NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10130, 13 May 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

It is being freely suggested in the Transml, and indeed in South Africa generally, Hays a South African paper, that the difficulty in getting an adequate supply of Kafir labourers for the Rand is largely duo to a conspiracy having its source in a powerful organisation to ruin the industry. We do not accept this statement as Gospel truth, but certain facts are sufficient to give rise to the rumour. It is said that i-tationmaetere have received orders nob to isque tickets to native? proceeding to the Transvaal, and that labour agents, if passing near the forts on the frontier, are not allowed to cross with the gangs under their charge. It is quite likely that the Transvaal Kafirs are frightened to brave those dangers and inconveniences, on making their way to the Rand, which almost invariably fall to their lot. The negative and positive unfriendliness of Pretoria in working great) mischief ii) the Transvaal. Tie canteens are allowed to grow up and flourish like the proverbial green bay tree, Their existence is nothing short of a curse. The Kafirs drink the vile decoction offered thqm by the designing man who create and prey upon their weakness, with the result that they are utterly demoralised. Kafirs leave the fields on the slightest provocation. Alcohol has reduced them to a condition of absolute irresponsibility, (ind they often set 08 from the Rand en route for their homes, when many shilI lings, not to say pounds, are owing to them. ; Close the canteens, and you have grasped the nettle,

The official returns of the British Volunteer force for last year have just been announced, and show the number on the rolls and the number of efficients to be greater than in any previous year. Though the authorised establishment of ] 895 was reduced from the 201,155 of 1894 to 260,068, the toUl of enrolled volunteers increased in that year by 376, from 231,328 to 231,704 ; whilst the efficients increased by 437, from 224,525 to 224,962, the non-efficients decreasing by 61, from 6803 to 6742. The percentage of efficients has thug increased from 97'08 to 97 09, and the number of efficients earning only the reduced grant of lOs (not having completed their musketry) has decreased by Jl9, Ifopi 605 to 786. Of the 224,962 fiffiisjetilß, 7472 are officers (decrease 93), and 217,490 non. commissioned officers and men (increase 530). The total (if efficients is caada up of 147 Light Horse, 40,708 Artillery, 11,713 Engineers, 1128 Submarine Miners, 169,875 Infantry, and 1391 of the, Medical Stiff Corps. The number of officers holding the proficiency certificate has decreased by 14, from 6138 to 6124, whilft v.q proficient sergeants have increased by 71. from 13,530 to 13,601, a net gain over the two ranks of 57. Tactics or Artillery certificates are held by 1433 officers, as against 1380 in 1894- 32 officers and 54 non-commissioned officers have signalling certificates, increase 18; and 30 officers and non • commissioned

officers have pssed in supply and transport duties. The 58,673 volunteers attending the 1895 inspections were, however, 1919 below the to til in 1894. Lord Wolsefey, who presided at a lecture on the Battle |f Kissengen which, as evt.y member of at; Auckland dc -ating society knows, was lost and won owing to a fog, was not abo/e confessing that he knew absolutely nettling about it. A lot of nonsense, he sail, had been talked about com-

manders living a preconceived plan oi battle and following it out In all its details. In war, lick and chance played a very important [art, and the most successful commander was he who had the power and ability to draw correct deductions from small scraps of information. In the campaign referred to the fog had pervaded both - forces in an extraordinary degree. He had determined to study the battle of Kissingen duritg the next two or three days. He hopid all present felt how much such lectures conduce to the study of military art and the science of War. lie was ashamed to say lie knew nothing of the iubjcct of the lecture except what he had learnt that afternoon, but he meant to correct that, and ho hoped they, too, would read up and learn a great deal more on that subject than they already knew, The ablest strategist might make his plans, but change and luck followed all leaders. Tha history of some famous battles showed how i shower of rain or a swollen river had

changed the fortune of war. Another point raised was the importance of recon-

naissance. No man was so careful as the great Napoleon on this point. Throughout his glorious career he had naade a point of personally ascertaining the enemy's strength and position, and the one battle where this had not been done was Waterloo, when, on account of illness, he had deputed that duty to someone else. He himself was sure that no man would win a great battle unless he madd a careful study of his enemy'! position, and tried to learn what he was about and intended to do.

The United States are earning {or them selves the unenviable reputation of being at the present time thejonly disturbers o; ? the peace of Europe. A lew months age war between them and England seemed to be within & mensurable distance. To-day they are threatening Spain. American Democracy seems to have gone mad. it appears to be bent upon picking a quarrel with some European Power at all hazards. The angry dispute with Spain lies in a nutshell. A filibustering vessel conveying arms and ammunition to the Cuban rebels was captured by the Spaniards. The vessel was fitted out in America ; its crew, or at least several of them, were Americans. The Spanish authorities, doing what any other nation in similar circumstances would have done, sentenced them to death. Immediately an out-cry arose in the United States, fomented by the blatant and irresponsible press which is such a power for mischief in America. President Cleveland, placing what looks like a strained interpretation upon the treaty between America and Spain by which American subjects in the latter country are entitled to a civil trial, demands that the condemned filibusters shall be tried by the civil processes of the law. The Spanish Government, disregarding the bombastic attitude of the American Government, is apparently willing to yield the point. It can afford to do so. The incident has caused great excitement in America. We do not, however, anticipate that anything more than excitement will come of tha matter. The United States are not in a position to wage war against Spaiu. Mr. Asquith, in the course of a speech at Trowbridge, referred to the situation in South Africa, and said that an enquiry was urgently demanded. Sir John Millais is ill.