The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-05
FONDNEss FOR SPORT.
Said to Retard British I'm Fighting
the Beers.


the Beers.
From the Philadelphia North American.
Among the cheerful phenomena of the
day, the British officer has attained a
conspicuous place. While gloom OPP
presses the patient British taxpayer as
he computes the costs of conquest, the
gallant "or'fcer man. at the front is
not disturbed. He is prisoner of hope,
condemned to fight inglorious battles
for his country seven thousand miles
from the comforts of home. and he does
that with proper enthusiasm, but he
walls of warfare. and his enthusiasm in
this pursit is even greater.
1t must be admitted that in the Brit
Usher the spoFtman's instanct is high
ly developed and with excellent effect
upon his character as a man and a
soldier. But when he persists in play
ing golf in the enemy's country he be-
comes more than Type; he is a Text.
And unappreciative civilians preach
upon him, as thus:
1.-The fact of the case is that most
Of our officers are fonder of golf and
cricket than duty. Only last week two
Beers went to one of our outposts near
here, right between two blockhouses,
and left their WORKOUT horses and took
our fresh ones without any of our
picket knowing about It, And again,
some officers were playing golf, when
they were told the enemy were around.
They finished the game. and then gave
orders to fall in; but meanwhile brother
Boer had exchanged their horses and
all got away, our men not being able
to follow on the Boer horses. That Is
the kind of thing that is keeping the
war on."-From a letter from South
Africa to the st. James Gazette.
Enjoy the War Allowances.
Our garrison towns represent
state of things utterly opposed to the
idea of a vigorous prosecution of the
war. Numerous officers in possession OF
staff billets are snugly enscorncing
themselves in comfortable bungalows,
obtaining lodging instead of field al
lowance, and drawing ration allowance.
In fact, the liberal allowances to Of
ficers in South Africa seem to counter
balance their desire for the end for the
war.
Sport r. all very we'll in its way,
but on active service the care of golf
links and tennis courts should not ex-
ercise officers ability and attention,
while the thousands Of polo and rae
ing ponies kept by officers throughout
South Africa (fed by government ra-
tions) might profitably be used to aug
ment the parsimonious supply of re-
mounts TO the mobile columns. From
a letter from South Africa to the
London Spectator.
Here is hilarious contrast--the Lon
don populace paradlng through the
streets from time to time, roaring
"Rule, Britannia; Britons never, never,
never shall be slaves!" andNthe officers
at the front pursuing golf balls over
the wind-swept veldt while inconsider-
ate Beers round up their horses.
Mixes GoIhnE and Fighting.
An orderly rides furiously across the
plain to his commanding officer, who
Is leading an attack on the ninth hole:
filings himself from his horse, and
breathlessly reports that the Beers are
raiding the camp. Whereupon Capt. the
Hon. Algernon Fitzmaurice, leaning on
his niblick. regards him coldly through
his glass and replies:
VERY good. my man. Ny compli-
meDts to the lieutenant, and say ex-
pect to hole out in three and will be
with him In half-hour. And tell him
TO keep the Boer men of the links"
Away goes the orderly In a cloud Of
dust, and Captain the Hon. Algernon
Fitzmaurice, poising his brassie, pre-
peres 20 drive across a water-course
hazard. II any one thinks this sad
picture rs overdrswn he In respectfully
referred 10 the letters printed above.
/ had the pleasure OF Observing an
instance Of the British officers inera-
dlcable passion for sport Pretoria was
taken, Il will be remembered. after
steady advance from BloemfOntien-
with something like fifty engagements
IN 1fty-six dayg-and the forces sat
down 20 rest. The Beers withdrew 10
the nOrthWsrd and eastward. but re-
malned q constant threat 10 che out
posts ~ the town.
stseDieehase Near the zoe.
Within q week the officers has ar