New-York tribune., 1901-06-22
AN ARMY CRITIC IN AFRICA
REPORT OF CAPTAIN SLOCUM ON THE
TRANSvAAL CAMPAIGN
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.I

tary attache at ST. Petersburg, who accompanied
the British headquarters in the Transvaal cam
paign. The three reports of his observations made
at different periods of the by Captain Siocum
have been carefully edited avoid giving offence
TO the British authorities but with the onls-
sion of the sharp criticisms he made on Lord Roo-
erts and his campaign, the document is interesting
showing 1t does the frequent violation or hags
of truce and the use of explosive bullets by the
Beers and the weaknesses of the British system
The most important parts of Captain slocums re-
port follows:
TT, The march northward from the line-Bloemfo9-
draDiy Planned and conducted The front OF this
extending to Bethlehem. and had even portion Of
the Natal field force entered the Free State through
junction with Lord Robeftss army from Bethle-
hem North the result would have been decisive and
were were eompelled to operate was ENORMOUS and al.
the Orange Free State is some tty thousand square
an6 that Of the South African Fepg0S M n
total area an army such as was svailabe to Lord
railway line over which all the supplies of every
was narrow. single-tracked and badly constructed,
and there was an inadequate amount of rolling
Town and Port Elizabeth, over thousand miles
draught and others was terrific. due mainly to short
bf9T9se bard o 5ad r gFazng little water and continuous
spendidly always but the reluctance of the soldier
GERS to enforce this most necessary and vital pre-
caution were strkngly shown upon all occa aslons
for long distance, and consequently a target for
he WRe6 sc gu sb and S 6 of death tn in itself
dig trench. 1 never could understand this serious
BRITISH COURAGE PRAISED.
Invisible bat their al %as aWays
evidence" The disregard OF the British officer and
safety Te nT
make rushes in their attacks. but march erect and
haNra .1 1ar
hot rifle fire at short range halted. waiting for
orders orders to advance sitting erect on their horses
neeks. they would nave had some protection as
sources Of cur men but for indomiTabie Courage
uncomplaning forttude and implicit obedience
The majority of the British officers look upon
thelr army service as a mere incident in their
country and town life. Few OF them look upon 1t
make themselves proficient in those innumerable
details necessary for professional soldier 10 know.
mlssioned onlcers TO assume those duties which
rightly and properly they themselves should per-
consequently in critical times instinctively turns 10
his non-commssioned instead of his commissioned
The artillery has shown itself during this war in
my opinion 10 be the best branch of the cOmba ant
service. The field and horse artillery guns not
or the most modern type and were very often out
ranged by the enemy's; nevertheless, the gunners
both officers and men, have demonstrated that they
are as good as the most critical commander could
been one of the most important factors of the war
a
| accommodating and patroIling. II is composed OF
regular infantry and coloniais: and though hrst
still they gained experience they came TO be
longer range OF her arms dmirSby ed "ife ibe
made by the small cavalry force.
AMERICAN CAVALRY THE BEST.
In this connection; calvary and mounted infantry,
and instructed is the best in the world to
y Gessfully the the new conditions Of war That dis
ponent OF its success I do not think there Is a
thoroughly drilled and instructed IN IT, From com
yersaton with the eight other attaches representing
struck with the fact OF how little serious attention
has been given to this matter in the cavalry Of
that the day Of large cavalry bodies meeting In a
!ance carbIne with bullet not under S5-cabre. and
INSTRUCTED @ & as ours is quickly to dismount and use
L. VIII ueiedt any opposing hoTseman trying TO get
home with sabre or lance. would lay special
plosive viii stop a horse. I have seen horses
SS9 SSh99t right inr3ugh the neck or body by the small
be- entirely hit in three four days.
permits OF a large percentage Of thost wounded
by Il 70 return 70 the front within few weeks.
war; The clip system OF the Mauser rife is, 1
think an excellent one Not only are the cartridges
loaded INTO the magazine much more quickly than
without WI H. but the clip holds the cartridges in the
10y the Beers generally had twelve pockets. with a
flap coming down over it and fastened to stud
In IT was put horizontally into the pouch the ends
OF the cartridges protruding through the holes at
bottom and the flap fastened down: the cartridges
We're then secure and could also be withdrawn quick
ly from the pouch The action OF the Lee Metford
Is like ours in respect 10 the loading each cartridge
being separately inserted. The infantry their
e4 "a s loose R in IN two pouches in front on each
IN TWO ways the man could not lie prone and
constantly losing his cartridges. Our cavalry.
mounted Infantry and cavalry. renders unnecessary
the two distinct branches. but it should have a
ieye. are too large unless one squadron is habit
ually kept depot one and not consolidated with
the others in the field The SQuadrOus q
men In action are the maximum number of mounted
by one man The moment after tb denovna
begins into open order-and everything must be in
this formation now-the coIoners control is gone
and the success of the movement depends wholly
upon the commanders of small units the
SQUADRON commanders must let the rein and
trust trust TO the captains such thing as manpuyring
only, and the cooneis orders will consist simply
directing, by messengers or signals. squadron com
The same applies. of course to the infantry
though in less degree and it is Just for this rea-
Individuality and ability 10 think and take care OF
fhemseves d1 to be the best soldiers in the world
showed Immediately to the front but the average
cpined for without this his very individuality be-
comes a menace and danger, for instructive ohedi-
ence 10 the orders given for his future guidance
after he has passed out of the control of his Of
hcers is sine qua non 10 his success and that
NEED OF HARMONY IN ACTION
ment: the controlling idea must be followed by all
and individuals must not consider the expedency
or the same, as undisciplned and undrilled men
will always do Discipline is more necessary now
much for himself The British infantry ' ocers n rs i0 0
the middle and latter part of the carried
badge of officer Except the little gold ones of
their rank on their shoulders, and these We're
counts for the decrease in what the unusually
large percentage of casualties among the officers in
The difficulties Of mounted men in reconnoitring
are largely increased under modern conditions
invisible