THE CLOSE OF 1901--PROGRESS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
The establishment of constabulary posts from the Valley of the Modder
towards Bultfontein and Boshof was being carried out simultaneously
with the completion of a blockhouse line from Kroonstad to Coal Mine
Drift on the Vaal. A blockhouse line from Kroonstad by Lindley,
Bethlehem to Harrismith, and another by Heilbron and Frankfort towards
Tafel Kop (a favourite Boer haunt and signalling station) and beyond
it by Botha's Pass, promised to curtail the enemy's scheme of
operations and push him into remote corners whence he would be unable
to interfere either with the proposed extension of the rail from
Harrismith to Bethlehem, or with another line working from
Bloemfontein to the Waterworks and thence to Ladybrand.
TRANSVAAL (EAST)
General Bruce-Hamilton at the end of October assumed the direction of
operations in the Eastern Transvaal, and the columns under his command
were those of Colonels Allenby and Campbell at Standerton, of Colonel
Barter at Leeukop (forty-six miles west of Bethel), of Colonel
Mackenzie (late Benson's) at Brugspruit. Colonels Williams and the
Hon. C. G. Fortescue were moving west of Middelburg. Under the
auspices of these troops and of those of General Spens, the
Standerton-Ermelo line of blockhouses was constructed, and the
constabulary posts to the line Brugspruit Station, Waterful Station,
were established. At the conclusion of these useful operations General
Bruce-Hamilton, having forced the enemy in a corner as it were and
prepared for the further advance of his columns to the east, made
Bethel his headquarters.
A concentration was afterwards arranged for the purpose of hemming the
guerillas against the Eastern Transvaal Frontier, and consequently
some of these struggled to break through the sweeping columns and the
constabulary posts, while others, in knots, returned and pervaded the
Delagoa Railway. They had of course to be dealt with, and Colonel
Wools-Sampson, whose services had been invaluable to the lamented
Colonel Benson, again applied himself to the locating of the offensive
intruders. His information was brief and to the point. General B.
Hamilton, with portions of General Spens' and Colonel Sir H.
Rawlinson's columns, surprised the marauders at dawn on the 4th of
December at Oshoek, twenty miles south-west of Ermelo. Owing to the
dash and enterprise with which the 8th Battalion Mounted Infantry
closed with the enemy and prevented their escape, the captures
amounted to 93 prisoners, 116 horses, 26 waggons, 29 Cape carts,
besides ammunition and telegraph and signalling apparatus.
While this exciting affair was going forward between Ermelo and
Carolina, Colonel Williams was chasing some Boer banditti under
Viljoen, Prinsloo, and Erasmus, who were fleeing westwards in the
direction of Knapdaar. The pursuit was carried to Welte-Vreden, where
the enemy (in a strong position and numbering some 500) commanded the
passages over the Olifants River. Colonel Williams' small force was
unequal to a decisive engagement, therefore he drew off, having killed
5 and taken 12 Boers, 8 waggons, and 3500 rounds of ammunition in the
course of his westerly pursuit. On the 7th, Colonel Rawlinson made a
grand night march from Ermelo (General B. Hamilton's headquarters),
and took 8 prisoners, while at the same time Colonel C. Mackenzie,
moving from Carolina to Waterval, vigorously chased the enemy towards
the Komati Valley, capturing 16, together with their horses, mules,
and cattle.
While Botha's bands were kept in hourly dread of being driven east
against the Swazi border, or west between the troops and constabulary
posts, where they would have been more than ever isolated and doomed
to destruction, Colonel Urmston, with a small column, played the
Cerberus, watching the line of constabulary posts in case of attack by
such desperate Boers as might have become wedged between the posts and
the columns, and keeping General B. Hamilton well informed as to their
whereabouts.
Viljoen, hovering between Pilgrims' Rest and Dullstroom, engaged the
attentions of Colonel Park, while on the northern line Colonels
Dawkins and Colenbrander hunted and hustled the enemy. By the 13th of
November Dawkins had secured 124 prisoners, and by the 19th (when he
had returned to Warmbaths by the Mafeking-Rhodesia route) Colenbrander
had captured 54 prisoners of Beyer's commando, including Field-Cornets
Ross and Louw and Adjutant Pretorius, with their horses, waggons, and
stock.
Colonel Colenbrander then devoted himself to the chase of Badenhorst's
commando, a spirited and an exhausting affair which lasted some days,
during which Kitchener's Fighting Scouts pushed perseveringly, through
an almost waterless and decidedly uninviting region, on the tracks of
the enemy. Eventually the column, almost spent with their prodigious
activities, came suddenly on the quarry, and the 3rd of December found
them in possession of all the waggons of the commando, and fifteen
prisoners. Badenhorst and sixty followers tore into the jungle
fringing the Poer Zyn Loop River, and thus escaped; but not for long.
A large quantity of stragglers were driven up into the hills, and
there seized by the 12th Mounted Infantry of Colonel Dawkins' column,
who displayed considerable prowess in the achievement. The total
results of these "well-planned and carefully-executed operations were
104 prisoners, 50 horses, 50 mules, 500 cattle, 6 waggons, 6000 rounds
of small arm ammunition, and the serious discomfiture of the enemy in
a district in which he had long considered himself immune."
TRANSVAAL (WEST)
Lord Methuen and Colonel Kekewich continued with unabating zeal their
co-operations in the Rustenberg-Zeerust region, capturing many
prisoners during their various marches. On the 13th of November, owing
to a squadron of Imperial Yeomanry of Colonel Hickie's force having
been surrounded near Brakspruit, both officers moved by different
routes to Klerksdorp to disperse the commandos threatening Colonel
Hickie. But these rovers had quickly made off to the west. Still
hunting them, Lord Methuen, with Hickie and Kekewich on his right,
left Klerksdorp to operate to west of Hartebeestefontein and Kaffirs
Kraal. He got in touch with the foe, chased him towards Wolmaranstad,
and "doubled him up" at Rooiport. Liebenberg's adjutant, his horses,
stock, waggons, and twenty-six prisoners were the rewards of a
fatiguing excursion. Lord Methuen returned to Klerksdorp on the 4th of
December. Thus Colonel Hickie, whose column was covering the
construction of the Schoonspruit blockhouse line, was relieved of the
unwelcome attentions of the Boers, and the work on hand terminated
without further interruption.
[Illustration: COLONEL PILCHER
(Photo by Robinson, Dublin)]
ORANGE RIVER COLONY
A magnificent programme for the sweeping up of infesting marauders in
the region of Vrede and Reitz was planned out early in November. The
difficulty and the extent of its plan may be gauged by the fact that
the rendezvous and starting-points of the outermost columns engaged
upon it were roughly at the angles of a parallelogram, whose diagonal
was 175 miles in length, and of which no side was less than 100 miles,
marked by the points Standerton, Harrismith, Winburg, and Heilbron;
but of the details of this enormous movement, the energy and precision
with which it was carried forth, nothing can here be said. It was
arranged like an enormous and intricate game of chess, with tortuous
and well-designed curves to keep the enemy from detecting the object
of the manoeuvres, but the whole thing was a failure. The weather,
firstly, was atrocious, and highly favourable to such Boers who might
wish to straggle and draggle to cover; secondly, the immensity of the
converging movement rendered it impossible to entirely fill all gaps,
and these gaps the Boers were naturally "slim" enough to discover and
to make use of. Thus, when all the splendidly managed and patiently
executed marches concluded by the arrival of the columns at their
objective, they found most of the birds flown. But the Boer stock and
transport had to be left behind, and there was some consolation in
knowing that the machinations of the marauders would be hampered for
want of supplies for some time to come. Ninety-eight prisoners were
taken and twenty-two of the enemy were killed, and horses and cattle
in large quantities were secured. The troops returned to their
original points of departure without incident, save in the case of
Colonels Byng and Wilson. On the 14th of November a party of 400
Boers, who had evaded the cordon before it was drawn, attacked the
troops near Heilbron. Two hours of stiff fighting ensued, and the
enemy, said to be commanded by De Wet, was successfully repulsed on
all sides by Colonel Byng's rearguard, which was brilliantly handled
by Colonel Wilson of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. The Boers left eight
dead on the field. Lieutenant Hughes was killed and three other
officers of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts were wounded.
Colonel Rimington and Major Damant continued to pursue their special
guerilla tactics from Frankfort to the Valley of the Vaal with a
diamond-cut-diamond agility which was highly disconcerting to the
Boers. Many captures they made, the most satisfactory of all being
that of Commandant Buys, who, wounded in a skirmish with the "Railway
Pioneers," fell afterwards into the hands of Colonel Rimington, who
had gone to their assistance. The skirmish took place near
Villiersdorp. Major Fisher's small patrol was attacked north and south
by some 350 of the enemy. The British were overpowered; Major Fisher
was killed, and Captain Langmore was dangerously wounded.
General Dartnell and the Imperial Light Horse Brigade--real veterans
by now--were perpetually on the move in the Bethlehem and Harrismith
region, but the Boers were wary, and, at the rumour of their coming,
seemed to evaporate! The 2nd Imperial Light Horse, however, caught
them napping on the 24th of November between Elands River Bridge and
Bethlehem. In the attack they killed two of the enemy and captured
twelve more. The bag was furthered replenished on the 27th by the
addition of 24 prisoners, 150 horses, and 800 cattle, which were the
prizes of a dashing raid of the combined force of the 1st and 2nd
Imperial Light Horse under Colonel Mackenzie.
The end of November was spent in sweeping and hunting, surprising and
night-raiding by General Elliot, who with three columns (Broadwood, De
Lisle, and Lowe) moved gradually upward from Harrismith to Kroonstad.
Here he arrived on the 1st of December with 15 prisoners, 89 carts,
2470 cattle, and 1280 horses (most of them worn-out). Colonel Barker
from Bethlehem engaged the enemy frequently, thus protecting
Broadwood's left flank and inflicting considerable damage. Colonel
Rimington having effected a junction with Colonel Wilson (Kitchener's
Fighting Scouts), south-west of Frankfort, on the 28th had some
exciting experiences with the enemy, who pursued certain buzzing
tactics for the purpose of drawing off attention to a proposed lunge
by De Wet on the baggage and rearguard. The attack when delivered was
brilliantly repulsed. The troops made a dashing charge on the enemy,
during which Lieutenant Oliver (Inniskilling Dragoons) lost his life.
Field-Cornet Klopper and 2 burghers were killed and 4 wounded, and 13
prisoners captured. Colonel Rimington then returned to Heilbron.
[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR PAGET.
Photo J. Russell & Sons, London.]
Various groups of columns under General Knox and Colonel Rochfort
harassed and hunted the remnants of the commandos of Brand, Ackerman,
and Loetzee, which still hung and clung to their ancient haunts. The
work was fatiguing and monotonous in the extreme, but the clearance of
that part of the country was accomplished. One hundred and seventy
prisoners were swept up in the course of the month.
West of the rail the establishment of constabulary posts between
Boshof and Bultfontein went on apace, while Colonel Henry watched the
country and kept the Boers at a distance.
THE SWAZI BORDER
The troops clearing the east in the Piet Retief region and on the
Swazi border were hard at work to press back the desperate and almost
refugeless Boers. Major Wiggin, with a detached force of the 26th
Mounted Infantry Battalion (Colville's column), surrounded a laager at
a farm eight miles south of Mahamba (near Piet Retief), and captured
Landdrost Kelly and Field-Cornet Van Rooijen, with fourteen of their
party; and then this same officer, with another detached force,
proceeded on the 16th to repeat his success. At Plat Nek (within the
Swazi border) he pounced again on the foe, caught twelve of them, and
secured nineteen waggons with teams and a number of Krupp cartridges.
General Plumer meanwhile worked considerable havoc among the scattered
bands that hung south of the Wakkerstroom-Piet Retief blockhouses.
After the 20th he was joined by Colonel Pulteney, and together they
scoured the Randberg neighbourhood till the torrents should subside,
and General Bruce-Hamilton, in his advance on Ermelo, could be
assisted by them.
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
As before said, General French's operations in Cape Colony were making
substantial progress, and small commandos only continued to rove about
the south-east and south-west fringe of the colony. These were harried
and worried by the troops, but their presence was now described as a
serious inconvenience rather than as a menace of vital consequence.
They confined their annoyance to the Barkley East district and the
country to the west and north of the Cape Town-De Aar line. In the
former area Monro and Scobell continued their hunts after Myburg,
Fouché, and Wessels, who now and then skirmished, but who, owing to
their losses, preferred to give the British a wide berth. The astute
and indefatigable Hunter-Weston spent his time in chasing a gang of
Boers under Naude, who, after shifting and doubling, finally burrowed
into the Karee Kloof hills north-west of Philipstown.
More columns under General Stephenson had the wearisome task of
chasing dispersed gangs over a vast tract of country; and December
found Colonel Crabbe at Lambert's Bay, General Stephenson with Colonel
Kavanagh at Clanwilliam, Colonel Capper at Piquetberg, Captain Wormald
at Wagon Drift (north of Ceres), Major Lund south of Sutherland, and
Colonel Doran between the last place and Matjesfontein. As a result of
the month's united operations of these forces, 29 of the enemy were
killed, 21 wounded, and 45 captured. The rinderpest continued to work
havoc, but the process of inoculation and the care taken to prevent
the spread of the disease prevented the movements of the troops from
being seriously impeded. As regards the troops, despite the heavy
rains, the incessant marching, the harassing and ticklish nature of
outpost work in exposed and isolated positions, the perpetual calls on
their patience, their pluck, their sagacity, and their cheerfulness;
despite the wet bivouacs and the monotonous food, and sometimes the
scarcity of it, the dangers they ran and the meagre amount of
publicity their heroism received--despite all these inconveniences,
they remained true as steel and full of grim determination "to see the
thing through," or, as the Commander-in-Chief expressed it, "to relax
no effort until the campaign had been brought to a successful issue."
The Boers now, at the end of 1901, found themselves cooped by
blockhouse lines into four definite areas: Botha's attenuated force
hovered on the borders of Swaziland and the Brugspruit-Waterval line.
Delarey and Kemp hung around the difficult country between the
Mafeking Railway line and the Magaliesberg range. Steyn and De Wet
with some dauntless desperadoes did their worst in the north-east
districts of Orange River Colony, and various bands of rebels and
adventurers clung to the north-west regions of the Cape Colony.
Elsewhere were only insignificant knots of worn-out and listless
stragglers. There was a gratifying increase of voluntary surrenders,
and during the month three of the most trusted leaders--Kruitzinger,
Opperman, and Haasbroek--disappeared from the fighting scene.
TRANSVAAL (EAST)--DECEMBER
General Bruce-Hamilton, for the purpose of protecting the constabulary
posts, was now operating in the country that had been so effectively
cleared by General French in the beginning of the year. On the 9th of
December he engaged in a brilliant converging movement over the old
ground (see map, p. 20), with the result that 130 prisoners, 4000
cattle, and a large convoy fell into his hands. Briefly the tale is
this: the General discovered that a large force of Boers had collected
north of Bethel, and were moving south with a view to escaping round
his left flank. Quickly, he summoned Colonels Wing and Williams (who
were moving upon Kalabasfontein) to join him at Spioenkop, and by
night the whole force made a secret march on the lair of the enemy at
Trigaardtsfontein. The movement was magnificently carried out, and the
laager was rushed by the troops at dawn. In the scrimmage seven Boers
were killed, and many who escaped pursuit were mopped up by Colonel
Allenby, who was moving from Middelkraal to Onverwacht. General
Hamilton's force after this successful action marched into Bethel,
having covered sixty miles in the previous forty-eight hours.
His repose was short-lived. The Boers who had escaped from the pursuit
of his force gathered now, under Viljoen, twenty-five miles north-east
of Bethel. He determined to secure them. With the troops under
Colonels Sir H. Rawlinson, Wing, and Williams, he started on the 12th
on another exciting march. He neared his destination in darkness, and
then in the dim dusk of the morn galloped upon the objective. It was a
splendid achievement, and seventy Boers, including Field-Cornets
Badenhorst and Swanepool, closed their military career. Sixteen were
killed in the engagement, and one of the two 15-pounder guns taken
from Benson's force at Brakenlaagte was recovered. The other gun had
been disabled by the enemy. The scattered remnants of this commando
fled north, and were tackled by Colonels Mackenzie and Fortescue, who
were operating in that direction. These officers captured more
prisoners and stock.
On the 19th of December General Bruce-Hamilton left Ermelo, marching
towards the east, while Colonel Mackenzie simultaneously moved from
Carolina upon Lake Banagher (twenty-two miles north-east of Ermelo).
Colonel Mackenzie on the night of the 19th made a forced march and
attacked, at Schalk Meyer's farm, Smits' laager, and inflicted upon
the enemy a loss of six killed. He took sixteen prisoners. He
afterwards moved on Bothwell, and pursued for thirty miles a convoy
which turned out to be Smits, and after a stiff engagement (on the
21st) secured 17 prisoners, 44 vehicles, and 2000 cattle. General
Plumer and Colonel Pulteney co-operated in the vicinity of Spitzkop,
and near there at dawn on the 23rd these officers engaged a gang of
500, and captured 6 prisoners.
On the same day General Bruce-Hamilton's troops attacked Grobelaar's
laager at Maryvale (fifteen miles north of Amsterdam). Owing to the
denseness of the morning mist the majority of the Boers got off scot
free, and only four were killed and eleven captured, but 700 cattle
and a number of waggons fell into British hands. The captures were
mainly due to the leading of Lieutenants Rendall and Huddleston, who,
in spite of every obstruction, dashed in among the enemy before they
could gather themselves together for more than flight. General
Hamilton returned to Ermelo, and on the 29th pushed again to Maryvale.
Again he repeated his manoeuvres, again he pounced on the Boers and
thinned their numbers by twenty-two (taken prisoners), capturing also
their waggons and cattle. This was on the 1st of January. On the
following day, with the columns under Colonels Simpson and Scott,
General Hamilton followed the spoor of the Pretoria commando up hill
and down dale, over circuitous bridle-paths and into deep kloofs in
the sides of the hills north-east of Amsterdam, hunting, and chasing,
and burrowing. As reward of his dogged patience and perseverance
forty-nine Boers were hemmed in and taken (among this number General
Erasmus and Mr. Custer, late J.P. of Amsterdam). Colonel Wing, who was
at the same time engaged in identical exploits, brought in twenty
prisoners and five waggons.
While these activities were going forward in the east, Generals Spens
and Plumer, and Colonel Colville, on a line Beginderlyn-Rotterdam-Derby,
watched the surrounding districts, and here on the 3rd of January
Plumer's New Zealanders encountered the enemy at Twyfelaar. Fighting
fast and furious, during which the commanding officer and twenty
Colonials were wounded, resulted in the discomfiture of the foe and a
loss to them of 300 cattle and a waggon-load of ammunition.
Another fierce engagement took place on the following day, when Major
Vallentin with fifty mounted men were following up the band which had
attacked the New Zealanders. Suddenly, upon the small party rushed
some hundreds of the enemy, galloping at full speed. There were about
a hundred in the first line, while about fifty were thrown back on
each flank, the movement being covered by heavy fire from a crowd of
dismounted riflemen in the background. Thus outnumbered, the British
band realised that there was nothing for it but to sell life dearly,
and in the desperate hand-to-hand conflict Major Vallentin and 18 men
fell, 5 officers and 28 men were wounded, and indeed the small company
would have been utterly annihilated but for the timely arrival of
reinforcements under Colonel Pulteney, who forced the enemy to retire.
But the Boer loss was considerable, for General Opperman, the leader
of the eastern group of commandos, perished, together with nine
others. Three wounded were left on our hands.
The enemy also had given considerable trouble to General Spens, who
spent December working between Standerton and Ermelo. On the night of
the 18th, the General detached the 14th Mounted Infantry under Major
Bridgford to search the farms dotted around the junction of the Vaal
with the Kaffir Spruit. After a long night's march he encountered at
dawn a gang of Boers. These he chased with the utmost zeal, but while,
as result of the pursuit, the troops were scattered on a wide front,
they were assailed by a vastly superior force under Commandant Britz.
The engagement was desperate and our losses were lamentable, many men
being taken prisoners. These were fortunately recovered later, but the
enemy escaped punishment. Lieutenant Stirling, Dublin Fusiliers, and
the remainder of the party fought their way doggedly through the
enemy, and returned to the nearest point on the Standerton-Ermelo
blockhouse line. Among the wounded were Captain G. F. W. Brindley, 2nd
Manchester Regiment (since dead); Captain B. H. H. Cooke, Rifle
Brigade; Lieutenant P. S. Fryer, 2nd West Yorks Regiment; Lieutenant
B. A. W. C. Moeller, 2nd Middlesex Regiment; Second Lieutenant L. P.
Russell, 2nd West Yorks Regiment (since dead).
[Illustration: GENERAL BEATSON
(Photo by Russell & Sons, London)]
At the end of the month combined action was taken to dispose of
Commandant Britz's guerillas, and to commence the pursuit the troops
of General Plumer, Spens, and Colonel Pulteney assembled at Amersfoort
on the 28th. Promptly some seven prisoners were captured near
Schuilplaats, and Britz sent scurrying towards Platrand. Here General
Spens came upon him again, and relieved him of twenty-four of his
followers. The rest broke up into small knots running the gauntlet of
the blockhouses, and some of them dropping wounded from their fire,
while others sought shelter in the north along the Vaal River.
Some Boers at this time had succeeded in bursting into the protected
area to the east of Springs, and the pursuit of them occupied Colonel
Allenby's troops and General G. Hamilton's Cavalry Brigade. These
succeeded in capturing sixty, while others surrendered to the
Constabulary. In the securing of these interlopers some very exciting
and interesting adventures are related. Major Butler and the
Carabineers on the 18th accounted for thirty-four who were running
riot south-west of Brugspruit, and on the 5th of January, north of
Bethel, the 13th Hussars, under Major Williams, brilliantly effected
the surprise of Breytenbach's laager, taking 11 prisoners, 200 horses,
600 cattle, 50 mules, and 6 carts. The Commandant himself in the midst
of the scrimmage made off with true Boer velocity, but Captain
Tremayne (13th Hussars), who was better mounted than his men, spied
the fugitive and engaged in a neck and neck race with the Dutchman
and, single-handed, secured him.
Colonels Park and Urmston, in the midst of atrocious weather, made
vigorous efforts to locate the so-called Boer Government, which was
reported to be hidden north of the Delagoa line. Colonel Park on the
night of the 19th was attacked in his camp at Elandspruit by a strong
force under Muller, Trichardt, and Krieger. A tremendous amount of
hard fighting took place before the guerillas were repulsed, and the
losses on both sides were heavy. Of the British one officer and seven
men were killed, and five officers and twenty-four non-commissioned
officers and men were wounded. Of the Boers eight dead and three
wounded were left on the ground. The number of those removed could not
be ascertained. Among the slain were Commandant Krieger and
Field-Cornet Malan. From the 21st to Christmas Day the two columns
co-operated, skirmishing with and chasing the foe, who in small bodies
flitted hither and thither in the dense mists that hung around
Dullstroom. On the 22nd Colonel Urmston's efforts were almost crowned
with success. He occupied a Boer laager some miles north of Dullstroom
from whence the Boer Government _in a Cape cart_ some hours previously
had fled.
IN THE NORTHERN TRANSVAAL
To west of the Pietersburg line Colonels Colenbrander and Dawkins'
co-operative system worked splendidly. Boers who evaded the one fled
into the open arms of the other! In this way Commandant Badenhorst
with twenty-two of his party was secured on the 11th December. Fleeing
hot foot from the Fighting Scouts he dropped into the maw of the
Mounted Infantry, who had been vigilantly preparing to "welcome the
coming guest." Later in the month Colonel Dawkins started for
Harrismith to reinforce General Rundle's command, while Colonel
Colenbrander moved to Rooiberg, and from thence pursued Boers to
Jericho, a place near the Crocodile River, where sixty prisoners and
much stock were secured. Early in the year he passed on towards the
neighbourhood of Waterval, made a brilliant night march on the
Magato's Nek in the small hours of the 4th of January, and surprised
the enemy at dawn. A stiff engagement ensued, in which five of the
enemy were killed and twenty-nine made prisoners. Not many days after
Colonel Colenbrander was fortunate enough in delivering from the hand
of the native Chief, Linchwe, a number of Boer women and children. The
Chief with a following of 2000 had started forth vowing vengeance on
the Boers for having stolen his stock, and determining to recapture
his property. He was prevailed on by the Colonel, however, to retire
to Pilansberg, and thus, much to the relief of the families of the
enemy throughout the district, an awkward and probably disastrous
complication was averted.
TRANSVAAL (WEST)
Lord Methuen and Colonel Kekewich continued operations from
Klerksdorp. The former on the 13th December sighted a Boer convoy,
gave chase with all available mounted troops, and after covering seven
miles as hard as they could go, secured all the waggons. These were
the property of Van Rensburg's men, and there was grim satisfaction in
the knowledge that for a few days at least the marauders would be on
short commons. A dash was made on the 16th for Potgieter's laager,
which was comfortably posted on the southern slopes of the Makwassie
range (near Wolmaranstad). The night march was splendidly managed, and
dawn found Lord Methuen in possession of a tremendous haul of
prisoners, horses, and cattle. His success was materially assisted by
the operations of Colonel Kekewich at Korannafontein, who kept the
commandos of Celliers and Vermaas engaged, prevented them going to the
assistance of the captured laager, and blocked the roads to the north.
Further operations were continued south-west of Klerksdorp at the end
of the month. Early in the year Lord Methuen's force engaged in an
animated chase westwards after a convoy which unfortunately had had a
long start of them. The chase appeared to be a failure, but
subsequently it was discovered that Lord Methuen's tactics had caused
the convoy to seek safety by a sudden double to the south, with the
result that it ran straight upon the Kimberley column of Major Paris,
who joyously took possession of 40 waggons and over 1000 head of
cattle. Thus did one man sow and another reap!
Colonel Kekewich ended the month in keen pursuit of Potgieter's men.
He had some exciting adventures, and made many small but useful
captures. Colonel Hickie's column covered the extension of the new
blockhouse line from Ventersdorp to Tafelkop, which point was
occupied, much to the discomfiture of the Boers, who had made it a
_pied-à-terre_ for some time past.
ORANGE RIVER COLONY
The Orange Colony was gradually becoming too peaceable for De Wet's
liking. The great chief, after some deliberations at a Kriegsraad held
on the 11th December, determined on a new plan. Finding that the
system of scattering his forces resolved itself into a steady decrease
of their numbers in consequence of the energy of our mobile columns,
and discovering also that evasive and defensive tactics ended in his
gang becoming hemmed in by the advancing blockhouse lines, he decided
on concentration. He meant with his force to avoid direct collision
with British columns, but decided to choose his own times and seasons
for pouncing on and overpowering odd detachments on duty bound, whom
he might chance to entrap. This new system brought about some
unfortunate surprises and defeats of the British, but as our small but
gallant little parties were not overpowered without deadly cost, there
was every chance that the system would ensure an earlier collapse of
the enemy's power to prolong the struggle.
A clever combined movement of the division under General Elliot, with
the columns of Rimington, Byng, Damant, and Wilson, began on the 8th
December. The enemy were given the impression that the six columns
were bound for the east, consequently they made an attempt to break
back through the columns in small parties to the west. But a complete
countermarch of the British troops on a given date (the 11th) ended in
their being driven to the west quicker than they intended, and hemmed
into the angle marked by the main line of railway and the
Wolvenhoek-Frankfort line of blockhouses. Of course many of them were
"slim" enough to see in time the threatened danger and evade the
bristles of the British broom, but the troops captured 43 prisoners,
780 horses, 3000 cattle, and 187 vehicles.
It was now evident that a concentration of Boers was taking place at
Kaffir Kop, north-west of Bethlehem. General Elliot's division from
Kroonstad, General Dartnell's men from Elands River Bridge, and
Colonel Barker's men from Winburg co-operated so as to close in on the
Kop from west, north-west, and north-east. But unfortunately the
Boers, smelling menace in the air, dispersed even as the troops
approached. Still the action was not without results, for Colonel
Barker at Vaalbank, in an engagement with 500 Boers on the 16th
(Dingaan's Day), killed the Boer leader Haasbroek, and disposed of a
formidable foe.
General Dartnell on the 18th, in the last stage of his return journey
to Elands River Bridge, came into collision with De Wet, who, from a
strong position along the Tygerkloop Spruit, disputed his further
advance. Furious fighting followed, the Boers assailing General
Dartnell's flank and rearguard, the Imperial Light Horse, spirited as
ever, holding their own gloriously. Finally to their succour came
General B. Campbell from Bethlehem (he had established signalling
communication during the fight), and the Boers were forced to beat a
hurried retreat in the direction of Reitz.
Nothing daunted, De Wet made a new effort, and, alas! a successful
one. On the 25th, in the direction of Tweefontein (nine miles west of
Elands River Bridge), he turned up again where a covering force was
watching the construction of the Harrismith-Bethlehem blockhouse line.
This force, temporarily commanded by Major G. A. Williams, 1st South
Staffordshire Regiment, consisted of the 34th, 35th, 36th, and 53rd
Companies Imperial Yeomanry, and one gun of the 79th Battery and a
pom-pom. It lay that night on the slope of a lonely kopje; the outpost
line held the crest, the camp being situated on a gentle slope to
north. The south side was steep. From this steep and apparently
unprotected side the Boers by night, at 2 A.M. on the 25th, delivered
their attack, scrambling up the heights exactly in the swift and
silent way they had mounted Wagon Hill on the 6th of January 1900, and
rushed the piquets in overwhelming numbers. The ridge secured, there
followed a dash through the camp, and so swift was the movement that
many of our officers and men were shot down before they had become
aware of what had happened. It was a deplorable affair, and Major
Williams paid for what mistakes he may have made with his life. Five
other officers were killed and also 51 men; 8 officers and 81 men were
wounded. Lieutenant Harwich himself fired with the pom-pom, and was
shot through the heart in the act. Lieutenant Watney (Imperial
Yeomanry) was killed as he headed the gallant charge on the enemy. A
Boer prisoner gave the following account of the fight: Commandant
Mears on the previous day spied round the camp, noting the exact
positions of the guns. After sunset De Wet assembled over six hundred
men and moved on Colonel Firman's camp, arriving within a thousand
yards at two o'clock on Christmas morning unobserved. The Boers
marched to the foot of the hill on which the camp was. There they left
their horses, and scaled the precipitous height. When the sentry
challenged them the Boers yelled madly, hoping thus to create
confusion, and rushed into the British camp, shooting our men down
point-blank as they came out of their tents. Our gunners, who were
firing the guns at a range of forty yards, were overpowered, and the
camp was captured after a fierce hand-to-hand conflict. Some Boers who
lagged behind when the enemy charged the hill were sjamboked along by
De Wet and Brand. The official casualty list of the Boers was fourteen
killed, including Commandant Oliver, of Bethlehem, and Field-Cornet
Lawrence, and thirty-two wounded.
At this time General Rundle, with a small column, was encamped some
2½ miles to the east of this lonely hill. Hearing the firing he
despatched Colonel Tudway, D.A.A.G., and his Mounted Infantry to
ascertain the cause, and at the same time summoned two regiments of
Imperial Light Horse from the neighbourhood of Elands River Bridge.
Quickly the Boers discovered their peril, and made off into the
Langeberg, carrying with them the gun and pom-pom they had captured in
their attack on the camp.
General Elliot, on hearing of this unfortunate affair, promptly
started off on a series of chases after De Wet, which chases were
fraught with much fatigue and considerable danger; but they failed in
their main object, though many captures of more insignificant kind
were made. As an idea of the distances covered in a week by General
Elliot's columns, the following table was given by Lord Kitchener:--On
December 29, marched seventy miles in close pursuit of De Wet; on 31st
December, twenty miles; on 4th January, sixty miles.
Before De Wet enjoyed the short-lived triumph of Christmas day,
Wessels, in the neighbourhood of Tafel Kop, had distinguished himself
on the 19th. The troops of Colonels Rimington and Damant were moving
by night in a fierce thunderstorm by parallel roads three miles apart
to cover an extension of the blockhouse line. Damant's advance guard
beheld suddenly a force approaching. This force was kharki clad, and
affected the formation usual with regular mounted troops. They also,
as they advanced, fired volleys in the direction of some Boers who
were escaping across the front of two British forces. Naturally our
men were deceived, and this clever ruse enabled the Dutchmen to seize
the crest of a kopje which commanded the whole field and also the guns
and the main body of our troops. But even in their inferior position
Damant's gallant fellows fought nobly and tenaciously to save the guns
which accompanied the advance guard--so nobly, indeed, that every
officer and man, except four, of the leading troops were shot down
before reinforcements from the main body and Colonel Rimington's
column came to the rescue. When these loomed in the distance the Boers
wisely relinquished their attack, and fled over the Wilge pursued for
many miles by Colonel Rimington's troops. Colonel Damant himself was
wounded in four places, and many of his staff were killed and wounded
as they fought gallantly with their revolvers till shot down. The
casualties among officers were: Lieutenant R. G. Maturin, 39th Battery
Royal Field Artillery (wounded); Captain H. J. P. Jeffcoat, Royal
Field Artillery Pompoms (killed); Captain C. L. Gaussen, 91st Company
Imperial Yeomanry (killed); Captain G. A. C. Webb, Royal Munster
Fusiliers (attached Damant's Horse) (wounded); Lieutenant C. H. A.
Wilson, Damant's Horse (wounded); Lieutenant W. J. Shand, Cameron
Highlanders (attached Damant's Horse) (wounded, since dead);
Lieutenant L. W. Armstrong, 91st Company Imperial Yeomanry (wounded).
Out of a total force of ninety-five in action, we had seventy-five
killed and wounded, while of three officers and forty-two men of
the 91st Yeomanry, one officer and fourteen men were killed, and one
officer and sixteen men wounded. Some truly heroic deeds were
performed. Captain Jeffcoat, D.S.O., continued gallantly to work his
gun under close and heavy fire till he dropped dead. Lieutenant
Maturin, although wounded, collected some men and got the limbers out
of fire; while Captain Webb and Lieutenant Shand charged boldly
forward to a ridge, which they held till all save two of their men
were killed or wounded. Captain Gaussen (91st Company Imperial
Yeomanry) and Lieutenant Diving, who commanded the escort to the guns,
displayed almost reckless gallantry, and the same may be said of
Lieutenant Clive Wilson. Dr. Wedderburn pursued his deeds of mercy to
the wounded, regardless of the rain of bullets that overtook him.
[Illustration: DE WET'S ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE RAILWAY.
Blockhouse and Armoured Train at work.]
The following particulars of this gallant fight were obtained from the
men engaged in it by the correspondent of the _Central News_:--
"The columns under Colonel Damant and Colonel Rimington left
Frankfort on the 19th inst. and proceeded in the direction of
Vrede. The force trekked all night through a most severe
thunderstorm, during which three of our men were struck by
lightning and killed.
"On reaching the neighbourhood of Tafelkop, Damant rushed a
Boer piquet, killing one man and capturing Commandant Gyter.
"At daybreak the transport waggons were laagered, and were left
behind in charge of a small escort, while Damant with two guns
of the 39th Battery, and one pom-pom and ninety-five men all
told, rushed forward. The little force deviated on the left
flank, where a number of Boers had been located.
"On reaching a ridge Colonel Damant observed a party of seventy
men dressed in British uniform busily engaged driving cattle in
his direction. The strangers were at first taken to be a part
of Rimington's column which had gone out on the right flank.
The mistake was soon discovered, however, and almost
immediately another body of the enemy was located further to
the left of the British laager.
"Our guns were speedily unlimbered, and quickly came into
action. We had only been able to fire two shots when the Boers
in charge of the cattle abandoned them and galloped boldly
forward towards the British position.
"The enemy opened a galling fire on the gunners at a range of
two hundred yards, and simultaneously another party of 150
Boers who had remained carefully concealed in ambush in the
long grass at the foot of the ridge enfiladed the position.
"A large number of the gallant defenders fell at the first few
volleys, but the survivors fought tenaciously, and the enemy
were only able to rush and capture the position after all the
men on the ridge had been either killed or wounded except
three.
"Previous to this, however, some of the gallant gunners and the
escort had succeeded in getting away the limbers of the guns,
notwithstanding the heavy fire. The only gunner who had escaped
the bullets then effectually destroyed the breech-blocks of the
guns and rendered them utterly useless to the enemy. Out of a
total force of 95 in action we had 75 killed and wounded, while
of the 91st Yeomanry, one officer and 14 men were killed and
one officer and 10 men wounded.
"The Boers, who were under Commandants Wessels, Ross, and M.
Botha--the latter the son of the Commandant-General--also lost
heavily. They had Commandant Vandermerwe and 30 men killed.
Three of the Boer dead were buried by our men, and the
remainder were carried away.
"Later in the day a Boer came in under a flag of truce and
asked for an armistice in order to allow the enemy to attend to
their wounded and bury their dead.
"The survivors on our side state that the Boers behaved badly
to our wounded on the ridge after the position had been rushed.
Every one who made a movement while lying on the ground was
fired at. An officer of the Yeomanry asked permission from a
Boer dressed in kharki to get water for our wounded. For reply
the Boer discharged his Mauser point blank at the officer's
head, but fortunately missed him.
"Several more of the enemy robbed and stripped our wounded and
dead, and were only restrained from perpetrating further
outrages by their commandants, who used sjamboks freely.
"The Boers were terribly angry when they discovered they were
unable to move or use the guns which they had captured.
"Meanwhile Captain Scott had got together a small force and
came up to the assistance of Damant's men.
"Scott prepared to charge the position, when the enemy,
mistaking his men for Rimington's column, hastily retreated.
The fleeing Boers, however, fell right into the arms of
Rimington's force, which was coming up to Damant's support.
Rimington opened fire, and the enemy lost a few killed, while
five were captured.
"Rimington, with the remainder of Damant's force, chased the
flying enemy across the Wilge River.
"There appears to have been lately a large concentration of the
enemy under De Wet at Tafelkop. Large parties of determined
fighters under the immediate command of M. Botha, Meintjes,
Tallvaard, Steenkamp, and Bucknill are now laying in ambush
about the district, waiting to attack small columns."
In the south-western parts of the Orange Colony the process of
clearance continued, the troops bringing to the monotonous labour the
utmost patience and cheeriness. In the north-western portion the
troops under Major Pack Beresford (South African Constabulary) did a
remarkable amount of work. At the end of December they made a dashing
raid on Bothaville, which led to the capture of 36 prisoners, 80
horses, and 29 vehicles; and early in the new year, in Ukenaimer, they
secured the whole of Field-Cornet Theron's laager and transport, with
35 prisoners, among them Field-Cornet Le Roux.
CAPE COLONY
In the Cape Colony Major-General Sir H. H. Settle assumed command in
succession to Major-General Wynne, who returned to England. Affairs
otherwise remained as before, though the bands of Fouché and Myburg
were disorganised and broken up by the excellent and continuous work
of Colonel Munro and Scobell, and Lovat's invaluable Scouts. The
guerillas were now fewer and farther between, spending their time
lurking in the hills around Dordrecht, Jamestown, and Ladygrey, and
indulging in acts of brigandage according to the state of their
appetites. The great incident of the month was the capture of
Kruitzinger. This was effected on the 16th of December. The raider,
returning to the Cape Colony with an escort of one hundred men, came
into contact near Hanover with the blockhouses held by the Grenadier
Guards on the Naauwpoort-De Aar line of railway. The collision was
sharp and short, and the commander and twelve of his men were wounded
and finally captured. The rest of the escort escaped to the south, and
were pursued into the Aberdeen district by troops under Colonel B.
Doran and Major Lord W. Cavendish Bentinck.
A gradually widening line of blockhouses running 200 miles (from
Lambert's Bay to Calvinia and Victoria West) threatened shortly to
limit the raiders' sphere of operation, but till this was complete the
chases continued. Colonel Doran, on the 9th, surprised and buffeted
Nesser's rebels near Brandwagt, thirty miles east-north-east of
Calvinia. One Boer was killed and eight were captured. The rest
scuttled in small parties to the Clanwilliam district, in hope to
reassemble and pounce on the next convoy coming their way. This
much-desired prize at last appeared, and was attacked with intense
energy at dawn on the 22nd. It was escorted by columns under Colonels
Crabbe and Wyndham, who, despite the strength and desperate
determination of the foe, managed to repulse them. But the next day
the enemy, hungering after the tantalising supplies, betook themselves
to a high ridge commanding the line of advance and there lay ensconced
awaiting the precious convoy. But after all they went empty away, for
the 16th Lancers, with tremendous dash, rushed the entrenchments and
drove them at full gallop into space.
THE SITUATION--JANUARY 1902
[Illustration: THE BLOCKHOUSE SYSTEM]
Over a year had passed since Lord Kitchener had embarked on the duties
of Commander-in-Chief, and it was now possible to examine the system
on which the war had been conducted, and the extent of progress made.
The great and most important part of the work, which was still
continuing, was the dividing of the settled from the unsettled
portions of the country. The development of the blockhouse system,
which effectually blocked the inroads of the marauders, went on apace,
and already some 14,700 square miles of the Transvaal, and 17,000
square miles of the Orange River Colony were entirely shut off from
their incursions. The area protected in the Transvaal was bounded on
the north by a line from Zeerust to Middelburg, on the east from
Middelburg to Standerton, on the south from Standerton to Klerksdorp,
on the west from Klerksdorp to Zeerust. The Orange River Colony
protected area went right across the colony south of the line from
Kimberley to Winburg, Winburg to Bloemfontein, and Bloemfontein to
Ladybrand. Within these boundaries the Boer could not exist, and
beyond them the task of clearing the country and hunting down the
enemy was pursued by means of small mobile columns.
The work and activity of these columns throughout the year had been
enormous. Though about 10,000 Boers remained sprinkled in the field,
some 53,000 (half of which number had been accounted for during the
last year) had been either killed, wounded, imprisoned, or protected
in concentration camps. In regard to these camps a great deal had been
said by the enemies of the Government for the purpose of raising a cry
of inhumanity against the Ministers, but in a speech made by Mr.
Brodrick he lucidly and concisely examined and disposed of these
charges. "So long," he said, "as every house in the Transvaal and
Orange River Colony was used at once as a telegraph station, a
recruiting office, and a refectory for the enemy, it became impossible
for Lord Kitchener to ignore the necessity of relieving the country of
the population which was rendering futile the exertions of our troops.
Under these circumstances you have to consider not what their
condition is now as compared with what it would be in time of peace,
but what their condition is now as compared with what it would have
been if they had been left on their farms. You have not got to
consider the difference between luxury and privation, but between
starvation and great suffering, and the less suffering we can arrange
for." He further showed that to a large extent the disease in the camp
was due to the fact that the majority of persons who came in (some
compulsorily, but the greater number voluntarily) were already
half-starved, their resources being at an end, and half-clothed, with
their bodies in a condition fitted for the reception of disease. Under
those circumstances a large death-rate was certain.
But, he asked, what nation engaged in war has at any time, in any
country, or under any conditions, endeavoured to feed, clothe, house,
nurse, doctor, and educate 150,000 persons, who have been left on
their hands by the enemy, whom they had called on--as Lord Roberts did
on two occasions--to take over and maintain their own belongings, but
who said they would leave them on our hands. And again, he explained
that far from any inhumanity being shown the enemy, many of the
troubles had been prolonged by excessive leniency to men who, on many
occasions, had violated the rules of civilised warfare. For the last
year and before it there had been instances of firing on ambulances,
professing to surrender and opening fire again, or firing on the
wounded, breaches of parole and treachery, which had provoked no
retaliation, no deviation from the usages of the civilised warfare on
our part. He put forth reasons which accounted for the abnormal
death-rate in the concentration camps, showing in the first place that
a death-rate in a camp whence all the healthy males have been removed,
cannot be looked on as an ordinary death-rate. He said: "If you look
only at infants, it has been pointed out that in the thirty-three
great towns of the Kingdom the mortality is 248 per 1000. Birkenhead
goes up even to 362 per 1000. Therefore, those who compare the
death-rate in these camps with the ordinary death-rate of the great
towns are, of course, speaking wrongly. I have heard of people who
think that measles cannot have much effect on the death-rate. But what
of the _gardes mobiles_ of Paris during the siege, whose death-rate
was 40 per cent. in measles cases?" The critics who had discussed the
camps had not taken the trouble to acquaint themselves with the
ordinary statistics of Boer farm life, for, had they done so, they
might have taken into consideration the fact that though many Boers
had families of twenty children, as a rule, owing to the neglect,
ignorance, or apathy of the parents, only two to a family survived.
For this reason their population has not been equal to that of other
nations in the same conditions. It is only by a study of the habits of
life of these people prior to the English rule that it is possible to
judge whether they had in the camps the comfort they were accustomed
to. Luxury is but comparative, and, as has been shown, the luxury of
soap and other sanitary precautions were ignored by the lower classes
of Boers from earliest times. In regard to the matter of diet, that
these persons received food at all was a marvel, considering that
every convoy had to be protected from their marauding relatives by the
lives of our own valiant men, men who themselves were not without
anxiety as to how their own wives, mothers, and babes were faring at
home in their absence, and who themselves, after a long career of
hazard and usefulness, might share a less enviable fate.
In addition to the accusations regarding the concentration camps,
invented by traitors to the country that housed and sheltered them,
there were other arguments to be met. "How is it, if you send this
vast number of horses--if you have your columns--if you have good
leaders who are well equipped--that our men cannot catch the enemy? Is
your intelligence defective; is your system at fault?" The explanation
given by Mr. Brodrick, one which showed a serious development of the
war, was this: "The system of our country and people with regard to
the Kaffir is different from the Boer system. The Boer columns have
only too frequently in the last few months eluded our columns by
hiding their tracks, by murdering the Kaffirs behind them. It is a
serious charge, and I make it only for this reason, that I had
occasion to notice that in the secret intelligence reports so many
cases were mentioned of the murder of Kaffirs that I telegraphed to
Lord Kitchener to ask whether this was a general practice, or whether
it was the occasion of isolated persons. His reply was: 'Cold-blooded
murders by the Boers have been frequent of late. It was only on the
10th inst. two dead infants were found with their hands tied behind
them down a main shaft at Freylingstadt.' The leader of a column,
whose letter I saw not long ago, mentioned that he was within two or
three hours of a column of the enemy whom he had been pursuing for a
considerable number of hours--that was at a Kaffir kraal--and he found
the place deserted, but in one of the houses he found four little
Kaffir boys, all under twelve, all with their heads battered in two or
three hours before." Mr. Brodrick proceeded to explain that he did not
bring this forward with the intention of making an impeachment against
the whole Boer nation. Indeed, the statement was forced from him by
friends of the enemy who at one time jeered at the Government and our
Military Commanders for not beating the Boers, and at another
complained that negotiations and blandishments were not substituted
for the slow system of physical pressure that was found by the
Commander-in-Chief to be the surest means to the end--the peaceable
end.
Both Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner decided that it was of no use
either to threaten or to wheedle, the one and only thing was
imperturbably to squeeze, reserving the policy of clemency for the
proper season, when the surrendered Boers should have become our
fellow-subjects. Accordingly we still continued to pour fresh
regiments into the country. Four thousand trained mounted troops were
now on their way out to replace those that needed rest, and India was
providing four battalions and two more cavalry regiments in return for
other troops which would take their place there. Some militia
regiments were also being sent to the front, and further Colonial
contingents, so that thus reinforced the tired veterans would receive
a fillip for future operations.
For reference in the future, when the resources of the Empire are
studied, the following return of troops and horses sent out to South
Africa between January 1, 1900, and December 31, 1901, may be found
interesting:--
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| | |
| | From Home and India. |
| During +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| | | Warrant | N.C.O.'s | |
| | Officers. | Officers. | and Men. | Horses |
+-----------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1900. | | | | |
|January | 1,099 | 45 | 28,072 | 10,229 |
|February | 1,362 | 47 | 32,356 | 5,701 |
|March | 1,130 | 63 | 26,539 | 5,501 |
|April | 480 | 18 | 11,692 | 4,522 |
|May | 321 | 4 | 7,020 | 2,481 |
|June | 271 | 7 | 10,092 | 2,649 |
|July | 120 | 6 | 2,107 | 1,277 |
|August | 93 | 7 | 3,137 | 832 |
|September | 128 | 3 | 4,644 | 1,187 |
|October | 113 | 4 | 2,337 | 2 |
|November | 125 | 18 | 2,331 | 895 |
|December | 106 | 9 | 1,080 | 591 |
| +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Total for 1900 | 5,348 | 231 | 131,407 | 35,867 |
| +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1901. | | | | |
|January | 288 | 12 | 3,333 | 2,471 |
|February | 275 | 3 | 5,225 | 1,495 |
|March | 782 | 9 | 21,591 | 2,328 |
|April | 366 | 12 | 4,498 | 2,724 |
|May | 304 | 15 | 3,509 | 2,801 |
|June | 287 | 11 | 5,532 | 2,481 |
|July | 99 | 3 | 2,055 | 2,314 |
|August | 179 | 13 | 3,546 | 1,672 |
|September | 197 | 4 | 1,958 | 2,128 |
|October | 191 | 13 | 1,466 | 2,401 |
|November | 270 | 7 | 5,350 | 2,856 |
|December | 619 | 16 | 11,686 | 5,024 |
| +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Total for 1901 | 3,857 | 118 | 69,749 | 30,695 |
| +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Grand Total | 9,205 | 349 | 201,156 | 66,562 |
+-----------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
-----------------+-----------------------------------------+---------
During | Colonial Contingents. | Remounts
+----------+----------+----------+--------+ from
| Officers.| Warrant | N.C.O.'s | Horses.| Abroad.
| | Officers.| and Men.| |
-----------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
1900. | | | | |
January | 134 | 2 | 2,080 | 2,145| 840
February | 69 | 3 | 1,313 | 1,384| 2,703
March | 149 | 1 | 2,739 | 3,065| 10,341
April | 45 | | 834 | 880| 7,879
May | 81 | 1 | 1,349 | 1,690| 7,761
June | | | | | 12,551
July | | | | | 3,305
August | | | | | 5,293
September | | | | | 8,680
October | | | | | 2,213
November | | | | | 1,120
December | | | | | 5,272
+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
Total for 1900 | 478 | 7 | 8,315 | 9,164| 67,958
+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
1901. | | | | |
January | 17 | | 567 | 580| 4,224
February | 77 | 1 | 1,424 | 1,391| 5,991
March | 162 | 6 | 3,806 | 2,722| 9,022
April | 86 | 3 | 1,672 | 1,951| 4,850
May | 3 | | 2 | | 4,384
June | | | | | 4,742
July | 9 | | 7 | | 9,130
August | 21 | 2 | 324 | | 7,800
September | | | | | 7,550
October | | | | | 10,728
November | | | | | 8,099
December | | | | | 15,463
+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
Total for 1901 | 375 | 12 | 7,802 | 6,644| 91,983
+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
Grand Total | 853 | 19 | 16,117 | 15,808| 159,941
-----------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+---------
+--------------+-------------------------------------+
| | Totals. |
| +---------+---------+--------+--------+
| During | |Warrant |N.C.O.'s| |
| |Officers.|Officers.|and Men.| Horses.|
+--------------+---------+---------+--------+--------+
| 1900. | | | | |
|January | 1,233 | 47 | 30,152 | 13,214|
|February | 1,431 | 50 | 33,669 | 9,788|
|March | 1,279 | 64 | 29,278 | 18,907|
|April | 525 | 18 | 12,526 | 13,281|
|May | 402 | 5 | 8,369 | 11,932|
|June | 271 | 7 | 10,092 | 15,200|
|July | 120 | 6 | 2,107 | 4,582|
|August | 93 | 7 | 3,137 | 6,125|
|September | 128 | 3 | 4,644 | 9,867|
|October | 113 | 4 | 2,337 | 2,215|
|November | 125 | 18 | 2,331 | 2,015|
|December | 106 | 9 | 1,080 | 5,863|
| +---------+---------+--------+--------+
|Total for 1900| 5,826 | 238 |139,722 | 112,989|
| +---------+---------+--------+--------+
| 1901. | | | | |
|January | 305 | 12 | 3,900 | 7,275|
|February | 352 | 4 | 6,649 | 8,877|
|March | 944 | 15 | 25,397 | 14,072|
|April | 452 | 15 | 6,170 | 9,525|
|May | 307 | 15 | 3,511 | 7,185|
|June | 287 | 11 | 5,532 | 7,223|
|July | 108 | 3 | 2,062 | 11,444|
|August | 200 | 15 | 3,870 | 9,472|
|September | 197 | 4 | 1,958 | 9,678|
|October | 191 | 13 | 1,466 | 13,129|
|November | 270 | 7 | 5,350 | 10,955|
|December | 619 | 16 | 11,686 | 20,487|
| +---------+---------+--------+--------+
|Total for 1901| 4,232 | 130 | 77,551 | 129,322|
| +---------+---------+--------+--------+
|Grand Total | 10,058 | 368 |217,273 | 242,311|
+--------------+---------+---------+--------+--------+
Owing to the efficacy of Lord Kitchener's slow but sure efforts the
railway disasters became fewer. In October 1900 the railway was cut
thirty-two times, or more than once per day. In November thirty times,
in December twenty-one times, in January sixteen, in February (after
De Wet's incursion into Cape Colony) thirty, in March eighteen, in
April eighteen, in May twelve, in June eight, in July four, in August
four, in September two, and in October not at all. Thus it became
possible for more than a hundred refugees per week to resume work at
Johannesburg.
The supreme authority throughout the Transvaal rested with Lord
Kitchener. Civil considerations had of necessity to give way to
military exigency. The work of the civil authorities was naturally
restricted and subject to limitations from which on the return to
normal conditions it would be freed. Nevertheless they acted with
foresight, preparing such seeds as would ensure a good harvest in time
to come. In a report made to Mr. Chamberlain in December, Lord Milner
spoke hopefully of this happy era: "We have come into possession of a
magnificent estate, which has been woefully mismanaged. As far as
local administration is concerned--I am not speaking of the political
development of South Africa as a whole--it requires no extraordinary
statesmanship, it simply requires ordinary decent government and
reasonable liberality in public finance to ensure not only a great
advance in material prosperity, but in all the essentials of
civilisation." Lord Milner also expressed the opinion that, terrible
as had been the ravages of the war, the great fact remained that the
Transvaal possesses an amount of mineral wealth virtually unaffected
by the war which will ensure the prosperity of South Africa for the
next fifty years, and other resources, both industrial and
agricultural, which, properly developed, should make it a rich
country, humanly speaking, for ever.
Before constructing the blockhouse lines Lord Kitchener determined
that the enemy must be deprived of his guns. His efforts in that
direction were speedily rewarded. By June 1901 nearly the whole Boer
artillery was captured or had been destroyed by the Boers themselves.
General French was responsible for the capture of guns in the Eastern
Transvaal, and we know how effectively his work was carried out.
General Babington deprived Delarey of nine guns, two were taken by
Rawlinson and more by Dartnell and others. In all twenty-seven guns
were reported to have been taken during the year; twenty-six of them
during the months of February, March, April, and May. They included
half-a-dozen pom-poms, seven or eight Maxims, several 15-pounders,
Krupp guns of varying calibre, Creusot, Hotchkiss, and quick-firing
guns. In addition to these armaments, more than half-a-dozen of our
own guns taken from British positions at various times were recovered.
Of rifles 7993 were captured, and during the year it was estimated
that 8589 vehicles had been taken by the British. In fact the process
of the gradual depletion of the enemy's resources had been most
effective. The number of prisoners taken was about 27,000. The
surrenders prior to Lord Kitchener's proclamation in August had
averaged about 500 a month. During the later months the surrenders
decreased, while the number of prisoners captured increased. Naturally
at the close of the year there was a decline in the number of Boer
casualties, for the continued attrition of the Boer resistance
necessarily reduced the number of antagonists accounted for.
[Illustration: GENERAL BABINGTON.
Photo Charles Knight, London.]
In an intercepted letter from Mr. Schalk Burger to Mr. Steyn, dated
Tautesberg, March 21, 1901, stating that the condition of the Boers at
that time was becoming very serious, the Acting President said:--
"The question is, what must we, what shall we do? May we, can we,
continue the struggle further? I pray the Lord day and night to give
us wisdom and light hereon, and cause us not to sin against His will,
but also not to fall into disbelief. If we are convinced that our last
resources are exhausted, our last strength broken, we must bow down
and surrender ourselves to the power of the enemy, no matter how
bitter this cup may be to us. I can, however, not yet decide upon this
latter course. My hope and trust is still that we shall be delivered
and saved; the sacrifices of lives, prayers, and misery, are too great
not to be crowned with our hopes and expectations, according to our
belief. As you will see for yourself, from the correspondence between
Lord Kitchener and Commandant-General Botha, there is no mention of
terms which meet us in any way, therefore I keep to the decision to
surrender unconditionally if this must happen, which I trust God
forbid. No, let us keep our nation unsullied, to receive no favour
from our enemy, that the gulf which exists through former years and
this cruel war remains and still widens. 'Where there is a will
there's a way,' and if we are not exiled, we can, by exerting our
strength, form committees, and supported by loving gifts from Europe,
again build up our country and people, to advance our language and
religion, to educate our children, and to keep alive our oppressed
national spirit and cause it to come to life again. This is my ideal."
Many months had now elapsed since the penning of that letter, and the
condition of the Boers had gone from bad to worse. Their hitherto
stubborn resistance was now little more than suicidal lunacy. A rough
estimate of their losses for the year, so far as could be judged, is
shown in the following table:--
+-----------+---------+----------+------------+-------------+--------+
| 1901. | Killed. | Wounded. | Prisoners. | Surrenders. | Total. |
+-----------+---------+----------+------------+-------------+--------+
| January | { Killed and | Prisoners and | } |
| February | { wounded, | surrenders, | }2,844 |
| March | { 670 | 2,174 | } |
| April | { | | } |
| May | 153 | 90 | 1,512 | 535 | 2,290 |
| June | 223 | 109 | 1,074 | 504 | 1,910 |
| July | 147 | 111 | 1,045 | 367 | 1,670 |
| August | 202 | 86 | 1,504 | 549 | 2,341 |
| September | 170 | 114 | 1,379 | 393 | 2,056 |
| October | 425 | 368 | 980 | 197 | 1,970 |
| November | 233 | 269 | 1,156 | 93 | 1,751 |
| December | 164 | 97 | 1,106 | 121 | 1,488 |
+-----------+---------+----------+------------+-------------+--------+
Total | 1,717 | 1,244 | 9,756 | 2,759 | 18,320 |
+-----------+---------+----------+------------+-------------+--------+
Lord Milner, in reviewing the situation at the end of the year,
commended the marked change which had come to pass:--
"Six months ago the enemy were everywhere, outside the principal
towns. It is true they held nothing, but they raided wherever they
pleased, and, though mostly in small bodies, which made little or no
attempt at resistance when seriously pressed, they almost invariably
returned to their old haunts when the pressure was over. It looked as
though the process might go on indefinitely. I had every opportunity
of watching it, for during the first two months of my residence here
it was in full swing in the immediate neighbourhood. There were
half-a-dozen Boer strongholds, or rather trysting-places, quite close
to Pretoria and Johannesburg, and the country round was quite useless
to us for any purpose but that of marching through it, while the enemy
seemed to find no difficulty in subsisting there. To-day, on the
other hand, a great quadrilateral, bounded roughly as follows: on the
east by the Wilge River and a line drawn from its head-waters to
Villiersdorp on the Vaal River; on the south, by the Vaal River from
Villiersdorp to about Klerksdorp; on the west, by an irregular line
drawn from Klerksdorp to the centre of the Magaliesberg Range; and on
the north, by that range and the Pretoria-Delagoa Bay Railway, is
virtually denied to the enemy. This area is more important,
economically, politically, and strategically than all the rest of the
Transvaal. It contains not only Pretoria and the whole of the Rand
mining area, but one of the most important coalfields and a large
extent of the best agricultural land. Similarly, a great improvement
is manifest in the southern part of the Orange River Colony--the
districts lying south of a line drawn from Ladybrand to Bloemfontein,
and thence westward through Boshof to the colonial border. It would
not be true to say that this region is entirely clear of the enemy,
but great progress has recently been made in clearing it.
Strategically this is a very important region owing to its central
position, and to the fact that it connects the northern states with
the 'friendly and allied' districts of Cape Colony."
In discussing the Cape rebels he declared that--
"If the enemy now find this region difficult to live in, and
impossible to traverse in any considerable numbers, the circumstance
is both militarily and politically important, for it means that their
dwindling numbers in the late Republics are now deprived of that
reinforcement from the south, which has all along been of such immense
assistance to them. For even holding, as I do (though competent
opinions differ on the subject), that the number of colonial rebels
who have actually crossed the border during the past twelve months has
not been large, it would be hard to overestimate the moral support
which Colonial information, sympathy, and encouragement, and the touch
with the outside world maintained by free communication with Cape
Colony, has hitherto afforded to the enemy. Such communication is now
greatly hampered, and may soon become absolutely impossible."
On the 25th of January a Peace Movement was made by the Dutch
Government, in which it was proposed that the British Government
should give safe conducts to three Boer delegates in order that they
might go from Europe to induce their fighting compatriots to conclude
a treaty of peace. Since a treaty is a compact between two
Governments, and since one of the Governments--the Boer
Government--ceased, with the annexation of the Boer territories, to
exist, there was only one reply possible to the British Government,
and this reply was given. The following is the text of the document:--
"THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE TO BARON GERICKE.
"FOREIGN OFFICE, _January 29, 1902_.
"SIR,--You were good enough to lay before me on the 25th
instant a communication from the Netherland Government, in
which it was proposed that, with the object of bringing the war
to an end, his Majesty's Government might grant a safe conduct
to the Boer delegates now in Holland for the purpose of
enabling them to confer with the Boer leaders in South Africa.
It is suggested that after the conference the delegates might
return to Europe with power to conclude a Treaty of Peace with
this country, and the Netherland Government intimate that, in
this event, they might at a later stage be instrumental in
placing the Boer Plenipotentiaries in relation with the
Plenipotentiaries who might be appointed by his Majesty's
Government.
"The Netherland Government intimate that if this project
commends itself to his Majesty's Government, they will inquire
of the delegates whether they are prepared to make the
suggested visit to South Africa.
"It may therefore be inferred that the communication which I
received from you was made on the responsibility of the
Netherland Government alone, and without authority from the
Boer delegates or leaders.
"His Majesty's Government have given it their best
consideration, and, whilst they entirely appreciate the motives
of humanity which have led the Netherland Government to make
this proposal, they feel that they must adhere to the decision,
adopted and publicly announced by them some months after the
commencement of hostilities by the Boers, that it is not their
intention to accept the intervention of any foreign Power in
the South African War.
"Should the Boer delegates themselves desire to lay a request
for safe conduct before his Majesty's Government, there is no
reason why they should not do so. But his Majesty's Government
are obviously not in a position to express an opinion on any
such application until they have received it and are aware of
its precise nature, and the grounds on which the request is
made.
"I may, however, point out that it is not at present clear to
his Majesty's Government that the delegates retain any
influence over the representatives of the Boers in South
Africa, or have any voice in their councils. They are stated by
the Netherland Government to have no letters of credence or
instructions later in date than March 1900. His Majesty's
Government had, on the other hand, understood that all powers
of government, including those of negotiation, were now
completely vested in Mr. Steyn for the Boers of the Orange
River Colony, and in Mr. Schalk Burger for those of the
Transvaal.
"If this be so, it is evident that the quickest and most
satisfactory means of arranging a settlement would be by direct
communication between the leaders of the Boer forces in South
Africa and the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's forces, who
has already been instructed to forward immediately any offers
he may receive for the consideration of his Majesty's
Government.
"In these circumstances his Majesty's Government have decided
that if the Boer leaders should desire to enter into
negotiations for the purpose of bringing the war to an end,
those negotiations must take place, not in Europe, but in South
Africa.
"It should, moreover, be borne in mind that if the Boer
delegates are to occupy time in visiting South Africa, in
consulting with the Boer leaders in the field, and in returning
to Europe for the purpose of making known the results of their
errand, a period of at least three months would elapse, during
which hostilities would be prolonged, and much human suffering,
perhaps needlessly, occasioned.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "LANSDOWNE."
Thus the situation remained much the same as before, save that the
British more than ever realised the necessity of bringing home to the
Boers the fact that the death-blow to their independence had been
struck by Kruger's insolent ultimatum of October 1899.
THE LOYALISTS OF THE CAPE COLONY
[Illustration: MAP OF THE WESTERN PORTION OF CAPE COLONY]
Regarding this remarkable and long-suffering set of men, it would be
possible to write a volume. Space limits us to a few lines. Yet, after
all, deeds like theirs are best sung in the finest song of all--the
song that has no sound. Some one has asked, What constitutes a State?
The answer applies to those, the loyal and true, who have fought and
suffered in the cause of home and country.
"Men who their duties know
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain,
Prevent the long-aimed blow
And crush the Tyrant while they rend the chain:
These constitute a State."
And these bulwarks of Great Britain's might were to be found in great
strength in South Africa. Other colonies had contributed most
generously in men and money, but no other colony had been called on
to endure what the Cape Colony had endured, and thus enduring, to act
and to pay as this colony had acted and paid. Almost from the
commencement of hostilities the Colonial forces--the Cape Mounted
Rifles, Cape Police, South Rhodesian Volunteers, and others[10]--had
shown their grit and usefulness in the field and covered themselves
with imperishable glory. If the burden of their maintenance had fallen
hard on the resources of the country, the laurels they had won had
clothed the harshness with an evergreen beauty, for the country must
be eternally proud of the men who saved Wepener and of those who
struggled and helped to save Mafeking. The outlines of Wepener's story
have been given, and a little has been said of the Rhodesia Regiment
that was raised by Colonel Plumer to protect the border in case of
war, and in looking back over their operations it is difficult to say
whether by their usefulness or their dash the Colonial "Irregulars"
rendered themselves most conspicuous. During the war, of the
Rhodesians Colonel Spreckley, Captain Crewe, Captain Butters, and
Lieutenant Anderson lost their lives, but the borders of Rhodesia
were protected. During the siege of Wepener the Cape Mounted Rifles
fought in more engagements than an ordinary General will count in a
lifetime--yet they saved the place and came out of it to fight a
renewed set of battles!
It must be admitted that all the Colonial troops entered into their
work with the same cheeriness and military ardour, though all had not
the same chance to win fame. The Tabaksberg engagement on 29th January
afforded the Kaffrarian Rifles an opportunity of distinguishing
themselves, and the following quotation from a letter from Colonel
Crewe (commanding the Colonial Division in the Field) to the Mayor of
East London serves to show how they availed themselves of it:--
"I am sure you will be pleased to hear of the gallant conduct of the
Kaffrarian Rifles at the recent engagement at Tabaksberg on 29th
January last, when the force under my command, some 700 in all, were
engaged by the forces of De Wet and Steyn. With odds of 2500 to 700
against us, we were able to successfully maintain our position owing
to the extreme bravery of the men I have the honour to command. Where
all did well, the Kaffrarian Rifles did especially fine service. To
Major Price and Captain Fairweather much of this success is due, and
amongst the non-commissioned officers and men it is difficult to pick
out names for special mention where all did so well. I am sure East
London will be prouder than ever of her gallant sons. Both General C.
Knox and Lord Kitchener have expressed their admiration of the
behaviour of all ranks on that day."
It seems unfair to make special mention of any single branch of the
Colonial Volunteer Service, when all the Cape loyalists behaved in
some way like "trumps" or veterans. The permanent forces of the Cape
Government were grandly supported almost from the very first by the
Cape Garrison Artillery, the Duke of Edinburgh's Own, and the Cape
Town Highlanders, and these, when the "call to arms" came, were
finally backed up by the Town Guards, the Peninsula Horse, and other
irregular forces that had been raised practically at a moment's
notice--drawn straight from the hearth and home to throw in their lot
with the soldiers in the field. It was thanks to these that the colony
was saved, and thanks to the Town Guard that the regular and irregular
forces and volunteers were freed to push on to the front. Indeed, at
one period of the war, the Cape Town Guard (which enrolled for three
months and hung on to the end) were left almost entirely alone for the
protection of the towns.
Lord Milner, who was greatly impressed by the conduct of the
volunteers, thus expressed himself on the subject: "It is indeed
calculated to exercise a most important and, I believe, beneficial
influence upon the South African politics of the future. Among the
principal causes of the trouble of the past and present was the
contempt felt by the Africander countryman, used to riding and
shooting, and generally in possession of a good rifle and plenty of
cartridges, for other white men less habituated to arms than he was
himself. That feeling can hardly survive the experience of the past
twelve months, and especially of the last six weeks. The splendid
fighting of the despised Johannesburgers, of the Imperial Light Horse,
and of the other South African Colonial Corps has become a matter of
history, and the present levee _en masse_ of the British people,
including the townsmen, of this Colony, is proof positive that when
the necessity is really felt they are equal to the best in courage and
public spirit. In this respect the events of the past few months,
unfortunate as they have been in many ways, have undoubtedly their
brighter side. The mutual respect of the two principal white races is
the first condition of a healthy political life in the South Africa
of the future. It is possible that if the extreme strain of the most
recent developments of the war had never been felt throughout Cape
Colony the British inhabitants would never have had the opportunity of
showing that they were inferior to none in their willingness to bear
all the burdens of citizenship, including that of personal service."
It may be remembered that on the 6th of February 1901
Brigadier-General Brabant was appointed to the command of the force
which was then being raised for the defence of the Cape Colony, with
Colonel Girouard as his chief staff officer. His headquarters were at
East London, where the organisation proceeded, expanding eventually
northward and westward, taking in district after district, so as to
enable the Imperial military forces ultimately to concentrate in the
Orange River and Transvaal Colonies. Colonel H. Cooper, C.M.G.,
A.D.C., commanded the Cape Town District, and Major Coke took a
prominent part in the organisation of the irregular corps. The towns
which provided guards were mentioned in a previous volume, but
particulars were not then available.
The Stellenbosch Town Guard contained some of the smartest members of
the Colonial Defence Force. Like one man they enrolled themselves,
only too proud to assist in the national cause. Very soon there were
collected over a hundred of them under the following officers: Captain
Harry Beyers, Lieutenant H. P. Shepherd, Lieutenant J. L. Scott, Hon.
Surgeon-Captain J. W. C. Macpherson.
On the 15th January 1901 the Commandant read the proclamation of
Martial Law in the Stellenbosch Court-house. From that date, thirty
members of the Town Guard were called out to do permanent duty. At
first some difficulty arose as to where the men were to be housed,
&c., but eventually the Masonic Building was placed at the disposal of
the Permanent Guard. "In this building," wrote a colonial
correspondent, "Captain Harry Beyers, the officer in command of the
Guard, has his office, where all permits and passes are issued; the
Commandant of the District, who, by the way, lives at the Remount
Station about five miles out of the town, comes in three times a week
to transact any military business. The barrack-room is a fine and
large hall where the men have their meals and also sleep. The rifles
are all in racks at the further end of the hall; these racks are all
numbered, and every man knows his number. The place and its
surroundings are kept scrupulously clean, and a sentry, who is always
to be seen at the gate, stops any loiterer from entering the parade
ground, where every morning at seven o'clock and every afternoon at
six o'clock the men are properly drilled by the popular 'Jimmy' Hills,
the Colour-Sergeant Major, who is, like his captain, an old hand at
the game."
In the beginning of July, when the Commandant of No. 7 Area, Colonel
Helme, inspected the Guards, he was surprised to note the efficiency
and smartness of the men. In an address to them he complimented the
commanding officer for the work done; he also mentioned that the
Stellenbosch Town Guard was the best turned out Guard in his area.
A brief description of the Civil Service Company of the Cape Town
Guards serves to give a general idea of the nature of these valuable
protectors of the city. The Company was under the command of Captain
Callcott Stevens, of the Civil Commissioner's Office, Cape Town, who
had previously seen active service with the Duke of Edinburgh's Own
Volunteer Rifles in the Basuto Campaign of 1880-81. The section
commanders of the Company were Lieutenant Frank W. Waldron,
A.M.I.C.E., of the Department of the Commissioner for Public Works;
Lieutenant William A. Collard, Deputy-Assistant Treasurer, Treasury
Department; Lieutenant Arthur A. Beck, of the Colonial Secretary's
Department; Lieutenant Bertram E. Shepperson, of the Treasury; and
Lieutenant Charles Murray, of the Department of Public Education. The
nominal strength of the Company was 142 members. It was raised in one
afternoon--immediately the ministerial authority for its enrolment was
obtained. A similar degree of rapidity was manifested in many other
companies of the Guards at the time of the crisis, and this martial
impetuosity reflected immense credit on the manhood of the city--on
its patriotism, its disinterestedness, and its pluck.
The Civil Service Company consisted of five sections, and was fully
representative of the Departments of the Prime Minister, the
Commissioner for Public Works, the Treasury, the Colonial Office, and
the Attorney-General, together with all the offices and
sub-departments controlled by these ministerial divisions. An
excellent spirit was manifested throughout by all ranks; and much
laborious work was done in the way of guards mounted over important
arsenals, magazines, and valuable stores. The original period of three
months for which the Guards enrolled passed only too quickly, but
their services were still urgently required, and they continued to be
called upon for further periods of service, to which an excellent
response was made--thus the military authorities were enabled to
release many men of the regular forces for service in the fighting
line, where they were much needed.
Among the various companies of the Town Guard were many prominent
Government officials and business and professional men, whose names
are familiar in the colony. It would be impossible to reprint the
rolls of all the companies, but a list of names of some of the
well-known persons who appeared in the new character of defenders of
the Empire is here quoted:--
A. Allen, G. T. Amphlett, Kitchener Andersen, H. J. Andrews, H.
Arderne, Robert Armour, R. H. Atwell, R. J. Austin, R. E. Ball,
F. C. Berrangé, F. L. Bishop, J. J. Bisset, G. Bolus, W. H.
Bond, J. Brydone, W. P. Buchanan, J. C. Carstens, J. D.
Cartwright, M.L.A., J. H. Clark, Wm. Cleghorn, W. F. Colman,
Sydney Cowper, C.M.G., Peter Davidson, A. Dawson, Theo. De
Marillac, R. Dickson, Dennis Edwards, E. J. Edwards, W. A.
Fairbridge, Dr. E. B. Fuller, J. Garlick, C. M. Gibbs, J.
Gillett, C. G. Goodison, C. R. Goodspeed, W. Hanson, W. Hare,
A. T. Hennessy, J. W. Herbert, T. Herbert, Dr. J. Hewat, J. J.
Hill, Norman Hilliard, J. Hodgson, C. F. Hoffman, B. Hogsett,
J. W. Honey, Alf. S. Hosking, J. W. Irwin, W. H. Johnstone,
Howel Jones, Sir H. H. Juta, K.C., J. M. King, J. R. Lancaster,
R. A. Lambart, H. G. Legg, E. B. Lewis, Alex. Lipp, J. E.
Lloyd, W. B. Low, D. A. MacDonald, Walter Marshall, A. H.
Mathew, Rob. M. Maxwell, D. E. McConnell, A. M'Corkindale, D.
McKee, C. S. Meechan, Donald Menzies, Stavros Mitchel, R. H. C.
Montague, E. J. Moore, W. E. Moore, J. Barry Munnik, C. S.
Neave, E. T. M. Notcutt, A. Palmer, D. S. Pargiter, J. Parker,
Dr. T. L. Parry, J. O. Paterson, W. I. Perrott, F. Plant, A.
Plint, R. H. Pritchard, A. Ransome, P. Raphael, A. B. Reid, J.
Richards, H. P. B. Rigby, A. J. Robb, H. D. Robertson, G.
Crosland Robinson, D. D. Ross, Pierce Ryan, J. Sandersen, P. J.
Savage, A. D. Scott, G. Scott, M. W. Searle, K.C., Fred. Wm.
Smith, J. H. Smithers, C. E. Solomon, Will. G. Sprigg, W.
Stableford, James M. Stephen, Calcott M. Stevens, P. Stewart,
F. L. St. Leger, R. Stultaford, D. Tennant, N. P. Thesen, A. W.
Townshend, Geo. Trill, T. Upington, E. H. Von Witt, Joseph
Walker, G. B. Williams, J. Wilson, G. Lavibond Windsor, M.
Woodhead, T. J. Woodhead, J. Wyllie, R. O. Wynne-Roberts, J. A.
Yallop.
Among the number were many men of independent means who were contented
to fill any place assigned to them, to take their share of duty as
mere privates, and go through the same drudgery of drill as the
ordinary raw recruit.
In February 1901 it was computed that 11,000 South African irregulars
had been raised during the foregoing three months, and that of these
Cape Town itself had contributed 5000, but finally, when, owing to the
extension of the area of rebellion and the invasion of the Boers, a
large augmentation of the defence force became necessary, further
assistance was cheerfully given, the number of District Mounted troops
and Town Guards amounting in a short time to over 18,000 men. This
number out of a male (white) population of 114,000 speaks for itself.
It is impossible in a few lines to do justice to all the 18,000
members of this remarkable Colonial army, this goodly band of
loyalists, English and Dutch, who stood at attention, ready, every man
of them, to shed his heart's blood in the defence of his home and the
maintenance of the prestige of the Empire. Noble work was done by them
in various districts, work sometimes of the quiet and unostentatious
kind that looks for and meets with no reward. But for these men
various small towns in different parts of the Colony must have fallen
into the enemy's hands, and have made stepping-stones to still further
conquest: but for them the country might have become chaos--looting
and ruin would have spread wider and wider afield--but for them the
idea of driving the British into the sea might have been more than an
empty boast. _They_ helped to turn the scale at a critical moment--the
weight of their unanimous loyalty proved to the Boers the vanity of
their dream!
British supremacy has been well maintained. The period of warfare is
nearing an end, and all are thankful that a policy of generosity will
be extended to the Boers. But there is an old proverb which advises us
to "be just before we are generous," and it is hoped that in the
coming by-and-by the great debt that the Empire owes her Cape
loyalists may not only be ever remembered but adequately rewarded.
THE SOLDIERS' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The work done by the Soldiers' Christian Association in South Africa
has been so incessant and far-reaching that it deserves special
recognition. In no previous war has so much interest and sympathy been
manifested in its multifarious operations, and it is difficult to
define exactly how far the ramifications of this commendable
undertaking extended. Innumerable War Funds, Comforts' Committees,
Soldiers' Work Committees, Soldiers' Home Committees, and various
bodies of a similar nature were organised and set to work with the
best results, whilst officers and men were united in their praise and
gratitude for the splendid efforts which were made in order to
ameliorate their lot in the field, in camp, and in hospital.
The Soldiers' Christian Association--the Military Department of the
Young Men's Christian Association--was one of the first organisations
in the field, and on the 9th of November 1899 the following notice
appeared in "Orders":--
LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS.
_Notice._
Permission has been given to the Soldiers' Christian
Association to send out tents and writing materials for the
troops.
Facilities are to be accorded to the Association to put up
tents at fixed stations as far as military requirement will
permit.
THE CASTLE, CAPE TOWN,
_November 9, 1899_.
About the middle of December 1899 a fully-equipped and
specially-qualified band of eight workers was sent to South Africa
from the head office in London, Mr. A. H. Wheeler (who has since
died) being in charge, and during the campaign thirty workers were
employed on the staff of the Association, many of these signing on in
South Africa.
[Illustration: A DUTCH VILLAGE NEAR EDENBURG.
From "War Impressions" by Mortimer Menpes, by arrangement with Messrs
A. & C. Black.]
As far as was possible and practicable, workers were attached to the
main columns, having with them large green canvas marquees, each
capable of seating 250 men. In the daytime the marquees were utilised
for reading, correspondence, and recreative purposes, and in the
evening gospel meetings were conducted by the representatives of the
Association, many of the soldiers taking an active part in the
proceedings. Reading matter and stationery, and goods of that nature,
were at all times freely supplied to the troops, it being an object of
the Association to grant everything to the men free of cost. In
addition to the eight marquees in the country, there were also four
wood and iron buildings, with a seating capacity for 300 men. These
were placed at fixed camps along the lines of communication. The
building at the Woodstock Hospital Camp proved of immense benefit to
the multitudes of invalided troops at that large and well-known
military depot.
During the campaign several thousands of pounds sterling were
contributed towards the work, whilst the Soldiers' Christian
Association was directly represented at the following camps:--Cape
Town, Stellenbosch, Orange River, Enslin, Kimberley, Dronfield,
Sterkstroom, Dordrecht, Arundel, Boshof, Hoopstad, Bloemfontein,
Kroonstad, Pretoria, Eerste Fabriken, Estcourt, Frere, Dewdrop,
Ladysmith, Elandslaagte, Ingagane, and Newcastle, where active
operations were carried on by the staff of thirty workers. The main
base of operations was Cape Town, whence supplies to the numerous
representatives were despatched all over South Africa by the officials
at headquarters, supplies being sent from the London office at Exeter
Hall at regular intervals to the Cape Town depot, and thus throughout
the many months of the Association's work in the field every camp
where the work has been conducted was kept fully supplied with goods
for the troops. Gratifying expressions of appreciation were received
from several of the Generals and many of the officers regarding the
good work of the Association, while the men were at all times
profoundly grateful for all the pains expended for their comfort and
welfare by Mr. W. Gordon Sprigg and his devoted colleagues.
Before leaving South Africa for England, the Commander-in-Chief,
Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, sent the following letter to Mr. Will
Gordon Sprigg, F.R.G.S., General Secretary of the Cape Town Young
Men's Christian Association, and Honorary Secretary in South Africa of
the Soldiers' Christian Association, expressive of his lordship's
interest in, and appreciation of, the work:--
"CAPE TOWN, _11th December 1900_.
"I am desired by Field-Marshal Lord Roberts to assure you of
his lordship's high appreciation of the good work done by the
Soldiers' Christian Association in South Africa. Lord Roberts
has watched your work with much interest, and feels sure that
the success which has attended your efforts in the past will
continue in the future.
"His lordship wishes me to ask you to tender to all the members
of your staff and co-workers his best thanks for their
excellent services, and, in leaving South Africa to-day, he
wishes you all good-bye and God-speed.
(Signed) "W. V. COWAN, _Lieut.-Colonel,
Military Secretary._"
FOOTNOTES:
[10] See vol. iii. p. 161.