NEWS OF THE WAR. THE IRREGULAR CORPS. SOME INTERESTING NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue LXI, 28 May 1901, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WAR. THE IRREGULAR CORPS. SOME INTERESTING NOTES.

Plaguo and other domestic troubles have, so far as Capetown is concerned, put war and the making of war comparatively in tho background. But tho war and tb£ making of it goes on the some, and Capetown is still keeping up its reputation as a recruiting centre, as is evidenced by the fact that from November, when the recruiting movement began, to date (says the Capo Times of 25th March), over six thousand men have been enlisted in the city, this not including 1500 of the Johannesburg Mine Guard. Of the total, the major portion joined one or other of the ordinary irregular corps, the Colonial Defence Force, of later creation, claiming the remainder. Altogether about 15,000 have been raised in the Capo Colony and Natal during the period mentioned, so that the contribution of tho metropolis is altogether a creditable one. Of late several new corps have been formed, the older having got their full complement of men. Amongst these is Scott's Railway Guard, the especial attraction of which is the absonco of anything in the shape of drill. For the man to whom routine and rote are distasteful, this force will surely offer many attractions. The main qualification necessary is to be iv good rifleman. Service will be principally with armoured trains, where a quick eye and a steady hand are required, and where the sharpshooter is indispensable. Anothor new force is the Bushveld Carbineeers, which enjoys various privileges, including free life insurance to the men up to a certain amount. They will be detailed for service mainly with the Transvaal Bushveld, that sportsman's paradise, and no doubt many Australian Bushmen, time expired, will be attracted to their ranks. .They give promise of being an eminently useful force. Then wo have the Midland Mounted Rifles, commanded by Colonel Mac Andrew, better known, perhaps, as Captain Mac Andrew, of the old P.A. Guards. The headquarters of the force is at Graham's Town, but recruiting is proceeding merrily here also, Captain Spandaw being busily engaged at the Drillhall forming' a couple of squadrons as the Cape Peninsula's contribution to the corps. Last week something of a, record was established, ninety men being enlisted and equipped within eight days, sixty of these going forward on Thursday to Graham's Town. Another hundred men are to be sent forward in a few days for the Johannesburg Mine Guard. Of course the applications to join this force far exceed the numbers required from time to time. Fifty of the men will go to defend the Buffelsdoorn mine in the Klerksdorp district, and twenty-five to the Nigel, with another twenty-five to the Nigel Deep, both in the Heidelberg district. This Rand Mine Guard scheme is working most satisfactorily, and should occasion offer it may be considerably extended. Of the Colonial Defence Force, the Western Province Mounted Rifles have now ceased recruiting, while Warren's Mounted Infantry are virtually complete. The former regiment, with Colondl Chester-Master in command, will probably at an early date proceed on a roving expedition through Namaqualand to tackle the scattered commandoes .of the enemy which have lately been doing considerable damage to property thereabouts. Such an expedition will suit young bloods who compose the regiment admirably, and with their Colonel, whom they adore, they should come ou,t of the operation most creditably. It will hardly be believed that nearly forty different corps have been formed in the Cape and Natal, and are now in existence. All of these have benefited by the late recruiting movement in a greater or lesser degree. An easy first comes the most popular of regiments, the Imperial Light Horse, with 1400 men, though the Bodyguard comes fairly close with 1200. The Prince of Wales's Light Horse, commanded by the best of good fellows, Colonel OwenThomas, and the doers of much good work during the past couple ot weeks in the Orange River Colony region, has claimed nearly a thousand recruits, and Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, another active body, « total of nine hundred. The Scottish Horse, whose second battalion marched through Capetown's streets lost week end, "prior to entraining for Kroonstad, hav^ hod about the same number, while the S.A. Light Horse, a big corps to begin with, have been content with eight hundred. The Johannesburg Mounted Rifles have drawn about the samenumber from the Old Colonies, though principally from Durban, that sea-port aloni supplying over 500. The two refiments of Brabant's Horse have divided 00 recruits between them, while the Kofearian Rifles have done themselves wail on ,460. Marshall's Horse, Steinacker's Horse, and Driscoll's Scouts have had anything between 250 and 350 each, the P.A.G. Mounted Infantry, the Kimberley Light Horse, Minnes'l Scouts, Roberta's Horse, Bethune's Mounted Infantry, French's Sconts, Border Horse, and Queen's Town Volunteers all benefitting to the extent of a Hundred or two hundred apiece. Nor must the Railway Pioneer Regiment be forgotten ; it is responsible for 1400, or the * best part of three battalions, while that serviceable <and fleet contingent, the Cape Colony Cycling Corps, numbers about 600 wheelmen. As a contributor to these corps Durban ranks next to Capetown, with a total of well over three thousand, East London, as usual taking care, small though it is 1 , to be third, with about fourteen hundred. Port Elizabeth and Maritzburg tie for fourth place. Altogether this statement reveals a most gratifying condition of things, and shows that although the war drags on, the determination of the South African! Colonies to give their share of men by no means diminishes.