Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-20
AMONG THE BOERS.
Their Manners and Discipline Open
to Military Criticism.

Correspondence LONDON Tlrn's-
The arrangements Of a Boer laager are
very different from those OF an English mill
itary camp. The chief difference lies in the
fact that among the Beers every man is
supposed. as far as possible 10 look after
his own affairs. to bring his own wagon and
horses, and. to some extent, his own pro-
. visions The government provides tents
blankets, mackintoshes. forage and pro-
visions for distribution 70 those who want
amy Of these things. but no one is obliged
10 take them. on the other hand there is
no limit TO what any individual may
choose to bring for himself. There are no
fixed regulations 70 mesSes. but friends
club together as they please and have
meals when they like. There were many
small parties in the Pretoria lager who
had managed to make themselves most
comfortable. who had spare tents. abund-
arce of timed and fresh provisions sent
from home. and kaftr servants to cook
their food and mind their horses. and who
consequently had very little to do the
whole day long besides eating. talking and
Sleeping. except, perhaps. TO go out for a
Tide There were no drills field eXer-
cises. except parade on the presidents
birthday. and even at this attendance was
by no means obligatory. Guards however
were nut round the camp regularly every
night. and from each Of the camps de-
taChment of twenty or thirty hOrSemen
was sent every twelve hours to relieve the
patrols stationed along the Natal frontier
There was very littIe discipline or method
in the camp, but plenty of willingness. and
a natural instinct for doing the right thing
which served very well in their place
After l had been there two or three DAYS
the whole camp was broken up and shifted
couple OF miles To bring it near better
drinking water and find new grass for the
horses. The whole operation went off
smoothly without single order being
given. except the order that camp was to
be moved. Every man looked after his
own affairs, and in three or four hourS
from the time that the order to break up
was given the new camp was completed
and cooking was going busiIy. In ac-
. tiOn the operations Of a Boer commando
are directed by the commandment and the
field cornet or field comets. but in camp
the chief work devolves upon the corporals
of whom there Were perhaps half a dozen
In our lager. The corporal looks after
the stores. distributes forage, ratiOns and
ammunition. superyiSeS the removal of
baggage the erection of tents. the draw
ing up OF the wagons on the sides of the
laaSer, the lettering OF the hOrses-in fact
most OF the operations OF camp life. He
mas also disciplinary power TO the extent
, OF imposing small fines or strokes with a
StrruD leather for cOntrayentiOn Of his
orders. though the power is not often ex-
ercisef.
The Pretoria laager was specially frtsr
eStinG owing to its composition. Only haIr
Of ii consisted OF Beers properly so-caIIed
the farmers of the Pretoria district: the
other half was composed of the citizens of
Pretoria 1tself-laWyerS. clerks. shopkeen-
ers and government officials. Between the
two there was great difference. The
tOwnsmen of Pretoria are in most WAYS
very much more English than Dutch in
their life. their thoughts. and. not least
III their language. Many. too. among the
PrstOrians in the camp were Enslish-born
bUrShers who had heen Communicated and
could not We'll refuse, and still mors were
originally from Cape Colony. The ordinary