The evening times., 1899-11-08
COLONEL BADEN-PowELL.
The Accomplished English Soldier
in Command at Mafeking.
From the London Aail.)

From the London Aail)
Mafeking is bound up with Baden Powell,
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 sunbrowned as il Is in his case
by tropical and South African climates)
that takes cfY years. he does not look his
age. which is but few months more than
forty-two. He has the spare. sinewy frame
that is deemed essential in a cavalry Off
GER; he is barely above the middle height:
he can hardly be called handsome, but he
has a keen, bright face. which is pleasing
il not finely featured. Strength OF purpose
is seen in his firm mouth. calm resolu-
tion in his pale quiet eyes. While he can
on occasion do and dare to the utmost,
striking out with knockdown effect II he
sees an advantage. he can wait for it,
and this quality OF patience. of unshaken
self-reliance in arduous affairs. is Just
that on which we may place our hopes
Just now.
Baden-Powell 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 leader OF local levies
on the West Coast OF Africa under Sir
Francis Scott. in the campaign against
Prempeh, King Of Ashanti Softly. softly,
catchee monkey" was the native saying
he laughingly adopted then. and he buoyed
himself up with the philosophical refiec-
tion. as he put it. that "a smile and a stick
will carry you through any difficulty in the
world" His influence was in consequence
soon established over his followers. 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 hand
in this his present peril. and IL there were
more men in Colonel Hore's command "a
body of mounted infantry locally recruit
ed, which forms the bulk of the Mafekiug
garrison} We might have little doubts
of its successful resistance. They are one
and all salted. tested. hard bitten speci-
mems Of that great class of British adven-
turers so numerous on the South African
frontier. -.-
II Baden-PoweA has only had the fore
sight to prepare for the siege he must
have long expected, as well as the patient
constancy to Withstand attack. we need
have no very lively fears for the fate of
Mafeking
The place will probably resist capture
by vive force. 1t may be more hardly
tried by prolonged investment, and its
commandant must be finally judged by the
care he has shown in filling up his gar
rison with food and war material As
to the first there cannot be much doubt.
for the investment is not reported to be
complete. and rations may still be gathered
in. For powder and shot, he must, how
ever. depend upon his stock in hand: for
the present his magazine cannot be re-
plenished.
The prudent soldier will hardly have
neglected these first essentials in de-
fence. -7'sqe s'-i -, 1r-rI
Baden Powell's most marked character
istic is probably his versatility This has
been shown in many lines besides soldier
ing. but even In his own profession he has
had a varied experience. z.i- jDSl
A Hussar and then a Heavy Dragon
che is at this moment colonel of the
Fifth Dragon Guards. which forms part
OF the South African army, staff oficer
of the social, ornamental, kind aide-de-
camp and military secretary. an officer of
the general staff, and Sir Frederick Car
rington's right-hand man as deputy ad-
jutant general in the Matabele war, all
these in the regular legitimate business;
but also, as has been said, he was the or
ganizer and leader Of local leyies on the
west coast of Africa This is fine record
for a cavalry officer. but the day has long
passed since the '.plunger" was something
OF feather-bed soldier, except Of course.
when brought face. to face with his foe,
and he now stands in the first rank with
the most intelligent and highly trained
of his brethren in artillery, engineers, or
line.
Colonel BADEN Powell has many accom-
plishments based on natural gifts. He
can WELD the brush and pen as well as
the sword. He is a first rate artist, chiefly
in black and white, but has no mean
knowledge Of color, and he is. ambidex-
trous: can draw with either hand-a rare
uower. His fuency as a writer of good,
vigorous English is well known from his
books, Of which he has written several
technical, sporting and professional. His
notes on pig Sticking his manual Of
cavalry instruction. and Hork&s On scout
ing and reconnaissance are both useful
and interesting. while i'm the Inst Ashanti |
and Matabele campaigns he acted as war
for an illustrated paper. Yet