The sun., 1901-05-26
SOMF NEW BOOKS.
An Austrians view Of the south African War

stlll unfinished contest between England
and the Afrikander republics should omit
to read the book entitled NY Experiences of
the Bjer War. by Count SrEgSBERd Hong-
mans What we have here il something
more than n lively record OF military ad-
venture The author. an Austrian. is an
experienced soldier. who saw great deal
OF uth Africa. and quite enough OF the
campaign 10 give his opinions weight, IL Is
Acknowledged by the translator, Lieut. -Col.
G n Henderson. late Director OF lntelll-
gence Headcuartcrs STAFF, South Africa.
that Count Sternberg's comments on the
tactics and organization Of both combatants
are well worth attention, and IL is pointed
out that his admiration OF the British soldier.
together with his recognition OF the abnor-
NAL difficulties Of the theatre OF war supply
q corrective TO some Of his criticisms. With
the exception Of singularly life-like account
OF President Kruger, we shall make no ex-
tracts from tho body OF the narrative. which
records the authors interesting adventures
in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
Tho reader who begins this record Is sure
TO follow it to the end We desire. however
70 direct particular attention TO tho chapters
which discuss the political situation IN the
Transyaal. and set forth Count Sternberg's
gcD"fal anu lllliNdIl ItH'CtA'l' va VI" N'N"''
OF which he was witness
II was Mt Pretoria. soon after the Boer
victory at Colenso, that Count Sternberg
met the President Of the South African Re-
public IIe was accompanied by an inter-
prefer. as the President only speaks Dutch.
he found Kruger sitting in a little veranda
In front Of his small mansion, smoking
short pipe The President. Il grizzlcd old
man. wearing huge blue. horn spectacles,
with a shabby top hat on his head. and n
frock coat which, seemingly, had not been
brushed for wears, was rejoicing over the
victory at Coenso, the number of prisoners,
and especially over the capture Of guns
"Yes," he said "the Beers can shoot. and
that is everything He then related e. his
visitor how he had gone to England and
crnvcd from tho Queen the freedom Of his
pcorlc He pointed to heaven and said
~ is lie who orders everything from above
Our author goes on t. say that Kruger il
an exceptional sort of man lie is physically
and mcutally q giant Tail and broad. with
q great deep voice, he must possess eX-
traordinary bodily strength His limbs are
In keeping and he has a splendid chest lie
has lost q thumb from one hand. which he
is said - have Cut of himself with table
knife because II had shown sign, Of blood
poisoning lie sticks q hi, blacN pipe and
pufTs and spit, continuously He drinks only
water and coffee lie has only once drunk
wine in hi- liff, and that WAS at Blpcmfon-
tein, after the signing Of the alliance with
the Orange Free state. He then drank of
a glass If champagne. and put down the
glass with face ot disgust What was the
source of Kruger dictatorial power? To
this question, which j. often asked. Count
Sternbcrg believes that he has found the
answer II seems that the Executive part
of the Government, which was, practically,
the President, had the disposal of a large
number of farms, the property of tho STATE.
which were leased gratis 70 burrhers who
had no landed property Such farms varied
In size and prOduCtivcness man who
owned a few cattle would receive small
one. and so on in proportion to the number
of cattle he possessed One can easily under
stand that the fathers Of families would
seek to incratiate themselves with those in
power with the hope of providing for their
offspring.
In addition to this. the Government had
the ri .;ht to comm lndeer horses carts, oxen
mules and KaiIrS az It's discretion This
Communicating might hit man very hard
and. naturally. the lirst ~ suffer would be
those who were unpopular Count Stern
berg testiiies that apart from these ma
teral reasons. Kruger, on account Of his
intensely BOcr characteristics. had n great
charm for the people and enjoyed their un-
limited confidence Our authors observa-
tions led him ~ believe that the Boer il bv
nature very obcdient and never opposes his
lawful superior ne conforms to the pre-
cept Of Holy Writ Servants. he subject TO
your masters with all fear, not only 10 the
good and gentle. bat also 10 tho froward "
To this innate spirit of obedience ia attrb-
uted IN" fact that it had been possible 10
rule the country without police or soldiers
Count Sternhcrg say, that hc has never seen
a people naturally better behaved but he
thinks that to foreign officials the Beers will
only submit when force j. exercised
To return for a moment 10 Kruger, many
anecdotes are told of him. some Of which are
here reproduced II appears that during
Krnger's nr.l visit 10 London ne learned for
the first time the us" Of the nighIshirt He
brought back with him a dozen specimens
OF the novel garment Previously he had
gone 70 bed in his trousers When his wife
saw him in uight~hirt she was so much
terrified that ho had 10 go back to his old
custom According 10 our author, tho princi-
pal part Of Kruger, toilet CONSISTS in putting
on and taking of his top hat which he seems
10 look on A. the emblem Of his dignity A.
night he takes it of. and his first act on got
ting mp is Ia put II on again He spends
little tim" in washing and brushing At
the time Of Count Storuhergs visit the old
man was suffering from his eyes His eve-
lashes were growing into his eyes and caused
him a great deal Of pain
In a chapter on the Political situation in
the Transvaal" our author expresses the
opinion that. as regards the controversy
over the right Of voting. tho Titlanders we're
In the right lIn reminds us that not only
en!Grants but whites born in tho Transvaal.
though they might own property and pay
taxes were barred from tho right OF voting
and enjoyed no moro political privileges
than did the Knflrs The colossal mining
Industry which Europe had founded on the
Rand was entirely ignored by the Legislature.
not single representative of the industry
having either seat or vote lneducated
Boers. dwelling in farms miles apart. remote
from towns. were the exclusive l1wgivers Of
the country They alone regulated the taxes
and the customs and they heartily dctestod
the interlopcrs who had raised the price Of
food and the rate Of wages Count Sternberg
notes TIM, all tNc state officials were imported
HOimnd"r~, md hc dcrouupcS them not only
for indolcuc" and ill-brerdlng but for OK
traordlr1rv corruption In word. our
author holds 'hpt % radical reform was