THE ARMY OF THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 39

THE ARMY OF THE TRANSVAAL.

Wo have received the following interesting account from a correspondent:—

Jn the time of war all able men between tho ages of 16 and 60 years have to take up arms; also, if necessary, all coloured people whoso chiefs are subject to the Republic. Besides tho abovo tho Government disposes of a corps of country police and a train of artillery under the command of Commandant P. N. Pretorius. Tho corps consists of seven officers, four sergeants, eight corporals, one armourer, and 100 men with six light Krupp’s field guns, six heavy Krupp’s quick-firing guns, four light and two heavy Maxim guns, one rifled gun (muzzle-loader) and a mitrailleuse, one officer and 15 men from another regular corps, who attend to the telegraph, ami are called “ field telegraphists.” Tho President, through “ KommandautGeneraal ” P. J. Joubert, proclaims any mobilisation of tho army. The latter one transmits tho order to the commandants of tho 17 districts into which tho country is divided, and those again to tho 61 field cornets and 42 assistant-field cornets of the 64 wijken (small districts). At once after tho receipt of the order for mobilisation the field-cornets move towards tho point of danger.

The“Kommandant-General ” Joubert disposes of 13,500 able men betuoeu the ages of 18 and 34, 6600 men of 34 to 50 years and 3856 men under IS and over 50 years, making a grand total of about 24,000 men.

Tho Potchefstroom district supplies the greatest number of men—viz., 337 J ; after this follows Pretoria district, with 3207 men. (Very likely Dr Jameson met with tho men from Pretoria.) In case of need, the President has 60,000 male natives under 3L chiefs at his disposal. These natives live in the districts of Rustenburg, Pretoria, Middleburg, Loydenburg, Waterberg, Zoutspansberg, Lichtenburg and Mauiko, and number altogether 380.0(A), including females and children. The Boers wear no special uniform, but their clothes are so much alike that an advancing enemy would take them easily for uniforms. The apparel consists of a “ baait jo,” short jacket, and trousers made of one and the same stuff, and a broad-brimmed grey felt hat. The cartridge belt is worn across the “ baait jo,” from the left shoulder to the right big. Tho rifle (Martini-llenri), which is supplied by tho Government, rests on the stirrup when the Boer is on the march.

How quick tho Boers can be mobilised was shown in 1890, when tho Uitlandors had torn down the flag of the Transvaal in Johannesburg. At 6 o’clock at night tho order for mobilisation was given to three districts, and already on the following morning at 5 o’clock 800 Boers, under their field cornets, made their entry into the town. General Joubert is nearly always accompanied by his wife when on tho march. She is a very resolute lady and well schooled in diplomacy, as English statesmen well know. It is only 25 years since General Joubert abandoned tho plane for the sword, being formerly a carriagebuilder.