BOER SURPRISE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 53

BOER SURPRISE.

Tin; Hrvrru s mkans by which Till A' Al!i: EFFECTED ißy H H S I'h \k-k, in tlio Daily Mail.) When a Briti-h column -nffer- a eh'-a-ter that cannot be directly traced to a comiuuiklli'- incompetence or cai e'le---,nc--> we Aif pel hap-, too apt to as-ume that the intel'iHonc c officer has been negligent in tome i esppc t. Wonder that Boer- numbering a thousand or more can ge-t within striking distance for an effective ru-h at night without being -pen by our patrols i- natuial enough to tho-e who do not know what Boe-r method i of -c outmg aic A gieat many solchfT: ha\e learnt the game by long experience, and fan play it off against their wily ad\ e-r=arie- to -osne piir])<j-e Other-, howfvfr, aie mire children at it, and will not be> =-afe from hurpn^es until they ha\c been taught that the Boer, being a sport-man by habit, stalks an enemy patiently, -llently. and warily a- be- wou'd "talk any wild animal. He can often locate his game without seeing it, bpedii^r- lie knowhow to lead the -igin that tell little eir nothing to uneratLUied ob=er\.<is And jt

must be remembered also that he cal 1 stil? command the service of native spies, v>hostd sight is so keen that thoy can count a herd/ of cattle miles off, and estimate the rattf at which troops are moving by a column ol dust.