With the Boer Forces

Crown 8vo; original black buckram, lettered in gilt on spine; pp. 318 + publisher\'s catalogue; plates and map. Bump to top fore-corner of upper board; binding rather slack; somewhat foxed; one plate missing. (Hackett, p. 153; Mendelssohn I, p. 713) \'Much stress is laid on the lack of discipline among the Boers: and it is stated that, owing to the fact that \"family influences, party affiliations, and religion had a strong bearing on the election of the commandants, the best men were not always chosen as leaders.\" Many examples are given of occasions when the Krijgsraad overruled the advice of the Generals, whilst at other times the commandants refused to obey the instructions of the Krijgsraad, often to the great detriment of military operations. Reference is made to the systematic manner in which the Republicans were prepared for the struggle, and it is said that they possessed plans on which \"was a representation of every foot of ground in the Transvaal, Free State, Natal, and Cape Colony,\" but the author asserts that although Steyn, Reitz, and the Dutch of the Cape Colony may have had visions of Dutch supremacy in South Africa, Kruger did not make war to gain it.\' - Mendelssohn.