Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-01

Are a Formidable Antagonist In the
Opinion of One Writer.

Are a Formidable Antagonist In the
Opinion of One Writer.
From the African Review.
1t is usual. I know, for military men to
sheer at the generalship, or want of it,
which. as they allege, was responsible for
the Majuba disaster-these critics are wise
after the event. 1t is forgotten that the
Beers met other officers than General Col
ley at Bronkhorst Spruit in a number of
fights about Pretoria, Potchestroom and
other villages, and that in no case were our
men and military leaders able to stand up
we got the worst of it, as we did at Doorn-
kop. where English officers of the ordinary
type commanded. The only military sue
cess which English officers can claim in
good many encounters with the Beers is
the battle of Boomplaats, fought in 1S4S
between artillery and tlint-lock guns. 1t
is, therefore, nonsense to take refuge be-
hind the lack of generalship of our leaders.
II such factors courage and leadership
do not come into the controversy, except
to very limited extent, in what direction
must We look for the explanation of our de-
feats?
At Laings Neck the action began by our
guns dropping a few shells into the Boer
lines, and as admitted by the Beers them
selves, the small loss they suffered from
this tire-General Joubert was nearly hit
by splinter of shell-induced them to
think seriously of abandoning the position.
They We're about to leave when the attack
by small number of mounted infantry and
by a few companies of Colonel Deane's regi-
ment was made. Only one of our men
reached the Boer lines, the others being
stopped short distance away; and, as they
We're unsupported, these were driven back
down the hill. Result: 1870 killed and
wounded on the British side, against TWEEN
ty-four Beers killed and wounded At In
goSo. fought few days afterward force
of about 800 men and two guns We're stop
ped on small plateau. and, after an action
lasting all day. our men, with the two
guns, We're Withdrawn during the night
leaving dead and wounded on the ground.
The Beers also left the field at night At
TINS hsht the Beers crept up to within sixty
killed and wounded, while our loss was 142
Killed and wounded.
y force of about GOO infantry set out for
me summit of Majuba Hill on the night of
February 26, 1881. There were about $50
combatants- After leaving some companies
on the road about 400 men reached the sum
NIT, and We're disposed in various positions
about the rim of the mountain. The first
shots We're fired about 6 O'clock and the
combat went on unnterruptedly for hours
In the final stages the main BODY of the
Beers crept to within forty yards, and for a
considerable time fusilladed our troops at
this distance. Many of the men fell in the
subsequent flight; but when the fighting
was over, at l o'clock, our casualties were
$50 killed and wounded while the Roers
lost one killed and four wounded Ar
Bronkhorst we lost 12O men killed and
wounded within ten minutes, the Beers
losing one. IN the Jameson raid our losses
We're about 100 killed and wounded no
Beers having five killed and wounded in
the actual fighting
1t is usually maintained that these Trans
Nadi nShts We're fought at disadvantage
ana that our men Were IN each case VASTLY
outhumbered If we accept the Roer ar
counts, our forces were not outnumhered
az NaJuoa they say they had about 400
men But even assuming that there We're
as many as LOO Beers the resuIt is st;n
extremely unsatisfactory.