The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-14
THE nnER STRENGTH.

THE BOER STRENGTH.
The statement in our foreign dispatches
yesterday, taken from the Morning Post
OF London that the fighting force of the
Beers is 10000 men and 2O6 guns, is very
| surprising The same authority says that
their fighting force was originally 5000
men, and that it has been increased by
additions from Cape Colony. The highest
estimate of the Boer strength that has ap-
peared in any of the public prints of this
country is 5000 fighting men, and this es-
innate was considered altogether too high.
II is the understanding that the popula-
ton Of the two republics, the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State. IS not over
800 900. 1t would be difficult to get $4,000
effective fighting men from SO small a
population. In an article in the London
Daily News recently. Mr.. J. b. Robinson,
who appears TO be well informed in respect
to the Beers, and who writes from the
scene of the war, puts the Boer fighting
strength at 10000 men. 1t is probable that
his estimate is very much nearer correct
than the statement in the Morning Post.
There are undoubtedly very many Cape
Colonists in the Boer army, and ii is prob
able that there are thousands of Outland-
ers who preferred to enter the Boer serv-
ice to leaving the country. Besides these,
a large number of soldiers of fortune, from
all parts of the world have joined the
Beers. II IS probable therefore that they
have between 10000 and $4,000 men in their
service.
And they have been handled with re-
markable skill and have done excellent
fighting. Opposed to them now are 10000
of the best soldiers in the British army,
commanded by the ablest generals in the
service of the British government For
three months they have successfully re-
sisted every effort of the British TO adj
vance to the relief of sections of their
army shut up in besieged towns, and have
confined the fighting TO British territory
In The battles that have been fought they
have outgeneraled the British and have
shown themselves to be better, though not
Drawer, soldiers.
The Beers are the first white men Brit
ish soldiers have faced in war in nearly
half century. And the British have been
greatly surprised that the tactics they en-
ployed against dark skinned races
have not been effective. They are begin
ming to understand that bravery is not
everything in a battle with foes that can
| shoot quick and straight, with both rifles
and big guns. 1t is probable that in fu-
ture they will not attempt to take posi-
tons held by the Beers by rushing upon
them in solid columns. if there is a way
of accomplishing their object by going
around them.
The British people are bitter and some
what disheartened at the failure of their
army TO make short work of the South
African war. They expected that it would
be over before this, and that the cost of
it would be small. The prospect of long
and costly war makes them angry, and
they are free with their criticisms of the
administration of their war office and the
management of their army. 1t is doubtless
true as they say, that there was almost
a total lack of preparation for such a war
as the nation now has on its hands.
But they are not ready to accept the
thought thrown out by Mr.. Balfour. the
f 'iAiO'i'"iS iSauOA VI ile government [,
that the result of the war may be a defeat
for the British. His admission in his East
Manchester speech recently, that such a
result was possible, is bitterly resented,
and may cause a shake-up in the minis
try. Although stunned, as it were. by the
results of the war SO far, they are still
full of fight. They must realize. however.
that for people of their pretensions. from
military standpoint they are cutting
but sorry figure in South Africa. And
that is one reason probably why their
newspapers are claiming the fighting
strength of the Beers is so much greater
than 1t is generally understood 10 be.