88 SOUTH AFRICA. 



tending to teach our soldiers the efficient use of 

 the weapons placed in their hands will be 

 attempted until some fearful defeat in the field 

 again occurs, attributable to the want of skill in 

 shooting on the part of our soldiers, and attracts 

 the attention of the press, and thus elicits an 

 expression of irresistible public opinion. It never 

 seems to be the duty of any of our Administrations 

 to give any attention to those details upon which 

 military efficiency in front of an enemy depends, 

 and if the numerical condition of the army is 

 satisfactory, and it is supplied with the best 

 modern arms, the public is satisfied. The instruc- 

 tion of the soldier in his peculiar vocation is 

 supposed to be a matter of course, and this state 

 of things is probably destined to last until really 

 responsible officers are appointed and allowed a 

 free hand within reasonable limits. 



It is, I think, conceded by most experienced 

 military men that in future warfare success will 

 mainly depend, as far as mere fighting is con- 

 cerned, on the individual powers of the combative 

 units of an army, or, in simpler words, on efficient 

 rifle shooting. Assuming this to be a correct view 

 of the case, it would seem as imperative as it is 



