The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-05
things if the foreigners take to force

things If the foreigners take to force
TO make good their demands.
Pretoria is also defended by heavy
guns in massive forts under trained
artillerists. AS the capital is liable to
siege in case of war like the present,
vast quantities of stores have been laid
In. The Beers laugh at the British
proposal to blockade the ports and
starve them out. They can live on the
products of the country, dried meat
and mealies. On q campaign mount
ed man carries rations for two weeks,
and the Beers on the march stand in
no more need Of a cumbersome COM
missariat than tribe of wild Indians
in land filled with game. In tactics
the British may give the Boer some
hard lessons, but he has always learn
ed easily. While his methods are the
savage rushes of native warriors, these
are up to date as things go in warfare
of the kind in progress. The Beers at
tack savagely, then retreat to gather
for new attempt. They met masses
at Laingsnek and Majuba Hill, also in
the Jameson raid, and were never held
off.
The British concede to the Beers the
palm in craftsmanship. At the battle
of Majuba Fill General Colley was cut
down at 1,400 yards. The Boer can
hit an officer as far as he can see to
distinguish insignia Of rank. He I'M
derstands the effect of air currents up
on bullet as the Indian gauges the
fight of an arrow. In this war the
Beers have the best German rifles, and
at Dundee and Glencoe the sharpshoot-
ers used the Mannlicher, weapon said
to be fearful man slayer.
1t is not true that the Beers have
no army. The standing army is small,
but it is intended only for the training
Of officers. In point of fact. every
ablebodied Boer is a soldier Of the
army when called out. 1t Is the same
as in Germany, except that the Ger
man gets three years Of military train
ing in barrack, while the Beers entire
life is one Of training for the hardships
and emergencies of the field. There
are 10000 ablebodied Beers today, and
not one of them waits for the draft to
put him in the field. He is as anxious
to fight the British as the most en-
thusiastic American youngster was to
fight the Spaniards in 1898. Latterly
the Boer youths have been taught to
look for war, and it is needless to say
that they are in fighting trim. The
country is divided into military dis
tricts. and the ranks were formed to
invade Natal as speedily as Germany
modified to fight France.
Each town, city and hamlet in the
Boer country has volunteer corps,
and the headquarters Of each corps is
rallying point for the district round
about. The company Is the unit, and
officers of all grades from captain to
general know their duties and sta
lions in time of war.
1t seems ridiculous to think Of a re-
public with standing army Of 400
men forcing an ultimatum upon the
British empire, but the truth Is that
the little standing army of the Trans
vaal Beers is body of leaders In case
Of war. These 400 soldiers are train
ed artillerists and, with the help of
nonprofessionals, can handle easily
with the best effect 100 guns. But the
training Of these regulars also fits
them for general duty as officers of
volunteers. In addition to the artil-
lerists, there are 1000 men in the reg
ular pay Of the state acting as re-
serves to the police. All of these pro-
fessional soldiers are the pick of the
nation, mentally and physically, and
are the finest specimens of military
men to be found anywhere.
The artillery corps handles quick FIR
ing guns, field batteries and heavy
pieces with technical skill. Every de-
partment of an army on campaign is
provided for in the same way. With
his lifelong training to outdoor life and
skill with firearms the average Boer
when called into the f'eh " the equal
"a