The Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1901. THE BRITISH ARMY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 August 1901, Page 2

The Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1901. THE BRITISH ARMY.

We have had so much hostile criticism of the British Army from Continental authorities that an opposite opinion from a French military ollicer comes like a kindness from the enemy. Mr. Germain Bapst, who, in addition to being a soldier, is regarded as one of the coining men of France, in an article in the Figaro entitled “ The British Army ’* gives a fair account, giving credit where due and pointing out where defects are visible. Be declares that “ England is a nation that is faithful to prevent and dislikes changes. In the army, more than anywhere else, there is a refusal to make innovations, and an endeavour to keep the old lines. The English

Army is, therefore, an old army, whose traditions as to the staff, j armament, manoeuvres, and recruiting , are are out of date. So it has always ' been in history, but at the same time, whenever things have become serious and demanded change, English tenacity has done its best to draw up the reforms required, and has carefully carried them out. The Transvaal war will show us once more how speedily and cleverly the English Army modifies its organization and tactics. The armament of the troops, especially the artillery, is not equal to that of other, countries. In the Transvaal, for instance, the English guns were much inferior to those of the Boers. There was no reconnaissance department, no advance guard, and few or no outposts at the beginning of the war. How many battalions we have seen surprised, surrounded, and made prisoners at one blow! An advance guard at the Bloemfontein reservoirs would have saved General Broadwood’s artillery, which was caught as in a mousetrap The generals who originally commanded have been superseded by experienced men who had previously fought on battlefields like those in South Africa, and, whether in Afghanistan or the Soudan, had been able to overcome the difficulties of maintaining long lines of communication amid deserts and in terrible climates. These new chiefs soon changed the tactics, and with British perseverance they have succeeded in reversing the situation. The Boers no longer surprise British columns. The officers have studied the habits of their adversaries, and have borrowed their best quality, mobility. Under Lord Kitchener’s command flying columns, composed of mounted troops entirely drawn from the colonial contingents, traverse enormous distances without baggage, pursue the commandos uninterruptedly, frequently force them to accept combat against their will, inflict losses, and defeat their projects. The British Army in the Transvaal now numbers 20d,000 men, 60,000 of whom, nearly all colonials, form their flying columns. He regular has borne an unheard-of amountof fatigueandprivation, such as professional soldiers of long service can alone endure. Under fire he has been steady and calm. In several engagements, Spitzkop among them, the Inniskillings and the Dublin Fusiliers, to cite only these two regiments, lost 60 per cent without giving way or losing spirit. But in isolated ’detachments they have faltered terribly. How can we explain these constant capitulations of small garrisons and posts which still continue ? Two features are especially striking—the tenacity that is never discouraged by failure, and the decision which can assume responsibilities and go stright to its goal without hesitating- for difficulties or accidents. Accordingly Sir Redvers Buller, who has here been loaded with sarcasms, has remained popular in London, and, it must be said, justly so. The English popular mind cherishes the ideal of the man who is bent on his task and does not let himself be discouraged. As to the decision which a general ought to possess, we may cite the case of General French, who rode to relievo Kimberly when it was at its last gasp, and did not hesitate to lose half his cavalry to attain his object, knowing well that the stake was worth more than a thousand horses. England alone can transfer 200,000 men to a point across the ocean, and maintain them there for several years, She alone has a navy and mercantile marine large enough for such an effort. The writer proceeds to show that Mr Brodricks new army scheme will place Britain in a position to almost dictate her own terms to any nation on earth.