The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-19
THE AUSTRALIAN BUsHMEN
characteristics of Volunteers I'm the
Imperial Contingent

LONDON, May 1.-THE roll OF EN-
cient bushmen volunteering for ser
vice in the imperial contingent re-
Gently raised in the several Australian
colonies is so largely in excess Of the num-
Der required that combined with their
anxiety to learn something OF the soldier
ing art, it may lead to fresh development
of the colonial defence system
In New South Wales. as in the other
colonies. the bushman. like the gold pros
peetor. is frequently the pioneer of settle
ment. and at times leads somewhat ad-
venturous life. The term "bushnan' is
Unfortunately applied TO all living out
side the rural centres OF population, what
ever may be the nature Of their individual
ayocations. Not a few are engaged in
hunting rabbits. opossuns. and other AMI
mails; others are employed on the remOter
portions of the great sheep stations; some
find work in timber getting. others in
searching for land suitable for settlement;
but there are few who are not tolerably
good riders. fair shots, and possessed Of
considerable powers of endurance. Aeeus-
/ toned to the Tudest fare. and enabled TO
=
they are never strangers in a strange coun-
Try.
Not few possess the characteristics OF
J. Fenimore CoOpers celebrated "Pathhnd-
err" and their unrivaled skill IN gathering
Information from the apparently deserted
wilderness makes them invaluable as
scouts, branch in which the British mill
tary service 10 singulariy deficient. The
readiness with which the members of the
New South Wales portion et the cOntin-
gent feH in with the military regulations
was most remarkable showing that they
were born soldiers But this may be said
also of the colonial bushnen generally.
Whether employed as scouts in the
/ Transvaal. or as border police in Rhode
| a. they Will be enabled to give an ex-
/ tremely good account OF themselves, and il
{ is not improbable that when the war is
! owe: many viii prefer to settle in South
} Africa.
The New South Wales Government is
! keenly alive TO the value Of the bushmen
/ as an adjunct to the defence forces Of thu
colony, and every facility will be afforded
7 for the establishment OF local country rifle
/ clubs and corps Of skilled marksmen- lie
a country like Australia a force Of mount
3 ed irregulars would be simply invaluable
. An enemy might by SOM Unforeseen com
[ binatiOn of circumstances be enabled 20
. South Wales. but would fnd II impossible
/ to penetrate any distance inland.
Both Mr. Lyme, the New South Wales
. Premier and Mr.. John See. the New
South Wales Minister for Defence. II
. s5iuctiveIy recognized the value OF the CO.
lori2! bushmen for scouting purposes, and
have assisted. by every means in 'hetI
. rover. the formation Of the more suitE-
bic into corps for service IN South Africa
I where their presence Viii become regard
ed as an accession OF strength They as=
the very men TO beat the Beers at then
own game They mSy lack The precise
and mactire-ljke movements OF Tommy
atkins. but where the ordinary British
soldier would be utterly helpless tneJ
would be perfectly ar home whether act
ing as 'eyes for the army or figating tbs
Beers with their own weapons.
The New South Naies portion OF tbs
Australian contingent IS under the COM
mand Of Col Kenneth Macksy. a patriotic
ooIonist. who has achieved distinction nc
only as a volunteer. bul also as a poet ant
a legislator