More About Scouts.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 157, 2 June 1900, Page 4

More About Scouts.

In the war in South Africa, i Major Rimington's Corps of Guides , has attracted special attention, ; partly because it has rendered *very valuable services to the army as a -■ whole, and partly because the dangerous nature of its work calls for the utmost skill, ingenuity and courage. Major Rinaington .calls his men his " catch- em-alive-os," while in the army they are known generally as " the Night Cats," oa account of their night marches and the cat-like stealth of their movements. Every man in the Guides is required to speak the language of , either the Boer or the Kaffir, and many of them can speak both* Another rule is that every man shall be thoroughly acquainted with some part of the country. The men are armed with carbines and pistols, and officers and men wear the same dust-coloured uniforms. A picturesque, jaunty touch is given to the otherwise sober uniform by the little strip of fur that is bound round the slouch hats. The corps may be taken as typical of what a body of scouts should be for work in such a country as South Africa. When a guide is sent out as a Bcout to reconnoitre, perhaps for miles in advance of the party to which he is a.tt iched, he carries his life in his hands. He is alone against the e&eniy, ®cting on his <©wn responsibility, with no officers or comrades to rely upon. He has the greatest chance of distinguishing himself, but at the same time it would often be easy for him to tura aside from danger, and no one would be any the wiser. He must be a brave, strong man to carry through h « work successfully, and he must be as wary and ■cunning as he is brave and strong. When a scout gains valuable information, be either tides in with it at once to the nearest connecting post, or, if h& ia * supported, he signals bask to his comrades. If he pomes within sight of the enemy, he raftses his j carbine horizontally above his 'head, land if he approaches a.gorge through which a safe passage^an be sees, he raises the carbine vertically, «.nd rides "towards the place. Whea in ■full view -of supporting troops, information that the enensy can b© seen as also given by rkling in a 'circle. It is the scout's duty to jump k> conclusions, but he must make no mistakes. If he sees a train of vehicles, he must not report a column with guns unless he is certain that the information is correct. Many signs which the casual observer would pass unheeded, tell tales to the scout, whose eyes and ears are always on the alert.