The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-03-24

| ing, Uuo Dluu u uolOubO WAS hil
figured out and the defenders
have been ready and waiting, and
not one of them has taken any
part in the fighting SO far. Pre-
toria is practically surrounded by
hills. Between the hills and
through them are narrow dcflcs,
Every hill about Pretoria Is for
titled by modern guns that can be
made by the best European gun
makers outside Of England. The
guns that wero not considered
good enough for defense of our
capital are the guns which we
have been using in the field.
Therefore, you may get some idea
of the care with which the Pre-
toria guns were selected. They
were mounted under the direction
of skilled military engineers from
the works where they were made,
and l very much doubt if there
are better or more solidly mount
ed guns in any fortiications IN
the world.
''These guns have been SO plac-
ed that they command every ap-
proach to the capital. Each gun
is supplied with its own ammuni-
tion vaults. holding enough shells
to feed the guns for at least two
years and these ammunition vaults
are full, not a shell having been
taken from since tho war began.
Owing to the topography of the
country, a comparatively small
force of artilerymen can serve
these guns, and they will be no
protected that one man will be the
equal Of about ten where the guns
are placed in less favorable natur-
al positions. Moreover, the na-
ture OF the country is such that
we have been able to place the
guns SO that they will not be easily |
located by the enemy. We have |
figured on being able to annihilate
a larger army than England has in |
South Africa at present and still
not be obliged to surrender.
''But the fortifying OF our hills
is not the only terrifying we have
done. We have paid particular
attention to the defles in these
hills, through which an invading
force would have to send q good
part of its troops. The defles
have been minded and should the
necessity arise, should British
force attemp to pass through, the
explosion of these mines will fol-
low and England will then be able
to count the cost of warding upon
q free people. Our home guard is
not SO very large, but is quite
arge enough, we believe to de-
fend and preserve capital.
but it must be remembered,
If course, that the first act in the
tefense Of Pretoria will be the
destruction of johannesburg.
This will only be done as a last re-
'ort, on account of the value Of
he property there. But Johan-
lesburg cannot be defended to ad-
1antage. Little or no attempt
las been made to fortify it. There
ore, as soon as the British get
n striking distance of our metro
,olis we will first cut off the wa
Ell supply, and then when the en-
my is within the town it will be
destroyed by fire and dynamite.
''Of course, the question Of sup
,lies will enter into the defense Of
Pretoria. The defenders have
made provision for a long siege,
nd, as long as the crops do not
all, SO long as there is no drouth,
We can hold out indefnely. If a
routh comes we will suffer. If
continues long enough, maybe
7e would be compelled to sur
ender. But we have considered
hese questions and we have come :
D the conclusion that in the event
f a drOuth the Boer would be
wing to tell about it long after ,
ne Br1ton was dead"
PiEeapples and other fruit at ,