Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-04
BOERS HELP BRITISH.

cal character.
| BOERs HELP BRITISH.
1t Is Because They Desire to End the
| Terrible War.
For some time past, says a London
dispatch to the New York Sun, the
British troops in South Africa have
been assisted by various bodies Of cap
tured or surrendered Beers who have
volunteered to serve against their fell
low countrymen. Many Of these Tame
Bogers," as they have been christen-
ed, seem to have been Influenced chief
ly by a keen desire to help to put an
end to the war so that they may get
back to their farms while there Is still
some stock in the country, and before
everything has fallen into almost IRE
parable loss. Bennett Burleigh, writ
ing Of these new allies Of the British,
says:
There is a gratifying unanimity Of
opinion among our commanding officers
who have the good fortune to number
company, more or less, Of Tame Bo-
gers as part Of their troops that no
more capable and trustworthy men
than these can be found in the army.
Circumstances have led to the enlist
ment of many Of them in our colonial
and irregular forces much sooner than
anticipated. And 1t Is satisfactory to
find that their numbers are increas-
ing. It met with adverse criticism
from many quarters at first when Lord
Kitchener assented to the arming Of
our ex-opponents who had taken the
oath and wanted to help us put
down the irreconcilables, and so
hasten the advent Of peace. But 1t
was an astute stroke Of sound policy
upon his part. Ere this have writ
ten how we'll our new Boer fellow citi-
zens have behaved in action under COL
onel Remington, Major c. Ross and
others, who lead small columns and
take great risks. Neither Remington
nor Ross would be without their aid,
for as scouts they are perfect fighters
and comrades as true as steel. I hail
the granting Of commissions to the
daring spirits among these, our late
foemen. Many Of them are men who
have been captured in arms, and, see
ing the folly of further resistance. have
taken the oath Of neutrality and at
Ixox taI fn
their homesteads. In not a few in
stances they have received stripes, been
thrown into Jail, and otherwise NAL
treated by their former friends upon
commando because they declined to
break their oaths. or fourteen now
with Lieutenant Colonel Stewards COL
umn, every man Of them was for
months kept in duress at Paul Pieters-
burg-or dorp.
II have watched and admired the
scouting of the Tame Bogers' upon
the last trek. In setting out they ap-
pear much like other irregulars. as If
there was want Of purpose and direc-
ton. But than that latter view naught
could be more erroneous, for their
movements disclosed that every trooper
among them was instinct with the full
sense and knowledge Of their duties.
They bumped steadily along, going far
and wide, and their keen vision and
veldt craft put them in possession Of
all the features of locality in a trice.
Some of the British-B Boer troops main
tain most excellent discipline, drill
with precision. wear khaki demurely,
and salute with the smartness of vet
eran regulars.
"In one respect they are far ahead
Of the average Of our men. Their
horse Is their first care on returning to
or when in camp, and with their own
hands they carefully see to its feeding,
grooming and comfort. In advance
flanking duty, or rear guard they are
equally good. General ]. Campbell has
company Of them upon whom he
pins much faith, and as for Lieutenant
Colonel Stewart, like Colonel Reming-
ton and other successful leaders OF
ours, he would not be without them on
any account. Their judgment and
knowledge Of the enemy's number and
whereabouts are almost intuitive;
their information of his movements
and intentions most reliable. They
have no difficulty in extracting infor-
nation from the Kaffirs. With us they
have but one fault to find, and that Is
that we don't sail into the wild Beers
and fight them on every possible oc-
casion.
IF we want to end the war and not
keep South Africa as training school
for our soldiers they say that we must
give the irreconcilables' no rest day
nor night, and not be over gentle when
we catch them. The Wild Boers.' they
say, will stand no heavy losses In the
field, nor fight If they lose by rifle fire
10 per cent. of their men. But we must
expect to have losses, too, and we'll
never catch them except by going for
them first chance. Lieutenant Colonel
Stewart has about 40 of them, under
Lieutenant Joe Mossop, an ex-burgher
himself. With him are Carl Scharz
and other we'll known Beers of all ages.
varying from early manhood to past
midle life I have ridden with them
day in and day out, chatted with them
and learned much of their wondrous
veldt craft They are CHEEKY, good fell
lows. fond of fun at all times and play