CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12423, 12 February 1901, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

BOER WOMEN".

It lias been stated that the war in South Africa has been prolonged-, to a great extent, by Boer women

. bringing pressure to boar cn tire men in the field. There are women capable of such madness among the Boers, and there is little doubt that by their persistent efforts some men have been induced to continue fighting. But the patriotism of the Boer women, on the 'whole, seems to have been much overrated. The “ Diamonds Fields’ Advertiser,’’ a. South A.fricap newspaper 1 , states that the motions, calling on officials at Pretoria to leave their, work and take up arm's, passed by the meeting of Dutch women, were mere claptrap, and had no effect. A Britisher who was allowed to remain on his farm for twelve months after the war began, and who had many opportunities pf observing the Boer women and their ways, says that the women certainly talked in a very bloodthirsty manner, and endeavoured to incite the men to valiant deeds, but their only direct efforts to drive men to the front -were employed upon the relatives of their friends.* If Mrs Yan Tender heard that the husband, son, or brother of Mrs Goos&n ha-d strayed from the front, and accidentally wandered homewards, she made vigorous attempts to get him back again, by appealing to his martial ardour, patriotism, and hatred of the British ; and, if these measures proved to be futile, by informing the nearest authority that her neighbour’s relative had failed in his duty to his - country. It is asserted that this extreme anxiety that other peoples’ male relatives should bleed and weep for Kruger was a marked characteristic of the Boer women, and so was a cheerful willingness that their own relatives should not make any sacrifice. It is also asserted that the nndying hatred of the British soldier, in his absence, frequently- disappeared in his presence; that Mr Atkins is, in fact, a prime favourite with a large number of the women in Dutch towns occupied by thg British troops.

MR STEAD'S PRATER.

The world's history embodies the record of “many historical prayers, but if it is indeed true that

“ Satan trembles when he sees The weakest .saint upon his knees." how the devil’s teeth must have chattered and his knees shaken when Hr Stead prostrated himself and prayed to the. Almighty that his own country might be heated in the war with South Africa, even though she lost her South African Empire. This, according to “ La Matin,” is what he confessed to President Kroger, during the now .which, he (

""« m»u iiit, uuw-u i i-OMUCILb. hq SC2K.SJ to justify his surprising excursion into the, presumably strange land of invocation by> declaring that a defeat or two wculd oalv, mark points of departure for greater pro-i gress for Great Britain. Besi3.es this devout appeal the prayer of Lahire: " God dor unto Lahire. as Lahire would do' unto Thea if Thou wert Lahire and Laldro were God" fades into absolute insignificance'. But Mr Stead has betn so "long under the impression that the universe is run "by himself with a little occasional kindly assistance from a Higher Power, that it would not, bo astonishing to find him taking personal credit for the early reverses of the British arms in South Africa. Like Mark Twain's friend' Mr M'WillLams, who, taxed hy his batter half, on the occasion cf an earuhi quake, with laving forgotten to say his prayers, pleaded in 'extenuation that ho, had not been guilty of such an' omission, since he precipitated a 'small-pox plague and! a strike of train employees soma years previously, Mr Stead attaches a wealth of importance to his own devotions which even, this obvious reJuciio ad absurdum would fail to eliminate. The superlative egotism of the man—like that of Mirie Corel]! or Bichard Le Gallicnne—is an interesting, if somewhat pathetic, study in intellectual abortion.

ARMY REFORM.

One of tie unasceniaimeJ credits in tie nation’s ledger, for which tie Sonthl African war ias been re«

sponsible,' is a -drastic reform in the army manual. Tbe rigid lines-of drill and square-* ness of parade are, in terms of the new? r text-book, to give place to a more elastic . adaptation -winch will allow of the exercise of individual intelligence. With this object in view the infantry have been given a new ... drill-hook containing a; revised skirmishing' drill, fresh rifle exercise, and, instructions, for practical bayonet fighting, embodying a; . mechanical foundation upon which are built' up .the practical lessens of the war. The soldier will be taught to thoroughly search broken 'ground, and to watch an enemy under the most favourable conditions consists ent with concealment. In short, Mr Atr kins is to be taught the art of “ spoofing his enemy, and a staff officer is responsible for the sound proposition that every battalion should keep a roll of men sufficiently adept; at skirmishing and scouting toi earn the epithet of ‘slim.” The timehonoured manual and "bayonet exercises ard also to* cease from wearying. In the place cl the former there will be a rifle drill oS freer and simpler principle, giving the soldier all that is necessary -en the handling of arras without the burden of ceremonial “quite.” For the present bayonet exercise! in squads, which was never of practical use* will be substituted a system of man against} man fighting, a sort of practical’ private! rehearsal) of far greater intrinsic value.. There will also be drastic changes in the; musketry instruction. There will he a marked increase in individual practice, and the idea that a marksman can be made by firing so many rounds of cartridge upon a range on a given number of days in the year, will be discouraged. The new drillbook will contain valuable notes on what should constitute the training of the future for a soldier, and will generally revolutionise existing methods.