The National tribune., 1900-02-15
The Boer Army.
Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly.

The Transvaal is divided into 90 military
districts, over which Comnandant pre-
sides, and each district is subdivided into
wards assigned to field comets. who in
times of peace act as magistrates aud in
war serve as the Commandant's Lieu
tenants. The commando furnished by a
district varies from 400 to 2, 900 men. These
are all mounted infantry. Very little
formal discipline is maintained or attempted.
Only the members of the Stats Artillerie
in the Transvaal army wear uniforms.
The peasant soldiery on horseback is a be-
wildering and motley array, thousands
of the burghers being attired in home
made clothing, cut from the skins of ante
lope. They are probably the most rugged
and picturesque set of rough-riders in the
world, and they will, no doubt, fight under
Gen. Joubert until they are captured or
eXterminated.
The Boer army is a wonderfully mobile
body, Notwithstanding its lack of discipline.
These men, from their habits of hunting
and wandering know the typographical
secrets of every kloof and berg, nor are they
Handicapped by fear of getting beyond
their base OF supplies. The veldt furnishes
feed for their horses, and the men carry
with them strings of biltong, 'or jerked
beef, upon which, with water from the
abundant springs. they can live for days.
And sleeping without cover on the veldt,
or on the rocky slopes of mountains, is not
hardship. In truth, that is to them a
paStime and delight. The British forces
are attempting to conquer horde of hardy
nomads to whom the rigors of war are
recreation, and whose knowledge of the
treacherous and precipitous fields where
battles are waged is as complete as was
tlat of the lions and leopards that prowled
these gloomy cliffs before them.
To understand the difficulties attending
invasion Of the Transvaal, and the secret of
much of the Boer success in the past and
present, one must keep in mind the singu-
lar conformation of the country. 1t has
no sea-coast. 1t is an upland prairie or
plateau, set apart from the surrounding
l0wlands by sheer escarpment in many
places from 1900 to 5000 feet, and in
other sections by series OF Jagged and
frowning terraces. 1t is a National Glib
raltar. Ladysmith, 1S9 miles from Durham,
has an altitude of 1885 feet, while Lang's
Neck, the gateway to the Iransyaal, has
an altitude of $3.50 feet. Pretoria, 4,471
feet above the sea, and 511 miles from
Durham, is surrounded by circle of hills
through which there is but one narrow
pass. The Transvaal prairie is broken
into many kioofs deceptive in their forma
ton, and affording natural traps for in
yaders. Into one of these DIR. Jameson
was driven. Surrender was the only way
out
The average Boer, not being able to read,
gets what few ideas he has from the church.
The clergymen are always militant. In
times of peace they turn their philipics
against the rival sect, and when war threat
ems they hurl their anathemas at the enemy
and urge their congregations to the front.
In interpreting the history of these people
and reading the news of the present con-
fiict, one should remember that the Beers,
however crafty and degraded, are in
spired to action in war by religious zeal
and implicit faith in the God Of Battles.
Their National song, which Is both their
prayer and slogan, is a stirring poem
Listen to the lusty chorus of a detach-
ment of stalwart, bearded, unkempt horse
men and hunters, dressed like bandits,
and barring their heads and closing their
eyes in prayer as they sing, and you get
an idea of the martial ardor of these Beers.
With all their uncleanliness, stupidity,
and contempt for civilization, they are
a picturesque lot Of warlike .vagabonds,
and their Dervish-like intonation Of '.Het
heeft geoffered COED en- blood voor vrijheid
en- voor recht" will kindle the reluctant ad-
of the most prejudiced Uitlander.
"Het Volkslied" is the name Of this battle
song, which they sing in the field before
action.
Imagine, then, an army Of expert rifle
men and riders, animated by the senti-
ments of this hymn and fighting, net In
battle line according to military methods,
but from ambush, after the manner Of the
American Indians. Such has been, and in
a large manner still Is, the Boer army
Before it the British have gone down in