New-York tribune., 1901-01-28

which is not familiar with the general opera
tions of the army.
Staff work while more technical and brilliant,
is not more dangerous than the volunteer service
of messengers. which is a constant detail IN
such a campaign as the one in South Africa
Many of the bravest deeds in the war have
been of this nature. For example during the
battle of Colenso the officer in command at the
village received a signal directing him to retire
from the position which he had held during the
day near the bridge across the Tugela. His men
had found excellent cover in the village. and he
convinced that he could the guns
which Colonel Long had carried too near the
river. and which Lord Roberts's son had vainly
endeavored to rescue. He wrote a message 10
the effect that he confident that IL he were
allowed to keep his men where they were until
nightfal he could the guns. He called
for three volunteers to carry the message out
OF cover across the zone of fire TO headquarters
Hundreds of men volunteered for the dangerous
service. He chose three. One to lead with
a message in his left hand. If he were 10 fall
the next was to get the message and so on
with II. and the third man to act relay
II necessary. The first messenger fell riddled
with bullets half way across the field: the sec
ond soldier then up. seized the message and
killed not far away. and the third man
hurried forward with the sealed envelope and
nailed again for retirement, but the command
ing officer unwilling 10 abandon the
chance of saving the guns that he wrote Sec
ond message. again called for three volunteers
and sent II through to headquarters. In the
end he carried back his battalion reluctantly
but TO this day he is convinced that the guns
might have been saved
Veterans returning from the front resent un-
merited structures upon the conduct OF British
officers as a class. They assert that the average
work OF the officers in the field has been high.
and they consider IL unfair that the main body
should be condemned white plumed carpet
knights and sporting soldiers, fitted only for the
drawing room the parade ground and the hunt
ing field. They say that Lord Roberts has begun
and that Lord Kitchener will complete process
OF natural selection by which the survival Of
the fttest will be brought about. BY the abo-
lition OF army purchase men were admitted TO
commissions on the score OF merit and COM
petition and the titled classes were deprived OF
their vested interests in military service. While
old time scandals have passed away, the spirit
Of favoritism has remained The army became
democratic in principle rather than In practice.
The sons of titled people considered themselves
in line for entrance into the privileged corps
of the army. Many of these social pets have
been military failures in South Africa. Without
doubt there will be fewer fashionable knights in
the army hereafter. Experience in South Africa
has demonstrated that social favortes are out
of place in the serious work of a campaign.
Moreover, current ideas in fashionable circles
about war have been transformed during the
last year. Young men of rank and fashion will
be less likely in future than they have been In
the past to choose the army profession.
While the seasoned soldiers OF the war have
become critical respecting the defects and short
cOmings of the British army they have not lost
sight Of its merits nor Of the advantages de-
rived from practical experience in fighting white
men on their ground under conditions high
| ly favorable for vigorous defence. They know
the difficulties encountered in South Africa and
the remarkable resources OF mobility and en-
durance displayed by the Beers. While Cont
mental critics do not attempt to conceal their
contempt for the British army and assert that
it has lost prestige in the unequal conflict with
inferior foe. the veterans fresh from South
Africa are not deceived by ignorant structures.
They are convinced that the Beers in defensive
warfare and in guerilla tactics the most
formidable foes in military annals and they do
not believe that any European army would have
done better work than themselves.
The prevailing idea among the returning off,
GERS is that the German army. scientific and
perfect in organization as it is, will be in one
| respect at a considerable disadvantage in
IutufS campaign, Tor example, Win the RuS-
SLAMS. They have learned in South Africa that
the long range rifle is a terrible weapon when
there is good sight behind it. Every Boer had
keen sight and this was a great resource when
the zone of fire was several miles in diameter.
Many of the British officers have defective
sight. Some of them at Colcnso could not see
from a distance the guns which they had set
out to rescue, although the donga with its aban-
doned artillery, was in plain sight to men with
strong eyes Throughout the campaign trained
eyes have been required for finding resources
for cover for troops in mountains and valleys:
and this will be of the chief tests of effec-
tive service hereafter. The experts assert that
British officers as class have better sight than
German officers, and this is probably true In
military campaign the Russian peasant SOL
diers would have the same advantage in respect
TO far sight over the German army, which the
Dutch burghers have had over the British in
| South Africa. IN +