NOTES ON THE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11598, 5 December 1899, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR.

By • Majob Kennedy.

Complete news of the losses sustained by the British forces at the battle on the Modeler River is to hand, and' in my opinion they are comparatively light, as I expected a much heavier loss, considering the numbers engaged, the strength of the enemy's position, and the disadvantages at which our troops were placed. With the news of the losses comes cheerful tidings that the wounded are progressing favourably. This is what might be expected, except where the wounds are of- a particularly severe nature, as the climate is very favourable in that part of the country, as, no matter how hot the days are, the nights are cool and pleasant, and in consequence of this the wounded are able to obtain rest and sleep. This tends greatly to improve the chances- of recovery. I* can speak very highly of the climate of Bechuanaland and Cape Colony during the summer months, and can assure the relatives and friends of the contingent that i 6 would be difficult to find a better climate or a more genial sky under the whole canopy of heaven for life in bivouac or tent, and while the rough life of a soldier in the field may try the "mettle of which our lads are made I am sure Major Robin, his officers, and men have much to be thankful for. Had they been sent to Natal instead, they would have had

African and typhoid fevers and heat and rain to add to the ordinary discomforts of the campaign.

The cable received from Mr Reaves stating that the British cavalry was deficient, and that the New Zealand contingent was therefore specially welcome, adds one more to the list of authorities which I can cite in confirmation of my oft-repeated assertion regarding the necessity of a large increase in the cavalry arm" of the service. Probably it is just as well that the Boer war has come about, as the lesson itteaches may bear practical fruit, so that should we unfortunately become embroiled with one of the great Powers we will have had an opportunity of remedying the defects of our system and increasing the number of men and horses in our artillery and cavalry corps somewhat commensurate with the requirements of the service.

It was very evident that the defeat of the Boers at the Modder River was far from being conclusive, as Lord Methuen has found it necessary to await for reinforcements before proceeding. This delay is unfortunate, as it will give Cronje time to collect his forces and to entrench at Spytfontein.

Mr Schreiner and treason, and where he draws the line between that and what he considers loyalty, is hard to define. It appears from the cables received that, as Premier ol" Cape Colony, he has complained to President Steyn of the Orange Free State that the latter has made a breach of an understanding that existed between Mr Schreiner's Government and the Boer Republics wherein the Boer Governments arranged to respect the territory of Cape Colony, and not to invade its soil if war should result. We have no means of knowing at the present time what service Mr Schreiner and his Government were expected to render to the Boer cause in return for the favours to be extended by the Republics.

We are anxiously awaiting news from the divisions under the command of Majorsgeneral Gatacre and French, particularly so as it is very probable that our New Zealand boys are attached by this time to one of these commands.

The news from the northern part of Cape Cojony is not of an assuring character, for the cable plainly states that the young msn of the border country have joined the enemy's ranks, and that only those who have property at stake remain on their farms. I might add that these are not lukewarm supporters of the Boer cause, bub only remained quiescent on account of the danger of confiscation of their property. It would be decidedly an easier task for the officers and troops now clearing these districts if they could arrest every Dutch farmer, and send him to the rear as a prisoner of war or a suspect, or until after the enemy had been driven beyond the border, as there is no doubt many of these will be found snipping at our men whenever the opportunities present ■ themselves, and under the circumstances they are harder to deal with and more dangerous .than if they were in' the enemy's ranks.

, Again •we are taught something in a most forcible way in the matter of dress in the ]q SS i sustained by the Argyle Highlanders (91st Foot), a grand corps that has seen more than a fair share of service in South Africa. It is one of the regiments that took- part in the capture of the Cape from the Dutch in 1806, and since that eventful time it took its share of the fighting from 1846 to 1853 in two campaigns, and again in 1879, so that the war at present in progress makes the fifth South African campaign for the regiment since it helped to add Dutch South Africa to the •Emfire. On its colours are to be found '.nine of the most important battles our army fought against the French, when British bravery saved Spain from becoming a French province, and to these are added Alma, , Balaclava, Sabastopol, and Lucknow. It is/high time that,the kilt ceased to be a part of the field service uniform of our Highland regiments. It ought to be abolished, unless for ceremonials, as it causes the loss of many a good soldier by iurnishing a target for the enemy that is distinguishable at. long distances." Sir Mansfield Clarke, K.G.8., was born in 1859, and entered the army in 1856. He served in New Zealand from 1861 to 1866, and was mentioned in despatches and received the New Zealand medal. He also served, during the Zulu ,war (1879), received the medal with clasp, was mentioned in despatches and created a X).B. and breveted lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed to the command of the forces at the Cape from 1880 to 1882, inclusive, and .was in command of the troops during the Basut-o war of 1880 and 1881. He was deputy adjutant-gen.eral of the ; Horse Guards for the years 1892 and 1893, and since that time has been lieutenantgeneral in command of the forces in Madras, India. He has now been appointed to the command of the third division of the second army corps, which makes the sixth division of General Buller's army. This division is now being organised vat Aldershot for service at the Cape. General "Clarke is a very strict disciplinarian of the old school. He knows' the Boers of 1830 very well: indeed', but it is doubtful if he .will have much opportunity of turning his knowledge to account. It is probable that by vie time his division arrives at the 'Cape, the Boers will have retired to Pretoria, and the troops under his command will be assigned for garrison and communi- ; cation duties until the close of the war. The losses of the Royal Marine Light Infantry at the battle of Grass Pan tells of honour added to the ■ wonderful list of triumphs of that grand old corps. The Royal Marine Light Infantry takes precedence after the 49th Regiment of the Line, the^Royal Berkshire Regiment, and its record as a fighting corps is as creditable at sea as on shore. It shares with the Royal Horse Artillery the proud distinction of always being able to boast that it can find recruits to fill up every vacancy in its ranks to the full strength allowed on the establishment, and this, too, in spite of the fact t«at it is the hardest worked infantry corps in H.M. service. Well done was the work of the New South Wales Lancers as it charged the retreating Boers, and drove them back into the lines from which they were attempting to retreat.

•iwi number of Boers reported killed in the battles of Kaffirskop and Grass Pan and Boer prisoners would indicate that at least J.OIM are placed out of action, as the number of killed is stated to be 540, and if these figures are correct 960 would not be too large an estimate to make of the wounded.

Cable messages at hand report that the Australian and Canadian contingents, with tlu-ee battalions of infantry, have been despatched to guard the line of railway between De Aar and Belmont. It is probable tuat a good portion of this force will be pushed forward to reinforce General iVlethuen, as the message states that horse artillery are included in the force, and consequently the whole force mentioned cannot be intended to act on lines of communication, since horse artillery batteries always serve with cavalry brigades and divisions, and never with infantry, and are tar too valuable to be detained "on service Pt the nature referred to in the cable. REIGN OF TERROR IN JOHANNESBURG. The Capetown correspondent of the Daily , 7 !P:T"i refl'See from the Rand reports that the Mainreef road is black with natives from the mines on their way to Natal. -Hany burghers are occupying the finest residences in Johannesburg, having effected a forcible entrance. Government officials have entered the few shops remaining open and demanded the contents of the tills. A reitm ot terror prevails, and murders and robbenes are committed in broad daylight The natives are leaving the Free State panicstricken. It is reported that 46 cases of "old which have been discovered in different canteens at Johannesburg have been confiscated £500,000." the V3lue bein * FIFTEEN TEOUSANDBR.ITISH TROOPS IN NATAL. The following (says the St. James's Gnzetto on October U) is the present strength and disposition of the troops in Natal- — At Ladysmith: The 42nd. 21st, and 53rd ■tiekl Batteries, a battery of naval artillery, one mountain battery, and two guns of the Nata Naval Reserves-total, 32 guns. The ioh "ntecl Vohmice™, the sth Lancers. 19th Hussars; the Ist Battalion Liverpool hegimcnt, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, Ist Devon-hire Regiment, and Ist. Gloucester -Kegmient; several companies of mounted !•!-!?„ a "ospitill aucl veterinary corps, tho '" Standard" Bone Manure is the most : popular of Bone Manures on t!ie market. It is ncli in ammonia, also phosphate of lime. Is in fine condition and of easy distribution.— NIUJiO A3?D BLAIK.

23rd Company Royal Engineers, and the Ist Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers- altogether 9000 fighting men. At Gleneoe: The 13th, 67th, and 69th Field Batteries, the 18th Hussars, the Natal Mounted Volunteers, the Ist Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, the Ist King's Rifles, the 2nd Dublin"Fusiliers, several companies of mounted infantry, and a field hospital corps—total, over 4000 men. At Estcourt there are 200 and at Colenso 420 volunteers. At Pietermaritzburg there are the 2nd King's Riflo3 and the Imperial Light Horse. The grand total of the troops in Natal is therefore 15,000.

BOER TREASON-MONGERING AT THE . • . . CAPE.

Mr Chamberlain has (says the Daily Mail) been notified by Sir Alfred Milner by telegraph that the following is the material part of a. treasonable circular that w,as being circulated widely in the Cape Colony some -weeks ago: — "Circular issued in English and Dutch, signed by Viljoen, Meld Corr.et, Johannesburg, headed ' Appeal to Afrikanders, address to compatriots' on both sides of the Orange River. Asks them to decide what they will do in the uncertain future, recites England's proceedings with regard to Slachtersneek, diamond fields, Jameson's raid, England desires to avenge Majuba and destroy Afrikander nation. Owing to the existence of two independent Afrikander republics the Afrikander in the English colonies is still tolerated. If republics fall into hands oE England, Boers of Cape Colony and Natal will be disarmed, Hottentots will sit with them in Parliament. Wherefore men belonging to our race that live under the British nag know and understand full well that the destruction of the Boer republics means the destruction of the Afrikander nation. If the republics go xmder the Afrikander will merely be referred to as a nation that once existed. Know that in that event England's iron yoke will press Tipon and plague you to the last day. Wherefore I ask you will yon allow England to employ your colony your money, your, cattle, yea, even yourselves to destroy, "your brothers and compatriots? Afrikanders, betrueto your people!'"

THE WAR CORRESPONDENT A LICENSED WRITER.

With regard to the cost of transmitting war newsfrom the field of action to England (says tlie Skstch), a vast amount of ignorance obtains among the .public. • The fact is, the • Latest from the front! " so glibly bawled from every street corner by leather-lunged newsboys is a far more costly luxury than most people would imagine. For instance, several of the. telegrams which Mr Forbes sent to the Daily News, when he acted for that paper during the Russo-Turkish war, consisted of 8000 words. As the charge for transmission was Is 6d per word, such messages cost £600 each. Under these circumstances, one may well, say that the telegrams were worth their weight in gold. If, in addition to this, the amount consumed in paying salary and travelling exr/ensss is taken into consideration, it will be seen that the maintenance of a "special' iy responsible for the disbursement of no insignficant sum.

MR'KRUGER AND THE PEACE PARTY.

Mr Kruger has seriously disappointed (says the World) the British and-Foreign Arbitration Association, which is not altogether surprising, in.view of the fact that the ingenuous members of that body appear to have reposed implicit" confidence in Oom Paul's piety and.good faitii down to the moment of his msoiont declaration of war against England. But now that the British and Foreign Arbitrators have found themselves deceived, they have relieved their feelings with a "protest which,. for wholesome vigour of language, . leaves nothing to be desired by the most fervent Imperialist. It 13 amusing to see the champion Scripture-quoter hoist with his own, petard by means of the. apposite reminder that "they that take the sword shall perish by the sword," and the pro-Boer press m this country may be advised to. note the well-justified violence with which these disillusioned men of-peace denounce the wioked and abominable act" of which the Transvaal Government has been guilty. In view of the completeness; of their awakening to the facts of thelcase there is no need to reproach them with the curious tardiness of their discovery that all Mr Kruger's " protestations, of peace, amity, and concord were but the baseless fabric of a-vision,' illusory and hypocritical." ' THE COST OF "THE .WAR.—MAKING THE BOERS PAY. ■ Some people (says the St. James's Budget) seem to be rather concerned about the cost of this, war with the Transvaal; and, no doubt, it is not possible to make omelettes without breaking eggs. For our. own Dart we- believe that British taxpayers would "not grumble if they had a bill to pay for restoring .decent government arid the i elementary rights of citizenship in that corner of the Empire. But why shduld we have to pay anything? When the soldiers' have done their work, one of the items of a settlement will naturally be an indemnity from the defeated side. .And even if the war costs us as much as the Abyssinian campaign, the Iransvaal is riot- so" poor' a country that it cannot stand a very substantial addition to its debt: . Even'in its present state, with all t«p handicaps put on industry, a; comparatively high revenue is raised by taxation, most of which, if political representation went with it, would not be unduly onerous upon the Ouilanders, who are said to pay nine-teiitlis. And when the country gets a fresh start under better auspices, and without the,leakages into official pockets which are now such a scandalous part of the oligarchial system, the revenue is likely to be larger and the outgoings smaller. " ,' In 1592 the revenue of the Transvaal Republic was £1,255,829,, and the expenditure £1,188,765.: but these figures had increased by 1897 to £4,480,218 and £3,394,066 respectively. Leaving the taxation on one side for the moment, we see thai.the expenditure was ,madeup on amost extravagant scale. "Pubi£nl V nr!f" figure at £1,012,866; "salaries,"' ±.996,960; ' war department," £396,384; and since 1897 the expenditure on this latter item has considerably grown. There is a good deal of money to be saved here by an economical peaceful, and honest Administration, and a very fair margin ought to be available for interest on a new debt. Nor is the Transvaal (largely owing to British complaisance) now saddled with a; debt of any important dimensions. The public" debt is only £2,673,690 it may be contemplated, therefore; that a war indemnity can be borne with perfect ease by the Transvaal. And that is obviously the'way m winch we may claim to be recouped for our present outgoings.