, and where possible have fled to one of the col onies All they have hitherto counted their own Is being seized and confiscated. An
  perchance, British arms prevail, lose in this style farms worth some G15000. Never in the past have the Boers sent army into the field so cheapy. Heretofore there was only the burgher to harass, and his patience had it's well known limits; but now there is the positive luxury of spelling the unarmed Uitlander, who dare not at risk of his life, protest. The crowd hissed and howled in Johannesburg, the other. day, when a team was communicated; but re- i.ta f,,,n a,1 o,,Jx chuckled as he drove off the spoil. It was toast buttered on both sides to rob the Uitlander and humliate him at the same time. Nor 1t is horses merely that are being annexed, but also mules. sheep, cattle, fod- der, wagons, provisions and whatever else the simple commissarat, the peoples army, requires. Of course 1t requires money, and therefore, the output of the mines for last week has been commandeered at Vereen- iging, on its way to Cape Town. That gold belonged to members of every nationality who possess interests on the Rand, but, as stated quite recently, the Transvaal Is in the unique enjoyment of a raad that is om- nipotent, before which law, justice, and right have no standing I ventured to say that If the raad should decide that the Robinson mine no longer belongs to it's shareholders, but to President Kruger and his elect, so the court must hold It." Im- mediately before adiourning this precious parliament did decide that last weeks pro- duct of the mines. f5o0000 in value, ehould be transferred to the Pretoria treasury and so IL has been. They say that Dom Paul rubbed hs hands with glee when those "three trolley loads. guarded by armed po- lice," passed by. The old man has had a great deal to worry him of late, and 1t was a pleasant relief to get so much Uitlander gold in his power. It might be the last of much acc6unt--who knows? And the one feature of civilization which our president appreciates Is its yellow-metal currency Petermaritzburg October @ Correspon- dence London Telegraph.
 
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