FOOTNOTES:

SIMON’S TOWN, CAPE COLONYPhoto by Wilson, Aberdeen

FOOTNOTES:[13]All the prisoners have since been released or returned to camp. Five poor fellows died on their voyage home.[14]Prince Christian Victor Albert Ludwig Ernest Anton was the eldest son of Prince and Princess Christian. He was born on April 14, 1867, and died at Pretoria on October 29, 1900. He was educated at Wellington College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and subsequently entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He received his commission in 1888, and was appointed second lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Two years later he was promoted to be lieutenant, and in 1896 became captain, with the brevet rank of major.He served with the Hazara Expedition in 1891 as orderly officer to Major-General Elles, commanding the forces. He was mentioned in despatches, and received the medal and clasp. He was in the Miranzai Expedition of the same year, and was present at the engagements at Sangar and Mastan. The next year he accompanied the Isazai Expedition.When it was found necessary to despatch a force to Ashanti against King Prempeh in 1895 his Highness volunteered his services, and was made aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Francis Scott, who commanded the expedition. For his share in the Ashanti Expedition Prince Christian Victor received the star and promotion to the brevet rank of major. He also served with the Soudan Expedition under Sir Herbert (now Lord) Kitchener in 1898 as staff officer to the troops on board the gunboat flotilla. He took part in the bombardment of the forts of Omdurman, and was present at the battle of Khartoum. He was mentioned in despatches, and given the Fourth Class of the Osmanieh, the British medal, and the Khedive’s medal with clasp. Prince Christian Victor was gazetted in October 1899 for special service in South Africa. He took part in many engagements before the occupation of Pretoria, and was appointed an extra aide-de-camp to Lord Roberts in August.

[13]All the prisoners have since been released or returned to camp. Five poor fellows died on their voyage home.

[14]Prince Christian Victor Albert Ludwig Ernest Anton was the eldest son of Prince and Princess Christian. He was born on April 14, 1867, and died at Pretoria on October 29, 1900. He was educated at Wellington College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and subsequently entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He received his commission in 1888, and was appointed second lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Two years later he was promoted to be lieutenant, and in 1896 became captain, with the brevet rank of major.He served with the Hazara Expedition in 1891 as orderly officer to Major-General Elles, commanding the forces. He was mentioned in despatches, and received the medal and clasp. He was in the Miranzai Expedition of the same year, and was present at the engagements at Sangar and Mastan. The next year he accompanied the Isazai Expedition.When it was found necessary to despatch a force to Ashanti against King Prempeh in 1895 his Highness volunteered his services, and was made aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Francis Scott, who commanded the expedition. For his share in the Ashanti Expedition Prince Christian Victor received the star and promotion to the brevet rank of major. He also served with the Soudan Expedition under Sir Herbert (now Lord) Kitchener in 1898 as staff officer to the troops on board the gunboat flotilla. He took part in the bombardment of the forts of Omdurman, and was present at the battle of Khartoum. He was mentioned in despatches, and given the Fourth Class of the Osmanieh, the British medal, and the Khedive’s medal with clasp. Prince Christian Victor was gazetted in October 1899 for special service in South Africa. He took part in many engagements before the occupation of Pretoria, and was appointed an extra aide-de-camp to Lord Roberts in August.

He served with the Hazara Expedition in 1891 as orderly officer to Major-General Elles, commanding the forces. He was mentioned in despatches, and received the medal and clasp. He was in the Miranzai Expedition of the same year, and was present at the engagements at Sangar and Mastan. The next year he accompanied the Isazai Expedition.

When it was found necessary to despatch a force to Ashanti against King Prempeh in 1895 his Highness volunteered his services, and was made aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Francis Scott, who commanded the expedition. For his share in the Ashanti Expedition Prince Christian Victor received the star and promotion to the brevet rank of major. He also served with the Soudan Expedition under Sir Herbert (now Lord) Kitchener in 1898 as staff officer to the troops on board the gunboat flotilla. He took part in the bombardment of the forts of Omdurman, and was present at the battle of Khartoum. He was mentioned in despatches, and given the Fourth Class of the Osmanieh, the British medal, and the Khedive’s medal with clasp. Prince Christian Victor was gazetted in October 1899 for special service in South Africa. He took part in many engagements before the occupation of Pretoria, and was appointed an extra aide-de-camp to Lord Roberts in August.

With the ceremony of the formal annexation of the Transvaal, under title of the Transvaal Colony, which took place at Pretoria on the 25th of October, a recrudescence of hostility on the part of the enemy became apparent. A violent attack was made on Jacobsdaal (near Kimberley), the Boers having succeeded in secreting themselves in the houses surrounding the British camp, and this through the treachery of the women whom we were protecting! The attack was repulsed after some hours of hard fighting by the energy of the garrison (composed mainly of Cape Town Highlanders), and by the dash of Finlayson in charge of the Cape Mounted Police who came to the rescue, routed the Boers, and killed Bosman their Commandant. Fourteen of the garrison were slain and thirteen wounded, and the sole punishment which could be meted out to the dastardly inhabitants who had been “accessories” of the assault was the burning of their houses. In three of these were found large stores of soft-nosed bullets.

General Paget, who was becoming quite a master in the cunning of the guerillas, made himself notable for defeating a huge gang of Dutchmen with a convoy, taking—together with twenty-six prisoners—some 25,000 head of cattle—“the biggest haul of the campaign.” The Boers had been driven out of the region of Bethlehem, which was occupied by Colonel Oakes with the Worcesters, 62nd Middlesex Yeomanry, and two guns of the 79th Battery. The marauders were further routed from a valuable well some miles off by Colonel Golightly, Imperial Yeomanry, with Hants and Gloucester companies, and two companies of Grenadier Guards, and half a battalion of Scots Guards. During the operations young Lord G. R. Grosvenor (Scots Guards) while gallantly leading his company, was wounded in the thigh. Meanwhile Lord Methuen, with General Douglas and Lord Erroll, by a skilfully combined movement, dislodged and dispersed the enemy from his settling-place near Zeerust, and possessed himself of more cattle and more prisoners. General Barton, too, with Scots and Welsh Fusiliers, did smart work near Frederickstad, at close quarters and at bayonets’ point; but in the brush with De Wet lost thirteen killed and forty-five wounded. The Boers suffered correspondingly, and twenty-six of them were captured. Of the Scots Fusiliers Captain Baillie fell, while Lieutenant Elliott was dangerously wounded. Captain Dick’s injuries were also severe, and Lieutenant Bruce was slightly wounded. Among the Welsh Fusiliers’ officers wounded were Captain Delmé Radcliffe and Lieutenants Best and Nangle.

The plucky little garrison of Phillipolis, which for some days had been withstanding the assault of the Boers, were relieved on the 24th, by the Imperial Yeomanry acting in conjunction with two other columns, and two days later, General Kitchener attacked by night the Boers around Krugerspoort, and captured their laager. General French, ever active, swept his way from Bethel to Heidelberg, fighting continuously, and gathering up prisoners and stores;while General C. Knox on the 27th harassed De Wet’s force in its retreat from Barton’s stalwart Fusiliers, and succeeded in depriving the Dutchmen of two guns and three waggons, while U Battery R.H.A. blew up another ammunition waggon by a shell. The engagement was another feather in the cap of De Lisle, whose handling of the troops was excellent. Of the two guns taken from De Wet one was a Krupp. It was captured by the New South Wales Mounted Infantry. The other belonged to U Battery, and was captured by Le Gallais’s mounted troops, assisted, much to the satisfaction of the officers and men, by U Battery. General Hunter engaged in operations for the purpose of driving the Boers from the line near Ventersburg, where they had been intent on mischief for some time, and in the fighting on the 30th a gallant officer of Artillery, Major Hanwell, commanding the 39th Battery, received such serious injuries that he succumbed. A company of the 3rd Battalion of the Buffs became hotly engaged, and behaved “with conspicuous steadiness,” while the Surrey Regiment, charging grandly, sent the Boers scudding into space.

To those at home who ignore the truth of the German’s dictum that “invading armies melt away like snow,” it was a matter of wonder what became of the enormous force of some 200,000 men which was reported to be in South Africa, and how it happened that, with so many troops engaged, the proportionately small number of Boers attacking them achieved any success whatever. A glance at the map of the main railway routes will serve to show the melting-away process. At every bridge and at every culvert were camps; at every village and at every town were posted portions of the army. From Cape Town to Komati, from Durban to Potchefstroom, from De Aar to Mafeking, from Mafeking to Pretoria, and from Mafeking to Rhodesia the British forces were distributed, and far from wondering why the regiments thus trickling along the country failed to annihilate the Boers, those who knew were inclined to marvel that there were any regiments to spare for giving chase to the marauders in their desultory schemes of annoyance. The British duty of sticking fast was infinitely more arduous than the Boer one of slipping away.

On the 28th a Boer commando captured near Kroonstad an outpost of ninety volunteers, and proceeded to loot a mail train, but later General Paget at Magato Pass drove the enemy from two positions. Night expeditions to surprise the Dutchmen were engaged in by Lord Kitchener and General Smith-Dorrien, the former near Lydenburg attacking two Boer laagers, one under Schalk Burger, and driving the Dutchmen north, the latter moving towards Witkop and surrounding the enemy, but failing to do the damage intended owing to inclement weather. A more awful night than that of the 1st of November the unhappy troops could scarcely recollect, but as the two small columns, one under General Smith-Dorrien and the other under Colonel Spens (Shropshire Light Infantry), were operating in support of each other and some miles apart, neither could turn back. Only after surrounding and surprising the Boers at daybreak were they able to retire, and no sooner was the retirement commenced than the Boers boldly dashed after them, one of their number being slain within fifty yards of the Gordons. Our losses were Captain Chalmers, Canadian Mounted Rifles, killed, and Major Saunders, of the same corps, wounded. Captain Gardyne of the Gordons sustained slight injuries.

The circumstances attending the death of Captain Chalmers were most pathetic. Major Saunders, in the thick of a blizzard of fire, was riding back with a sergeant who had lost his horse, and to whose rescue he had bravely galloped. At this moment the Major’s horse, which was cumbered with thetwo riders, was killed, and the Major himself wounded. To his assistance rushed Chalmers, who, though begged to save himself, refused, and promptly fell a sacrifice to his own gallantry.

Such deeds of heroism were occurring daily. Though at home public interest in the war began to wane, and certain notoriety hunters endeavoured to hint that the British troops were not as smart as they might be, the gallant men at the front fought and toiled and suffered nobly. Besides actual warfare, pillage and the wrecking and burning of trains formed part of the normal programme, and daily deeds of devotion and courage were enacted. But these deeds, as a rule, found none to record them, and only now and then some special instance of heroism was wafted home on the wires. In one case thePall Mall Gazettegave publicity to a story that makes one glory in the name of Briton. About this time a train to the south of Standerton, on the Natal line, was “stuck up” and fired upon. The driver and stoker were both wounded, the former being hit eight times and having both his arms smashed. Nothing daunted, however, he butted the lever of his engine with his head, and drove it full speed into Standerton, working the lever the whole way with his head alone!

The Boers, some said, were growing disheartened for want of food and ammunition, but others found that as the want grew stronger they became emboldened. Success of any serious kind was impossible, but their capacity for annoyance was considerable, and Boer marauding bands continued to raid the neighbourhoods of Cradock, Aliwal North, Ladybrand, causing alarm to the British farmers and also to those Boer ones who were pacifically inclined. The hopes of the guerillas were mainly stayed by the inventive fertility of Mr. Steyn, who stimulated them to the struggle by false accounts of their successes. He assured them also that 5000 Dutchmen had risen in Cape Colony, and that Mr. Kruger had gone to Europe to obtain intervention, and, failing it, meant to sell the Transvaal to the highest bidder. This the sturdy fellows believed, and continued to fight on, not with the valour of despair, but the persistence of anticipation.

Meanwhile at home, on the 25th of September, Parliament had been dissolved, and a general election had taken place, with the result that Lord Salisbury’s Government triumphantly returned to power. Thus the hopes of the Boers—that with a Radical Government might come a repetition of the climb-down policy of ’81—were defeated. To vent his disgust, and as a sequel to his letter of a year ago,[15]the correspondent signing himself P. S. sent another highly educational letter to the London journals, a letter which is quoted to serve, as did the former one, to allay the doubt of any who may have questioned the original aggressiveness of the Boers, or doubted the justice of the war sentiment among the British:—

“Sir,—I beg you to give expression to the immense surprise and satisfaction with which my colleagues on the Continent and myself have learnt the results of the election. We fully expected that in consequence of British intoxication with the partial success your Government has achieved in North and South Africa, that the Anti-Boer Party would have obtained a majority of at least two hundred and twenty votes in the new Parliament. Now we know that there will be a strong Opposition of about two hundred and seventy members in the new House, our hopes of the future independence of South Africa have risen high. We are sorry for the loss of some old friends,but we rejoice in having some new and more discreet allies in the House of Commons. Not only that, but we see also good grounds for hope for vengeance. In China, India, and Morocco trouble is brewing, and will overtake you before you can reorganise your little military forces or form a decent army to protect your own land from the invasion of the trained millions of the Continental Powers. Soon there will be such a conflagration in Europe that all your energies will be needed to try to defend your own island, but you will be too late in your preparations, and then our chance will come.“You seek to settle matters quickly in Africa by your leniency and conceding the use of the Dutch language to us. See ‘British Leniency,’ inMorning Post, Saturday 13th inst. But I tell you that your leniency in general and your kindness to our men, now prisoners in your hands, are regarded by us only as bribes, offered to us to be faithless to our land and our independence. We will accept your bribes, but we will not be seduced by them to accept your friendship and to cease from working for our independence and the downfall of your Empire. But as my Continental colleagues truly say, your destruction at an early date is assured. The present election shows that at the first sign of invasion fully one-third of the population of the island of Great Britain will rise against the Government and welcome the invaders, as their forefathers would have done in the days of the first Napoleon.“We have not studied the domestic history of the English people and the present feelings of the great working class for nothing. We are not so blind as your statesmen. Moreover, we can pay for the services that we shall receive from our friends. Thanks to our previous arrangements we shall still be able to obtain in Europe the sinews of war from our inexhaustible gold mines in the Transvaal, and we know that European politicians as well as the European press can always be bought at a moderate price, and that they will faithfully render good service therefor.—Yours, &c.“P. S.”

“You seek to settle matters quickly in Africa by your leniency and conceding the use of the Dutch language to us. See ‘British Leniency,’ inMorning Post, Saturday 13th inst. But I tell you that your leniency in general and your kindness to our men, now prisoners in your hands, are regarded by us only as bribes, offered to us to be faithless to our land and our independence. We will accept your bribes, but we will not be seduced by them to accept your friendship and to cease from working for our independence and the downfall of your Empire. But as my Continental colleagues truly say, your destruction at an early date is assured. The present election shows that at the first sign of invasion fully one-third of the population of the island of Great Britain will rise against the Government and welcome the invaders, as their forefathers would have done in the days of the first Napoleon.

“We have not studied the domestic history of the English people and the present feelings of the great working class for nothing. We are not so blind as your statesmen. Moreover, we can pay for the services that we shall receive from our friends. Thanks to our previous arrangements we shall still be able to obtain in Europe the sinews of war from our inexhaustible gold mines in the Transvaal, and we know that European politicians as well as the European press can always be bought at a moderate price, and that they will faithfully render good service therefor.—Yours, &c.

“P. S.”

In this frank epistle we were given the programme of future guerilla warfare, of Boer hopes, and Boer ambition. Whether the European politicians and press would continue to be purchasable at “a moderate price” remained to be seen, but this honest avowal revealed the secret of Pro-Boerism in its nakedness, and served to account most appositely for many curious and unjustifiable assertions which have been made regarding British actions in the course of the war. While Boer gold existed, Europe and even Great Britain would find Judases ready to do business.

The Dutchmen, their political prospects in Great Britain blighted, now hung all their expectations on the chance that in America the Presidential election of 6th of November would bring about a change in their favour. Mr. M’Kinley, the President, in a private interview with the Boer delegates on the 2nd of May, had informed them of his intention to persist in a policy of impartial neutrality between Great Britain and the Boer Republics, and from that moment they looked to the Opposition—to Mr. Bryan and Democrat sympathisers—for the intervention that they still eagerly sought. But in America they met with even less luck than in England. The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Republicans. Mr. M’Kinley secured 292 electoral votes, while Mr. Bryan had to content himself with 155.

BURNING THE FARM OF A TREACHEROUS BURGHERDrawing by R. Caton Woodville, from a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist

In France the Boer cause met with sympathy, and the late President of the Transvaal on arrival there was fêted. He was the lion of the moment—but political activity went no further than lionising. In Holland the gentle young Queen extended hospitality to a distinguished fellow-countryman; in Germany a straightforward line was taken, the Emperor refused an interview which might mar the hue of his neutrality; while in Russia the Tzar, though seriously ill, maintained his determination not to be lured into the imbroglio. But ofthese matters the burghers in the Transvaal were kept in ignorance, and they doggedly fought on—wearing themselves out and losing and taking life for a now hopeless cause.

On the 3rd of November Koffyfontein, which had been besieged since the 24th of October, was relieved by Sir Charles Parsons and some of General Settle’s Mounted troops. The dogged way in which a garrison of but fifty miners under a volunteer officer, Captain Robertson of the Kimberley Light Horse, withstood the persistence of the foe, excited the admiration of friends and enemies. The miners in the débris heaps contrived so cleverly to render their position impregnable that all the efforts of the enemy were frustrated. Captain Robertson escaped with his life by a miracle. He, with four natives, made a midnight raid on a Boer hot-bed—a farmhouse a mile and a half from the village. He was met by a man with a Mauser, who fortunately missed him, but in so doing extinguished the light. A hand-to-hand encounter followed, and in complete darkness some thrilling moments were passed—the officer firing ineffectual shots, the Boer being assisted by another of his tribe, who succeeded in disarming Captain Robertson and wounding him, almost stunning him with the butt of a rifle. This gallant officer, with some of his wits still about him, regained his pistol, and transferring it from one hand to the other, shot his assailant dead!

While all this was going forward, Steyn and De Wet became more actively aggressive, and consequently Colonel Le Gallais’s force was sent from Honing Spruit, while De Lisle, with the Colonial Division, marched from Koppies, the first station north of Rhenoster, for the purpose of executing a wide turning movement, and if possible cutting off the retreat of De Wet across the Vaal. Le Gallais, after some disappointments and heavy marching, got at last on the track of the fugitive in the region of Bothaville. Early on the 6th the chase was continued with considerable animation, the 5th Mounted Infantry leading, followed by the 8th Corps under Colonel Ross. Three guns of U Battery, under escort of the 5th, 17th, and 18th Companies of Imperial Yeomanry, moved with the force, while one gun of U Battery, with the 7th Mounted Infantry under Major Welsh, remained to protect the baggage in crossing the drifts. Major Lean, with some sixty of the 5th Mounted Infantry in advance, came to a rise, whence suddenly they viewed the enemy’s laager. Quickly they surprised the Boers with some volleys, and caused a stampede. Hot-foot flew De Wet and Steyn to their Cape cart, mounted it, and were off. The rest flung themselves into their stirrups. It was a case ofsauve qui peut, for everything, guns, waggons, and ammunition, were left behind. But soon the Dutchmen found a harbour—a strong position in the neighbourhood of a farmhouse, and from the adjacent dams, a stone-walled enclosure, and even a pigsty, they began to return the fire of the British party. By this time Colonels Le Gallais and Ross had galloped to the fray, and dismounting, took up a position in a farmhouse, whence they could survey the proceedings. This central position was held by some men of the Oxford Light Infantry, while on their right were some Buffs and Royal Irish Mounted Infantry under gallant Engelbach, who was slain, and beyond them came Captain Holland and some Worcester Mounted Infantry, skirted by the Royal Irish under Captain Brush. To left of the farmhouse, near a Kaffir kraal, were the 8th Mounted Infantry and some men of the Oxford Light Infantry under Captain Maurice. Later on, as the Boers were seen to be making an effort to wheel round both flanks, Major Welsh was ordered to place his baggage in safety and to pushforwards to the rescue with every available man. Meanwhile the situation was growing more and more serious, as the Boers had got the range of the farmhouse to a nicety, and fired through doors and windows, so that within it now dropped Le Gallais, and Ross, and young Lieutenant Percy-Smith, and several men. Lieutenant Williams fell dead at once, and Captain Colvile had been hit while leading the Oxford Light Infantry earlier in the day. Nevertheless the splendid party holding the front clung tenaciously to their position, though one after another dropped, and groaning and dying littered the ground, already too thinly defended against the 200 active Mausers of the foe. For four long hours of the morning the battle pursued its course, Major Taylor, with U Battery, paying with interest the debts incurred at Koorn Spruit. Gradually—both flanks becoming stronger with the arrival of Major Welsh and his party—an adequate defence against the encroachments of the Boers was attempted, and their attempts at flanking operations repulsed. Then with considerable skill the troops to right and left were manœuvred by De Lisle, so that, while relieving the pressure on the front, the Boer laager was practically enclosed on three sides and finally rendered untenable. The white flag then fluttered within the Dutchman’s stronghold; but it was not to be trusted now, and the Boers were shouted to to leave cover and surrender, which, sulkily, they did. During the persistent fighting Le Gallais, mortally wounded though he was, continued his inquiries as to the progress of the battle. The noble fellow’s last words serve better than all else to show the heroic mould of his dauntless mind: “If I die, tell my mother that I died happy, as we got the guns!”[16]Happily he lived to know that, dearly bought as they were, we were in possession of seven guns lost by the 14th Battery at Colenso, a 12-pounder taken from Q Battery at Sanna’s Post, three Krupp 75 mm., one “pom-pom,” and one 37 mm. quick-firer—not to speak of stores of gun and small-arm ammunition, black powder, dynamite, and other camp supplies, and a “bag” of 100 prisoners. In addition to those already mentioned, Major Welsh, Captains Harris and Mair, and Lieutenant Peebles were wounded.

At the same time tussles innumerable were going forward in various regions. Lord Methuen, near Ottoshoop, was harassing Snyman with success, and the 3rd Royal Rifle corps near Heidelberg repulsed a party of raiders without loss. Phillipolis was occupied by Major MacIntosh (Seaforth Highlanders) with loss in wounded of several gallant Scotsmen and Surgeon Hartley of Lovat’s Scouts, and in the neighbourhood of Lydenburg a party of the 19th Hussars and Manchester Mounted Infantry distinguished themselves mightily, the troopers under Captain Chetwode charging by moonlight into the midst of the enemy, who were finally routed by the artillery and mounted infantry. The redoubtable Plumer also repulsed an attack of 400 men under Delarey, and elsewhere—at Vrede, Reitz, Harrismith, Pienaar’s River—parties of guerillas, driven desperate by famine, were beaten off with more or less ease. While the affair at Bothaville was demonstrating the cool courage and tenacity of our troops, General Smith-Dorrien’s much-embattled braves were again displaying devoted gallantry in the country between Belfast and Komati River. The force consisted of 250 mounted men from the 5th Lancers, Canadian Dragoons, and Mounted Rifles, two guns of the Canadian Royal Horse Artillery, and four of the 84th Battery. With them were 900 of the Suffolks and Shropshires. The Boers hung upon the front, flanks, and rear of the troops from Belfast to Komati River, but here they established themselves in a species of stronghold whence they thought they could not be dislodged. Nevertheless the Suffolks and Canadian Rifles, creeping round their flank, showed them their mistake, and caused them to retire. The next day, reinforced, the Dutchmen returned and endeavoured again to seize their lost ground, but Colonel Evans, with the Canadians and two guns of the 84th Battery, had the legs of them, and after a two-mile race disappointed the nimble ones and established themselves at the goal.

But all this activity was no child’s play. On the 6th the smart force lost six killed and twenty wounded, mostly gallant Shropshires, and on the following day two were killed and twelve wounded of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, whose splendid energy in keeping the enemy off the infantry and convoys was highly extolled by the general. The fighting at one time took place at extremely close quarters, for the Boers, contrary to custom, charged the rearguard to within seventy yards, and were only repulsed by the magnificent dash of the Canadian Dragoons, sixteen of whom fell into the hands of the Boers. These were afterwards released. Three plucky Canadian subalterns were among the wounded—Lieutenants Elmsley, Turner, and Cockburn. Desultory fighting went on in various directions, the Boers near Wepener, Standerton, and elsewhere maintaining persistent activity, which did credit to their tenacity if not to their common sense.

Notwithstanding the failure of the Cordua plot, the towns of Johannesburg and Pretoria continued to seethe with disaffection and intrigue. Anarchists and ruffians of all nations were known to be in league against the authorities, and a strict watch was kept over their movements, with the result that five Italians, four Greeks, and a Frenchman were arrested on the 16th of November. They had prepared a diabolical plot against the life of the Commander-in-Chief—their intention having been to explode a mine in the church to be attended by him on the 18th—a plot which was fortunately discovered before any ill consequences could arise. Minor engagements took place near Frankfort, and Dainsfontein, fine hauls of stock were made at Klersdorp and Heidelberg, near which regions were nests of marauders.

A serious disaster occurred at Dewetsdorp on the 23rd of November, whenthe garrison, some 400, consisting of 68th Field Battery, detachments of Gloucesters, Highland Light Infantry, and Irish Rifles, the whole under Major Massy, after losing fifteen killed and forty-two wounded, surrendered to the enemy, who numbered about 2500. The Dutchmen, under De Wet, had invested the place on the 18th, and poured a heavy fire on the position occupied by the Highlanders, creeping nightly nearer and nearer, and ceasing neither day nor night in their attack. The water supply was cut off, and the wretched men were scorched by sun and torn by raging thirst. By the 22nd their position was rendered untenable, but through the gallantry of their comrades, the men were able to retire on their main position. But the occupation of their trenches rendered the situation hopeless, and ammunitionless and waterless, surrender was inevitable.[17]A column, 1400, had been sent to the relief but failed to arrive in time. General C. Knox joined this force and entered the town, which he found evacuated, seventy-five sick and wounded being left behind. He promptly pursued the Dutchmen, and caught Steyn and De Wet and their followers near Vaalbank on the 27th, and handled them somewhat roughly, scattering them west and north-west, and capturing two waggons and stampeding 300 horses.

Engagements also took place between Plumer and some 500 malcontents near De Wagen Drift, with the result that the enemy retired in confusion. At Tiger Kloof on the 23rd, when the Scots Guards routed the foe from a strong position, the Imperial Yeomanry did excellent work. Unfortunately Lieutenant Southey, while gallantly leading his men, was shot dead, and Major Hanbury was hit in three places. Near Springs in the Transvaal, on the 25th, General Bruce Hamilton surprised a Boer laager, and on the 27th, at Bullfontein, Colonel White achieved a success, and drove the enemy across the river, mainly through the dash and gallantry of the troops under Colonel Forbes, and the skilful handling of them by the commanding officer. General Settle, a day later, occupied Luckhoff, after fighting for five hours and defeating Herzog’s commando at Kloof.

General Paget, with Colonels Plumer and Hickman, with Queenslanders, New Zealanders, and Tasmanian Bushmen, York, Warwick, and Montgomery Yeomanry, some companies of West Riding and Munster Regiments, the 7th and 38th Batteries, two “pom-poms,” one Colt, one Maxim, and two naval quick-firing 12-pounders, moved from the region north-east of Bronker’s Spruit on the 29th with a view to giving battle to the enemy, the plan being for General Lyttelton to co-operate by sweeping up from Middelburg on the enemy’s rear. The synchronal arrangements were imperfect, and the projected attacks did not proceed as intended. The enemy’s lines were longer than those of the British, and General Paget’s attempt to turn them was a failure, the enemy, some 2000 of them, being screened by boulders as big as houses, behind which they were completely safe. To left and right went Plumer and Hickman respectively, pushing on in a leaden blast from the hidden foe, while on Hickman’s right the gallant West Ridings, led by their splendid Colonel—Colonel Lloyd—pressed to the attack.

So close they came that the voices of the Dutchmen were to be heard inconversation, but these with Mausers and four guns and friendly boulders made themselves unassailable. Over seventeen hours of fighting cost the West Riding their colonel, and the brilliant New Zealanders some thirty killed and wounded, all the officers save one being hit. The wounded officers were: Lieutenants Townsend and Oakes, Captain Acworth and Lieutenant Harman, all of West Riding Regiment; Lieutenant Challis, Royal Army Medical Corps, severely, being hit in three places while gallantly attending wounded men under a heavy fire; Captain Crawshaw and Lieutenants Montgomerie, Somerville, and Tucker, and Surgeon-Captain Godfray, all of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. The total loss was eighteen killed and fifty-eight wounded. At night the guns of General Lyttelton came to work, and by morning the Boers had disappeared.

THE HARBOUR, BUFFALO RIVER, EAST LONDONPhoto by Wilson, Aberdeen

By this time Lord Kitchener, with the local rank of General, had assumed command of the troops in South Africa, Lord Roberts having started for England in complete confidence that his successor would accomplish the pacification of the country in due time. His work was most complicated, for besides being impoverished by the scarcity of troops (the Volunteers and Colonials having many of them left on the expiration of their year of service), the lack of horses put a perpetual stopper on the flow of military operations. Clausewitz has said that when cavalry is deficient, “La riche moisson de la victoire ne se coupe pas plus alors à la faux, mais à la faucille” (The rich harvest of victory is not cut with scythe but with the sickle.) And never was the truth of his aphorism more keenly felt than at this moment. The harvest of splendid victories that had been achieved was being reaped with the sickle, and the reaping operations were taking months, which, had mounts been available, would have taken moments!

December opened with animation. General C. Knox, near the Bethulie-Smithfield Road, on the 2nd harassed the Boers with a convoy and succeeded in capturing seven prisoners. General Paget’s mounted men skirmished successfully around Lieufontein, and near Utrecht some of the garrison engaged 200 of the foe for two and a half hours and put them to flight, leaving six Dutchmenhors de combat.

In the Cape Colony the members of the Bond were preparing for a Congress, and sundry chameleon complexioned gentlemen indulged in speeches regarding the question of loyalty and future settlement, which were sufficiently ambiguous to have served as examples in the art of blowing hot and cold with the same mouth, but fortunately the eagle eye of Kitchener was upon them and the result of their verbosity was a careful readjustment of such forces as were at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal, to advert any general rising among those who had previously been pacified.

The Congress eventually took place at Worcester, and the freedom of speech indulged in at the meeting was said to be responsible for the aggressions of the Boers which subsequently took place. Mr. Cronwright Schreiner declared that the British people had grossly failed in their duty toward the people of Cape Colony, their attitude since the Raid being one of dishonesty and cowardice. “British statesmen,” he said, “had been the tools of Capitalists. Their attitude had been to force war on South Africa. Great Britain is now forcing British soldiers to wage war with an inhumanity and barbarism that is astonishing the civilised world.” He dilated on the alleged wrong done to women and children (already disproved to the satisfaction of every one), and proceeded to harrow his audience by describing details. In conclusion he stormed, “We Africanders will never acquiesce in Britain taking away theindependence of the Republics.” In the end it was decided that an African mission to Great Britain should demand: First, the termination of the war raging with untold misery and sorrow—such as the burning of houses and the devastation of the country, the extermination of the white nationality, and the treatment to which women and children were subjected which would leave a lasting heritage of bitterness and hatred, while endangering further relations between civilisation and barbarism in South Africa. Second, the retention by the Republics of their independence, whereby the peace of South Africa can be maintained.

Meanwhile, Great Britain was taking her own steps for the maintenance of lasting peace in South Africa. Parliament reassembled to vote a continuance of the current of men, horses, weapons, and supplies, without which the generals who were striving to bring guerilla-raiding to a summary conclusion, would remain paralysed and resourceless.

The Boers achieved something of a success on the 3rd as they came across a convoy of 140 waggons three miles long, proceeding in two sections from Pretoria to Rustenburg, and succeeded in destroying the first section (escorted by two companies of West Yorks, and two squadrons of the Victoria Mounted Rifles, with two guns of the 75th Battery). Delarey, hiding in a donga with 700 of his gang, waited till the convoy and men got within effective range, and sent a shower of bullets into their midst. The troops made a grand defence, set the guns trail to trail, and blazed back at the approaching hordes who were now endeavouring to surround them, with the result that the marauders failing to capture the convoy satisfied themselves by setting fire to the waggons and retiring, thus leaving the second section (escorted by two companies of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) unharmed. Our loss was fifteen killed and twenty-three wounded, among the latter Lieutenant Baker, R.F.A.

On the 5th De Wet made an audacious attempt upon Cape Colony, which, in spite of his marvellous acuteness and activity, proved a failure. He crossed the Caledon and moved towards Odendaal, which was held by the 1st Coldstreams. (It must here be noted that the Guards after their march to Komati Poort, and a brief rest in the Transvaal, were moved to their old hunting grounds on the Orange River, all the drifts of which they assiduously guarded.) At Commassie Bridge he was completely worsted by our troops and forced to trek to the north-east, and back over the Caledon, leaving behind him 500 horses, many Cape carts, and a long stream of dying and dead cattle. He was continually pursued and harassed by General C. Knox, who captured a Krupp gun and a waggon-load of ammunition, and kept up a running fight in the direction of Reddersburg; which was said to be one of the most exciting episodes in the whole war.

On the 8th a Boer gang near Barberton made a violent and indeed valiant lunge at the troops guarding the place. Though once repulsed by the Mounted Infantry they again returned to the attack, and succeeded in getting to very close quarters. The British lost three and had five wounded and thirteen taken prisoners. These, as too troublesome to feed, were afterwards released.

On 13th of December a grievous affair took place at Nooitgedacht on the Magaliesberg, where General Clements with his force of 500 mounted men and 400 Northumberland Fusiliers, while holding the tops of some kopjes was attacked by 2500 kharki-clad Boers under Delarey. The foe crept up without being recognised and seized vantage-points on the ridges, first overpowering the Northumberland Fusiliers (who fought for hours till ammunition was exhausted), and thereby rendering the position of the camp untenable. Under aheavy fire guns and transport were moved, and a second position one mile and a half to south-east taken, where till afternoon the troops remained. Then they retired on Rietfontein, sixty of the 12th Brigade of Mounted Infantry keeping the Boers at bay while the movement was accomplished. The fighting was very severe, and five officers and nine men were killed; eighteen officers and 555 men, most of them Northumberland Fusiliers, were missing. As the natives bolted, a considerable amount of transport was lost, though the Army Service Corps vigorously defended the waggons. A most popular officer, Colonel Legge, 20th Hussars, was hit by three bullets, but was seen to shoot five Boers with his revolver before he dropped. The other officers killed were Captain Macbean, Dublin Fusiliers; Captain Murdoch, Cameron Highlanders; and Captain Atkins, Wiltshire Regiment.

On the same day Colonel Blomfield (at this time in command of the Lancashire Brigade) achieved a great success in the neighbourhood of Vryheid. There, three days previously, the Boers had attacked and had been driven off with a loss of about 100 killed and wounded, to our six killed, nineteen wounded, and thirty missing. Unfortunately two gallant officers of the Royal Lancaster Regiment were killed, Colonel Gawne and Lieutenant Woodgate. Now the avenging Colonel swooped down on the Dutchmen at Scheepers Nek, and drove them off in confusion, securing a quantity of arms and stock, and inflicting heavy punishment. Two Naval Volunteers, whose corps behaved splendidly, were killed. Lord Methuen at the same time was helping to balance the Nooitgedacht account by attacking two Boer positions in the region of Ottoshoop, and taking unto himself fifteen ox waggons and Cape carts, 15,000 rounds of ammunition, 1460 head of cattle, and 2000 sheep. Unfortunately the roll of prisoners was small; for the art of running away is simpler than the art of holding on, and the chase ended, as chases usually ended, by the capture of a handful of prisoners and a prodigious haul of waggons and cattle.

In the Zastron district a party of the 2nd Division of Brabant’s Horse—mostly raw recruits—got into difficulties on the 13th. They became detached from the main body, were caught in a defile, and 120 of them were taken prisoners. The captain in command was wounded in several places, and the Colonials lost eight killed and eighteen wounded, three of whom since died. At this time De Wet was retreating north, flying towards the Thabanchu region from the pursuit of Knox, and struggling to break through the British cordon. After delivering several ineffectual assaults on the various British positions, on the 14th, he in person led a gallant attack—charged through the British lines, and, with the loss of thirty men killed and wounded, twelve prisoners, some waggons of ammunition, a 15-pounder gun (taken at Dewetsdorp), a “pom-pom,” and many horses and mules, succeeded once more in making his escape!

Parties of his dispersed force at different points had crossed the Orange River and commenced cutting railway lines, threatening communications between Cape Town and Buluwayo, their object being to possess themselves of De Aar Junction. But their movements were circumscribed. Burghersdorp, Stormberg, Rosmead, and Naauwpoort were all strongly held by the British, while the Orange River, as though vengefully, had risen at the back of the marauders and pressed them close to the British forces, hemming them round. Still, some 2000 of them on mischief bent caused considerable alarm and annoyance, holding up trains, capturing convoys, and calling on small garrisons to surrender, and fighting, till, on the approach of reinforcements, they deemed it advisable to decamp to fresh fields of diversion. Lord Kitchener promptlyarrived at De Aar and adopted measures to quell the invasion and allay the apprehensions of those who found themselves at the mercy of the bandits. But the work was not to be accomplished without infinite patience, for, as one of the gay Colonials remarked, “Sport in these districts is no longer fox-hunting, but rat-catching!”

A new proclamation, dated 20th December, was issued by the Commander-in-Chief. It ran thus: “It is hereby notified to all burghers that if, after this date, they voluntarily surrender, they will be allowed to live with their families in Government laagers until such time as the guerilla warfare now being carried on will admit of their returning safely to their homes.

“All stock and property brought in at the time of surrender of such burghers will be respected and paid for if requisitioned by the military authorities.”

To ensure a more speedy termination of hostilities, active steps were taken to make up for the loss of the Colonial and other troops which had returned to their homes. The recruiting of Colonial Police to the number of 10,000 was being carried forward, 800 mounted infantry and two cavalry regiments from England were under orders to leave as soon as possible, and a sixth New Zealand Contingent consisting of 200 men (one-half Maoris) was preparing to sail.

A second band of marauders had now got across by Zandsdrift, the object of the Boer leaders being to run all over Cape Colony and there gather around them as many Dutch sympathisers as they could manage to stimulate with a belief in their ultimate success, and, if possible, to get access to the sea coast. A Gazette Extraordinary was therefore issued on the 20th proclaiming martial law in twelve additional districts of Cape Colony, and warning all persons of the risks incurred by those who had previously assisted the enemy and had been released. It was subsequently arranged that owing to the state of affairs the loyal inhabitants should be called upon to form a Colonial Defence Force in order to resist the invasion, protect communications, and preserve order in the disturbed districts. The term of service named was three months. The operations in the Colony were to be conducted by Generals Little, Jones, and MacDonald.

On the 19th and 20th General Clements, in conjunction with General French, fought a continuous series of engagements with Delarey’s men, and eventually drove them from the Magaliesberg region. But these took their revenge on the 29th by capturing Helvetia, on the Machadodorp-Lydenburg Railway. This position, a very strong one, was held by a detachment of the Liverpool Regiment, who were surprised by the enemy at 2.30A.M., the Dutchmen having first “rushed” the 4.7 gun. The officer commanding the post at Swarzkopjes sent out a post, shelled away the enemy, and forced them to temporarily abandon their prize; but the Boers eventually secured the trophy by knowingly forming an ægis of British prisoners around it. Major Cotton was severely wounded, and four other officers; eleven men were killed and twenty-two wounded, and two hundred taken prisoners. It was a sorry finale for the year, yet those who could appreciate the complexities of the work of subjugation now engaging Lord Kitchener, possessed their souls in patience, and looked to 1901 for the dawn of better things.

London,December 1900.

THE INSPECTION OF COLONIAL SOLDIERS AT WINDSOR CASTLE BY QUEEN VICTORIA, NOV. 16, 1900Drawing by R. Caton Woodville

FOOTNOTES:[15]See vol. i. p. 186.[16]Colonel Philip Walter Jules Le Gallais was born on August 17, 1861. He entered the army, from the Militia, as a second lieutenant in the 8th Hussars on April 23, 1881, obtaining his lieutenancy in the following July and his troop in March 1888. He served on the staff as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief in Bombay from July 1891 to March 1893, and was adjutant of his regiment from July 1893 to May 1896. From November 1896 until he went out to South Africa he was serving with the Egyptian Army, obtaining his majority in April 1897. He was actively engaged in the Nile Expedition in 1897 (for which he received the medal with clasp), and also in the expedition of the following year, when he took part in the cavalry reconnaissance on April 4, and the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, obtaining mention in despatches, published in theLondon Gazetteof May 24 and September 30, and being rewarded with the brevet of lieutenant-colonel (November 16, 1898) and the 4th class of the Osmanieh and two clasps to his Egyptian medal. Colonel Le Gallais was an officer qualified as an interpreter in French. He had been on the staff of the army in South Africa as a cavalry leader, graded as an assistant adjutant-general, since April 7 last. A correspondent, writing to theTimes, said: “His death is especially to be deplored, as he stood in the front rank of the few cavalry officers who have proved exceptional abilities during the recent war.... It is interesting to note that the three junior cavalry officers who have been given independent commands in South Africa upon merit were serving together in the last Nile campaign. These are Brigadier-General Broadwood and Colonels Le Gallais and Mahon. At Bloemfontein, where the Mounted Infantry Division was formed, Colonel Le Gallais was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to General Ian Hamilton, and he accompanied that officer in his flank march to Pretoria and Heidelberg. After the breaking up of the Division, Colonel Le Gallais was given a detached mounted infantry command, and his force has since been operating with the many flying columns on the heels of De Wet, with the final result reported on Friday. Besides being a brilliant soldier, Colonel Le Gallais was well known as a polo player and an expert steeple-chase rider.”[17]The following were taken prisoners: Gloucestershire Regiment, Major H. R. Tufnell, Second Lieutenant A. K. Ford, Captain B. O. Fyffe, Captain A. J. Menzies, Captain W. H. Walshe, and all non-commissioned officers and men of “A,” “B,” and “F” Companies; 68th Battery R.F.A., Major Massy and one section; Highland Light Infantry, Second Lieutenant Alston and one Company; Army Service Corps, Second Lieutenant M’Nally; Orange River Colony Police, Lieutenant Boyle; Royal Irish Rifles, detachment, strength unknown. The total taken prisoners numbered 451 of all ranks.

[15]See vol. i. p. 186.

[16]Colonel Philip Walter Jules Le Gallais was born on August 17, 1861. He entered the army, from the Militia, as a second lieutenant in the 8th Hussars on April 23, 1881, obtaining his lieutenancy in the following July and his troop in March 1888. He served on the staff as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief in Bombay from July 1891 to March 1893, and was adjutant of his regiment from July 1893 to May 1896. From November 1896 until he went out to South Africa he was serving with the Egyptian Army, obtaining his majority in April 1897. He was actively engaged in the Nile Expedition in 1897 (for which he received the medal with clasp), and also in the expedition of the following year, when he took part in the cavalry reconnaissance on April 4, and the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, obtaining mention in despatches, published in theLondon Gazetteof May 24 and September 30, and being rewarded with the brevet of lieutenant-colonel (November 16, 1898) and the 4th class of the Osmanieh and two clasps to his Egyptian medal. Colonel Le Gallais was an officer qualified as an interpreter in French. He had been on the staff of the army in South Africa as a cavalry leader, graded as an assistant adjutant-general, since April 7 last. A correspondent, writing to theTimes, said: “His death is especially to be deplored, as he stood in the front rank of the few cavalry officers who have proved exceptional abilities during the recent war.... It is interesting to note that the three junior cavalry officers who have been given independent commands in South Africa upon merit were serving together in the last Nile campaign. These are Brigadier-General Broadwood and Colonels Le Gallais and Mahon. At Bloemfontein, where the Mounted Infantry Division was formed, Colonel Le Gallais was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to General Ian Hamilton, and he accompanied that officer in his flank march to Pretoria and Heidelberg. After the breaking up of the Division, Colonel Le Gallais was given a detached mounted infantry command, and his force has since been operating with the many flying columns on the heels of De Wet, with the final result reported on Friday. Besides being a brilliant soldier, Colonel Le Gallais was well known as a polo player and an expert steeple-chase rider.”

[17]The following were taken prisoners: Gloucestershire Regiment, Major H. R. Tufnell, Second Lieutenant A. K. Ford, Captain B. O. Fyffe, Captain A. J. Menzies, Captain W. H. Walshe, and all non-commissioned officers and men of “A,” “B,” and “F” Companies; 68th Battery R.F.A., Major Massy and one section; Highland Light Infantry, Second Lieutenant Alston and one Company; Army Service Corps, Second Lieutenant M’Nally; Orange River Colony Police, Lieutenant Boyle; Royal Irish Rifles, detachment, strength unknown. The total taken prisoners numbered 451 of all ranks.

Lord Kitchener, on the departure of Lord Roberts from the scene of his triumphs, had found himself confronted with a tangled skein of military affairs. The army, through loss by disease and death in the field, was a phantom of the army that was, and in consequence of the prodigious work that had been going forward, a proportionate amount of wastage and disorganisation had set in. The troops were here, there, and everywhere, just where fate had landed them after their chases of De Wet and their scurries to protect threatened posts on the lines of communication. At one point were knots of mounted men and guns in plenty, while at another there was found a mere handful of troops to maintain some important strategic position; here, remote and useless, were gathered batteries of artillery; there, where Boers threatened to pounce at any moment, a scarcely protected gun or two offered invitation to the clustering foe. In fact there had been a species of general post, and, as a natural consequence, brigades loosened from their original positions were often hovering perilously in mid-country with an uncertainty of purpose which was far from reassuring. For this reason it was but possible to act on the defensive till affairs should be righted; though Lord Kitchener’s giant brain bent itself to the load, and in a comparatively short time—a little over two months—things began to get once again into working order. Reinforcements had been demanded from England, and these, together with the force of newly raised Colonials, brought the number of troops about to operate in South Africa to over 500,000 men, half of whom consisted of field artillery, cavalry, and mounted infantry. Arrangements were made on a revised principle to meet the newer form that warfare had assumed. Owing to the necessity to dot bunches of troops in every direction, the old divisional commands were broken up, and brigades, grouped under the central command of a general of division, were fixed in definite positions, each working over a special area to a point where they would overlap or get in touch with other brigades who, working again under their special divisional commander, operated in like manner within their special radius. Thus the country was divided, as in a chess-board, into squares, but still more geometrically subdivided in order that, should necessity require it, the angles forming squares could point together on emergency and form a solid concentration at any place, their action being much as that of a kaleidoscope, which at one time breaks into particles of colour, or at another groups into masses of it, at will. As may be imagined, with this possibility of diverse movement, the position of the enemy, astute and slippery as they were, was hardly enviable. For one turn of the military kaleidoscope might bring them against the hard teeth of the converging brigades, while another might find them inextricably harassed by an army in their rear.

The towns were being garrisoned and stored to act as bases of supply for mounted troops scouring the country, and supply depots were so arranged asto be within two days’ journey of brigades, and thus enable these, if despoiled by the Boers, to hold on till provisions from another depot should reach them. Thus a sense of security began to prevail, while a corresponding sense of doubt and diffidence influenced the conduct of the Dutchmen. Nevertheless they continued active in their attacks on trains, convoys, and isolated posts, the nature of the attacks being invariably of the nature of a surprise. The operations, though involving great loss to the troops, and retarding the settlement of the country, produced no effect on the strategical position, and the position of the British troops in the important towns occupied by them remained impregnable. Ventersdorp, a central point of the Western Transvaal, which for some months had been in the hands of the Boers, was captured by General French, with small loss to himself. The garrisons of Jagersfontein and Fauresmith being withdrawn, the inhabitants seeking protection were removed to Edenburg. Ficksburg and Senekal were in the hands of the British, but in the northern part of the Cape Colony a commando, which was supposed to be surrounded by the British, had succeeded in slipping through the cordon and escaping into the Middelburg district. They captured a small patrol of Nesbitt’s Horse, and held up a train near Sherborne. Finding the town of Middelburg was held by the British, they dispersed and turned west in the direction of Hanover and Richmond, while the main body marched south, bent on a colossal loot and the recruiting of rebels. Engagements, with slight loss on either side, took place on the 1st and 2nd of January west and south of Middelburg. Meanwhile a western commando made for Carnarvon and tore on to Fraserburgh, with De Lisle and Thorneycroft’s columns thundering at their heels, losing horses in the heat of their rush, and living from hand to mouth, as it were, on the country they were harassing, but still succeeding admirably in evading the skill of their pursuers. Fortunately this rolling stone of a commando gathered little moss in the form of rebels, for though they received help in stores and supplies, and the British gained no information, the number of the enemy was little augmented by the invasion. Still, there was no knowing how much more to the south the Boers would penetrate, and how many sympathisers they would enlist, and how much damage they would do, and precautions for moral and material reasons were set on foot to frustrate their machinations.

Therefore the new year opened with a surprise for Cape Town in the form of the following call to arms:—

Prime Minister’s Office,Cape Town,31st December 1900.In view of the fact that armed forces of the enemy have invaded this Colony, and that parties of them have penetrated south of Carnarvon in one direction and south of the town of Middelburg in another, and in view of the necessity for repelling such invasion as promptly as possible, the Government of this Colony has decided to call upon the loyal inhabitants, more especially of certain districts thereof mentioned in the annexed schedule, to aid the efforts which the military forces of her Majesty are making in that direction.It is contemplated to raise a special force, to be called the Colonial Defence Force, to be utilised for the sole and exclusive purpose of repelling the present invasion, guarding railways and other lines of communication, and maintaining order and tranquillity in districts in which such measures are necessary.Volunteers are called for to give in their names with a view to enrolment in this force to the Civil Commissioner of the division in which they reside, or to any officer specially appointed for that purpose, and whose appointment has been publicly notified.Applicants should state:(a) Whether they can ride and shoot.(b) Whether they are prepared to serve as mounted men, and if so, whether they can provide their own horses, saddles, and bridles.(c) Whether they are prepared to serve only in their own district or in any part of the Colony, it being clearly understood that the services of this force will not be utilised anywhere outside the boundaries of this Colony.Persons whose services are accepted by the Government will receive pay at the rate of 5s. a day, with 2s. 6d. extra to those supplying their own horses, saddles, and bridles. Rations, forage, and arms will be provided.Pay of officers and non-commissioned officers in proportion.It is not expected that the term of service will be longer than three months.The force will be under military control, but officers under the rank of Major will, as far as possible, be elected by the members of the force.J. Gordon Sprigg.SCHEDULE.List of Districts to which this Notice is Specially Applicable.Cape Town and Cape DivisionPaarlStellenboschWorcesterPrince AlbertBeaufort WestPort ElizabethUitenhageJansenvilleAberdeenGraaf-ReinetCradockSomerset EastBedfordFort BeaufortAlbanyBathurstVictoria EastQueen’s TownCathcartStutterheimKing William’s TownKomghaEast LondonPeddieAny person resident in any other district and desirous of joining the force may send in his name to the nearest Civil Commissioner.(Government Notice No. 8, 1901.)Prime Minister’s Office,Cape Town,4th January 1901.COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCE.With reference to the enrolment of men of the above-mentioned force, the following orders are published for general information.Sydney Cowper,Secretary.I.—ARTILLERY.An Artillery Contingent is being formed in connection with the above force of men who have already had training in Artillery Corps.Application should be made to Kitchener Anderson, Esq., late Lieutenant, P.A.O.C.A., Artillery Quarters, Drill Hall, Darling Street.II.—TOWN GUARD.Enrolment will take place for(1) Cape Town, at the Town House, Greenmarket Square,(2) Green and Sea Point,(3) Woodstock,(4) Mowbray,(5) Rondebosch,—at the respective Municipal Offices.(6) Claremont,(7) Newlands,(8) Kenilworth,(9) Wynberg,—at the Office of the Resident Magistrate, Wynberg.(10) Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, at the Municipal Office.(11) Simons Town, at the Office of the Resident Magistrate.III.—GENERAL CONDITIONS.The force raised will be organised in companies of 100 strong, under the orders of the Colonel Commanding Base.The officers will be in proportion of one subaltern to every twenty-five men, and one captainto every 100. Officers will be elected by the men. N.C.O.’s will be appointed by the captains of companies. Only one-fourth of the effective strength of the corps will be called out at a time for service, except in case of emergency.In the event of men being called out for active service, pay and allowances will be in accordance with the provisions of Government Notice No. 943, of the 31st December.Men called out for drilling purposes only will be allowed five shillings per week, conditionally on their attending not less than two drills per week, of not less than one hour’s duration each.As far as possible all drills will be held outside of office hours.

Prime Minister’s Office,Cape Town,31st December 1900.

In view of the fact that armed forces of the enemy have invaded this Colony, and that parties of them have penetrated south of Carnarvon in one direction and south of the town of Middelburg in another, and in view of the necessity for repelling such invasion as promptly as possible, the Government of this Colony has decided to call upon the loyal inhabitants, more especially of certain districts thereof mentioned in the annexed schedule, to aid the efforts which the military forces of her Majesty are making in that direction.

It is contemplated to raise a special force, to be called the Colonial Defence Force, to be utilised for the sole and exclusive purpose of repelling the present invasion, guarding railways and other lines of communication, and maintaining order and tranquillity in districts in which such measures are necessary.

Volunteers are called for to give in their names with a view to enrolment in this force to the Civil Commissioner of the division in which they reside, or to any officer specially appointed for that purpose, and whose appointment has been publicly notified.

Applicants should state:

(a) Whether they can ride and shoot.

(b) Whether they are prepared to serve as mounted men, and if so, whether they can provide their own horses, saddles, and bridles.

(c) Whether they are prepared to serve only in their own district or in any part of the Colony, it being clearly understood that the services of this force will not be utilised anywhere outside the boundaries of this Colony.

Persons whose services are accepted by the Government will receive pay at the rate of 5s. a day, with 2s. 6d. extra to those supplying their own horses, saddles, and bridles. Rations, forage, and arms will be provided.

Pay of officers and non-commissioned officers in proportion.

It is not expected that the term of service will be longer than three months.

The force will be under military control, but officers under the rank of Major will, as far as possible, be elected by the members of the force.

J. Gordon Sprigg.

SCHEDULE.

List of Districts to which this Notice is Specially Applicable.

Cape Town and Cape DivisionPaarlStellenboschWorcesterPrince AlbertBeaufort WestPort ElizabethUitenhageJansenvilleAberdeenGraaf-ReinetCradockSomerset EastBedfordFort BeaufortAlbanyBathurstVictoria EastQueen’s TownCathcartStutterheimKing William’s TownKomghaEast LondonPeddie

Any person resident in any other district and desirous of joining the force may send in his name to the nearest Civil Commissioner.

(Government Notice No. 8, 1901.)

Prime Minister’s Office,Cape Town,4th January 1901.

COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCE.

With reference to the enrolment of men of the above-mentioned force, the following orders are published for general information.

Sydney Cowper,Secretary.

I.—ARTILLERY.

An Artillery Contingent is being formed in connection with the above force of men who have already had training in Artillery Corps.

Application should be made to Kitchener Anderson, Esq., late Lieutenant, P.A.O.C.A., Artillery Quarters, Drill Hall, Darling Street.

II.—TOWN GUARD.

Enrolment will take place for

(1) Cape Town, at the Town House, Greenmarket Square,(2) Green and Sea Point,(3) Woodstock,(4) Mowbray,(5) Rondebosch,

—at the respective Municipal Offices.

(6) Claremont,(7) Newlands,(8) Kenilworth,(9) Wynberg,

—at the Office of the Resident Magistrate, Wynberg.

(10) Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, at the Municipal Office.(11) Simons Town, at the Office of the Resident Magistrate.

III.—GENERAL CONDITIONS.

The force raised will be organised in companies of 100 strong, under the orders of the Colonel Commanding Base.

The officers will be in proportion of one subaltern to every twenty-five men, and one captainto every 100. Officers will be elected by the men. N.C.O.’s will be appointed by the captains of companies. Only one-fourth of the effective strength of the corps will be called out at a time for service, except in case of emergency.

In the event of men being called out for active service, pay and allowances will be in accordance with the provisions of Government Notice No. 943, of the 31st December.

Men called out for drilling purposes only will be allowed five shillings per week, conditionally on their attending not less than two drills per week, of not less than one hour’s duration each.

As far as possible all drills will be held outside of office hours.

The character, formation, and duties of the Town Guard may be judged from the following rules, which enabled every loyal citizen to come forward for the protection of hearth and home:—

(1) Employers may enrol their own men, and obtain enrolment cards from the Town House.

(2) Members of every company are empowered to elect their own officers.

(3) Employers or captains of companies will be empowered to arrange their own times for drills.

(4) Captains will be empowered to detail the rotation for duty.

(5) In case of the Commandant finding it necessary to call out the Town Guard, he will make a levy upon all companies in equal proportions, that is to say, every company will be required to furnish an equal percentage of men.

(6) Volunteers of one company will be allowed to make arrangements with another company for drill.

(7) Several employers of a small number of men may join together to form a company.

(8) The duties of the Town Guard will consist in guarding positions, picket and patrol duty usually undertaken by the regular forces now being withdrawn for service further afield. The area of service of the Town Guard will be the limit of the Municipality.

(9) No member of the Town Guard will be employed for more than twenty-four hours at a stretch.

(10) The duration of service will not exceed three months; if, as all hope will prove to be the case, the danger to the peace of the Western Province be removed earlier, the Town Guard will be disbanded before the three months have expired.

These conditions applied equally to town and suburb.

In response to the “call” came a spontaneous, remarkable, almost mad rush of recruits. No such scene of martial ardour had taken place since the outbreak of the war. The excitement was intense. The Drill Hall, where Colonels Girouard, R.E., and Southey, and Captain Chester-Master were presiding, became a pandemonium, every man anxious to know how best he could assist, either by his personal efforts or by allowing those in his employ to “sign on,” and the streets, and clubs, and public conveyances literally buzzed with enthusiastic volunteers, who were itching to be “each of them doing his country’s work.”

It appeared that no section of the public would consent to be left out in the cold. Streaming to the banner came numbers of prominent townsmen, among them Messrs. R. M. Maxwell, Cecil Jones, L. Cloete, J. Rawbone (Somerset West), T. Bromley, Abe Bailey, G. Kilgour, C.E., A. Myburgh, E. Field, Colonel Coates, W. Duffus, and W. G. Rattray. Mr. R. Stuart Solomon was busily engaged as recruiting officer of the Defence Force, and was beset by volunteers Colonial born, who, when asked where they would like to serve—town districts or Colony—replied unanimously, “Anywhere!”

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