The Army of the Transvaal.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 195, 15 May 1896, Page 3

The Army of the Transvaal.

We have received the following interesting account from a correspondent:— In the time of war all able men between the ages of 16 and 60 years have to take up arms ; also, if necessary, all colored people whose chiefs are subject to the Eepublic. Besides the above the Government disposes of a corps of country police and a train of artillery under the command of Commandant P. N. Pretorius, The corps consists of seven officers, four sergeants, eight corporals, one armourer, and 100 men with six light Krnpp’s field guns, six heavy Krupp’s quick firing guns, four light and two heavy Maxim guns, one rifled gun (muzzle-loader and a mhrailleuse, one officer and 15 men from another regular corps who attend to the telegraph, and are called “ field telegraphists.” The President, through “ Komman-daut-Generaal” P. Joubert. proclaims any mobilisation of the army. The latter one transmits the order to the commandants of the 17 districts into which the country is divided, and these again to the 64 field cornets and 42 assistant-field cornets of the 64 wijken (small districts). At once after the receipt of the order for mobilisation the field-cornets move towards the point of danger.

The “ Kommandant-General ” Jouberfc disposes of 13,500 able men between the ages of 18 and 34, 6600 men of 34 to 56 years and 8856 men under 18 and over 60 years, making a grand total of about 24,000 men. The Potchefstroom district supplies the greatest number of men—viz., 3871; after this follows Pretoria district, with 8207 men. (Very likely Dr Jameson met with the men from Pretoria.) In case of need, the President has 60,000 male natives under 31 chiefs at his disposal. These natives live in the districts of Rustenburg, Pretoria, Middleburg, Leydeuburg, Waterburg Zoutspansburg, Lichtenburg and Mauiko, and number altogether 880,000, 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 “ baaitje,” short Jacket, and trousers made of one and the same stuff, and a broad-brimmed grey felt hat. . The cartridge 1 elt is worn across the “ baaitje,” from the left shoulder to

the right hip. The rifle (MartiniHenry), which is supplied by the Government, rests on the fctirrip when the Boer is on tha march.

How quick the Boers can be mobilised was shown in 1890, when the Uitlanders had torp down the flag of the Transvnrl in Johannesburg. At 6 o’clock at night the 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 unto the town. General Jouhert is nearly always accompanied by his wife when on the march. She is a very resolute lady and well schooled in diplomacy, as .English statesmen well kpow. It is only 25 years since General Joubert abandoned the plane for the sword, being formerly a carriage builder.