The Times of Tuesday prints a very curious extract from
an article written by General Gordon, and published in the Arnw and .hlravy Ga:ette the day before Majuba Hill, the subject being irregular warfare. After describing the im- mense advantages possessed by Irregulars who, like the Boers, shoot well, though admitting that their want of disci-
pline tells against them in time, he continues there- fore think that when regular forces enter into a campaign under these conditions the former ought to avoid any un- necessary haste, for time does not press with them, while every day increases the burden on a country without resources and unaccustomed to discipline .. All engagements in the field ought, if possible, to be avoided except by corps raised from people who in their habits resemble those in arms, or else by irregular corps raised for the purpose. The regular forces will act as the backbone of the expedition, but the rock and cover fighting will be done better by levies of such specially raised Irregulars." We do not want to join in the indis- criminate hostile criticism which is now being poured on the War Office, but we do think that they made a great mistake in not accepting practically all the offers to enlist in irregular corps made them by the Transvaal refugees. They might have had four thousand of these men if they had chosen, and they would have proved very useful. Instead, they would only tike what they considered the cream.
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