The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-03-01
Side Lights on.
the BOer War.

Among the many appliances now being
tried in warfare for the first time the
| tele-photographic camera is not the least
important. Telephotography is often
thought to be the taking Of photographs
by means of an apparatus combining q
telescope with IN ordinary camera. This
is not strictly the case. although the prin-
ciple is the same. TelephOtographic ac-
ton is brought about by specially devised
lenses. the invention of an Englishman.
Its advantages in military work and es-
pecially for balloon purposes is great. 1t
has been used to advantage by the Brit
ish in South Africa, although the war
Office has not officially adopted the de-
vice. In Italy, Spain, Russia and Ger
many the apparatus has been thus adopt
ed. Telephotography was first used in
the Chino-Japanese war.
-
In the opinion of the indianapolis Press
it is little early for England to hold q
general jubilee over the success of Rob
erts in relieving Kimberley. He is over
500 miles from the sea, with an army of
10000 to feed and practically all the food
resources Of the country are locked up in
Boer stronghOlds. In the mesptime there
is an Ominous movement Of BOer forces
toward his long line of communications.
The British would feel much more COM
Portable il they 0hew just where Cronje
is, and why he gave up Kimberley with
out a struggle. II he should succeed in
cutting off Roberts supplies and starving
out his whole army, it would be IN en-
largement Of Boer strategy that would
''stagger humanity" for sure.
-
Mafeking is the third of the South At
rican towns in which there is a British
garrison besieged. Ladysmith and Kim
berley are the other two. Mafeking lies
in the open, bare veldt which is as flat as
pancake. A few isolated kopjes, an
ant heap here and there, a clump Of
bushes under three feet in height-these
are the only things that break the monOt-
ony Of the landscape. The town is prac-
ticaily defenseless. Mafeking Is $40
miles from the Cape and IA miles north
Of Kimberley. 1t is simple little town
ship of a few hundred souls and its only
Importance lies in the fact that it is
trading station with the far north.
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The scarcity Of wood in Natal has been
severely felt by the British troops. AL
most all Of the frewood that does not
come from the boxes in which the can
teen goods are packed, forms a part of
the cOmmissariat stores and is issued in
small quantities to the troops. One
pound of wood day to n man is the spe-
Gifted quantity.
There are about 10000 reseryists in
England, between 25 and 40, whom the
Government will ask to serve in the army
for home duty.
Some one has lately been calling atten-
ton to the number of unmarried generals
now serving in the British army. Lord
Kitchener is one Of the long list now serv-
ing in South Africa. Gen. Gatacre, Sir
Archibald Hunter and Gen. Macdonald
are also bachelors. Gen. Kitchener, it
may be said, has been SO busy with his
duties as soldier all his life, that, as he
expresses it, "he has had no time to get
married"
-
Gen. MacDonald's retirement from
Koodoosberg is explained on the ground
that the movement was nothing more
than O reconnaissance in force,