The sun., 1901-05-26

have done better than the English with the
| same or even somewhat greater numbers;
indeed. he doubts II. as regards equipment.
| technical smartness and readiness. a Conti-
mental army would have given so good an
| account OF itself The Boer 10 an enemy
| such as never has been and never will be Uet
| again Mounted sharpshooters, provided
with the best OF arms. acclimatized, fanatical
| and accustomed to campaigning. are very
formidable opponents and cannot be wiped
out like mere herds OF armed men. II Is 70
be remembered that the Beers have the
sharpest eyes conceivable: that they under
stand as no one else does how to cover them
selves from view; these are advantages which
outweigh defective leading and the discour-
aging effects Of being on the defensive. y
Our author adds that the Boer artillerists.
though not strong numerically. had the latest
patent guns and knew how to use them IL
seems that the reason why the Beers spread
themselves out over wide tract or country
is that they are accustomed 10 drive along
with them herds OF oxen, sheep and donkeys;
they get no other food Many horses also
have to be fed. the result being that Boer
force must always have large expanse OF
pasture land accessible.
Now let us glance at the authors COM
ments on the English soldiers. He willingly
testines that "the English technical troops
are splendid. The railway and telegraph
corps worked wonderfully, We know, OF
course. that the En- glish are the best builders
of railways. In the colonies the railways
seemed TO start up out OF the ground Tor
hundreds Of miles. In South Africa they
repaired railways that were damaged in
less time than the Bocrs had taken TO damage
them" On the other hand. our author con-
siders that the supply of tho army left much
to be desired. and he would not be surprised
If. when the war Is over those who we're
responsible for supplies should be caued
to account He was not al all astonished
when he heard Of the swindliDg which had
been perpetrated in connection with the
purchase OF horses in Hungary Count
Sternherg deems himself fortunate that
he was taken prisoner at Paardeberg Driit,
for he thus had an opportunity Of observing
the English army under various conditions
Previously ! had continental ideas with
regard to English troops. but have been
converted The English army reminds mo
vividly OF our own lAustrianI army previously
to 1896 Al thac time we had the best army
in the world. but as IL was practically un-
armed, il could do nothing, that It was brave
the Prlssians can testify The tone among
the officers was similar 10 that in the English
army ncbiCsse obli,e" II is with genuine
sympathy that the author goes on to tell us:
When | think of tho English officers my
heart grows weary Men who are dec-
mated. shot down like rabbits nt drive,
and still remain so Eind-henred and 80 chv-
alrous, show Themselves to have the right
blood in their veins | can only repeat that
the English officers and the English soldiers
have shown in this war that the profession
Of arms does not debase, but rather ennobles
man" At the same time, Count Sternbcrg
bears witness that the Beers on their part
were in no way wanting in humanity Men
Of She wilderness, IA they are. they have
always shown themselves humane. ! have
with my own ewes seen how they have treated
prisoners who had been firing on them This
war has had its good side and think | may
say that never has war been fought in 50
civilized n manner
The authors military reflections are con-
densed in the following two sentences; First.
war has become more Of a science now than
II was at any previous time. Secondly.
genuses quick 10 learn and ready to discard
traditions will bc successful