Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-05
FORESIGHT OF BOERS.
Their Preparation For War In
Times of Peace.
HAD MANY YEARS TO WORK IN.

Nnen, AFTER tne AaJuDa Hill reYerS'
in 1881, the peace which has since beef
characterized by Englishmen as "th'
dishOnorable peace" was negotiated
by Mr.. Gladstone, it did not require
statesmen of more than ordinary
prophetic vision to foresee that only
an arnistice had, in fact, been ar
ranged.
No one foresaw it more clearly than
the shrewd statesmen of the South
African Republic. and they did not
content themselves, as did the Eng
Iishmen, in merely foreseeing ii. In
1881 the Beers were no match for the
British. They were woefully deficient
In the facilities for carrying on a war
with a civilized foe. Such successes
as they then achieved. with the dra-
matte climax at Majuba Hill, were
achieved rather as. fortunate accidents.
from a military point of view, even
though they did reflect only the great
est credit upon the tactical and stra-
tegical ability of the victOrS. But they
could easily have been rendered of no
avail by some persistent hammering
upon the part Of the British In fact,
TO exhibit the bravery and agility OF
the weaker side, which was allowed
to- retain the fruits OF its victory.
Clearly recognizing all this, the Glad
stone peace has always been to the
Transvaal leaders only the starting
point for preparing for a conflict ever
since seen by them TO be inevitable.
From that time To the outbreak of the
tf..,..
have never been lost sight OF or neg
lected.
During my official service in the
TransvaaI l seldom heard it openly
avowed. but it was plainly manifest
that it was the settled ana permanent
policy and business of the government,
writes Casper Vandewatering. former
ly private secretary to President kru-
gers cabinet, in the New York Jour
nal. ana l had no doubt then, and have
none now. that the subject was con-
stantIy under discussion by wise old
Dom Paul and his equally wise coun-
selor, DR.. Lcyds. The harvest of those
years of preparation is now being gath
cred. though the world does not even
yet realize the extent to which it has
been carried ON.
Foremost among the preparations
have been the establishment and equip
ment of the huge dynamite factories ut
Zurfonteiu, which have been the pet
creation of President Kruger's brain.
He easily saw that a people so terrific
rally isolated as were the Beers could
never successfully carry on Il prolong-
ed contest with Great Britain If they
We're to be dependent upon outside
sources for their munitions of war.
The famous dynamite factories would
render them independent in this re-
SpcCt in time Of war, while yielding an
immense profit in time of peace.
And so, to answer this double pur-
pose, the great factories were projected
and completed. They are easily the
largest and most elaborate of their
kind in the world, having been planned
and built by the best of German me-
chanical experts. Their entire me-
chanical and electrical equipment ~
also OF German manufacture. and the
operation or the works is also largely
in German hands, though Hollanders
and Kaffirs are also employed.
All, or substantially all, OF the mate
rails required in the manufacture are
also found in the neighboring soil, and
the factories are in direct connection
with the mines. These immense fac
tories. lying midway between Pretoria
and Johannesburg, nave n capacity suf- |
ticient To supply all possible needs OF |
the BOcr forces in modern explosives,
and the immense advantage thus given
over an invading enemy who is obliged |
10 rely upon supply thousands OF |
miles distant cannot bee oyerestimated. |
Equally important preparations have |
also been made in the way of forts and |
strongholds throughout the Transvaal. |
So quietly have these been constructed |
that any detailed description and loca- /
ton OF them ut this time would be i'm
proper. But their strength at and /
around Pretoria alone Is sufficient TO /
render that city absolutely impregna-
ble. The entire country about the city /
Is so completely covered by the huge /
forts upon the surrounding hills that
approach from any quarter would seem
to be impossible.
Such strongholds abound throughout
the entire country, and there will be
found TO he few OF the many passes,
through which alone access to the
country Is possible. which are not so
fortified that handful OF men cannot
withstand an army The newspaper
dispatches OF the past few days have
also mentioned n reserve force OF some |
thousands Of trained soldiers which
has not yet been called into action by
the Boer leaders. There can be little
doubt OF the truth of these reports.
From my own observation / can say
that there has been for some years
such a force. made up mostly OF Ger
mans who have received their training
in the German army.
This is. or was. one of the hobbies Of
President Kruger. who well knew the
importance Of having at his command |
troops who, however inferior they
might be TO the Beers in one style Of
warfare. would he superior to them In