The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-23
THE BOER WAR.
Observations OF Interest from Various
Sources.

| Observations OF Interest from Various
Sources.
Fro. ns Richmond Timss.
IL II altogether certain that England has done
the wise thing in sending Lord Roberts to the
supreme command In South African
That Lord Roberts has been one OF the first
soldiers OF the age Ia probably true. and that II
he were twenty years younger he would DO the
man to send to Africa Is also probably true
But Lord Roberts Is 81 years OF nge. the African
campaign IL one which will tax to the
utmost tho energies Of a man In full possess
sion OF oil he ever had. and 1t will he surpris-
log thing II a man 81 years old shnl show the
alertness and vigor which viii be necessary ior
msnaging this affair In way to get out OF IL all
The truth Is. this whole business has been a
Tbts S upon TIE part G o, the angsh
an X 1000 Yards. and can be aIS S as iasi a;
the conditions Of battles. Assault upon men IN
protected positions IL no Longer TO BE- thought
% az modsrn foa, or
times It'd number approaching II IN the open at
the fastest sneed the men can make.
have been totally overlooked Because French
men were unable hundred years years ago to with n.
Engshman continues TO think that all other
men must still be unable to Withstand such
eshha.ee althongh cSnditi29s hn'e so changed n
won be annihiiaicd before i. wac within nny
taught By cruel aSperie nee, In south that
the modern magazine rifle has totally changed
%sry nd wh n Snd
may look for them TO soon abandon ancient
tactics and conduct campaign according to
the necessities and conditions OF modern nre-
1t is an imperative condition Of war now that
hold his snemP P" IN cbssf wRe he deaches
another force sufficient to march around ard
menace hls adyersary's communication. This
taken to conquer the Beers. who are apparently
as good soldiers ns they are. by assaultlng
breastworks. 1t ought to have Teen evident
from the beginning that they would tail N
n hsy ought o t9 Ts e 2SS IN
command OF them. and then they would bring
the war to an early close. But they have real
From the Gai-,s.or Daily N,uE
The methods and fighting qualities OF the
Beers are now surprising the world. Why
should this be sof They come from fighting
stock. 1t has been only few years since the
Boer behind the rock did Just what the Boer
IL doing over again to-day.
The war between BrIton and Boer OF 1890
began with the battle OF Bronkhorst spruit.
Inc Brltlsn loss was 100 oiflcers ana men out
OF 246 engaged. The rest surrendered. The
loss OF the other side was very small. Gen.
Sir George Colley decided to avenge this
insult and restore confidence without delay.
On Jan. ~, 1891. he went out with 1000
men and artillery and fought the battle OF
Iaing,s Mex. The British loss was 174.
Col Deane and almost all the other
FIity-eiehth Regiment iEugiishi retrentcd to
ia camp In command OF n Lieutenant" Ten
days later the Beers moyed to flank Gen. Coll
ley's position, British loss. $50 OF go: Boer
loss. 4 KILLED, q wounded. Il was three weeks
climbed Maipbs Hill British loss. 226 Of 400;
Boer loss. killed and wounded In the four
battles the British lost 700 men. the Beers %.
In spite OF the sad experience Of Gen. Colley,
Pr Jameson, only few years later. expressed
the first beat OF the drum" He asserted, as
shown by the testimony introduced AZ his trial.
that he could kick the persons OF the Beers
all around the Transvaal." He was routed in
short order at krngersdorp. losing 1873 men Of
Nobody doubts the courage and steadfast-
ness Of the British soldier. II" will obey orders
at all hazards. Even during recent bloody en-
gagements this fact has certainly been dem
onstrated In manner to touch the heart
the fighting qualities. OF the Beers. Taken
through and through. II " questionable
whether there IL better fighting material on
enrth than that now under Con. Joubert.
While the Boers may be overwhelmed in the
even II victory comes TO England. II will come.
as President Kruger predicted. at cost that
From rae Columbia IS. c. State.
The war in South Africa is drawn on large scale
over n Qreat teri rnnyemeot. o., .i..-