The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-19
Mems Hose, SC pr.
Beers CAN SHOOT WELL.
Their Army Composed Almost EN-
cIusiVeIy of ShHrpshoOters.

cIusivcIy of ShHrpshooters.
Douglas Story. an English writer. de-
clares that the Boer is a lirst-class fighting
man He writes:
He has yielded to a superior intelligence
and perhaps a deeper determination at
Glencoe and Elandslaagte; but in no en-
gagement has he proved himself a con-
teTnptible foe in courage or in tactics Nor
would we British have it otherwise. II
is no part Of the British character to de-
preciate an enemy and for their very stub
bornness in opposing US, We today acclaim
the Zulus the Afghans, the Afridis and
the Dervishes as irst-c!ass fighting men.
Has the Boer likewise earned a right TO a
place among the foemen worthy of our
highest skill and most exalted courage?
The strength Of the BOer forces is an
unknown quantity. shortly before the out
break of hostiities l received a cable Civ
ing the Field Comets returns at $1,000
men capable OF bearing arms At the time
this was received BY the British press as an
exaggerated estimate and it was only af-
te- careful calculation and after consul
tation with the men best able TO form an
opinion that l accepted its approximate ac-
curacy. Events have proved that it was
within the mark.
lnree years ago the lrdnSNadl Under
Secretary for Foreign Affairs assured ne
that the Boer strength was $4,000 men
armed with rifles. DR.. Leyds' more recent
estimate is g.. 600 burghers. The number
ard strength Of the cOmmandos now in
the field prove that the British ante-war
calculations greatly undervalued the Boer
force. Today there cannot be less than
10000 men in arms-no mean army OF
sharpshOOters.
Il use the word sharpshOOters with in
tontion. The idea has gone abroad that
the Boer can no longer shoot straight; but
this applied 10 the bulk Of the burghers
is a fallacy.
"Outlander critics-and published com
ment has been almost wholly confined TO
these-haye judged the Boer race from the
weaklings who have drifted into Johannes
burg and the mining camps along the
Rand. But these are no more representa-
Blachriars and Lambeth are typical Of the
great mass of the people throughout the
length and breadth Of England
1t needs a SelOus. who has hunted by
day with them and lain by the camp fire
alongside them at night. to speak with au-
thOrity Of the Beers who are now opposing
Great Britain on the borders of the Trans
vaal. The police IS the last resort OF the
INDECENT Transvaaler. and the Johannes
burg carp is alike in courage and in NOR
ality. every way comparable to yelling,
toms Peninsular soldier. From them the
0dtlanders have judged the race
But the great mass Of the nation is to-
day, as in 1880, people Of simple habits
gazing wide mouthed at a train and fearing
the wrath of God in chastisement for
street lamp or a telephone One sees them
upon the veldt tripping lankily on shaggy
South African ponies, caring naught for
anything beyond their sheep, and ac-
knowledging no authority save Gods, the
Neldt Hornets and the PrDdikant's
These are the men on whom the de-
fence OF the Republic has devolved and
the British forces have yet to measure
strength with them in the field. General
JOubert is not devoid of a Moltke-like in
difference to human sacrifice where the ex-
igencies CT the case demand But Slim
Piet was careful to offer only such lives as
he can best spare. These lay in the JO-
hannesburg contingent--the commando
where clerlIy Hollanders bivouaeked
alongside weedy Beers from the Fordsburg
slunfs-and they were sent to draw the
British fire at Elandslaagte.
There was a fitness in this that Is not
al first apparent The commando was that
most easily spared ~ Joubert relying upon
his back-country bu -ghers for his ultimate
support. and was that containing the larg-
est number Of tOwnsmen acquainted COL
lOquially at least, with instruments OF
modern warfare. They alone have stood by
their artillery in the campaign.
at is a rule of Zulu warfare for the
young impis 10 go first into the battle
while the men Of the Old Guard stand by
and criticise their conduct IL the fight
Much OF the Boer method has teen learned
from the savages upon their border. The