To THE BURGHERS OP THE Z.A.R. AT PRESENT UNDER ARMS NEAR MAFEKING.
_From the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Forces, Mafeking_.
BURGHERS,--I address you in this manner because I have only recently
learnt how you are being intentionally kept in the dark by your officers
and your Government newspapers as to what is really happening in other
parts of South Africa.
As officer commanding Her Majesty's troops on this border I think it
right to point out to you clearly the inevitable result of your
remaining any longer in arms against Great Britain.
You are all aware that the present war was caused by the invasion of
British territory by your forces, and as most of you know, without any
justifiable reason.
Your leaders do not tell you that so far your forces have met with what
is only the advanced guard of the British force, and that circumstances
have changed within the past week; the main body of the British is now
daily arriving by thousands from England, Canada, India, and Australia,
and is about to advance through your country. In a few weeks the South
African Republic will be in the hands of the English; no sacrifice of
life on your part can stop it. The question now to put to yourselves
before it is, is this: Is it worth while losing your lives in a vain
attempt to stop their invasion or to take a town beyond your borders
which, if taken, would be of no use to you? (And I may tell you that
Mafeking cannot be taken by sitting down and looking at it, for we have
ample supplies for several months to come).
The Staat Artillery have done us very little damage, and we are now well
protected with forts and mines. Your presence here, or elsewhere, under
arms, cannot stop the British advancing into your country.
Your leaders and newspapers are also trying to make you believe that
some foreign continental powers are likely to intervene in your behalf
against England. This is not in keeping with their pretence that your
side is going to be victorious, nor is it in accordance with facts. The
S.A.R. having declared war and taken the offensive cannot claim
intervention on its behalf. And were it not so, the German Emperor is
at present in England, and fully in sympathy with us: the American
Government have warned others of their intention to side with England
should any other nation interfere; France has large interests in the
gold fields identical with those of England; and Italy is entirely in
accord with us; and Russia sees no cause to interfere.
The war is a war of one Government against another and not of people
against people. The duty assigned to my troops is to sit still here
until the proper time arrives and then to fight and to kill until you
give in. You, on the other hand, have other interests to think of, in
your families and farms and their safety.
Your leaders have caused the destruction of farms in this country and
have fired on women and children, and our men are becoming hard to
restrain in consequence. Your leaders have also caused invasion of
Kaffir territory, and looting of their cattle, and have thus induced
them to rise, and in their turn to invade your country, and to kill your
burghers. As one white man to another, I warned General Cronje on the
14th November that this would occur, and yesterday I heard that more
Kaffirs are rising, and are contemplating similar moves; and I have
warned Snyman accordingly. Thus great bloodshed, and destruction of
farms threaten you on all sides, and I wish to offer you a chance of
avoiding it. To this end my advice to you is to return without delay to
your homes and there remain peacefully till the war is over. Those of
you who do this before the 14th instant will be as far as possible
protected, as regards yourselves, your families, and property, from
confiscations, looting, and other penalties to which those who remain
under arms may be subjected when the invasion takes place.
Our secret agents will communicate to me the names of those who do and
of those who do not avail themselves, before the 13th instant, of the
terms now offered. To ensure their property being respected, all the men
of a family must be present at home when the troops arrive and be
prepared to hand over a rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition each.
The above terms do not apply to officers or to members of the Staats
Artillery, who may surrender as prisoners of war at any time; nor do
they apply to rebels from British territory or others against whom there
may be other charges. It is probable that my force will shortly again
take the offensive.
To those who, after this warning, defer their submission till too late,
I can offer no promise, and they will only have themselves to blame for
an injury or loss of property that they or their families may afterwards
suffer.
(Signed) R.S.S. BADEN-POWELL,
_Colonel._
MAFEKING, 10th Dec., 1899.
The proclamation has either had a good effect or it is a curious
coincidence, that, since its issue, the town has been barely shelled at
all, sniping has almost ceased, and the Boers have only shelled the
trenches in front of the native location, and the location itself, in a
perfunctory manner, the result being that though we have shot a few
Boers, our casualties have been nil, except some natives in the
location, and from the 12th to the 15th nothing worth mentioning has
happened. I fancy their news from the south must be bad, and undoubtedly
men and cattle have gone away lately. Thanks to their recent vigilance,
our native runners have failed to get through, and I imagine the same
fate has befallen the runners trying to come in, for we have been
absolutely without reliable news for the last three weeks. General
Snyman sent in a copy of the _Volkstem_, relating our enormities and
their victories, all underlined. I am bound to say the news was taken
with much salt; but still it was news of a sort. The leading articles
were mainly whining for foreign intervention, so we could read between
the lines.
15th. Later. I was somewhat previous in my remarks, they have just
placed a shell within a hundred yards of the hotel.
December 16th. (Dingaan Day.) We were aroused at 2.39 a.m. by the
Boers celebrating their independence. They sent a ninety-four pounder
through the corner of Dixon's Hotel, which is our headquarters,
consequently all rooms and passages are full of sleepers, the orderlies
sleeping in the passages and billiard room. However, fortunately they
managed to put their shell through the bar, which is the only empty room
in the house, and wrecked a portion of it and the stoep, which by day is
full of occupants. A splinter stopped the town clock, hence the
accuracy with which we timed our unlooked-for alarum. They have tried
to hit headquarters for some weeks, shells pitching all round the hotel
and wrecking neighbouring buildings, but heretofore we had escaped.
Then, having drawn their bow at a venture by night, they have at last
succeeded in hitting it. After having inspected the damage I turned in
again. But as our seven-pounder at Cannon Kopje returned the fire, it
became universal, and I think the Boers intended to attack. Colonel
Baden-Powell having anticipated something of the sort, had had the
little gun laid on their big one the night before. As it was impossible
to sleep, I went down to Ellis's corner to join in the fun. For nearly
three weeks we had let them fire away without taking much notice of
them. To-day, however, knowing it was their national festival, we were
determined to disturb their amusement. Our old seven-pounders had their
advanced trenches well in range, and three of them, about three-quarters
of a mile apart, commenced playing havoc with the said trenches, shells
bursting beautifully in and over them. While Creaky, like a big dog
annoyed by little ones, snapped hurriedly at each of its puny
antagonists in turn. It made better practice than I have yet seen, and
burst its huge shells within fifteen and twenty yards of the guns. When
the smoke from its muzzle was seen, our gun detachments laid down, but
the explosion and smoke of the big shells had not died away before
"boom," through the smoke, came the derisive return of its tiny
antagonist, showing "a miss to the Boers." The guns took no notice of
Creaky after the first shot, but concentrated their attention on the
trenches, leaving her to be soothed by musketry volleys. Our shell fire
had a most quieting effect on the occupants of the trenches, and we had
to stir them up by sniping their individuals, and then when they woke up
a bit the Maxims assisted in calming their unruly spirits again.
Altogether a most enjoyable morning. It is so dull being shot at
without answering, but when one's own guns keep the game going, it is
quite another thing. This lasted till about 6.30. Just to prevent
their being too much taken up by any amusements they might have
contemplated, to celebrate the day, our guns fired a few rounds again at
noon, but the big gun only answered with a few rounds, and after a
feeble spatter of musketry we knocked off. On the western front, about
dusk, our seven-pounder, under Captain Sandford, knocked out their
five-pounder, and they dismantled their fort and withdrew to a more
retired position.
[Illustration: REMOVING THE EFFECTS OF A BOER SHELL.]
We have advanced our seven-pounder to Fort Ayr, and hope to repeat the
process. The first of our shells burst right among them whilst they were
outside making coffee.
17th, Sunday. We had a handicap polo tournament. Here are the teams
and the result from _The Mafeking Mail_:--
No. I.--Colonel Baden-Powell (Captain),
Captain Gordon Wilson,
Captain Singleton,
Lieutenant Hon. A. Hanbury-Tracey.
No. II.--Captain Lord C. Cavendish-Bentinck (Captain),
Lieutenant-Colonel Walford,
Major Anderson,
Lieutenant Mackenzie.
No. III.--Lieutenant-Colonel Hore (Captain),
Captain Sandford,
Captain Vernon,
Lieutenant Bridges.
No. IV.--Major Godley (Captain),
Major Goold-Adams, C.B., C.M.G.,
Captain Fitzclarence,
Lieutenant Moncreiffe.
No. V.--Major Baillie (Captain),
Captain Marsh,
Captain Cowan,
Lieutenant Paton.
*Match.* *Goals scored*.
1 Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1
Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1
2 Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 0
Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 1
3 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1
Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 1
4 Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 0
Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1
5 Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 0
Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 2
6 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 0
Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 1
7 Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 1
Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1
8 Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 0
Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 1
9 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1
Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 0
10 Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 1
Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . 0
Total
goals scored.
Colonel Baden-Powell's team . . . . 2
Captain Lord C. Bentinck's team . . 3
Lieutenant-Colonel Hore's team . . . 3
Major Baillie's team . . . . . . . . 4
Major Godley's team . . . . . . . . 2
Colonel Baden-Powell's team had a Captain who played an excellent game.
Major Baillie was decidedly the mainstay of his team, not only by the
unerring accuracy with which he hit the ball, but also on account of the
verbal assistance delivered unceasingly in stentorian tones to his side.
We are now making great preparations for Christmas, which we are
apparently condemned to spend here. Church services as usual.
18th. A quiet day; except on the western front, where their
five-pounder keeps pegging away; however, no one takes any notice of it,
as our new gun-pit is not yet completed. To-morrow we hope to have
another lively morning. The Boers have been drilling, apparently
practising an attack formation, somewhat late in the day, however, and
not of much use now, as they could not get in if they tried, and they
are not likely to make the attempt. As I before said, Colonel
Baden-Powell has collected some thirty lances and armed a troop with
them, so that, if the enemy depart hurriedly, we may be able to speed
them on their way. Went sniping in the evening; they fired the
one-pound Maxim and a good deal of musketry fire. Our troops in the
advance trenches had quite good shooting all day.
19th. As I anticipated. The Boers' _reveille_ was sounded for them at
4.30 a.m. by our seven-pounders, which made excellent practice on the
brickfield trench. Their big gun repeated its performance of Saturday
harmlessly. We shifted them from their trenches and turned Maxims on
them, while the Nordenfeldt at long range volleys pestered their big
gun. Their one-pound Maxim fire was wild, but they slew an inoffensive
jackass. This lasted until about 6, and was very pretty. At about 7
Creaky began to fire at Cannon Kopje, but without effect; she shot
straighter in the morning; and at about 9 our seven-pounders began
again, but the enemy would not be drawn, and now only occasional
dropping shots come idly from both sides. On the western front our
seven-pounder silenced the five-pounder at Game Tree fort. On the
eastern front the race-course trench much annoyed the gun under Major
Panzera, with volleys, till kept under by the convent Maxim and our
one-pound Maxim. These two artillery fights cannot much impress the
Boers with the extraordinary value of the much belauded ten-tonner, and
must destroy her moral effect, for whichever of our guns she fires at
immediately returns her fire. However, she has annoyed us quite enough
and done sufficient damage to life and property, but if we had only had
a gun which could have reached her properly, we should have knocked her
out long ago. A duel between our Nordenfeldt and Creaky began this
afternoon, and has since been of daily occurrence, amidst the laughter
and applause of the spectators. No sooner has the big shell struck, than
crack, crack, comes from the Nordenfeldt. Indeed, of late the little
gun fires when the smoke from Creaky's muzzle appears, and gets off its
three shots before the arrival of the shell, which the gunners of the
monster do not seem to appreciate at all. It is a regular case of
dignity and impudence with the laugh on the side of impudence. In the
evening Captain Sandford silenced the Boer gun on the western front.
20th and 21st. Quiet days.
22nd. Quiet, but furious musketry fire at night, bullets flying
everywhere.
23rd, Saturday. Fairly quiet.
I broke my head taking a fall at polo, which we now play two or three
times a week; it is a new experience going to and from the polo ground
under fire.
24th, Sunday. Owing to siege exigencies it was deemed necessary to hold
our Christmas on the Sunday, as the Boers' religious festival is held on
New Year's Day. All creeds held their ordinary Church services. Lady
Sarah Wilson and Mr. B. Weil had organized a Christmas tree and tea for
the two hundred and fifty children of Dutch and English parentage who
were in the town. Brakes were running to and from the laager, filled
with children, shrilly cheering and waving the Union Jack, the most
effective one run by poor Captain Vernon, who was killed within
forty-eight hours. The children seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves,
and great thanks are due to the organizers of the fete and their
assistants, for everyone was pleased to see the children enjoy
themselves. For the adults, sports were held, and a cheerful Christmas
Day was passed.
Christmas Day. All creeds held their usual Christmas services though
under some difficulty, as everyone was on duty, though the Boers kept
Christmas as Sunday; yet it was no certainty to commence with. The Rev.
Mr. Weekes, the Church of England clergyman, had to play the harmonium,
as well as conduct the service.
26th. The myriads of locusts which had lately devastated our grazing
grounds, already insufficient for the large number of cattle in and
about the town, had rendered it imperative that some steps should be
taken to raise our close investment sufficiently to obtain an extended
field for grazing secure from attack or raid. This was sufficient
reason for action in itself, but in addition, the approach of our forces
to Gaberones in the north, made it advisable to prepare to open up the
line and endeavour to join hands with them, and thus by extending our
perimeter and line of forts to throw additional work on the investing
force, and so prevent reinforcements being sent to the commandoes acting
against our troops north and south; nay, we even hoped to draw
reinforcement from these commandoes to assist in maintaining the strict
investment which the Boers deemed it so necessary to retain around
Mafeking. Accordingly, Colonel Baden-Powell decided to attack Game Tree
fort, which commands the line to the north. And now, before going
further with an account of the fight, let me say that in spite of great
secrecy, as to the time or place of attack, the Boers, through
treachery, were forewarned and forearmed as to our intentions. The
garrison was doubled, and the fort from an open earthwork turned into a
block-house with three tiers of fire, while the line was broken in the
night between the fort and the town, preventing the efficient
co-operation of the armoured train. On Christmas night, at about 11
o'clock, the chief of the staff, Lord Edward Cecil, collected the
correspondents and told them of the intended attack, advising them to
rendezvous at 3 o'clock, with the headquarters at Dummie fort. The plan
of attack was as follows:--C squadron, Protectorate Regiment, were to
take up a position during the night near the railway to the west of Game
Tree fort, supported by D squadron, under Captain Fitzclarence, and the
armoured train with a Hotchkiss and Maxim, under Captain Williams,
B.S.A.P. The right flank being protected by the Bechuanaland Rifles,
under Captain Cowan. The whole of the right attack under Major Godley.
The left attack being composed of three seven-pounder guns, one cavalry
Maxim, and one troop, Lord Charles Bentinck's A squadron, Protectorate
Regiment, under Major Panzera, with the other two troops in support, the
whole left attack being under Colonel Hore. The Dummie fort lay midway
between the two attacks. The wait from 3 o'clock seemed interminable,
but at 4.28 the first gun fired, and then our seven-pounder shells burst
merrily over the fort. The infantry commenced volleys and the Maxim
joined in. The armoured train was stopped by the broken line some half
mile from where it could have efficiently co-operated, and the squadrons
commenced their attack from the railway line, D being escheloned some
three hundred yards in the rear of C. From the Dummie fort the attack
could be perfectly seen, as it advanced rapidly across our front. The
rushes were well made, and the charge in perfect order, the leaders
racing in front of their men right up to the fort, where the firing for
a while ceased, and then broke out again with renewed vigour. From where
I was, I thought the attacking squadron had secured the position, and,
from the slowness and deliberation with which the men retired, that the
supporting squadron was falling back to its lines, as, with the
smokeless powder, we could not see our men firing, and the sound was
drowned in the rattle of Boer musketry. This, alas, was not the case.
Captain Vernon, who had been wounded in the advance, led his men most
gallantly up to the work, to find it with three tiers of loopholes and
an iron roof, the bushes in front concealing this until right on to the
fort. Here he and Lieutenant Paton and fifteen men fell, and his
sergeant-major mortally wounded. Captain Sandford had been shot twice
just short of the work, but called on his men to charge. These were the
last words he spoke, and only four of the men of his troop were not
placed _hors de combat_. Captain Fitzclarence had also fallen wounded,
before reaching the work, but I am glad to say is doing well. With this
spirit shown by the officers and responded to by the men, small wonder
that we may be proud of the attack, even though unsuccessful in
obtaining possession of the work, and that the Boers afterwards seemed
more depressed than ourselves. They knew the men they had to deal with.
Corporal Cooke got on the roof of the work, and had four bullets through
his tunic, but was untouched. Mr. Paton and Sergeant-Major Paget were
shot whilst firing with their revolvers through the loop-holes (the
Boers still speak of Paton's courage), and so were many men. After the
retirement, the stretcher parties went out, and the Boers assisted in
succouring our wounded, and behaved on the whole very well, though some
young roughs got out of hand and plundered the dead and wounded. Their
leaders behaved exceedingly well, and did their best to restrain them.
I went up there and a more ghastly collection of wounds could not be
imagined, mostly shot at the muzzles of the rifles in the head, and in
some cases with large Boer bullets. Death must have been instantaneous.
The field cornets told me they had been expecting the attack, and the
rapidity with which reinforcements arrived--the presence of General
Snyman, and several leaders, and the destruction of the line, together
with the increase of the garrison, tend to endorse their statements.
Our wounded were all wounded in front, some of the men retiring
backwards so as not to be shot in the back. Sergeant Barry, mortally
wounded, sent word to his mother that he had three wounds all in front.
Our force was under one hundred actually attacking. The Boers when
reinforced about four hundred. Our losses killed or since dead: Captain
Vernon, Captain Sandford, Lieutenant Paton, twenty-one rank and file;
wounded: Captain Fitzclarence, twenty-two rank and file; four prisoners.
The men retiring were quite cool and willing to have another go--smoking
and laughing in some cases, but in the majority bitter and angry at not
having got in. British troops have certainly performed as fine feats of
arms, but no more determined attack with inferior numbers against an
enemy armed with modern rifles in a strong position has ever been pushed
home, or a more deliberate and gallant retirement under heavy fire been
made. The enemy were much impressed, and said they had never seen such
brave men, and though we failed in taking the fort, the action has
resulted in the enemy daily strengthening every work, and upset them
greatly, as they hourly anticipate a fresh attack, and gusts of musketry
break out from, their lines at night, for no apparent reason. Indeed,
the rapidity with which their white flags were hoisted on the arrival of
our ambulances make me, in my own mind, absolutely certain that they
were prepared to contemplate surrender, and in any case they will
certainly not be able to spare men from this place to assist their
retiring commandoes. Altogether their rash and insolent advance into
British territory has placed them here, as elsewhere, in about as
unpleasant a position for irregular troops as can well be imagined. In
the evening we buried our dead.
The Protectorate Regiment, after a life of four months, and a strength
of four hundred, has now suffered one hundred and ten casualties. It
has accordingly had to be re-organized from four squadrons into three.
On no occasion has it been engaged without distinguishing itself, and I
think in its last action, though repulsed, it has, if possible,
distinguished itself most.
What I have said about the contemplated surrender of the Boers has since
been confirmed by what I heard on my journey south towards Vryburg.
Keely, now Resident Magistrate in these parts, had been taken into camp
about this time to swear neutrality; and the Boers made no secret of
their intention to surrender the fort; but they were kept up to the mark
by one determined man, who, lying behind an ammunition box, swore he
would blow out the brains of the first man who offered to surrender. It
was at this man that Paton was firing through a loophole with a pistol
when he was shot. Nobody else on our side seems to have spotted the
individual in question, hence the Boers, on our retiring, continued the
fight.
27th, 28th, and 29th. Desultory shelling, sniping, and occasional wild
firing from the enemy by night. We hear cheering native rumours from
the south.
31st, Sunday. Sports, &c., driving competition, horse-show. I won hack
competition.
January 1st, 1900, New Year's Day. We had anticipated a quiet day, as
this is a Boer festival. I presume they thought we anticipated this,
for they commenced early with a heavy bombardment and experimented with
incendiary bombs, which however were of no success. A valuable member
of the garrison, one of our few carpenters, Slater by name, was killed.
2nd. Our usual shelling, and a niece of a Baralong chief killed in the
stadt, amongst others. In the evening Mr. Hamilton, _Times_
correspondent, gave the staff and the other correspondents a most
excellent dinner, which we all thoroughly appreciated, at Riesle's
Hotel. How so good a dinner could be served after about four months'
siege is indeed extraordinary.
3rd. The quick Q.-F. Krupp was moved to the north-west of the town, and
fired on the western forts, amongst other places into the women's
laager, killing two children, one Dutch, one English.
4th. Typhoid has broken out in the women's laager. I suppose we may
consider ourselves lucky it is not more prevalent. The usual shelling
goes on.
5th. Enemy quiet, with the usual shelling, which is terribly
monotonous.
6th. Boers rather vicious to-day, and the usual Saturday's spar all
round at sundown. Runners went north and south.
7th, Sunday. In the early morning heavy musketry fire from the Boers,
quite contrary to their usual custom. Sports, Christie Minstrels, and a
comical turn-out competition.
8th. Rained hard. Shelling went on as usual, and my usual sniping
ground destroyed by four shells, and the occupant fatally injured,
Shrapnell fired over the women's laager.
9th. From now onwards we may assume a very heavy shelling every day.
Two whites and two natives injured while tampering with a hundred pound
shell, one white since dead.
10th. Mrs. Poulton, born a Dutch woman, shot through the head and
killed, also a few natives; this woman's sister at the commencement of
the siege expressed the wish that the streets of Mafeking might run with
English blood. This charming lady, named Hammond, created so much
disturbance at the commencement of the siege that she was put under
restraint; her daughter has since been severely wounded. Curses, like
chickens, come home to roost.
11th. Usual day of shelling.
12th. A Boer attack on Fort Ayr. They galloped wildly fifty yards in
advance of their trenches, about one thousand five hundred yards from
Fort Ayr, and indulged in a fantasia, but never came any nearer. Their
guns, however, five, twelve, and one hundred pounders, shot very
straight and shelled for two hours. Our casualties, one man wounded,
since dead.
13th. Big gun did not fire, enemy very quiet; expect they are running
short of small arm ammunition.
14th, Sunday. Great excitement caused by disappearance of Creaky, many
rumours. She was seen in at least six different places, but we all hoped
she had taken a fond farewell.
15th. Creaky actually discovered about two miles down the Malmani Road.
She had apparently been moved by our persistent persecutions, and we
thought she had been moved into a worse position for her. We have
materially changed our minds, at any rate, at the eastern end of the
town, where she fires regularly at meal times, mostly hitting hotels.
She commenced firing at 11 o'clock.
16th. Dislike the shelling more since I have fever; one shell struck
auxiliary hospital.
17th. Enemy tried to foist Kaffirs into the town, to further diminish
our food supply, under a flag of truce. Colonel Baden-Powell refused to
receive them. They fired heavily and inexplicably on our white flag
carried by Ronny Moncrieffe while retreating. Tremendous indignation in
the town, though there is some rumour that one of our Kaffirs fired a
shot somewhere (this was subsequently found to be untrue). Shell hit
bomb proof occupied by Mr. Vere Stent, Reuter's representative, and
myself. Large pieces ricocheted through Dixon's Hotel which was
crowded; usual providential escapes.
18th. They shell the town as usual. Most unpleasant this end. They
knocked off all corners of the square in two days; several casualties.
Our system of avoiding the gun is having look-out men in all parts, who
ring so many strokes when the gun is loaded, so many when pointed, three
strokes for the town, six when pointed off it. The enemy, however, have
rather frustrated this, as they do not fire till uncertain intervals
after the gun is pointed, ranging from an hour downwards. The lookout
then rings another bell, but it gives a remarkably short time to take
cover, and it is these odd shells and not a sustained shell fire which
causes the loss of life; at any rate, there is no doubt that since the
change of position of the gun a far greater proportion of damage has
been done.
19th. There was an artillery duel between one of our
seven-pounders--whose shells were made at our own factory here, and the
fuses designed by Lieutenant Daniels, B.S.A.P., in which the shells and
fuses proved a complete success--and the enemy's five-pounder which was
almost immediately silenced. And now as regards the factory. The
ammunition for the ship's gun, that weapon of our grandfathers, which
was unearthed in the stadt, and which shoots with great violence, though
doubtful precision, to enormous ranges, has been cast here. The
seven-pounder's shells have been cast, studded, fused, and in every
respect made perfect here. Some 2.5-pounder shells, left here by Dr.
Jameson, have been fitted with two enlarged driving-bands and have been
fired from our seven-pounders with complete success. Too much credit
cannot be given to the ingenuity, ability, and energy with which Conolly
and all his mates have worked at strengthening that portion of our
defences.
20th. The two sides when at trench work happened on each other at night
in the vicinity of Fort Ayr, and we drove them back. A very effective
day's shelling.
21st, Sunday. Agricultural and produce show, including babies. The
first prize for foals since the commencement of the siege to Mr.
Minchin, Bechuanaland Rifles; for babies, to Sergeant Brady, B.S.A.P.; a
great success, and really extraordinarily good show. My fever nearly
gone.
22nd. Rather late shelling to-day, and rumoured attack on Kaffir stadt
by Boer friendlies did not take place. A certain amount of firing from
Fort Ayr. Rain begun again.
Colonel Baden-Powell protested the other day against the firing on our
white flag, and General Snynian, who, as far as I could judge personally
whilst in conversation with him after the action at Game Tree fort, is a
crabbed old gentleman, somewhat naturally rabidly anti-British, and
according to the Boer standard an extreme martinet, sent in an answer
apologising for his burghers having fired on the white flag, and stating
with regard to Colonel Baden-Powell's remonstrance to his arming and
raising the natives, that he had merely armed a few as cattle guards.
In that case the Boers must have many cattle in close proximity to our
camp, unseen and unknown to us. He further stated that he had noticed
us building fortifications on Sunday, to which Colonel Baden-Powell
replied that we had merely taken out and relaid some mine lines, and
that he had been vastly interested, while riding round the western
outposts on Sunday, to see the assiduity with which the Boers had been
working at their new fortifications in that part.
23rd. The usual sniping continues on the western front, but peace,
punctuated occasionally by one-hundred pound shell, is more or less
prevalent on the eastern. As regards our food supply, luxuries
purchased at store are a thing of the past, as the authorities have
taken charge of all tinned and other eatables in the place. We have now
stood four months' siege, and it seems probable that this may be
indefinitely prolonged, and it is mainly owing to the private enterprise
of Mr. Benjamin Weil, the representative of Julius Weil & Co. here, that
we are really ready to stand, as far as provisions and stores go, as
long a time again. In addition to having supplied all the Government
required, he laid in large stocks on his own account, and when the
history of the siege of Mafeking comes to be written, he will be found
to have played by no means the least important part. In addition to the
white troops employed, and to the Baralongs, who defend their own stadt,
we have four other black contingents: the Fingoes under Webster, the
Cape Boys under Corporal Currie, C.P., a detachment of Baralongs under
Sergeant Abrahams, and the "Black Watch" under Mackenzie, a mixed Zulu
crowd. These gentry, to their huge delight, are continually engaged in
endeavouring, with some success, to spend as much gunpowder and spill as
much blood as in them lies. The Cape Boys, under Corporal Currie, who
took charge of them after Captain Goodyear's wound, from which I am glad
to say he is recovering, have done notably good service, their motto and
apparently only principle being "Don't know retiring." In this there is
a good deal of common sense; for the Boer, though not very dangerous
when faced, becomes deadly and dangerous when he can shoot quietly at
you as you retire. There is another portion of our defences--or perhaps
that is a misnomer, I should rather say of our forces--to which I have
hitherto not alluded, and that is the excellent transport service. All
the mules were individually selected by Colonel Baden-Powell and Colonel
Walford, assisted by Mr. Dunlop Smith, A.V.D., and Mr. Mackenzie,
transport officer, and anybody who saw the beautiful spans of mules
turned out for the driving competitions would have felt that in all
cases their choice was well justified, and the condition of the mules
reflected the greatest credit on the squadron leaders (for each squadron
leader is responsible for his own transport), conductors and drivers,
and to the care and supervision given by the two officers before
mentioned. The driving was excellent, and the mules looked in the pink
of condition. Rather heavy shelling, and more sniping than usual. There
were several casualties, mostly natives, one shell exploding in a hut
and killing and wounding most of its occupants. From this date the
authorities have taken over all stores of food and drink, and nothing,
even luxuries, can be obtained without an order from headquarters.
24th. Desultory shelling.
25th. There was a good deal of firing to-day round the western
trenches. In the evening a native convicted as a spy was executed. He
had been sent in to obtain full information as to the stores, forts,
their garrisons, and the general disposition of the forces of the town.
He quite acknowledged the justice of his sentence, but only seemed to
think that it was hard lines that he should be executed before he had
had time to procure any information at all. This is the third native
spy executed, and the various native contingents are detailed in turn
for the duty.
26th. Bradley's Hotel was partially wrecked by a shell. This is the
most effective explosion we have so far had. A large piece from the
shell went humming overhead beyond the B.S.A.P. fort, quite
three-quarters of a mile from its bursting. There is generally time for
a morning ride before the big gun commences shelling, but during the
last three or four hundred yards into the town, if the bells have begun
to ring, there is a certain amount of excitement in returning to the
hotel, as it is to this portion of the town that the enemy generally
confines his attentions about breakfast time. Later in the afternoon,
Lady Sarah Wilson and Captain Wilson, who are both now convalescent,
were seated with Major Goold Adams in a passage in the upper storey of
the convent, when a shell burst about four feet over their heads,
covering them with a pile of bricks and rubbish, but fortunately they
escaped with a few bruises. There were rumours of a contemplated attack
early next morning, and the northern and western fronts accordingly
stood to arms. More significance was given to the rumours in that the
Dutch women in the women's laager unanimously sought the shelter of the
bomb proofs at an early hour. It was not till the next day that the
reason was patent.
27th. During my return from my morning ride the big gun fired, and I
saw the shell burst somewhat short of the women's laager. I naturally
supposed this was an accident. It was not, however, the case. The big
gun commenced a rapid fire in the same direction, and the effects of the
shells as they fell were heliographed back from the western heights.
The messages were intercepted by our signallers, under Sergeant Moffat.
They placed eight large shells in and close round the laager, and we now
understood the reason for the Dutch women taking the cover they did. It
was a most deliberate piece of barbarism; mercifully, there were no
casualties.
28th, Sunday. A quiet day. I rode round the western outposts in the
morning and found them considerably augmented in strength. They are now
a series of bomb-proof block-houses, a zig-zag approach runs from the
refugee laager up to Fort Ayr. So approach is possible without danger
(which was not so before). A thousand yards to the front of Fort Ayr
the new Boer fort is plainly visible, and flies a flag we have not seen
before, blue, white, and orange, with a vertical green stripe. It is
possible that there may be some political significance attached to this,
possibly that our friends, the Transvaalers, by uniting the two
Republics, hope to get the Free State Boers to fight their battles
further away from their own territory; but, after all, it is pure
surmise, for we get but little news of any sort--and of political news
none at all. Due south, and about eight hundred yards away from Fort
Ayr, a new fort has been constructed, commanding the bed of the Molopo,
and garrisoned by Cape Police. It is about on the position of the old
look-out post. In the afternoon I rode round the eastern works. A
trench now runs from Ellis's corner across the river, past the gun
emplacement, past Webster's Kraal, up to and beyond the Nordenfelt
position. It is hard to believe with the much stronger position we now
have, and the reduced number of Boers, that they will attack again; but,
on the other hand, it is harder to believe that they will leave Mafeking
without a desperate effort to capture it. In any case, the garrison are
confident. On the termination of evening service we sing the National
Anthem. I have heard it sung in many places, the most impressive of all
at St. Paul's on Jubilee day; certainly next to that occasion, I think
the singing of it in Mafeking appealed to me most. For the men who were
singing it on Sunday night would be fighting for it on Monday morning.
And now, whilst on the subject, and having just read Mr. Kipling's poem,
I hope the widows and children of the irregular troops serving out here
will not be forgotten when it comes to "pay, pay, pay."
[Illustration: THE OLD NAVAL GUN AT WORK.]
29th. Good news of victories from the south. It seems as if the tide
had turned, and as if Old England, slow as usual, was going to forge
ahead at last. Her Majesty's message was received with the deepest
satisfaction here. It was a month late, but none the less acceptable
for being delayed. Colonel Baden-Powell issued an order, in which he
referred to the execution of the spy, and warning all persons, women
included, who might be found treasonably corresponding with the enemy,
that, on conviction, they would be inevitably shot; also that he
regretted having to take such strong measures, but that as the enemy
chose to fire on the women's laager, he should confine the Dutch
prisoners in a gaol constructed in the laager, so that, if the enemy
persisted in their brutality, they would kill their own friends. (It
was a curious coincidence that on Sunday, after Saturday's performance,
there was a feeling of insecurity in the town, and most people were of
opinion that in all probability the Boers would violate the Sunday
truce; but when the Dutch women were seen walking about, the feeling of
confidence was quickly restored.) In the afternoon the gun bequeathed
to us by Lord Nelson commenced firing on the Boer laager at Weasel's
Springs, near the head of the waterworks--a range of something over
three thousand yards. Her round shot bounded about the veldt through,
over, short of, the laager, rapidly dispersing a mounted body of Boers
in its proximity; for, unlike a shell, when she strikes, you have by no
means done with her. The drill is somewhat complicated, but thanks to
an edition of Captain Marryatt's works, we have succeeded in
resuscitating this long extinct form of exercise.
30th. The results of our ancient piece's firing last night has been
that the laager has shifted away, in the direction of Signal Hill, and
that the Boers generally have been so busy that they have not yet found
time (mid-day) to discharge their Creuzot gun. There was an alarm, last
night, and the eastern front and reserve squadron were held in readiness
all night. Yesterday the Boers re-established themselves on the nearest
brick-kiln, and a sniping entertainment was organized for them by
Corporal Currie, C.P., who has charge of the Cape Boy Post, within three
hundred yards. One Boer, who for some extraordinary reason, wore a
white shirt (which he will never do again) occasionally showed his back
over the edge of a shelter he was constructing for himself, acting
apparently on the principle of the ostrich, Trooper Piper of the Cape
Police eventually got him, and at the same moment, his friend who was
firing from a loop-hole, fired at Piper; fortunately Currie, who was
covering the loop-hole, fired almost simultaneously and got him too, to
the huge delight of the Cape Boys; stretchers came up under the Red
Cross and removed the bodies, the second man was a bearded man and a
well known sniper, he was an excellent shot, and the news of his demise
was received with universal pleasure by the garrison, while for the rest
of the day his friends made the post very warm for its occupants.
31st. There is one effect of this continual shell fire which is perhaps
undesirable, and that is the remarkable degree of selfishness it
engenders. There is really nothing to do and no excitement. News is
rare, and not always of the best, and with lack of the proper amount of
exercise and the frequent ringing of bells, which are almost as bad as
the shells themselves, tempers get short, and the solicitude on "No.
1's" account increases. However, entertainments like the one organized
this evening, go far to relieve our spleen and vary the interminable
monotony of the siege. We were warned in the afternoon that our
artillery was going to bombard the Boer lines, and from various points
of vantage numerous spectators strolled out to look on. Personally, I
made my way to the trench running from Ellis's corner to the river, and
selected a spot where I was well away from other people, and which
commanded a good view of the Boer trench, and, above all, of the big
gun, which showed clearly against the white marquees in rear of it. At
the time there was no firing going on, and cattle on both sides were
being brought home. Absolute stillness reigned, only broken by the
lowing of the beasts, the sounds of the poultry yards, and the barking
of dogs. These, with the drowsy hum of the insects, made one feel
extremely sleepy, and one might well have imagined oneself lolling
between two peaceful villages at home. However, at 5.30 p.m. a change
came very distinctly "o'er the spirit of the dream." Our guns
commenced, three seven-pounders and the Nordenfeldt, and steadily
shelled for about an hour, answered by the nine-pounder quick-firer,
five-pounder Krupps, and old Creaky, who swung her nose backwards and
forwards from one extremity of the eastern defences to the other,
making, on the whole, moderate but extremely varied practice. As I had
a pair of very strong glasses, a small cluster soon collected around me,
thereby inviting the undesirable attentions of their riflemen, who,
however, were pretty well engaged themselves, and consequently did not
annoy us very much. It was about as safe a performance for the
onlookers as could well be imagined. The guns drew most of the fire,
and were scattered over a large extent of front. One could plainly see
the big gun, and when she fired our way, had ample time to get into the
trench. There were no casualties on our side, but after dark the Boers,
who had been much upset by this disturbance of their reliefs and feeding
arrangements, commenced to shell the town, killing one man outside the
newspaper offices, and contriving, in some extraordinary manner, to drop
a fragment of shell down the chimney of the headquarters' staff offices.
This they continued till past nine, doing no further damage, except to
houses. The Boers in the course of the day put a five-pounder shell
through a portion of the hospital, and at night fired a volley into the
operating room, where a patient was being examined. So we conclude that
they must have lost some men during the day, which made them vicious.
During the past fortnight they fired upon a flag of truce, deliberately
shelled the women's laager, and fired on the hospital.
February 1st. To-day completes the sixteenth week of the siege, and we
have had plenty of shell fire to celebrate it; one big shell, I regret
to say, bursting on a splinter proof at Cannon Kopje, wrecking it, and
killing one man and wounding two others. These splinter proofs were a
line of trenches running down towards the town from the kopje, and it
had seemed that by no chance could they possibly be struck direct by a
shell. In the evening the Boer shell fire again continued till a late
hour, and the last explosion that we heard puzzled us a good deal. It
subsequently transpired that Major Panzera and Corporal Carrie, with
three natives, had crept up to the nearest brick-kiln, from which the
Boers were unfortunately absent, and had blown it up with fifty pounds
of dynamite. This will probably keep the Boers away from that locality
for a while, as they are not unnaturally very cautious of approaching
any place where they suspect the presence of dynamite. A Kimberley
native informed us that they stop the natives going home from the
Kimberley mines and ask them if there is dynamite laid down round the
town, to which the natives generally reply, "Plenty!" They seem to be
having a much better time in Kimberley than we are here, as the natives
say we live here like mere cats, whilst they have apparently no big gun
to annoy them down there.
2nd. They began shelling later here to-day, so one's morning's ride was
uninterrupted, but they are, however, now in full swing again. Sergeant
Francis, B.S.A.P., died of wounds received at Cannon Kopje. Our usual
shelling.
3rd. We sent off runners north and south. In the morning the enemy
devoted his attention to the town. But in the afternoon our
seven-pounder and Nordenfeldt, east of Cannon Kopje, commenced firing on
the enemy, who were constructing a new trench, considerably in advance
of the old position of the big gun on the S.E. heights. Consequently
Creaky vigorously assailed them in turn, and the Krupp gun and the
one-pound Maxim galloped from McMullen's farm to her assistance. The
big gun made very good shooting, but fortunately only one man was hit,
and he by a sand-bag hurled up by a shell aimed at the Nordenfeldt. The
Nordenfeldt gun detachment consists of two men, Privates Lowe and
Mulholland, both of the Railway Volunteers, and these two men have
served this gun for months daily, often under a heavy fire directed
entirely at them. At the same time our beloved relic of Lord Nelson was
engaged on the western front in bombarding the new fort in front of Fort
Ayr, being answered on that front and assisted by musketry and rifle
fire. The week, as usual, culminated in the customary Saturday evening
flare-up all round. The big gun was cleaned and oiled for Sunday, and
we thought it was all over till Monday morning. This, however, was not
the case. The Boers were unusually jumpy. They treated us to
incendiary shells till late, and kept up a heavy musketry fire at fitful
intervals during the night. They commenced constructing a new trench in
the Brickfields, and can plainly be heard working at it.
4th, Sunday. The usual quiet day. At Fort Ayr, while cleaning the
Maxim, it was accidentally discharged, and the Boers promptly answered,
so Mr. Greenfield, in charge of the post, strolled out to explain
matters, and was met half way by the Boer representatives, who talked to
him for a bit, gave him the latest news (presumably untrue), exchanged
little harmless chaff, and agreed to swap newspapers for whisky. The
newspapers, needless to say, contained flaming accounts of universal
Boer victories, which, here, one finds it somewhat hard to credit, and
they agreed to furnish similar papers next Sunday. It is curious to see
in the advertisement sheets advertisements from manufacturers, stating
themselves to be manufacturers to Her Majesty the Queen, to read the
London letter, and a column of society chit-chat in a paper published in
the capital of our enemy. However, it is an odd world.
5th. Two lots of runners came in from the north this morning.
Personally, I received my first communication from home since the siege
began, only a wire though. Quite a number of letters came in, but were
very unequally distributed. One receiving a dozen, the vast majority
none, Hanbury Tracey was exceptionally fortunate, as he received a
money-lender's circular and a bill, re-addressed in red ink, from his
orderly room at home, and that was his sole communication. They shelled
us as usual, and kept it up late. A wet night, but that did not seem to
deter them. Their incendiary shells were, as usual, a failure.
6th. Shelling all day, and firing at night. Two natives were killed and
Colonel Hore, commanding Protectorate Regiment, had a narrow escape
whilst returning from the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
7th. They commenced shelling early this morning, so far with little
damage. There seem regular streaks of luck in this shell fire, and
sometimes we strike a very bad one, but it is really marvellous how
these huge shells have done comparatively little injury to life here.
From what we can gather from other places, it will be about the worst
knocked about town in South Africa. The remains of some buildings have
been removed and the majority will require re-building. Yesterday, a
shell went clean through the smoke box and boiler of a locomotive, and
did not explode until striking the ground beyond. One also pitched on
the top of an unfortunate native in an engine ash-pit and destroyed him.
The price of food has naturally risen enormously and will probably rise
more. The humble Kaffir, if he possesses a hen which lays regularly,
can maintain himself and another. An egg fetches sixpence, and a
Kaffir's ration of mealie meal only comes to threepence sterling,
consequently the henless Kaffir sponges upon his more wealthy brother.
This afternoon I rode up to Cannon Kopje and arrived simultaneously with
a ninety-four pound shell from the contrary direction. We did not,
however, hurt each other, and I dismounted and tethered my horse under
the best cover available, and to ground with me like a rabbit. They
fired one or two more shells at the kopje, doing no harm, and we then
strolled up to the look-out post to have a look at our persecutor. It
was a lovely evening, and as she was then pointed on the town, one could
view her proceedings with the utmost equanimity, speculating mildly as
to whether she would pitch her shell on one's own bomb proof or not.
The shell, however, burst prematurely, just clear of the muzzle of the
gun, and we continued watching the town and the rest of the defences,
all of which lie like a panorama from the Cannon Kopje look-out. Creaky
was then re-loaded, and with her nose cocked high in the air, was
apparently aimed in the direction of the planet Venus. As a matter of
fact, however, she was aimed at Fort Ayr, and after the discharge one
imagined one could trace the projectile in its flight by the hurtling
sound it made; but when by sound it seemed as far as Fort Miller, one
could see the strike close by Fort Ayr (which is about four miles from
the gun), and yet the noise of the projectile through the air continued
for some seconds longer, producing a very curious effect. She re-loaded
and was again pointed on the town when slowly she swung her nose round
and was pointed on us, a roar of look out from the man on duty, and the
crowd of languid spectators was transformed into a body of active men,
heading straight for their accustomed shelters, which having attained,
they peered carefully at the gun, waiting for the smoke from the muzzle,
which would be the signal for their final disappearance. We waited and
waited, but she came not, so, deciding that it was the good-night gun, I
walked back, accompanied by one of the garrison of the kopje, and ate my
dinner at the hotel with the comforting assurance that I had last seen
her directed a good mile from the dining-room.
This morning Corporal Currie and his men killed and wounded a few Boers,
coming at dawn to their trenches. The Boers consequently gave us a
quiet day, as their obsequies and attendant ceremonies seemed to fill in
all their time; but at dark they commenced a heavy fire of small arms,
shell, and vituperation, upon our advanced post, about two hundred and
fifty yards from their main trench. They assure the garrison of this
post that they intend to make it particularly warm for them, and it is
about as warm a corner as one could well select. I rode out in the
afternoon to Captain Marsh's post on the western edge of the stadt, we
have there driven the Boers out of and occupied Fort Cronje, a mile from
the western edge, and seven hundred yards from the nearest Boer fort.
This Fort Cronje commands the whole of the valley on the other side of
the ridge, under cover of which the Boers used to remove their reliefs
and reinforcements to and from Cronje's laager and the western laager.
Its capture has largely extended our field for grazing. We had proposed
to walk out there, but on consultation we decided not to, as one is
under a pretty heavy fire in the open the last part of the journey, and
one would see it better and under more favourable circumstances on the
Sunday, during the truce. Riding back, I tried a short cut, at a good
pace; the Boers, however, were not quite asleep, and began sniping with
marvellous ill-success, as I was about to get under cover again. To-day
we were informed that we must be prepared to hold out for another four
months, which we are quite ready to do. The garrison and inhabitants
received the intelligence with the utmost equanimity felt no earthly
doubt as to the result, merely expressing extreme boredom at the
prospect of four months more of such monotonous existence.
9th. A runner from the south arrived, informing us of Buller's crossing
the Tugela. Comparing this news with the Boer accounts of British
defeats with heavy losses on the 24th, south of Tugela, one can only
conclude that they must indeed be in a bad plight when they can invent
such amazingly circumstantial and appalling lies. However, I hope we are
nearing the end of the last act, and "God Save the Queen." They have
been quiet to-day, and as far as we know, no funerals to occupy them so
hope and trust that they are digesting some bad news; the Kaffir who
brought the messages states that the Free Staters have had enough of it,
but that Cronje will not allow them to surrender, as they had everything
to lose and absolutely nothing to gain; we can well believe it. The
Kimberley correspondence is of a chatty description, refers to the
weather and papers (which have not arrived), but the gist of the whole
is cheerful and consequently welcome, though we should prefer news.
Their food supply seems good, which is consoling. But this much is
certain, that if we have to hold out another four months, the means of
our doing so, in the supply line, is due to the presence of Mr. B. Weil.
I wonder whether it is appreciated, even yet at home, what a stupendous
and monumental liar the Boer is. The Kaffir says what he thinks you
will like. The Boer, however, says what he knows he likes himself. I
hope some day to read a British account of the war. The Boer account
would pain me if I believed it.
10th. The enemy remained quiet, at least as regards their big gun,
yesterday evening, though the now nightly fusillade began about 8
o'clock. This morning they commenced shelling late, and apparently
directed their projectiles at the Mill, which works every night,
protected by a traverse, at the south-eastern corner of the town. They
only fired two projectiles, one of which struck Mr. J. Dall, Town
Councillor, and commander of one of the Town Guard posts, full, blowing
him to pieces. His wife, poor woman, who was in the women's laager,
where the intelligence was abruptly conveyed by a panic stricken Kaffir
woman servant, came up semi-distracted, under the escort of the Rev. W.
H. Weekes. It was, of course, impossible that she should see him, and
the scene was a very painful one for her friends in their endeavours to
be of some comfort to her. Musketry and the discharge of field pieces
continued all the afternoon, during which we had an exceedingly heavy
thunderstorm which flooded some of the uncompleted and advanced
trenches, compelling the evacuation of the one within two hundred yards
of the Boer main trench, during which operation one of our men was
wounded. The others remained there, and sought the best cover from fire
they could in its immediate propinquity. Firing continued all round the
outposts, at intervals all night and well into the dawn on Sunday
morning. Since we have been warned to be ready for four months more
siege, the question of food supplies for natives has become very
serious. Two of these unfortunate fugitives were shot last night in
their endeavours to elude the vigilance of the cordon all round us. It
is not the question of meat so much as the question of grain, which is
our difficulty.
11th, Sunday. I was aroused about dawn by musketry fire, and as I heard
no more, supposed I had been dreaming, but when starting for my early
ride, was told there had been heavy firing to the east. I went to Fort
Ayr, from whence the Boer fort seemed ridiculously close, and so on to
the Cape Police fort, and from there the Boer sniping station looked
within six hundred yards. I was, however, informed that it was a good
sixteen hundred yards off. It was a perfectly lovely morning, and had
one's horse only felt as fresh as the morning, the ride would have been
indeed enjoyable, but the stress of the siege in the way of shortness of
provisions has fallen far more severely on the horses than the human
beings. From this fort I rode to the B. Squadron horse lines. The
horses are not at present a pleasing spectacle, but, owing to our
extended grazing ground, I dare say they could still do some work.
Sundry of them are killed and turned into billtong for the Kaffirs.
Thence along the picturesque bank of the Molopo, through the centre of
the stadt to breakfast at Captain Marsh's. This officer, whose squadron
has held the stadt since the commencement of the siege, has, from his
West Coast experiences, a wonderful knack of dealing with natives, and
in a great measure the absolute confidence of the Baralongs in the white
garrison may be ascribed to him, they have accordingly constituted him a
sort of universal referee in all their local troubles. After breakfast
we walked out from the edge of the stadt to the two forts occupied by
Sergeant Abrahams and his detachment of natives, within six hundred
yards of which are situated the Boer forts, also garrisoned by natives.
Between the opposing forts both sides rambled at their own sweet will.
We then went on to Fort Cronje, originally in the occupation of the
Boers, and having attained our utmost limits we sat and smoked and
looked at the stadt (distant about a mile), and appreciated how Mafeking
looked to the Boers from their western outposts. Personally, the
northern end of the stadt reminds me of nothing so much as the Curragh
Camp when viewed from the Newbridge Road, and, indeed, the veldt all
round looked fresh, green, and undulating enough for the Curragh itself.
Fort Cronje is enfiladed by the blockhouse north of the Molopo.
Eastward from Sergeant Abrahams' fort, and in a circular direction
across the railway line towards Cannon Kopje, extend forts occupied by
McKenzie's contingent. We thus now have a large and secure grazing
ground, the area of which I had not previously appreciated. We strolled
back to the stadt and rode back to shop and church. During the morning
and afternoon occurred some of those interchanges of courtesy between
ourselves and our opponents, which generally do take place on Sunday.
Corporal Currie, who during the week spends all his time in endeavouring
to slay and not be slain by the Boers, was called over by them to
translate a note they had received. They offered him tobacco and small
civilities, and patted him on the back saying he was a "freundlish
kerel." They also said they were sick of it, and what a waste of time
it was not to be ploughing. A somewhat similar conversation was carried
on by Mr. Greenfield on the other side. The Dutch, in addition, said
they thought it would all be over in a month, that they hadn't got any
papers, but would give them to us at the first opportunity, which we
understood to mean, when their romancing journalists had sufficiently
seasoned the dish of Dutch defeats for Mafeking consumption. The bicycle
sports had to be postponed owing to the condition of the track, but
there was a cricket match in the morning between Fitzclarence's squadron
and the town of Mafeking, which the latter won by nineteen runs, and in
the afternoon a concert, where our commanding officer, as usual,
distinguished himself by his comic songs and humourous sketches. This
talent is well known to his friends, but is certainly not so well known
to the British public, who only have had the advantage of viewing him
from a serious side; however, we appreciated him quite as much in his
lighter capacity, and the concert was a great success. The Beleagured
Batchelors' Ball, given by the batchelors of Mafeking, had in
consequence of Mr. Call's death been postponed till to-night. It
commenced merrily enough, and had been going on for about an hour when
history and the Duchess of Richmond's ball repeated itself. The staff
officer arrived warning all officers to fall in. Heavy firing commenced
all round, and an attack was anticipated. The galloping Maxim raced
across the veldt in the dark from the western outposts to the town, at
no time a pleasant journey, and now with the innumerable pitfalls all
round it, it was lucky to get there without a smash. The Bechuanaland
Rifles and a squadron of the Protectorate Regiment were pushed forwards
towards the brickfields, taking the place of the Cape Police who had
reinforced the extreme eastern advanced posts. The Boers had put three
hundred more men into their advance trench and kept up a heavy fire at
intervals all night, as indeed they did at all points. Our men did not
fire much.
[Illustration: BOERS' ATTACK ON A R.S.A.P. FORT.]
12th. At dawn this morning I went to Ellis's corner, as heavy firing
was going on in that direction. The five-pounder was firing at Currie's
post and the Cape Police, from the Boer main trench at under two hundred
yards. Their quick firer and one-pound Maxim were also doing so. The
big gun seemed anxious to participate, and was elevated several times,
but owing to the Boer trench being immediately in the line of fire did
not venture to. Things slackened somewhat at half-past six, and I went
for a ride round the western side where a few odd shots were being
fired, but nothing was going on. About half-past eight the big gun
commenced firing at Cannon Kopje, and after half a dozen shots
transferred her attentions to the town, mainly bursting in fairly close
proximity to this dug-out, but so far no damage to my knowledge. This
afternoon I take up my residence at Cannon Kopje for a bit.
[Illustration: IN THE TRENCHES.]
12th. When I had finished the last paragraph I left my dug-out and went
to lunch, and as I walked to the hotel, heard a single shot, of which I
naturally took no notice. An hour afterwards I heard that it had
claimed its victim in Captain R. Girdwood, late 3rd Battalion Royal
Irish Rifles, assistant commisariat officer here, who was mortally
wounded. To the garrison and all who knew him the blow was severe.
Throughout the whole siege he was always laughing and joking, and
nothing ever subdued his never-failing cheerfulness: to meet him was a
regular tonic if liver or temper were at fault. The duty he did in
assisting Captain Ryan to regulate the supplies of food and stores was
invaluable, and Colonel Baden-Powell in his general order literally
expressed the great regret and sympathy felt for his wife. In the
evening I went up to the kopje, and am for a time attached to the
B.S.A.P. Prior to my departure they gave us a good doing in the town,
both musketry and shell fire.
13th. To sleep in the open and live on the heights in fine weather is
undoubtedly an improvement on the town, at any rate for a short time;
though one is away from headquarters and the latest garrison gossip,
one's view of proceedings is universal and uninterrupted, unless one
happens to be the recipient of Boer favours. The bomb proof gives ample
cover and a dining-room, for the rest one lives in the open which, in
this perfect weather, unless the sun be unduly hot, is charming, and
though washing arrangements be scanty, the air is better and the view
far less circumscribed than in the town some two thousand yards away.
Last night wild musketry fire went on all night, and incendiary Boer
shells provided the kopje contingent with fireworks gratis, and only
succeeded in setting one house on fire, which was quickly extinguished.
Poor Girdwood died this afternoon and was buried this evening.
14th, Valentine's Day. I rode into the town and having transacted my
business, and had a pleasant ride round the western outposts, returned
just in time to elude their first shells. They are messing about their
works as usual, but what they are doing we cannot quite make out. They
have, however, withdrawn their marquees from their gun at McMullan's
farm. The homely Dutch families generally play about the gun (the Asp
on the Cocktrice's den--N.B. the Cocktrice's business end directed on
us), and when family life is most in evidence in the gun's vicinity they
generally fire on the town, as it does not amuse the dear things to fire
at a small mark where they may possibly do no damage, whilst they think
they cannot well miss everybody in the town. The fair ladies frequently
fire the gun themselves and dandle their babies on high to look on at
the prospective slaughter of English women and children. Charming race!
I think even Sheridan could scarcely find a Dutch woman "an excuse for a
glass," or, indeed, an excuse for anything else. However, if their
menkind had as much pluck as they possess venom, Mafeking would not now
be flying the Union Jack, but the Vierkleur of bilious hue. This is
plentiful in the vicinity, but has not, and will not, desecrate the
township, and I trust the new issue may serve as a model for the ribbon
of our Transvaal medal. Sundown: Creaky dismantled. Are they sick of
it at last?
15th. As dawn broke a crowd of us went up to the lookout post, to look
for our dear departed, and when we failed to find her we accepted our
loss with due philosophy. I rode over to Fort Ayr to see Mr.
Greenfield, who is isolated for a month in this post. He must, when not
engaged in rallies with the Boers, find it very dull, for he accepted
with avidity the offer of my diary of the siege to read. He had,
however, found Creaky in front of his position and about five miles due
west of the town; what she proposes to do here time will show, but our
end is pretty safe from her. Later I received a telephone message to say
how pleased he was with the account of the fight of November 31st. This
blunder, in my diary, is a legacy from my late typewriter. His last
batch of copy (which was the last straw that gave the correspondent the
"hump ") dated the 12th, though irritating, was rather amusing, I have
now transferred my favours elsewhere. The gun has commenced bombarding
the stadt and women's laager.
16th. I rode up to Major Godley's and had the "31st of November" cast
in my teeth once more (since corrected). The big gun fired twenty-eight
shots at the stadt and women's laager. From Cannon Kopje there is
twenty-three-and-a-half seconds between the smoke from her muzzle and
the report, which makes her a matter of nine thousand yards away, and
about the same from the centre of the town which she cannot now properly
reach, and to strike which at all, she is elevated apparently at right
angles. She devoted several shells to McKenzie's western shelter
trenches, doing no harm, however. Her change of position must have been
another deliberate atrocity on the part of the Boers, for which I trust
their Commander will be strictly called to account. There can be no
immediate effect expected on the defences or ultimate resistance of
Mafeking by the deliberate bombardment of women and children, black or
white. And he who sows the storm may reap the whirlwind, for the blacks
neither forget nor forgive, and this is one more, and by no means the
least, tally in a long score. Now, as regards the position of the
Baralongs and our other native residents.
At the outbreak of the war, the Boers flooded the town with all the
refugee Kaffirs from Johannesburg and other parts of the Transvaal, who
happened to be in our vicinity, hoping either on the capture of the
town, which they confidently anticipated, to secure a good labour
market, or, in the event of an unexpectedly protracted resistance, to
exercise through these additional mouths, a severe pressure on our food
supplies, and thus indirectly on our length of defence. They carefully,
however, first robbed them of all their money. Now, picking a Kaffir's
pocket, or wherever he may carry his money, ranks about as high in the
code of honour, as stealing coppers from a blind man's plate. I am not
sure whether it is a transgression of the Law of Nations, but as by the
time this diary is read the Boer will not be, as he certainly never
ought to have been, a nation, it is of small moment, but the act of
robbery distinctly took place. The Baralongs were assured by both sides
that the war was between two white races, and that they had no cause to
interfere. We went even further, and refused to allow them to assist
us. However, when the Baralong had seen his cattle raided, his kraals
burnt, and himself bombarded, he, somewhat of a rhetorician, but lacking
perhaps in the logical capacity for distinguishing between "a military
operation" and "an act of war," decided that the Boers' application of
the former to his property was good enough excuse for him to indulge in
the latter to prevent a further application, he accordingly, in his
childlike manner, invited the Boers to enter his stadt, and shot several
of them when they tried to. Recently, too, the Boers made overtures to
secure the Baralong assistance, and the Chief, Wessels, said he must
think it over; after long deliberation he declined. It was probably in
order to punish them for this lack of readiness to support them, that
the Boers so slated the stadt. However this may be, the Baralongs and
other natives have loyally and consistently supported us, and deserve
ample compensation for the hardships, privations, and losses which they
have sustained. All day the Boers have been making feeble attempts on
McKenzie's outpost; and at night, seated at the kopje, one could see a
circle of fire running all round the outposts. On the eastern side, our
Maxim in the brickfields, our seven-pounder and their five-pounder and
many rifles were flashing in the darkness; in the distance Fort Ayr was
warmly engaged, while to support McKenzie in our immediate proximity,
the armoured train was creaking and groaning up the grass-grown line.
And nothing perhaps brings home our isolation so much, as to see the
rails overgrown with grass, and reflect that this is a main line to
England. Owing to the custom of the Boer of elevating the muzzle of his
rifle over the parapet and firing in the air, bullets were whistling and
falling all round us on the kopje all night, which, as we were a mile
from, and two hundred feet higher than, the trench they were firing at,
argued poor marksmanship on their part. However, we were all fairly
safe, and the Boer presumably quite so, and as he made plenty of noise I
suppose everybody was satisfied.
17th. Very little firing till the evening, and then usual performance.
18th, Sunday. Our usual quiet day. The bank now opens for business on
Sundays. As the Kaffirs, in common with other natives, persist in
burying their specie, it is very literally locked up, and to restore the
circulation of silver we have a paper issue for small sums. Indeed, we
are now a very self-contained community, we have our bank, our ordnance
factory, our police, and flourish under a beneficent and remote
autocracy. As regards the ordnance, the factory was started for the
manufacture of shells for our seven-pounders, for shot, brass and iron,
for our antique cannon, and for the adaptation of five-pounder shells
(left here by Dr. Jameson) to our seven-pounders by the addition of
enlarged driving bands; these have all proved a complete success, and
too much praise cannot be given to Connely and Cloughlan of the
Locomotive Department, who have organized and run the aforesaid factory.
As great a triumph has been the manufacture of powder, and invention of
fuses by Lieutenant Daniel, B.S.A.P., and Glamorgan Artillery Militia,
and thus we are rendered secure against our ammunition running short; a
gun is also being manufactured, and will shortly be used. This factory
is of long standing, but prior to this the authorities have not allowed
us to allude to its existence.
19th. Went out to try and shoot plover, which form an acceptable
addition to our rations, as we have now come down to horse-flesh and six
ounces of bread per day. Fairly quiet day. Strolling down to town in
the evening, I assumed that their snipers were too much occupied with
our people in the brickfields to bother about me. They were not,
however, and were unpleasantly attentive.
20th. Re-transferred my residence to the town, the firing is heavier
down here through the day, and also, indeed, the night, but here we are
under cover.
21st. Gun did not fire more than two or three shots, but at night there
was very heavy firing along the brickfield front, they shot some of the
working party, and also headed some of the natives going towards Kanya.
The Boers made a half-hearted sort of attempt to turn our men out of the
advanced trench, but utterly failed. The question of feeding the
natives has been solved by the establishment of a soup kitchen, the
component parts of the stock may be varied, but the result is eminently
nutritious.
Gun changed back near to old position east of town, they elevated and
depressed her several times, but did not fire. As the bells rung,
however, the moral effect was exactly the same, possibly also the
physical. Sergeant-Major Looney, A.S.C., was reduced to the ranks and
five years penal servitude awarded to him for selling Government stores.
Private Miller, Protectorate Regiment, tampering with a loaded
ninety-four-pound shell, was blown to pieces. This form of lunacy is
apparently ineradicable. We anticipate an attack to-morrow, as it is the
Orange Free State Independence Day. I wonder if the Free State still
exists: the following letter _apropos_ of this from the leader of the
opposition in the Free State before the war is, I think, interesting:--
(_Copy._)
BLOMFONTEIN,
_September_ 4th, 1899.
CHARLES METTAM, ESQ.,
Box 23.
Krugersdorp.