Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-02-21
FORESIGHT Of THE BOERS.
How They Have Been Preparing For Years
to Resist Invasion.

to Resist Invasion.
The correspondent of a London
News Agency, writing from Durham,
speaks with apparent knowledge of
the Boer armament 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
bluntness 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 Beers gave their first order
for quantity of heavy guns, and then
they expended 100000 with Krupp,
of Germany, and about 100000 with
an Austrian firm for small arms. The
Krupp guns were delivered in 1896 and
included two of what was then the
largest pattern for a gun in the world.
These guns are 48 feet in length,
weight 120 tons, throw shell weigh
ing $500 pounds and require 904
pounds of powder for each discharge.
One of these enormous weapons has
been dragged to the heights overlook
ing Ladysmith, the labor necessary to
accomplish this feat having been pro-
digious. The other is on the fortiica-
tions defending Pretroia, where it
awaits the approach of the British in
their coming attack on the Capital.
Both are amply provided with ammu-
milton, which, in addition to the great
steel and iron shells, consists of shrap.
mel. holding 5000 balls weighing three
and one.half ounces each. Its bore is
1888 inches, and all these attributes
have enabled this gun to make Lady
smith most uncomfortable spot dur
ing the past several weeks. In 1895
another 100000 was expended with
Krupp, and number Of field guns of
long range were obtained, as were also
several mountain and bush guns, these
being especially adapted to the hilly
country and the hot climate of the
Transvaal.
."But it was in 1896 that the Beers
contracted for 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 cannon manufactured at Creusot,
and so satisfied were the Boer officers
with them that 1S have been added to
the Transvaal armament since that
date. One Of the many effective feat
ures of this gun is the clever arrange
ment of springs and brakes that lessons
the recoil materially and brings the
gun back to its former position within
TWO seconds after its being discharged.
This gives greater velocity to the pro-
iectile and increases the range. The
velocity is trif1e under five miles;
this remarkable result is obtained from
a charge of two pounds of powder and
from gun weighing 3,40O pounds.
Eight shots may Le fired each minute
without heating the metal, and every
gun goes into action provided with
IA rounds of ammunition. There is
u sufficient quantity of ammunition
for thes particular guns to keep them
in active service for the next two
years.
During 1S97-9S and a portion of
1899 the Beers continued 10 strengthen
their artillery arm, and also to fortify
many of the hills along the frontier.
In this period they brought 4S rapid
fire Schneider Canet a.! Founders that
throw shrnpnel containing 234 bull
lets, five batteries of eight rapid-fire
Maxlms, which are being used against
Mafeking and Ladysmith. The Beers
also provided themselves with four
batteries of l2 pound quick firing Vick-
ers. Maxim guns, with range extend
ing up to 5000 yards. They have also
four guns with range of 10000 yards.
Two of these are said to be mounted
on the hills at either side of the mar
row pass that leads from Natal into
the Transvaal, another is overlooking
Ladysmith and the fourth protects
Pretoria.
"In all the Beers have between 22O
and 23O heavy guns and field pieces,
every individual gun being of the
latest design and with the latest i'm
provements, and the entire number
superior in nearly every way to those
possessed by the British.