ACHIEVEMENTS OF BRITISH INFANTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 11455, 24 January 1901, Page 4

ACHIEVEMENTS OF BRITISH INFANTRY.

Again and again through the South African war the British infantry have confirmed their old reputation. There is probably no more trustworthy body of fighting men in the world. The defence of Ladysmith, the prolonged fighting on the Tngela, the victory of Pieter’s Hill tell the old tale of dogged steadiness and unflinching advance. Bub as a whole the war has not been an infantry war. Against a mounted enemy the foot have seldom had a real chance. They have stormed positions and held positions, but lime after lime before they could come to close grips the enemy has melted away from between their bauds and vanished in the distance or the dark. Their marching has astonished generals, but let them toil over even twenty miles a day, and what) is the good against - horses which will cover thirty in half the time, and bring their riders up fresh into action at the end of it? Infantry on the march are almost always tired, and it is worse than ueelers to take them into action when they are half dead of weariness and thirst. Thatis one of the things which Lord Methuen forgot at Modder River and General Gatacre at Stormberg. Against infantry equally equipped they would more than hold their own, but against infantry mounted the balance is unfair. If in a war like this wo depended on infantry alone or chiefly, it would probably go on for "years. As to the foot soldiefa arms, the controversy still continues whether it is better to lead with five cartridges at once or to load with single cartridges and have a magazine of eight in reserve. In loading behind cover there is no doubt that the Briton has exposed himself more than the Boer, but that may nob be the rifle’s fault. At all events, for accuracy and range the Mauser has been proved at least the equal of the Lee-Met-ford. The “dangerous zone ”of fire in the field has been almost trebled in extent, and at Ladysmith a few rifles rested on a wall kept down the fire of a gun at a range of 2,500 yards. On the absolute necessity of good marksmanship in modern war we need not dwell. Everyone knows that to this as much as to their horses and guns the Boers owed their early successes. A soldier who is not a marksman may just an well elay away from .future fields. London 1 Chronicle.’