THE BOER WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11925, 25 December 1900, Page 3

THE BOER WAR.

LESSONS OF THE WAR,

Ttt'o articles in the "Nineteenth Century" should be read by all interested in military affairs. One is entitled " Suggestions from tlio Front," by Lieutenant-colonel Charles A'Court, and the other " Army Manoeuvres in France," by the Hon. H. Somcrs Somerset. Lieutenant-colonel A'Court's account of Eoer tactics and Boer skill in defence, with his intelligent professional remarks on the way in which they should be mot, and were, after bitter experience, finally met, should prove of incalculable value of regimental officers desirous in peace time of exercising their men in manoeuvres carried out as nearly as possible undei conditions resembling those of actual warfare. Lieutenant-colonel A'Court concludes by stating thit he has seen the peace manoeuvres of most of the European armies, and that he can truly say that he has never seen reproduced, even in the barest outline, the conditions our army found in fighting the Boers, for these peace manoeuvres one and all gave an unfaithful picture of modern warfare under existing conditions, and would certainly result in the ruin of any army that attempted to carry them out in the field. Tho Hon. H. Somcrs Somerset describes. the French army manoeuvres at Chartres this year, in which 160,000 men were engaged. He had just returned from South Africa, and he confirms the opinion expressed by Lieutenant-colonel A'Court that these French manoeuvres were carried out in a manner that would bs utterly impossible in real warfare. If the tactics, both major and minor, employed tin's year at Chartres by the French are to be those of the next European war. the loss in result would be too ghastly to contemplate. Of course, in these peace manoeuvres things are often attempted that would not be dreamt of in war; but Mr Somerset says that the newspaper critics who write such sweeping criticisms of the British manoeuvres have either not seen any Continental ones or else aim at a higher standard than we suppose. He found, too. among the French officers an utter want of comprehension of the difficulties of the South African campaign. He concludes with the reassuring opinion that if ever there came an invasion of England in which tho invading force put into practice the lessons taught at Chartres, our military prestige as a nation would speedily be restored.

OUR SOLDIERS UNDER. FIRE. " Linesman." writing in the November "Blackwood," describes the demeanour of the rank and file under fire in South Africa. He says:—"l have seen soldiers make more fuss over the upsetting of a perambulator than they did over the shouting of those frim messengers from the far-off kopje. Some slept, others lay grumbling at the spoilt dinner, a few took a mild interest in the destination of the shells, .and laughed a little when they fell and burst in a totally different spot from what they had expected, or laughed a good when they fell and did not burst at all, as often happened. It was not an action, it is true, but it was 'being shelled,' and shelled at one's very front door; so surely one had a right to look for a blanched face or two, or even a nervous manner in some of the younger soldiers. These shells did not even kill the usual dog, and when they ceased (and the Boer gunners were, no doubt, counting the heaps of slain through their field-glasses), the hungry shelterers trooped back to their 'dixies,' and wasted nol a-thought upon them. Then came Colensc. What finer frolicking ground for all the human emotions could be invented for all save one—the thrill of triumph? Hope, anger, fear, mortal terror, grief, bitter disappointment, humiliation, despair—were there not grounds for them all and room for each? When had a great British army, complete in eouipment. primed with health and confidence, led by a famous general • —when had such an invincible machine ever failed before? Yet when cTid beaten men ever walk more calmly back from disaster than did those shattered brigades from thai death-deal-ing river bank, with the sun eating out their very senses above, and their legs failing from fatigue beneath them? A joke during such an inferno? I heard many and many a grumble, too, best sien of all. and many a regretful reference to the beer they knew they couldn't get. and the beef they very strongly felt they ought to get. Brave men with hearts aright, not untouched by the horrors jostling you on every side; not unmoved even when poor Bill, next man to you. ' oh'd' forth his soul suddenly and awfully with a bullet in his brain ; not unmindful of the tragedy you were acting, or of 'what they would say at home,' hut brushing it all aside in the hope that a defeat cheerfully taken might be no defeat at all. You were rierht—many an illusion born of barrack-room life was chased and beaten that day; you learnt to know each other, and your officers learnt to know you so well during those hours of agony, that instead of 'My men,' many a one was fain to whisper 'My children.' "

WORD-PICTURES OF THE WAR.

Dr Conan Doyle's history of the Boer wni contains some vivid word-pictures of men anc actions. Take this of Cronje: —

He was at the time of the war 65 years of age, a hard and swarthy man, quiet of manner, fierce of soul, with a reputation among a nation of resolute men for unsurpassed resolution. His dark face was bearded and virile, but sedate and gentle in expression. He spoke little, but to the point, and he had the gift of those fire words which brace and strengthen weaker men. Such was the man, capable, crafty, iron-hard, magnetic, who lay with a reinforced and formidable army across the path of Lord Methuen's tired soldiers.

Or read this of Brigadier Fitzroy Hart, and you at once recognise the type and the man: —

Ho is in some ways as singular and picturesque a figure as has been evolved in the war. A dandy soldier, the picture of neatness from the top of his helmet to the heels of his well-polished brown boots, he brings to military matters the same precision that ho affects in dress. He drilled the Irish Brigade for half an hour before leading them into action at Colenso. His personal disregard for dansrer was notorious and reprehensible. "Where is General Hart?" asked some in action. " I have not seen him, but I know where you'll find him. Go ahead of the skirmish line, and you'll see him standing on a rock," was the answer. He bore a charmed life, but it was danger to be near him. " Whom are you going to?" " General Hart," said the aide-de-camp. " Then good-bye," cried his fellows.

Lastly, this picture of the storming of Pinter's Hill by the Lancashire Brigade: —

Could we carry this hill the whole position were ours. Now for the final effort! Train every gun upon it; ithe guns on Monte Cliristo, the guns on Hlangwane! Scalp its crown with machine fire! And now up with you, Lancashire men, Noreott's men ! The summit or a glorious death, for beyond that bill.your starving comrades await you! Put all the fire and spirit that yon are worth into this last- hour: for if you fail now. you fail for ever; and if you win, then when your hairs are white your blood will run warm when you think of that morning's work. But there was never a doubt of it. Hardly for one instant did the advance waver at any point. It was the supreme instant of the Natal campaign. On the left the LancaEtera, the Lancashire Fusiliers, the South Lancashires, the York and Lancaster?, with a burr of north country oaths, went racing for the summit. The fierce Boer fire lullsit ceases—they are running! Wild hatwaving men on Hlangwane see the silhouette of the active figures of the stormers along tiie sky-line, and know that the position is won. The exultant soldiers dance and cheer on the ridge.

Tho sporting instinct of Englishmen has mado them feel for De AVet the respect and admiration with which a team of cricketers rejrard the batsman who gives them a long day of weary leather-hunting in the sun, and defies every change of bowling. This fcclinrr will not be diminished by the anecdote told by tho Kiniberley correspondent of the Glasgow Herald, which we hope is authentic, and is certainly characteristic. A burgher released on parole is reported to have remarked to the commandant. "How you must half Rhodes!" "Not at all," replied De Wet; he tried to patch up matters as long as ho could, but when things got to a. head he sided with his own country, and I should have despised him if he had done otherwise. I ton have sided with my country, and when it is all over I shall not mind shaking him by the hand." We have no doubt this fine spirit is much commoner among the Eoers than their self-constituted advocates in this country would have us beiieve. When all is over there will be far grater readiness to shake hands on both side? than if the old festering ill-will had revor exploded in good hard blows given and received.