The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-12
COL. BADEN-POWELLA
The Accomplished English Soldier
in Command at MafeI<ing.
From the London Mail

From the London Mail.
Mafeking is bound up with Baden-Pow-
ell, and not strangely the public will like
to know what manner of man he is and
how far he may be expected to maintain
the prestige OF the British flag. What
are his character, his reputation and his
record? What earnest has he given of his
fitness for command, his power to deal
with a most momentous military crisis?
A young man, with the light, foxy hair
and the naturally sanguine complexion
(when not sun-browned, as 1t is in his
case, by tropical and South African eli
mates) that takes off years he does not
look his age, which is but a few months
more than AZ. He has the spare sinewy
frame that is deemed essential in a cav
airy officer; he is barely above the middle
hight he can hardly be called handsome,
but he has a keen, bright face, which is
pleasing, If not finely featured. Strength of
purpose is seen in his firm mouth, calm
resolution in his pale, quiet eyes. While
he can on occasion do and dare to the ut
most, striking out with knockdown effect
If he sees an advantage, he can wait for it,
ana lLlS Qudllly OL BdiiriCts VI uuSIdhtii
self-reliance in arduous affairs, is just that
on which we may place our hopes just
now.
Baden-Powel has himself given us an IN
sight into his character in the words he
once penned: Don't furry patience gains
the day" 1t was his motto when his
value was first tested as a leader of local
levies on the West Coast of Africa under
Sir Francis Scott in the campaign againS5
Prempeh. King of Ashanti. softly, soft
ly, catchee monkey" was the native say
ing he laughngly adopted then, and he
buoyed himself up with the philosophical
reflection, as he put it, that "a smile ard
a stick will carry you through any diff
Guilty in the world" His influence was in
consequence soon established over his fol-
lowers, and he got more work than most
of our officers who have led natives with
frames of iron and hearts of mice"
He has much finer material to his han1
in this his present peril, and if there were
more men in Col. Hore's command Ga BODY
of mounted infantry locally recruited
which forms the bulk of the Mafeking gar
rison), we might have little doubts of it,
successful resistance. They are one and all
sailed. tested, hard bitten specimens of
that great class of British adventures SO
numerous on the South African frontier
If Baden-PoweI has only had the fore
sight to prepare for the siege he must
have long expected, well as the patient
cons ancy 10 Withstand attack, We need
have no very lively fears for the fate of
Mafekng.
The place will probably resist capture
by vive force 1t may be more hardy tried
by prolonged inves ment, and its comman-
dant must be finally judged by the care
he has shown in filling up his garrison
with food and war material. AS TO the
first there cannot be much doubt, for tie
investment is not reported to be complete,
and rat,ons may still be gathered in. For
powder and shot he must however, de-
pend upon his stock in hand; fer the pres
ent his magazines cannot be rep'en shed.
A prudent soldier W II hardly have neg
lected these first essentials in defense.
Baden-Powell's most marked character
ist.c is probably his versatility This has
been shown in many lines hes 'des soldier
ing, but even in his own profession he has
had a varied experience.
A Hussar and then a heavy Dragon The
is at this moment colonel of the South
African Army, a staff officer of the socja'.
ornamental kind aide-de camp and Mil
tary secretary, an officer of the general
staff. and Sir Frederick Cafringlon's
Tight-hand man as deputy adjutant gen
eral in the Matabele war, all these in the
regular legitimate business: but also. as
has been said, he was the organizer and
leader of local fevies on the West Goa
of Africa. This is a fine, record for n cay-
airy officer, but the cay has long ulsse1
since the 'punger" was someth' ng OF n
feather-bed soldier, except of course. 1vncn
brought face TO face with his foe and 10
now stands in the first rank with the most
in ellsent and highly ira nsd of mis- bicth
ren in artil cry enginee s, or line.
Col. Bad n-Powell has many &C ompn h.
men based on natural gifts. He can w cid
the brush and pen as well as the sv-3r.I
lie is a hrst rate artist, chiefly IN black