The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-06-09
soUTR AFRICAN o .
a Famous Body Of british TrOopera
Usually Known az oEho
Night CHts.s

In a billy country like SoHgh Africa,
when NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. well
mounted foe like the Beers, the only
possible way for an advancing general
to gain accurate information of the
enemy's movements is by fairly flood
ing the country with cavalry scouts.
This was the method adopted by the
Germans in the war with France. The
terrible Uhlan scouts, in 1870, spread
terror throughout the country. In
small parties of perhaps half a dozen
men, the UhlaRswould dash into the
/ villages and towns. seize the MARIE
and order him to instantly prepare
for the regiment following, and to
give all information required, on pain
Uf7death 10 himself and destruction to
his village. The UhIans became the
most dreaded men in France. The
moral effect upon the enemy when
hosts of cavalry are continually wor-
rying them and spying on them is
very great-far in excess, indeed, of
the actual execution they effect.
1t is, of course, ~immeasurably more
difficult to discover the whereabouts
of an irregular, guerrilla and mobile
army like the Beers, hiding in rock
covered hills, than it would be in a
case of a better trained army in a
mor open country. An enemy who
invariably takes up strong positions,
who does not remain when defeated
to be cut to pieces, but disappears
like magic on why ponies from his
slow-moving foes, must be over
matched by cavalry if he is to be
whipPed-bodies of. regular or irreg-
ular horsemen who sweep over the
country before and behind Aim, at
lacking here, threatening there, and
then away to play general havoc else
where, and SO keep up a perpetual
state of unrest.
For this work no type of men are
better suited than the British yeo-
many, or the British rough-riding
colOnists-Australians, New Zealand.
ers, Canadians, Natal men, Cape men
and others who have volunteered from
all parts of the world, and who have
been formed into irregular cavalry,
such as the Imperial yeomanry, the
South African light horse, Baden
Powelrs horse, Maj, Rimingten,s I'm
perial corps of guides-there are 20
odd different irregular forces fighting
under the British flag.
These magnificent rough riders are
all well mounted, good shots and keen
of sight. They ride light; and, as
they o the country. before their
heavy army, not a beast or a human
being, not a suspicious rock or a dan
gerous mountain pass, escapes their
attention. Many of the South African
colonial scouts know the country like.
the palms of their hands; their in
stinct tells them where to look for
the enemy, and how to take him una
wares, These men will 90 out for
weeks at a time on scouting expedi-
tions, and will think nothing of do
ing 90 or so miles in "a hours. They
can sleep, as can all good scouts. at
any moment, awaking at any time de-
sired; but they will not be caught
mapping.
Maj. Rimington's corps of guides
may be taken as typical of what a
body of scouts should be for work in
such a country as South Africa. Mai.
Rimington calls his men "Catch-em-
aliye-o's" while they have come to be
known generally as "The Night Cats
because of their night marches and
the eatlike stealth of their move
ments. Every man in Rimington's
is obliged to speak Boer or
kathr and may know both dialects.
One of the qualifications is that
every man shall be thoroughly ac-
quainted with some part of the coun-
try. The men are armed with car
bines and pistols, officers and men
wearing the same dust-colored uni
form, almost indis5inguishable even
at short distances. A picturesque
Jaunty touch is given to the otherwise
sober uniform by the little strip of
fur that is bound around the SLOUGH
hats.
Scouting is the most important
duty that can fall to indiyidr Al men
in time of war. The Observation-Disclosures
the picked man who is sent out
alone, perhaps for miles, in advance
a accommodating party-carries his
life in his hands. he is alone against
The enemy, acting on his respon-
sibility, with no officers nor comrades
hearten or order. He has the
greatest chance Of distinguishing
himself; at the same time, it would
often be easy for him to turn away
from danger, and no one would be /
any the wiser. he must be a strong.
man to carry through his work
successfully, and he must be as wary
and cunning as a weasel.
On the Individual scouts ~cleverness
may depend the safety of the army
Parsons Magazine.
Z