What is yet Before the British.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 222050, 13 February 1900, Page 3

What is yet Before the British.

The following extract is from Howard Hillega’s book : “Probably no inland country in the world is half so well prepared for war at any time as the Transvaal —that little government which can boast of less than 30,000 voters. German experts were employed to formulate plans for the defence of the country, and

European artillerists were secured to teach the arts of modern warfare to the men at the head of the Boer army. Several Americals of military training became the instructors in the national military school at Pretoria, and even .the women and children became imbued with the necessity for warlike preparation, and learned the use of arms. Several million pounds were spent in Europe in the purchase of the armament required by the plans forby the expert*, an l the whole placed orr a’ wdrk*f--6 ing, ’important strategic-position was

made as impregnable - as modern skill and arms could make it, and every farmer’s cot age Avas supplied Avith arms and ammunition, so that the

volunteer army might be mobilised in a day.

“ Pretoria, bring the capital and naturally' the chief point of attack by the enemy, has been prepared to resist the onslaught of any number of mm, and it is in a condition to Aviihstand a siege of three yea s. The city lies in the centre of a squiro, at e :ch corner

of which is a lof y hi 1 m -unted by a strong fi rt, which coalman s the vail- vs and the surrounding country. Each ef the four f rts h is four heavy cannon, four French guns of fit' - een miles range, and thirty heavy Gatling guns. Besides this extraordinary protection, the

city has fifty light Gatling gu >s which can be drawn by mules to any point on the hills where an alt ck may be made. Thice largo war ..houses are filled with ammunition, and t e l;vge armoury is packed to the cave-, wit h Mauser, Martini-Henry, and We-ley-Richar Is rifles. Two extrusive refrigerators, with a capacity of 2000 oxen each, are ample provision against a

siege of many mon hs. “ Johannesburg has extensive fo.-ti-fications around it, but he Boer , w 11 us© them for other purposes than those of self-protection. The fo-ts, at the Golden Ci y w- re erected for the purpo e of quelling any revolution of the Uitlanders, wh > const!tu © almost entirely the population of t.ie city. The guns of one of ihe forts can rake

not only every street in the city, but ten of the principal mine wo ks as well, and the damige that their fir© could cause is incalculable. Another fort, almost as strong as 'he one in Johannesburg, is situated a mile cas' of the city and overshadows the rail way and the principal highway t > Johannesburg..

“The approaches to the mount-in passes on the border hive been lb: titled with vast qiiauii its of Ge nian and French ordnance, and oqu.oned with garrisons o! men born or trained in Europe. The approaches to Laing’s Nek, near the Natal border, which have several times been the battleground of the English and Boer forces, have been p epared to resist an invading army from Nabl. Much attention. has been directed to 'hi prep orations in th t part of the R public, b -cause t-'-e British command rs will find it easier >tr -nsibr f <rces from the p -rt oi" D trb in, v\hi<-h. is 806 rni'os from ti c- Transv..ai border, while Capetown i=i almostdUOO miles .dis-artaV.