The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-07
THE BosRs IN BATTLE.


They Attach Almost Supreme Impor-
tance to Scouting.
branch of warfare to which the
Beers attach almost supreme impor-
tance, and rightly SO. Is scouting. AT
this their rowing habits and mode of
life make them particularly adept.
although during the present war some
Cf the most valuable work In this di.
rection has been performed by Uit-
landers. Two corps of scouts, one
composed of Frenchmen under Cap
tain lie Gallien, and the other of Itsl-
ians under the command of Captain
Ricchidari, both recruited in Johannes
burg during the earlier months of the
war, rendered services of almost in
calculable value to the Boer cause. OF
an essentially cautious nature, the
Beers never think of moving in any
new direction until the country has
been thoroughly reconnoitred by scout
Ing parties, and the enemy has been lo.
Gated, and 1t is to this fact that their
marvellous mobility is largely due.
Having ascertained the position of
their opponents and calculated the
numbers likely to be engaged at any
given point, the scouts report to the
general of the forces to which they are
attached; and the burghers are then
shifted from one position to another,
so as to be ready for all emergencies.
Thus IL is that during the present cam
paign the Beers have almost invaria.
bly, been just where they could do the
most effective work, and in about the
right numbers to do il.
Another method of guarding against
surprise is that of "crow nests"
Choosing as elevated position as pos
sible in the neighborhood of their
trenches or lager, the Beers erect
cover of loose bushes, made to appear
so natural that from quite a short dis
tance 1t is easily mistaken for the
growing, shrubby bush with which the
country is to great extent covered.
Planted on the top OF a kopje, the
Poers with their telescopes and field
glasses, are able to keep a lookout
over miles of the surrounding country
whilst themselves perfectly hidden.
Having decided upon the positions
they intend to occupy and defend. the
burghers proceed to dig trenches or
erect low stone walls, or "schanzes," as
they are called, of loose stones piled I'D
some three feet high or, If the ground
Is suitable, they do both. IL anything
the latter afford the more effective
protection of the two: since not only
col ha oil, nj,
shelter from rifle-fire. but through the
interstices between the stones the men
are able to watch for the approaching
enemy. On the smallest mark being
presented, they either use the inter-
stices as loop-holes. or else they pop
up, aim, fire, and are down again in an
almost incredibly short space of time.
In this manner they can pick off the
advancing soldiers while remaining in
almost perfect security themselves.
This method of fighting explains to a
great extent the extraordinary dispro-
portion in the casualties of Beers and
British respectively in most of the
important engagements fought during
the present war. These schanzes are
frequently several miles in length, and
are sometimes built in duplicate or even
triplicate; thus enabling the Beers, on
being driven back from the first, to re-
tire and continue to fight behind the
second and the third The admirable
construction of their trenches has been
testified to on more than one occasion
by the British generals, notably by Sir
Redvers Butler in his dispatches on
the operations in Natal.-Edward b.
Rose in the Forum.