New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
THE BOERS' FRENCH STR4TEGIST.
COLONEL DE VILLEBOIs-MAREUIL. AND
HOW HE TOOK SERVICE IN AFRICA.

COLONEL DE VILLEBOIS-MAREUIL, AND
HOW HE TOOK SERVICE IN AFRICA
From The London Mail.
The Boer authorities persisently represent Colonel
De Vnlebois-Mareuil, late of the French army as
the accredited attache of the French Republic. AS
Mareuii has unquestonaby entered the Boer army
an active officer, with the rank OF general and
necessary, improving upon the plan of campaign
y moahed ouE y! % lU
with the plans for defending Pretoria when the
CoioneI De ViileboIs- was engaged By Dr.
aEsn enrg an I 5g ease dg
Corbeau in Brittany It should be noted that he
in 1896, and was at liberty to enter the service of
any army he chose His reasons for sending in
cause he had been refused the command of the
ana because aus the state
and the petty jeaiousies and intrigues which OBJ
In accepting the nigh post in the army of the
South African Republic he was actuated by none
Anglophobe. on the contrary. Colonel De Villebois
English. He speaks English auently; his daughter
was under the tuteage of English goVernesS.
While during his RESIDENCE in Agers Where he held
the command of division, he used to entertain all
Being, however only hfty-and a soldier at that
ing with great talents for strategy and tactics
he eagerly jumped at the offer and the tempting
ative. At the time he thought it advisable
10 keep MS engagement secret in order to elude
the inquistiveness Of French officialdom, with
which every Gaul, be he in the military civil
service, whether active retired, remains to some
extent in touch With the exception of his friend
Comte de Rothays and his daughter. nobody was
Mareul was about TO embark upon.
that the important role he was and is about to
play has been hitherto obstinatey ignored by those
whose ambitions II is to be informed all matters.
And yet II Colonel De Villebois- Mareuil who
was responsible for the tactics displayed by the
Beers at Colenso on the memorable December 10,
and to whom alone were due the conception OF the
plan of fighting and the distribution of the troops
along and around the Tugea River Schalk Burger
was merely a igurehead a nominal substitute for
the absent General Joubert.
The French press follows the movements of Colo
mel De Villebois- Mareuil very closely, for which
doubtless the Colonel is far from being grateful.
Inc papers attribute to him all kinds of absurd
statements, OF which the following is a fair sample.
1T is alleged to be account in the CoIonels own
words Of the loss of the squadron Hussars after
the battle Of Glencoe:
a regiment of Lancers, (sc) disappeared COM
Pletely In the course of battle, and this what
happened TO them. The English Lancers after
upon the wounded, whom they massacred and de-
spoiled. They were engaged in this abomina Bile
work of savagery when they were surprised by a
Boer commando. Seeing themselves on the point OF
being annihilated they raised the white flag but I'm
consequence Of the atrocities they had been guilty
of the Beers shot them down to the last man"
This example, adds this Yeracious Journal ''ha =
struck terror into the English who will not recon-
mence their atrocities"