The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-02-28
FORESIGHT OF THE BOEISS
How they Provided Themselves with
Modern Artillery TO Resist tn, In.
rasion Which They Knew Was
(nmipU

-""NNt" HSt'tIiCIS w htSlSt TN ln-
vasion Which They Knew Was
Coming.
The correspondent Of q news agency.
writing from DdrbaL, speaks with su.
parent knowledge OF the BOer arma-
ment, and the way it was obtained, as
follows
The expenditure OF the Transvaal
Government for artillery during the
past four years is shown with startling
biuntness in document that has been
brought here from Pretoria, and WAS
issued some time before the opening OF
the war for the private Information of
the members of the Volksraad. In
1894 the Boers gave their first order
for ~ quantity OF heavy guns. ana then
they expended 800, 600 with krupp, of
Germany, and about 800 600 with an
Austrian firm for small arms The
Nrupp guns were delivered in 1898 and
Included two OF what was then the
largest pattern for u gun la the word.
These guns are IS feet in length.
weigh l2O tons, throw she'll weighing
2,3OO pounds and require 90l pounds of
powder for each discharge. One OF
these enormous weapons has been
dragged to the heights overlooking
Lady smith, the labor necessary to ac-
compiish this feat having been 1rodi-
gious. The other is on the fortificn-
t!ons defending Pretoria, where it
awaits the approach Of the British in
their coming attack on the Capital.
Both are amply provided with am
! munition, which, in addition to the
great steel and iron shells, consists OF
shrapnel, holding 1000 balls weighing
three and one-half ounces each. It's
bore is l6.3S inches, and all these attri-
butes have enabled this gun TO make
Ladysmith most uncomfortable spot
during the past several weeks In
1899 another tlO0, 600 was expended
with krupp, and q number OF field
guns of long range were obtained, as
were also several mountain and bush
guns, these being especially adaptel.
to the hiliy country and the hot climate
Of the Transvaal.
But 1T was 10 1896 that the B Jers
contracted Tor the guns that have thus
far IN the war done them the most
effective service. 1t was at this time
that they made their first purchase OF
six caunon manufactured at Creusot
and go satisfied were the Boer officers
with them that eighteen have been
added to the Transvaa armament
since that date. One Of the MANY
effective features OF this gun 10 the
clever arrangement OF springs and
brakes that lessons the recoil material.
ly and brings the gun back to its form
er position within two seconds after its
being discharged. This gives greater
velocity to the projectile and increases
the range. The velocity is trHe
under live miles; this remarkable. re-
suit is obtained from u charge of two
pounds Of powder and from a gun
weighing only 3 400 pounds. Eight
shots may be fired each minute with
out heating the metal and every gun
goes into action provided with IA
rounds OF ammunition. There Is n suf-
tic'cnt quantity OF ammunition for thes C
particular guns to keep them in active
! service for the next two years.
During 1897 90 and portion OF
| 1879 the Boers continued to strengthen
their artillery arm, and also TO fOrtify
many OF the hills along the frontier.
In this PEI iod they bought 48 rapid
lire Schneider Canet II IL Founders
that throw shrapnel containing 234
bullets, five batteries OF eight rapid
fire Maxims, which are being used
against Mafeking and Ladysmith. The
Bocrs also provided themselves with
four Batteries OF 12.pound quick firing
Vickers- Maxim guns, with range cx
tending up to 5000 yards. They
have also four guns witE "a range OF
1900 yards. Two OF these are said tC
be mounted on the hills at either side
OF the narrow pass that leads from
Natal into the Transvaal, another IL
overlooking Ladysmith and the fourth
protects Pretoria.
In all the Beers have between 22(
and 23O heavy guns and field pieces
every individual gun being of the lates
design and with the latest improve
ments, and the entire number superior
In nearly every way to those possessed
by tae British