The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-13
The WAR OF KINGS.
simple Native Who Knew Nothing of STAFF
College strategy.
n the Ladysmith south Africa Tyre.

From the Ladysmith (SOuth Africa Lyre.
Mahabir-Thapa is an expert in war.
From his infancy he has engaged In the
destruction of mankind. At his mothers
breast he strangled his twin brother Be
fore he tramped down 10 GOrakhpur TO
enlist as a ''rifleman" OF the Rampant
Bahddur he rad survived four divorce
cases; and every one knows a GJrkha CO.
respondent must be well versad In war
thus to clear his character. l first saw
Mahabir in the Swat Valley. He was a
little scrap Of Havildar in the " Guak-
has, and was standing outside his col
OneTs tent, picking the beard hairs out
of a CHASTITY trophy in heads. On the
previous evening the colonel had offered
three rupees TO the man who would ef-
fectually silerce a "sniper' who had
pitched Martini bullets into the camp with
persistent monoiony. Mahabir had earn
cd the three rupees and had brought in
the Pathian's head as a proof OF good
faith The next time that he tumbled
across my path, / found him a smartly
turued-Out Jemadar, attached TO the
Gurkha scouts In this service he had
ample opportunity of improving his
knowledge Of war. Therefore, when TO
my surprise I found him I'm Ladysmith
/ mas Af-i dula-S az - -Apy-Ny -DIfiitAt 4 AP~
pealed 10 him for an expert opinion.
What do you think Of IL, Sirdar?"
"Sahib. have seen many wars, but this
IS before all war-this was the war OF
kings-cannon on this side, cannon on
that side. was there over such a war.
Surely this is Badshai ke laraL"
come along. Sidar, come 70 my room
and We will talk 1t over"
| took him 70 my quarters and placed
a Mauser carbine, and brandy, In his
what do you think Of this, sirdar?"
He turned the weapon over half a dozen
times. tried the breech action. pressed
down the magazine spring, and then threw
the rife on the bed. "SahlD. Il g. good
bUt the war is bad This war IS Ike :
Shlkar party given by Jung Bahadur-a
Srate Shikar party. Here are elephants
armies Of beaters, tents, food In plenty,
music. fireworks. and matches but no
kills. except such game as the keepe .
Rad orders 10 STAY over night ana had
streUE IN the path Of the elephants. that
he guests might be pleased. Even, as
his. is this war. II was a war o. kings
nor of men. When men go forth 20 war
or sport they grid up their lOins, pack
food on their backs, and make no nolse-
TIE less noise the more war
Then do you approve o. this show
'aS4hib. 10 j. magnificent. a great game;
men watch FOR the smoke Of the guns
then run into holes and laugh and clap
fbetr hands There they sit IN safety.
counting the loss and gain with a thOuz-
and rupees IN the mouth o. each gun
Why spend this money and do no good
II We run 70 holes, viii rot the dushman
m likewise viii Ne not laugh and also
clan his hands? For 20 rupees will
C;urkha serve the SiTkar !OT year. AZ
Won had the services Of one Gurkha for
00e wear. for every round that you have
fred during the last month. you would
nov stand possessed Of every gun In the
world With Lucas szhib, and Bruce 81
hIb. and city men from my pultan the
Cen. Sahib would IN one week. have IN his
yeranda such a pile Of breech-biOeks that
he doors would not open. and ne should
have painted them all red % prevent
rust"
but this il a white mans war"
Mahablr-Thapa put down his glass slow
~. Ills eyes clearly said. Thank God for
that" buf his answer Was, Il cannot un-
derstand Il is the war OF kings. ] am but
] man
How could be understand; What dli
he know % stan College strategy. and
modern tactics? Military history. depTcs-
sion ranEe-AndeFss telescope alEnts, aua
chrss-bOaFd calculations meant nothing 20
the man, Who. given half e company o.
Mttle hea'hcns In grass shoes was pre-
pared 10 fisma ntie the whole of the arlii-
/ lery Of the South African Republics.