Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-03-01
DEFENCES OF PRETORIA,
BOER CAPITAL PROTECTED BY A
CIRCLE OF FORMIDABLE FORTS.


Powerful Forts and Enormous En-
| trenchments With Redoubts.
The despatch of siege train from
England to South Africa is an indica-
| tion that the British Government an
ticipates the Investment of the Boer
capital before the war is brought to q
| conclusion. Considerable interest,
therefore, attaches to description of
the defences of Pretoria, which, ac-
cording to report, are of the most
modern description and formidable in
their completeness.
They consist of five powerful forts
and five lines of mines and enormous
| entertainments with redoubts, the
mines being SO laid as to cover all the
approaches to the principal points of
the defence. The centre of the sys-
tenn of forts lies about 1900 yards to
the westward of the northern Pretoria,
and has radius of something more
than 1000 yards. The centre of the
city itself is only about $500 yards,
nearly due south, from the fort on Sig
nal Hill, which is about 400 feet above
the plain on the west side of the rail
way to Johannesburg, and about 1900
| yards from the fort on the hill to the
east of the railway, and the Aupies
River running to the north. Between
this fort and the river are the foun-
tains that furnish the water supply of
Pretoria. The distance between the
forts on either side of the railway is
2700 yards. The railway station
where the lines from johannesburg
on the south, Delagoa Bay on the
east, and Petersburg in the north
form their junction, is Immediately
outside the city on the south side.
The railway to Petersburg, after
winding some distance to the west
ward, passes out of the plain OIL which
Pretoria is situated, through the Das-
poort or defile in the range of hills
behind the city, through which also
the Aupies River runs, the railway
and river running together across the
plain through the Winderboom Poort,
under the guns of large fort TOO
| yards, and little to the eastward of
north, from the centre of Pretoria.
The westernmost fort is on the range
of hills behind Pretoria, and lies at a
distance of 10000 yards northwest of
the centre of the city. The powerful
redoubt to the southwest of Pretoria.
$500 yards from the centre of the city,
on the range of hills through which
the transport road to johannesburg
passes, completes the circle of the
larger works defending the Boer capi-
tai. Behind this redoubt are the prin-
cipal magazines, one excavated out of
the solid rock with 'bomb-proof roof,
and the other built into the kloop, also
bomb-proof. Communication between
the redoubt aud the last mentioned
magazine is by means OF a covered
way. Roads connect all these forts
with the capital, and they have pipes
laid for water, as we'll as electric CO.
bles for the search lights.
The number of guns mounted on the
forts and redoubts is said to be 100 of
large calibre and quickfiring of differ
ent kinds. 1t is stated that some of
the guns are of twenty-three cent?
metres calibre. but this is doubtful; /;
it is known. however, that there are
quite number of tifteen-centimet
guns OF French make from the Creusot
works and of long range, as has been
shown by their performances at Lady
smith. Among the others there are
Krupps, Maxims and other machine
and quick firing guns.
The forts are open to the rear to-
ward Pretoria, and are of masonry
heavily faced with earth toward the
open country. On the east side of the
circle of defence there was no regular
fort in existence when hostilities be-
gan, but it is probable that since then
the ridge to the eastward of the city,
by which the railway in Delagoa Bay
runs, has been fortified
, The siege train just shipped from
England for South Africa, presumably
for Pretoria, is the second sent out
during the last forty-six years. The
last occasion was when sixty five
heavy guns and mortars were sent
from Woolwich for the siege of Sebas-
topol where, with fifty shipguns, they
| took part in the bombardment of that
city in conjunction with the French
siege train. The Russian defence,
however, developed so rapidly under
the inspiration of Todleben, that be-
fore the final assault which placed it
in the hands of the allies, the number
of guns in position in the besieging
batteries had been raised to 906. The
train on its way out from England
comprises thirty howitzers, fourteen
of eight-inch calibre, eight of fve-inch
and eight of four-i The number
is not formidable in itself under the
old conditions in regard to explosives,
but if they arc, as may be inferred,
intended to throw lyddite shells, it is
an exceedingly formidable armament
and, unless the Beers are in posses
sion of proiectiles charged with melin-
lite or some similar high explosive
with which to respond to the British
fire, the siege of Pretoria should not
be OF very long duration. 1t is cal
culated that the investment will re-
quire fully 1000 British troops, leav-
ing the remainder of the army to guard
the communications, occupy certain