MAXIMS OF WAR 1900                                                

Firstly, when fighting the Dutchman, make it a cardinal rule -
Think he’s a rogue if it please you: never believe he’s a fool.

Never be needlessly reckless - he who does this is a dunce -
Stopping a bullet is easy - but you don’t stop ‘em well more than once.

Make better use of your cover - don’t ride about in full view.
God made the kopjes for Dutchmen - likewise he made ‘em for you.

Parties of twenty for scouting - easy to see and to smother:
Neither can fight nor keep hidden - neither one thing nor the other.

If reconnoitring a kopje, you feel the least shadow of doubt,
Send up one man to inspect it - send up a Rimington scout!
Don’t send a troop as a target for Dutchmen to hustle about.

Never hold more than you’ve need of - kopjes all round you are strown.
If they can’t help you, they’ll hurt you - leave ‘em severely alone.

If you should find a position when it would suit you to fight,
Keep it! Don’t shift! If you leave it, the Boers will come down in the night.
Then you’ll go back and they’ll shoot you - and serve you most damnably right!

Why should you load up with "Bully," bringing your transport to grief?
Look at the veldt all round you, stocked with the primmest of beef!

Finally, never get jumpy - e’en though the fighting is hot!
Think of how often you’re shot at - think of how seldom you’re shot!