The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-29
GREATEST ARMY.
England Has Sent Out
Since the crimea.
What Regin ents WiM AXE Up the
British Forces In he Trans
Vaai Wa.

NEW YORK. Sept. IA Sun cable
from London says: Mems minds are
in a wavering state asto the issue of
the long-drawn-out criS in the Trans
vaal. If the issue be war, England |
will have on her handsa campaign OF |
no trifiing description That the Gov
eminent fully realizes this is shown |
by the preparations alrady made. In
addition to the corps loops and 9TH
ers for lines of communication, the
War Office is prepared % place under
| orders at any moment the following
| troops now at home:
Two cavalry brigades consisting OF
| the First Royal DragooB, Royal Scots
Grays and Sixth Innskilling ORA
| goons; Sixth Dragon Guards, Tenth
| HusSars and Twelfth L1cers. Vi the
| guards brigade four bata1iOnS VIII be
taken from the Grendiers, Cold
streams and the Scots. There will be
three brigades of a ''ntionaf' char
acter-Englsh, Highlanl and Irish
In addition to these thre will be a
fusileer brigade and ligh infantry bril-
gade. Nearly all the Transport COM
panies in Aldershot will be employed,
and at least four regiments now on
| home service will be am0g the troops
employed on the lines cOmmun1ca-
ton. The first-class army reserve, as
a whole, will not be called upon, but
sufficient reserves of he regiments
chosen will be taken to make up bat
talions to the establishment, after cast
ing out all unfit for service. A num-
Der of HowitZer batterie. will be en-
ployed.
There are already 1900 troops in
South Africa, and 10000 white troops
are in readiness in India to be trans
ported, consisting of cavalry brigade,
an infantry brigade and a brigade OF
field artillery. together with the usual
miscellaneous UNITS. Great Britain
would thus put in the fidd the great
est army that she has sent abroad
since the Crimea, altogether perhaps
some $4,000 men. 1t is trle that 10000
men were massed on the Indian iron
tier in the late uprising If the noun
tain tribes, but these Included native
p troops and the regular tOrce main
tanned in India. In South Africa none
but white troops will lie employed
and they will form the greatest army
England has deported to fight under
modern conditions.
And all this force to tackle one
can put $500 men in the field,' is al
exclamation one frequently hears thes'
last few days. 1t may seem rather
like taking a steam hammer to cracl
a hazelnut but in reality this is no
So In the first place, it would TAX
! at least three weeks after the outbreal
or declaration of hostilities to ge
these troops to South Africa. In tn
meantime it is well on the cards tina
the Beers may have made good start
!. which, for the sake of British pres
: tige,'' must be thoroughly and speed
lily wiped out. England has a hol
horror of another Majuba hill. Then
again, the Beers tactics are such tina
superiority in numbers must be en-
2 ployed to overcome them. A pitche
battle on fair fighting field is create
luck than the English army may eX
pect, and the Beers are great guerrill
fighters. They have a perfect know
edge of the country; they are fear
less; they are al expert marksmer
and if they fight they will be fightln
for their existence as a nation.
The capture of Pretoria or any 9th
er city would have but small eHee
on the issue; nor have the Beers an
seapOrts or commerce through Wh1c
{ they may be attacked. The brutf
bedrock principle of warfare, slaugf
ter alone, will suffice to conquer then
In addition to this it must be remen
bered that the British troops will haV
a long way to go before they arrive
the scene of action; communication
difficult, and the rainy season Is con
ing on.
Last, but not least, the native tribe
have to be considered. If, at the on
SET the issue should seem in any wa
doubtful the present native unrest
more than likely to cause wldesprea
outbreak which would call for stror
{. hand. Altogether war with the Doe
- is no simple proposition, and it ma