Some interesting passages from the monograph issued by the German
General Staff on the South African War were given iu the Times of last Saturday. The general verdict on Lord Methuen at Magersfontem is much more favourable than that passed on General Buller at Coleus°, and the former is described. in spite of making various separate mistakes, as "a careful commander, who begins by preparing everything in a systematic manner with the object of ensuring success." Special praise is given to the management of the artillery and the conduct of the Army Medical Corps, and the general idea of the night attack is commended, but it is pointed out that the surprise was not properly managed, that the troops first engaged were not brought up in a perfectly fresh con- dition, and that the resolute resumption of the offensive, by which the situation might have been retrieved, was rendered difficult by the death of General Wauchope, the delay in the assumption of the command by his successor, and the approach of dawn. Not the least interesting feature in the monograph, the first of a series on Extra-European Wars," is the state- ment in the introduction emphasising the importance of directing attention to such wars with a view to dealing with the experience gained therein by other armies, "now that Germany has joined the ranks of those Powers which have colonial possessions."
Previous page
