The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-13
THE BoERs IN BATTLE
low They Build Their Trenches and
Eiqk1t in Them.

4 branch of warfare II which the i;0eTs
/ atach almost s@pse,ne importance. and
rightly so, : scouting. At t;ds thc,r rav-
/ ing habits ana mode Of l'fe ,1aka them
particularly q lepr, although GurirE the
present war some Of the most valuable
work in this connection has been formed
! by Uluanders. Two corps Of e.oats. one
composed of Frenchmen undfr Capf. lie
Gallien. and the other of Italians. under
the command of Captain Riccliardi both
recruited in johannesburg during the carl
! Ter months o the war. rendered services
Of almost incredible value 10 the Boer
cause Of an essentially cautiously ma
ture. the Beers never think OF moving
IN any direction until the country has
been entirely reconnoitreGby scouting
parties, and the enemy has been located;
and it is 10 this fact that marvellous
nobility is largely due Having asccI-
tained the position OF their enemy and
calculated the numbers likely TO Doe en-
gagged at any given point the scouts
report TO the general Of the forces to
which they arc attached. and the burgh-
are then shifted from one position 10
another. so as to be ready for an emer-
gencies. Thus it is thar during the pres
est campaign the Beers have almost been
invariably where they could do the most
effective work. and in about the right
numbers 10 do it,
Another method guarding against
surprise is that of "crow-1eats. Choos-
ing an elevated . position as possible in
the neighborhood of their trenches or
lager. the Beers erect a cover OF loose
bushes. made to appear So Natural that
from quite short distance II is easily
mistaken for the growing. shrubby bush
with which the country is to great ox-
terri covered. Planted on tho top II
kopje. the Beers. With their Telescopes
and held glasses. are able 10 keep
lookout over miles @ the surrounding
country while themselves perfectly hid
den.
Having decided upon the positions they
intend to occupy and defend the hrrrh-
ers proceed 10 dig trenches or erect .or
stone walls or ".schanzesG as ,hev arc
called. of loose stones piles $40 some tarea
fest high. %. 4 The ground is suitable.
lhey do both II anything. thc latter
sffora the more protection ~ the tvo.
since not only 81 these scha-zes -t,a
simust perfect shelter from rife-fre. but
,hrouga he iaters;icss between the
stones the men are ahle ro watrh for r,s
approaching enemy- ON The smallest marx
bsi Ing presented. they cither use the inter-
stices as loopheles or else ther uep ufs
aim. arfe AND are down asa.n la ~
almost Incredible short space ~ tire
ln this manner tres car PICK off size adj
ancins soldiers while remaining ia
mos; perfcct security themselves Ihs
method of dsatrg explains 10 erae
extent the extraor.iirarv proportion 81
the casualties II fhe Beers aue stc H-r-
ssh respectively Is rlose 81 iae lr-f-rtsnt
ensesemsn,s fought durirs the present
s,aF- These schanzss aTs fpaoaeslfr s-r-
crai mites % lsegth. ard 4fe zt.-nes
belle ~ dirpiica,e - even tripli.at, ihs
euab.lHg ihe Eoers. 90 l'-ins drss,- h.rs
from th@ FIRST. Ia retir auf ear.irr-e
10 nshf 'lehiqt shs <ece7d aad .re fhsrl
Tie adniral',a construction 20 thtr
trenches hes ieer testified t. r-re ttn
ce oas c1ca=sen ~ fhe BRITISH sertr
nossaiy hv Sir Rsdsers 8aHe- h
3 dispatches on tbs Operatives ia Nat4f
-lBy EdVard 2 Hose 81 the ArrH
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