The evening times., 1900-02-06
THE BRITISH FORCE IN AFRICA
Not Over a hundred Thousand Men
Available.

tfrm thc New N0rk sun
The statement made by Mr. Wyudham.
the Under Secretary Of State for War. in
the British House of Commons on Thursday
that the British forces in south Africa
comprised l42 SEQ unmounted and 3 500
mounted men. with 452 guns. Of which 90
are siege and - naval guns. seems suscep-
tble OF considerable modification when an
alyzed On January. 20 the total force Of
regular troops actually in South Africa and
on their way there from India and England
was - regiments Of cavalry g batteries Of
horse artillery. A. field batteries . noun
tain batteries, ana - baJtalions OF in
fantry. Putting these different organiza-
tiOns at their fun strength. they would
work out as fOllOTs-s
The hfteen regiments Of cavalry al 500
horses each. which is more than some Of
those in the field nave. give 300 ef-
fectiyes-
The nine batteries of horse arti!Ierv. with
l%o men and eighty horses each, give II.o
men and 72o horses.
The forty-four field batteries. with the
same compliments Of men and horses give
I.I20 men and $500 horses.
The two mountain batteries. with 1G0
men and - horses, or mules. each gives 2t0
men and l40 horses or mules.
The eighty-three battalious Of infantry
reckoning them az their fGIl war strength
would give S5.0O0 men. but il is doubtful
II the average effective OF the whole mum
her can be reckoned al more than $50 each
TINS would reduce the total 10 90 550 men.
The entire strength then. Of the regular
flores would be by the above analysis
Sll-S men and II $50 horses To the mum
her of hon n
those Of the mounted Infantry actually in
the field. What the number Of these may
be cannot be stated with certainty. as 10
definite report OF their number has ap-
peared IN any account Of the forces IN the
he.j- From the fragmentary accounts Of
the forces engaged on different occasions.
they cannot be estimated at much more
than 6o0e. This would bring the number
up TO 1850
The total OF the colonial contiugents
doe not come up to more than 900 men.
with perhaps 5000 horses. and the local
Natal and Cape Colonial corps. though ofi-
eially put at 10000 are, from the accounts
published. not much more than half that
number. probably i. 600 men with. say.
10000 hOrss. Then there are the naval
brigades numbering about, /. coo men alto
gether, their guns being moved about by
country oxen.
This would bring the fighting force up
to about 105, 40 men and q. $50 horses.
The rest OF the men and horses of the
$50. 900 men and 81, 500 horses OF which Mr..
Wypdham spoke are still in the air the
Eighth Division, the 10. 900 yeOmanry. ana
the Il, zoo volunteers and militia being only
in process Of organization and a large part
not even yet enrolled.
Then, out Of the force of regulars given
here are a full squadron Of cavalry. one
mountain battery and the strength of more
than three effective battalions Of infantry
prisoners of Bloemfoutein and Pretoria
Drafts 10 ill up the vacancies caused by
death. disablement. and disease are ON their
way out from England or being got ready.
None Of the English papers as yet at hand
has published a clear, tsbulated statement
OF the various corps and organizations
actually in the field in South Africa: and
IL is quite certain that the statement Of
the Under Secretary of State for War
errs by oyerestinate rather than by under
estimate