The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-04-12
BOERS IN BATTLE.
Every Precaution Taken Before an
Engagement.

A branch of warfare to which tho
Beers attach almost supreme impor-
lance, and rightlyso is scouting, writes
Edward b. Rose in the April Forum.
At this their rowing habits and mode Of
life make them particularly adept, al
though during the present war some of
the most valuable work in this direc-
ton has been performed by uitlanders
Two corps of scouts, one composed of
Frenchmen under Captain LIE Gallien
and the other of Italians under the
command of Captain Ricchiardi, both
recruited in Johannesburg during the
earlier months Of the war, rendered
services Of almost incalculable 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 recon-
nOitered by scouting parties and the
enemy has been located, and it is to this
fact that their marvellous mobility is
largely due. Having ascertained the
position of their opponents and calcu-
lated the numbers likely to be engaged
the general of the forces to which they
are attached, and the Durghers are then
shifted from one position to another
so as to be ready for all emergencies.
Thus it is that during the present CAM
paign the Beers have almost invari-
ably been just where they could do the
most effective work and in about the
right numbers to do it.
Another method of guarding against
surprise is that of "crow nests" Choos-
ing as 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 a short distance it is
easily mistaken for the growing shrub
by bush with which the country is to
Il great extent covered. Planted on
the top Of kopje, the Beers with their
telescopes and field glasses are able to
keep lookout over miles of the sur
rounding country While themselves
are perfectly hidden.
Having decided upon the positions
they intend to occupy and defend, the
burghCrS proceed to dig trenches or
erect low stone walls, or 'schanzes,' as
they are called, of loose stones piled up
some three feet high, or, if the ground
is suitable, they do both. If anything,
the latter afford the more effective pro-
lection OF the two, since not only do
these schanzes give almost perfect
shelter from rifle fire, but through the
interstices between the stones the men
are able to watch for the approaching
enemy. On tho smallest mark being
presented they either use the inter-
stices as loopholes or else they pop up,
aim, fire and are down again in an al
most incredibly short space of time. In
this manner they can pick off the ad-
vancing soldiers while remaining in al
most perfect security themselves. This
method of fighting explains to a great
extent the extraordinary disproportion
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 some
times built in duplicate or even tripli-
cate, thus enabling the Beers OIL being
driven back from the first to retire and
continue to fight behind the second and
the third. The admirable construction
Of these trenches has been testified to
on more than one occasion by the Brit
! ish generals, notably by Sir Redvers
Butler in his dispatches on the opera
lions in Natal.