8
„any that can be predicated of the best British troops; he is
„well acquainted with the country, and is sufficiently intelligent
„to know without being expressly told, exactly what to do in
„unforeseen circumstances, and sufficiently enterprising to do it.
„For these reasons, and also because the aim and the object of
„the defence will be mainly to kill and destroy, there will be
„no need to maintain continuous communications among all those
„petty detachements. Neither will they want a numerous commis
sariat, vast magazines filled with supplies, a complex machi
nery for distributing them, nor even comfortable lodgings.
They will eat wha t they can get from the inhabitants in return
„for receipts, fight on empty stomachs when necessary and
„sleep with the firmament for a roof. As for ammunitions
„they will have stores well stocked at various places, the very
„existence of which will probably never be discovered by the
„British.
Eenige bladzijden verder de nadeelen der Engelschen be
sprekende, luidt het: „The one source of British superiority
„their artillery will virtually disappear altogether, if it be
„not changed into an advantage on the side of the Boers,
„while all the personal qualities and accidental advantages,
„which have heretofore stood the Boers in good stead will have
„a much wider field for development than ever before. The
„British soldier, on the contrary, will be at his very worst.
„Overpowering heat, torrential rains, insufficient food, exposure
„to stress of weather, the terrible nervous tension of minds
„ever on the look out for deadly surprises, and the isolation
„of troops accustomed to receive from their officers guidance
„in the smallest details all these, and other less constant
„conditions, will contribute to render the English forces for less
„efficient than ever before."
Hoewel de schrijver o. i. niet is vrij te pleiten van partij
digheid en daarvan blijken geeft in zijn teekening der toestan
den, zoo ligt in zijne appreciatie zeer veel waarheid. Billijk
heidshalve hadde hij in één adem moeten spreken van het ge
brek aan discipline, bovenal van dat aan centrale leiding, van
