The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-01
KRUGER ON ENGLISH SOLDIERS.
(Allen sangree I'm Ainslee's.)

(AlIen Sangree I'm Ainslee's.)
"Speaking of the conduct of the war, 4
asked Mr.. Kruger il he was discour-
aged.
Discouraged he answered. NO. We
have a very difficult job on hand, put
Providence has been with us from the
start, and therefore we have prevailed.
our numbers are always less. and the
casualties ten TO one In our favor.
How manyha you lost thus fary
"'Therc have been 420 burghers killed
in battle and about 1000 either wounded
or captured.
"Iiow many do you think the English
have lost?
"'Sixty thousand
"'They claim a much smaller loss,
remarked.
"'But you cannot believe them the
president answered. AT Spion Kop they
put the number of killed at 200. We
counted 600.'
"'How many burghers have you in the
field?'
:. Thirty or forty thousand from both
states Is the most we have ever had
actually under arms Now the number Is
less. l make IL arule to have 10 per GENT.
of the army always on leave OF absence.
because our people are only few. and I
must take care OF them. At the Tugela
river they lost because they were so
sleepy from constant watching that they
tumbled from their horses. This weakens
the commandos. Then, besides, I must
keep good many burghers to guard the
railroads, the magazines, the prisoners
and watch the natives
do you consider the English soldier a
brave MANI" inquired.
"'Yes.' was the reply. but he only an
animal. He does not know what he is
fighting for. 1t Is a shame 10 send these
poor fellows out TO be killed. and l pity
them. They do what their officers tell
them, and that Is why they get killed.
| Very few OF them can shoot straight.
| They usually aim over our heads The
| English soldier does not know how to take
| horse In this country the soldier Is moth
| ing
"If Kruger insists on any one thing In
| this campaign IL is careful handling of
| horses. II In certainly an unusual thing
| 10 hear the president Of the state exhort-
| ing his troops about such small details az
20 caution them against allowing the sad
| die to rub the horses back. But this
seemed 10 be the principal theme OF an .ad
dress which / heard Kruger deliver tc
some raw recruits starting off 10 tho
| front
| "'watch the burghers.' he said. how
they hobble their ponies and then do like
| wise. You must remember never togive the
horse fed of mealies and then water
him afterwar,- for he will surely die. N,
| more ride him to water and ther
| gallop away Give him blanket a.
night. too. and at all times treat him n,
| you would yourself. for II we win IL mus
be with the aid OF this animal.
| THE greatest Importance Is attached
| to this feature of Boer equipment, and
| the burghers do not believe England car
ever procure horses that will stand thi,
| climate. The South African pony is tn,
result of one hundred years experiment
ing. lie originated in Basutoland. where
the best quality is now procured At frs
pony would not live here and II ha,
been only by persistent interviewing anc
inuring to the conditions that a service
| able horse has at last been produced
| The Boer pony is about the size OF ar
| Indian mustang. and so tough and wir,
that he will travel all day IL handled
| carefully.
" How long will this war last7' I In
| auired OF President Kruger, after he hat
asked me to affirm in his name that n,
had never contemplated blowing up tn,
! mines. nor would such action be takei
even In the last extremity.
| p" L have no idea as to the duration.
was his reply. So long as I and my fol
lowers live