BOER HUNTING V. FOX.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1900, Page 2

BOER HUNTING V. FOX.

HUNTING.

The taunt of Winston Churchill, "Are all the gentlemen of England fox hunting?" was utterly undeserved. From the time of hostilities opening no section of the nation has shown a greater desire to be in it than the country gentlemen of the British Isles, from whose ranks, be it remembered, a vast propoi-tion of our army officers are recruited. From the first the landed gentry were eager to be of service, but the War Office would have none of them. The colonies need not to be told that the sapient old gentlemen who dominate the roost in Pall Mall sneered at anything in the shape of horse soldiers who were not cavalry, and would still be doing so but for the fact that in tackling the Boers our infantry has been found wanting-. The War Office has, however, performed a most complete vole face, and today ajman with a horse, who can ride well and shoot well is quite a person of importance, even if he possesses no knowledge of military matters beyond that which every intelligent man must possess. The moment the authorities showed a disposition to accept the services of mounted infantry, volunteers came forward by the thousand, and* at the present moment in every county gentlemen of every estate and age are offering- their services to the corps now being raised to form an integral part of the Imperial yeomanry. This corps is being formed unit by unit through the kingdom, and will consist of any civilians having the necessary qualifications as regards riding and shooting. Those who have formerly been in the army will be eligible, but candidates need have no present association with the regular services. The scheme of enrolment is so arranged that groups of friends have an opportunity of serving in the same corps, and it is expressly understood that the units will not be divided, but their disposition as units will be regulated by circumstances and the organisation of the Imperial Yeomanry. The corps'will be peculiarly suited to men who have been accustomed to travelling in uncivilised countries, camping out, and tracking big- game, and such men will be given preference in selection, even though they may be "a little older in the tooth" than some military experts like to see men on active service.