davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

~ referred go as the burshers of the
VciJt. pious. bucnlic unsophisticated,
INDECENT individuals who hate English
men and soap and ioyc their homes and
the Bible"
But that was only one side OF she
case What the other side Is Great
Britain has just been learning. John
Bull has always gone TO very expensive
schools As Is usual. he is today paying
dearly FOR his little object lesson on
jhc Bocr character. He imagined that
"a government that embodied all the
economic vices Of the dark ages" was
incapable of sustaining armed resist
ance. Mr.. Chamberlain did not dream
giles ana faded homespun would ever
dare to shake his rat paw in the face
II the british empire. Lord Wolseley
did not for one moment imagine that a
gour vlsat "a old burghcr ambushed be-
hind a bristling "cheval de frise" ~
0atriarchal whiskers would ever dare
80 face the serried redcoats OF the om-
uinotcnt widow at Windsor"
I3ut there was nothing original about
This attitude. The same thing had hap
pencd IN the days of Pitt and Burke
and FOX, and history. as has aften been
cail. has the habit OF repeating Itself
II is true that the Beers are bucOlic
people " is true that they are unso-
rhis.iratcd farmers and h6rdsmen and
that their administration Is far from an
!denl one. l,ut there Is no nation In the
world great or small. that, In proper
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
Kruger, Warned Years AGO Of the COMING Of the lire
preSSbe Conflict, Left No Stone Untufncd to Place
His COmtu on an Efficient War FOOtmQ

element TO leaven the bucOllC TransVaal
lump. II Is the leader Of these regulars
who during actual war assumes COM
mand II the entire Boel army Thirty
two officers serve under him. each one
of whom IS supposed 10 be capable OF
commanding a regiment Under these,
again are so subohicers, training for
service az captains and lieutenants. The
remaining 2GO privates in the regular
ranks can be transformed, when neces-
sary into efficient sergeants and cor
porals Could an efficient army be main
tanned and operated along simpler and
more primitive lines than these?
The commander OF the artillerists,
who Is. Of course. General Joubert, re-
ceives a yearly salary Of $l2.5O0 His
little band OF officers are esuaily well
paid. In fact. few as the officers OF the
TransNaal are. they are better paid
than the army leaders OF the great l1u-
ropean powers. TO serve IN the state
artillery h a great distinction, for only
the most intelligent and physically ia
vored Beers are admitted 10 this small
compGny The commandant general at
Pretoria Is under the immediate Jurls-
dicton Of the volksraad and the pres
ident. who have. Of course. the power
10 declare war and direct it's conduct,
The republic is also divided into Il
districts. with a commandant in con-
troll Of each Under the old South Af-
rican burgher law each commandant in
times OF emergency has the right 10 go
through his district and commander
every man able TO bear arms. These
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

and husbands IN the protection Of their
homes and lives.
When the call 10 arms comes. there r.
absolute obedience from every man.
Cases OF Insubordinati tiOn are unheard
o. No false alarms are ever sent out,
So when the alarm does come the Boer
knows that Il means business and read
ily SUBMITS 90 the inevitable.
The Boer soldier wears no uniform.
There Is nothing martial in his appear
ance. In place Of side arms he carries
"A hatchet or AK or hammer or some 9TH
er tool with which he is most familiar.
Those Beers who for some cXtraordi-
nary reason do not possess rifles are
supplied with arms and ammunition by
the field cOrnet Of the district. All vol
unteers bring one or sometimes two
horses. There are no prOvender wag-
ons because ;he veldt supplies the feed.
There are no baggage trains because
most of the Beers food is In his own
coat pocket There are no war chests
because the burgher keeps his own
arms and ammunition. The assembled
troops are drilled by the cornet as best
ne may. No complicated movements
and evoIutions are attempted. for the
Boer must always fight ms a guerrilla.
But during the last few years n
: change has been taking place In the
! Transvaal Ever since jameson kicked
| over Rhodes apple cart and made
| that i'm fated raid OF his into the Boer
1 republic both the burgher and the uit-
| lander have realized that a peaceful
/ solution of the long standing differ
enccs between the two peoples was inn
| possible. For years the warclouds
1 have been hanging ominously over the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

elevation OF 20 degrees the range is
eight kilometers, or about $500 yards.
Three kinds OF shell can be used, the
case shell, the common shell and the
shrapnel. This latter holds no less than
23a bullets, running ~ 10 the pound
and these are scattered In all directions
by means of a time fuse. The muZzle
velocity IL said to be 1886 feet per Sec
und The gun. with It's timber. weighs
just 3,400 pounds. Smokeless powder Is
used. \ new alloy of nickel and steel
has been employed in the manufacture
OF these guns Their rate of fire is
from eight To ten rounds a minute.
While at times the Beers have shown
more or less weakness in their range
finding much of their artillery work
during the war has evidenced skill
and nlcelX which -Aa-4-e-been a source OF
surprise 20 the British. The imported
officers from Holland and Germany
have taught their lessons well, appar-
emily, though il must be confessed that
the most brilliant successes for the
Beers have been won In those engage
ments i'm which the Mauser rife played
the important part
The system Of military organization
prevailing i'm the Orange Free state is
not unlike that OF the sister republic
with which she has thrown In her for
tunes The two Boer republics have
been united I'm a military convention for
some time past and, although the Free
Staters are Just as pastoral a race as
the people Of the Transvaal. II Will sur
prise many 90 learn that this little re-
public eXpcnds annually more money
per capita OF population for it's volun-
tcers than does Germany itself the
country which has the reputation OF
being the strongest military power of
the old world. But even this little or
ange Free state has been able TO put
90 900 fighting men In the field. II they
are less enthusiastic than the Trans
vaalers in the struggle against the
| British. Il is because they are without
| the experience and the inspiration of
the victorious campaign of iSS0-l They
have been doing their fair share of the
| Rghtlng. however. and. owing to the
I fact that their organization was 50
much like that Of the Beers Of the sis
\ ter republic. they were able to mobilize
and carry on operations I'm much the
same manner as Jouberts own coun-
7 trymen.
one hundred and nfty officers and
men only serve in the state artillery OF
| the Orange Free State. Like the artl-
/ lerists of Pretoria. thay undergo train
ing from imported gunners and officers
] and are duly prepared 10 80 out and
assume command of different bodies OF
unorganized burghers who have beer
| commander Nv tho field cornetf
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
ORGANIZATION OF THE B0ER ARMIES.

tion 10 population. has more effective
war organization and more powerful
armed force Il is the most charac-
terlstically military country i'm exist
cnce. In fact every Boer in the Trans
Vaal is a member OF the little states
standing hghting force. Every home in
the South African Republic is an ar
senal Every farmhouse is commits
sariat department Every burgher Of
the veldt Is a trained soldier.
There are special circumstances
which have brought about this peculiar
condition OF affairs. Compulsory serv-
ice without any compulsion about IL is
the Keynote Of the Beers military or
ganization. When YOU arg born Boer,
you are born a fighter. Every son OF the
veldt whether he first see the light on
the Vapl or the Orange. is passionately
devoted 90 his country and eternaliy
ready 20 fight for It's liberty. So the
TraEsvaal is always nation in arms,
yet without a standing army. AT the
age OF 10 every male recognizing Oom
Paul as president becomes member Of
this citizens army. There he remains
until he has passed mis- siXtieth year.
40 laws arc required 10 hold him 10 II.
After the first bugle call, IN fact, a
yoke OF oxen could not drag him from
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

After ;hreo wears II instruction with
the state artillery these chosen few en-
Ter the civil service, remaining under
the nag as reserves. For some time
past there has been reserve force ot
this character of littlc over 600 men
As the Free Stater. Ike tie Tran.vaal-
cr, Is all but born with a gun IN MS
hand, as he has a racial passion FOR the
hunt and for life on the vcidt, and as he
~ always a good horscman. he requires
little training 10 convert him INTO an
effective fighting machine.
Hitherto il has been the custom for
English officers 20 sneer at the Boer as
soldier and his lack OF organization.
But the Boar has Vindicated himself,
as Great Britain knows TO her sorrow.
He has no gold buttons ana no scarlet
coat and glittcring trappings, but the
whole soulod enthusiasm and the
dauntless courage with which he has
always responded 10 his country's call,
his keen ingenuity and indomitable
pluck IN the field have won for him the
reputation Of being the best fighter OF
modern times. His lighting may not
be- scientific warfare. u has, however
the supreme justification of success
wherever. at least he has had what the
soldier calls ~ fGhtng chance"
one remarkable feature OF tho Boer
armies Is the fact that they have no
bands The soldiers OF the vcldts go
into action and make and receive their
charges without the inspiring strains
OF music 90 urge them ON. What the
Britisher gets from fife and drum the
Boer gets from hymn singing. In
charging they come on in scattered
and apparently confused manner which
is not disorder. but only THEN natural
method. When they retreat. each man
must save himself, and IL louks very
much like rout, though they may
have by no means lost their heads. But
this Boer method OF fighting will lead
10 the reorganization OF European mill
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

stand a four months siege and stifi
have plenty Of good beef in It's muniC-
ipal refrigerators.
In johannesburg the preparations
have been no less adequate. Two years
were spent in bui>ing a stout fort sit
uated on small emlnence about one
half mile from The business portion OF
the city and commanding the entire
neighborhood with it's guns. Another
equally strong fort is 90 be found just
east OF the city overshaduwing the rail-
way and the approaches 10 the town.
When the Boer began marketing for
guns, England saw what he was after
but could do nothing. Guns and am
munition from Europe went into the
country by way Of Delagoa Bay which
As an open port 90 the Transyaal, and
I'm fact the only port In South Africa
not under English jurisdiction, and ac-
cordingly not closed To the importation
OF munitions OF war. All that the Brit
ish authorities could do was 10 dispatch
"A number OF her secret service men 10
the docks at LourenZo Marquee and un-
easily make note of the guns and the
amount OF ammunition the willy Boer
was storing up against the time when
he should have 20 face the redcoat In
the field.
The artillery which the Beers have
secured is the best 60 be had Their
Creusot guns that have so greatly out
classed the British artillery and have
been menacing I.adysmith and Mafe-
king are so named because they are
manufactured at CreusOt in France.
and are all rapid fire 3 inch can
non Each gun is provided with one
row OF sights. and with the maximum
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

q YOT little surprise has been cx-
! v i3oer has been able to make
such an effective stand against
the Brlton III the real preparations
which the Transvaai has been making
for this war for years had been more
generally known, the outcome would
not have been SO unexpected. When
Mr.. Montague White, the accredited
reprcs sntative of the Transvaal in the
United states, recently stated that
years ago he saw that war was ire
prcssble and that the little republic
might just as well start making prep
arations for the struggle he was simply
stating what. eVery intelligent Trans
waller was only too well aware Of. Five
long years ago the South African Re-
public started rolling up its sleeves. In
order 70 understand the actual condi-
tiOn of affairs il is necessary to know
just how the military forces OF Dom
Paurs people are organized and op-
Grated
The Boer IL a walking incongruity.
Everything about him seems an incon-
sistency. He II a never ending enigma,
an eternal puzzle.
These Beers have been called a pas
toral people. They have been sneering-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
DON'T LIKE IMPERIAL OFFICERS.

In Australia and Canada the enthu-
siasm for volunteering on active service
was somewhat dampened by the possi-
bility of the men having To serve under
imperial instead Of their own regiment
al officers With their own officers the
men would willingly go anywhere, but
the imperial officer. who only knows the
enlisted Tommy is usually trifie too
supercilious for them.
A memorable instance OF this occur
red at the time OF the Louis Itiel rebel
lion i'm Canada. The weather, was Bit
terly cold and the headquarters siaff
sent To Winnipeg FOR some portable
stoves To keep their quarters warm. on
their arrival they could not be fitted up
owing to some defecfs I'M the smoke
pipes.
( The captain Of crack Manitoba COM
pany was. I'm civil life. a master plumb
er and hardware merchant. lie quiet
lv got into working clothes and adjust
cd everything in the presence of ihe
officers uo whom he was then person
ally unknown. 10 their very great COM
fort Next day, i'm uniform. he was IN
troduced 20 the officers of the staff.
4 caIlow youth. fresh from England.
and with an eyeglass screwed In one
eve. recognized him. and in his wonder
ment blurted outs
Il say. colonel. I'm blowed II this
isn't the demmed tinker that put the
stoves right yesterday
It was an unfortunate remark and
was remembered for long afterward.
The plumber had considerable puhtcat
influence. and he exercised IL m the
way of seeing that votes in the Domln-
ion parliament for payment OF imperlal
officers serving i'm Canada were severe
lv criticised
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
THE FIELD CoRNsr,S CALL

various districts are again split up into
divisions i'm charge of field cornets and
assistant field cornets. and as soon as
the Commandant general issues his or
der for the mobilization Of the volun-
tcer army the cOmmandants, the as
sistant commandants and the field cor
nets go hurriedly on horseback from
house to house and burghor 20 burgher
When tho veldt farmer receives his
call he takes down his own gun, he
brings out his own horse. supplies his
own ammunition. provisions himself
with his own bltOng, dried buck or
beet, and hastens on horseback To the
meeting place FOR that particular dis
trict. when all the burghers Of dis
trict have gathered together. the force
proceeds 60 an adjoining district and
so on until the appointed army divisions
have been made up. So beautifully
simple and efficacious is this little sys-
tenn that within 4S hours after n call
has been issued by the commandant
general four army divisions, consisting
Of all the ablebodied men in the re-
public are able TO be modified on the
outskirts OF Pretoria or I'm any other
given part OF the state.
When the men are called from their
farms and herdings. the Transvaal wo-
men and children always take up the
task of carrying on the home work.
When necessary. too. these same wo-
men and children are willing enough
90 take up rife themselves and stand
side by side with fathers and brothers
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

Stratford- -on Avon, thanks possibly to
its reverence for Shakespeare. II one or
the recognized homes OF old customs
There is yearly held there peghaps the
most typical Of old English fairs. whicf
goes by the picturesque name OF fh'
mop fair and OK roast The whole
town Is filled with orthodox booths
stalls and roundabouts. but the specia
feature which attracts the crowds from
the neighborhood Is the spectacie on the
oxen "spitted whole from head 70 tah
revolving before temporary brick hres
I'm tho streets. The whole spectacle has
q SAVIOR OF The old fashioned Time
which is. unhappily being TOO rapidly
forgotten i'm most country villages AMI
smaller boTOughs.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

on the peak Of the highest of the
Harz mountains is cross which IS
said 10 be the loftiest I'm the world. The
cross is I'm reality a tower and was but
recently completed. This cross tower
caps Josephshoehe peak and commands
a magnificent view OF the surrounding
country The mountain h l,13l feet
above sea level and the tower reaches
100 feet higher. The great structure
rests on a quadrangle, which forms an
immense hall 10 hold 200 people. stair
OF 200 steps leads TO the top 81 the CO.
iossal cross. hut lazy or weak folk may
ride on the hydraulic elevator which
makes the climb easier
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

itary methods. Properly selected ana
well handled Irregular horse Is the most
mobile element i'm an army. The British
have found this out. They have seen that
they are too slow and stiff, too depend
ent on their commissariat. Where a
Boer commando could cover given
distance i'm four or five days the best
disciplined corps in the British army
could not do IL in twice that time. SO
the rest of the world Is learning from
the Boer. WILSON q. LOW ELL
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
HAD ONLY THE ACE LEFT.

The sallying forth OF Bishop Potter
OF New York for = Visit TO the sandwich
Islands brought forth memories of a
drell experience Of the bishop jus, az he
was once hefore starting out on a little
globe trottng expedition. 4 week or
so before the right reverend gcntlc-
mans departure his coachman had the
misfortune 10 break arr arm, ana a
newly landed nephewfof' the unfortu-
nate Jehu was called upon 10 act as
understudy.
ON the morning before the bishop in
tended sailing he ordered the driver of
the Episcopal chariot To cake him for
"A round Of farewell calls. Ask your
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

reverend master at many houses on tn
avenue the driver was halted at the
home of au exceedingly important
church dignitary.
the bishop.
His card distributing mercury hcsi-
tated. He scratched his head and look
ed foolish Then he faltered. Sure
your riVcrince, l have only the ace OF
clubs left" The intelligent lad had dis
tributed euchre deck in the name Of
Dr. Potter. and that dignifed prelate
was obliged 60 leave trail Of apologies
i'm his wake when he sailed the next day.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

little republic. Circumstances had done
much TO keep the Boer prepared. Con-
stant conflict with wild and ruthless
black tribes. preparation against an un-
ending menace. English aggression and
the bitter memory OF other days had
made the Boer a born fighter The real
result was that, unlikely as such
thing looked, there was not country
in all Europe so well prepared for war
at any time as the little government
north OF the Vaal So this tiny repub~
lie. with it's mere 10000 voters, forced
the British government To expend W.
800 600 year i'm order TO keep pace with
the Bible loving speakers of low Dutch
i'm Dom Paurs land. That began over
four years ago. when the government
of Pretoria realized that the uitlanders
especially the uitlanders Of Johannes
burg were deliberately planning the
overthrow Of the republic. Since then
the POer has been quietly but assid-
uously making preparations Tor the
long pending struggle which opened
few months ago and which is still going
on i'm South Africa. The Transvaal al
ready possessed a small number Of Ger
man soldiers OF fortune Additional
German experts were easily secured TO
country. European artillersts were OBJ
tained 10 teach the burghers the arts of
modern warfare, and even several
Americans OF military training were
introduced as instructors In the nation
al military school at Pretoria. Every
burghcr's cottage was stocked with the
| necessary ammunition and rife. Ev-
cry strategic position was fortified. The
| few forts already I'm the republic were
armed with modern guns. Each year
| several million pounds was spent I'm
/ Europe I'm the purchase of armament
asked for by the experts. and the coun-
| try was quietly placed on war foot
! ing Just how thorough these prepara-
| tions were may be Judged from the de-
lenses OF Johannesburg and Pretoria.
! The capital now lies I'm the center or
a square, each corner OF which II hill
surmounted by a strong fortress COM
/ manding the surrounding country.
Each OF these fortresses is armed with
| 30 heavy Gatllng guns. with four large
\ French Creusot guns OF rs miles range,
/ and also with four heavy cannon. The
! capital has an additional battery of so
/ field GatlinR guns. which are now being
used for operations i'm the open. There
| ere three large warehouses stocked
with ammunition, and az the beginning
| OF hostilitics the national armory was
! filled from cellar 20 ceiling with inn
| proved Mauser. Martini Henry aud
| Wesley Richards rifles. the city was
provlsloncd just as thoroughly as u was
| armed. and 80 could even today with
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

uncle for the
i. l.. G. cards
Airs, T. Tt q r
< a ee hi m"
said he The
n n q dy
found his uncle
quietly sleeping
when ne went
for the cards.
and decided 20
h e. lp himself
without q s.
turhing I n q
slumbercr AZ
ter lc vim <
.....l - r
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

the two parts are ioiuesi together in
second The carriage IL brought ON the
back OF another mule. and others bring
the ammunition.
The hoists which The Botrs gide sIe
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

has been suggested that just before
charge takes place smoke shells shoutd
bc fired. which would temporarily hide
Tho English soldiors
a sisse train De- bgi- N-'alIl con-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
SMALL ITEMS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

: FOUNDER screw guns This screw
gun Is 80 called becsuise 70 Is In two
parts. each weighing Is or 100 pounds.
Zach hdl Is lglgu.tcd u mule, agt
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

The mule used for the mountain artil-
icry In tho Ttansvaal has special train
ing for stability. n IL his duty 10 help
80 carry 70 aish Gnd dia.eust PLACES tiIc
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

structed for tho purpose of assisting
troops in their attack on Pretoria. "
ls to bc arined with 10 new lnch how
itzars. each one capable 0f throwing "A
~ nound iyddit, she'll.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

English troops is mainly attributable
to the charges they have had Co make
across open spaccs in order 90 dislodg"
tho cncmv from tha -h"ltrring kupie.
Ia 04dsr tu minimize ths death roll u
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07

very much like the Welsh or scotch
ponies. bring very sure footed and Win
% power Of leaping from rock 90 rock
that is phenomenal.
Tbs srest l9ss OF lis lHlaIGsd % thc
The Brunswick times-call. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-08
oALEEDARs FOR 1901,

The Plant sYetem passenger depart
neat has recently Issued q beautiful
calendar fer the year 1901, which also
sObtaips sheet Tor December. 1900.
Yos can obtain one By calling at the
Plant system passenger Office tool q
gloucester street or telephone 50 ana
yop will haYe ore sent 50 your Office,
The Brunswick times-call. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-08

q. 0agers, Of FrostburR, Md, writes:
81 had very bad stack Of kidney
complaint ana tried Foley'a Kidney
Cure which gave me aseiate relief,
and Was perfectly dnfbh sitter taking
wo bottles" Take no substitute.