The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
DEFENsEs OF THE BoER CAPITAL
The Formidable Forts That Surround
Pretoria.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York sun.
The dispatch of a siege train from Eng
land to South Africa is an indication that
the British government anticipates the in
vestment of the Boer capital before the
war is brought to a conclusion. Consid-
cradle interest, therefore, attaches TO
description of the defenses of Pretoria,
which. according to report, are of the most
modern description and formidable in their
completeness.
They consist of five powerful forts and
five lines of mines and enormous entrench-
ments with redoubts, the mines being so
laid as to cover all the approaches to the
principal points of the defense. The cen
ter of the system of forts lies about LOO
yards TO the westward of the northern end
of Pretoria, and has a radius of something
more than 1900 yards. The center of the
city itself is only about $500 yards, near
ly due SOUTH from the fort on Signal hill,
which is about 400 feet above the plain
on the west side of the railway to 10
hannesburg, and about 1890 yards from
the forts on the hill TO the east of the
railway and the Aupies river running to
the north. Between this fort and the riv-
er are the fountains that furnish the wa
ter supply of Pretoria. The distance be-
tween the forts on either side of the rail
way is 200 yards. The railway station
where the lines from johannesburg on the
south, Delagoa bay on the east and Pie
tersburg on the north, form their juno
ton, is Immediately outside the city on
the south side The railway to Peters
burg, after winding some distance to the
westward, passes out of the plain on which
Pretoria is situated, through the DasDoort
q Gafila in the of =,
city. through which also the Aupies river
runs, the railway and river running to-
gether across the plain through the Win
derDoom Poort, under the guns of a large
fort 7100 yards, and a little to the east
ward of north, from the center of Pre-
toria.
The westernmost fort is on the range of
hills behind Pretoria, and lies at dis
lance of 1890 yards northwest of The CEN
ter of the city. The powerful redoubt TO
the southwest of Pretoria $500 yards
from the center of the city on the range
of hills through which the transport road
TO johannesburg passes, complete the cir
Gle of the larger works defending the
Boer capital Behind this redoubt are the
principal magazines. one excavated out of
the solid rock with a bomb-proof roof
and the other built in the kloop, also
omb-proof. Communication between the
redoubt and the last mentioned magazine
is by no means of a covered way Roads
connect all these forts with The capitaI
and they have pipes laid for water as W. Ii
as electric cables for the search lights
Tie number of guns mounted on the
fort and redoubts is said TO be 100 of large
caliber and quickhring OF different kinds
Il is stated that some of the guns are Of
twenty-three centimeters calibsr, but this
is doubtful. 1t is known. however, that
there are quite number of tifteen-centl-
meter guns of French make from the
Creusot works and of long range. as has
been shown by their performances at
Ladysmith. Among the others there are
Krupps. AlaXims and other machine and
quick-firlng guns.
The forts are open to the rear toward
| Pretoria and are of masonry heavily fac
ed with earth toward the open country
On the east side of the circle Of defease
there was no regular fort in existence
when hostilities began, but it is probable
that since then the ridge to the eastward
of the city by which the railway to Del
agoa bay runs, has been fortified.
The siege train just shipped from Eng
land for South Africa. presumably for
Pretoria. is the second sent out during
the last Sc years. The last occasion was
when 90 heavy guns and mortars were
sent from Woolwich for the siege Of Sc
bastopol where, with 50 ship guns. they
took part in the bombardment of that city
in conjunction with the French siege
| train. The Russian defense, however. de-
| Veloped so rapidly under thu inspiration
| OF Todleben, that before the final assault
/ which placed 1T in the hands of the allies
the number Of guns in position in the be-
/ sieging batteries had been raised to SOC
! The train now on its way out from Eng
! land comprises 30 howitzers, II of S-inch
! caliber. eight of 5-inch, and eight of A.
/ inch The number is not formidable in
/ itself under the old conditions in regard
! to explosives. but if they are, as may be
| inferred intended TO throw lyddite shells.
! it is an exceedingly formidable armament
! and unless the Beers are in possession
| of projectles charged with menite or
! some similar high explosive with which
TO respond to the British fire. the siege Of
| Pretoria should not be of very long dura-
| ton. II is calculated that the investment
will require fully 42,000 British troops.
| leaving the remainder of the army to
| guard the communications, occupy certain
| strategic points and operate against that
| part Of the Boer army not required for
| the defense of Pretoria. This part of the
| Boer army is expected to fan back into
| the north in the Zoutpansberg mountains
which the Beers are reported to intend to
make their stronghold, and where they
expect to carry on the war against Eng
land indefinitely.