How Britain has got Ready for the Emergency.

Manawatu Herald, 11 July 1899, Page 2

How Britain has got Ready for the Emergency.

In the Naval and Military Record of 25th -May, the following significant paragraph occurs : — " The appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel Hall to take out three batteries of field artillery —the i£th, 62nd, and 75th, totalling 18 guns — to relieve the special service Brigade Division of Artillery in Natal, brings to notice how steadily South African garrisons have increased during the last three or four years. At that time (1896), there were stationed at the Cape and Natal one cavalry regiment, two companies of artillery, one mountain battery, one fortress company of engineers, two and a half battalions of infantry and departmental details. Since then, troops have been steadily drafted out at periods in a quiet, unobtrusive way, until the strength has been more than doubled. Regiments have gone out ostensibly for reliefs, which were never effected, and the new regiments have remained as additional. Thus, we find that the cavalry has been increased by a regiment, infantry by four and a half battalions, and artillery by three batteries. This • represents, roughly, an increase of 5000 men and t8 guns. Thi3 steady flow is being maintained, for now the special service batteries of 1897 are to be " relieved " by three others, not bearing the special service designation, but- going out as a "relief" to Ladysmith, one of the new protective stations which have risen up with the arrival of troops. The Natal staff is three officers stronger than it was, and in three years the number of troops has run up from 4000 to 9000, and the increase is still going on. By the Pembroke Castle, which sailed from Southampton last Saturday afternoon, two officers and forty-five men of the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery went to the Cape. It is said these additions are needed in the ordinary course. The need is significant." Another account states that estimates as to the forces available in South Africa very very greatly — ranging from 5000 to 30,000 men— but the following are given as the latest available details : — Of the Imperial Army there are 550 men and 18 guns Field Artillery, 320 Garrison Artillery, 150 Royal Engineers, cavalry 1200, infantry 5900, details probably about 1000 — thus giving a total of 9020 men, with 18 guns, besides Maxims, etc. The colonial troops comprise the Cape Mounted Rifles, the Cape Infantry, the Mashonaland Police., the Bechuland Police, and others— in all, about 4000 men. Thus a month ago there were immediately available for service some 13,000 men. Reinforcements could be obtained in under a fortnight from the Bermudas, from Aden, from Mauritius, and from the Mediterranean stations and India, within three weeks England could land 10,000 additional men at Natal. If, in addition to all these, we take into consideration a Canadian and an Australian contigent it will easily be seen that though the Transvaal might prove a hard nut, there will be plenty of crackers.