The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-07-03
American Army officers on the
BOer War

my were observers Of the operations in
the war in South Africa, Captain So
cum OF the cavalry on the side Of the
British, and Captain Reichmann Of the
infantry in the camps of the Beers.
The reports OF these officers are ex-
tremely interesting.
1t is singular how the characteristics
of a people cling to them and reappear
on the occasions, large or small, which
call them forth. Writing of the troops
under his immediate observation Cap
tain Slocum said: ''If ever nation ex-
emplifed the phrase, brave to fault
it is the British" and he gives this IL
lustration of the truth and force OF this
criticism
The reluctance of the soldier to in.
trench himself, and the indifference OF
the officers to enforce this most neces-
sary and vital precaution was strikingly
shown upon all occasions. They would
pile little parapet OF stones, visible
for long distance, and consequently
target for the enemy's guns and
source of death IN itself when struck by
she'll, but they would rarely even dig
a trench. l never could understand
this serions fault. The infantry never
make rushes in their attacks, but march
erect and calmly forward. l have seen
mounted men under q hot rifle fire at
short range, halted, waiting for orders to
advance, sitting erect on their horses,
perfect target, while lying over on
their horses necks they wonld have
had some protection, as 1 had. They
have not the individuality and re-
sources Of our men, but the indomita-
BILE courage, accomplishing fortitude,
and implicit obedience, they are be-
yond criticism.
Every school boy knows-or ought to
know-the story OF Braddock's defeat,
how the British regulars, caught in an
ambuscade-an Indian behind every
tree of the forest snare, killing his man
at every flash of his ri6e-persisted in
fighting as if they were in the presence
of European troops contending in the
open. They fired with the machine
like regularity Of the disciplined troops
they were, at random, into the forest
against an unseen foe, themselves
erect and calm-conspicuous targets
for the lurking redskins, brave to a
fault but their stubborn valor utterly
ineffective against the sort of enemy
they were up against, till psnic-stricken
by the fearful slaughter they broke and
fled. Washington, then the young
colonial officer whose counsels Brad
dock in the beginning had scorned,
with his colonial troops, closing in be-
hind and adapting his tactics to those
of the enemy, saved the fleeing regu-
lars from utter extinction.
And now, away in South Africa, a
century and half from the time OF the
bloody and disastrous episode in the
forests of Pennsylvania, the same char
acteristic of the British soldier reap
pears, and is the subject of note and
comment by an American soldier, the
distinctive traits Of whose comrades, as
developed in Washington's rearguard
defence OF the remnant of Braddock's
fleeing and terror stricken column,
have reappeared in a thousand desper.
ate instances, and never were more
conspicuous than in the contests in the
late war with Spain and in the Philip
pines and China.
Capt. Slocum critcises the Boer
trenches, whose "trail resembled q
writhing snake, which lessened the dan
ger from enfilading fire." but, while
easy enough to get men into these
bitches and detached pits, it would be
"a laundering big job if you wanted tC
get them out again to make counter
attack" This manner Of constructing
trenches illustrated to both Observer
leading defect in Boer fghting-su
perb in defense but fatally lacking il
offensive. Had they been holder ant
more aggressive they could have caused
the British endless anxiety and annoy
ance in the advance on Bloemfontein
Lord Roberts reckoned on this weak
ness and turned it to good account. H
had his forward and hanking move
ments chiefly TO look after, "leavin
his rear practically to take care of il
self, knowing that it would not be me
lested."
Captain Reichmann dnds in the fe'
foreigners serving in the Boer army il
chief aggressive force. The Boel
themselves were without discipline
When proposed movement did nj
suit Boer or his officer, he did NJ
move, and in this way many vel
planned affair was ruined. The Boer
lack Of offensive capacity preVente
him from reaping the fruits of tactic
victory. He was content when he hi
repulsed the enemy--a criticism whic
others have made and which seems
IN auala;uad hu nircumatanoAa HI