BLOEMFONTEIN UNDER BRITISH RULE
The pastoral little town of brick and tin in the vast expanse of toasted
grass had now become a centre of civilisation, one may almost say a
fashionable rendezvous. There regiments multitudinous were congregated,
and these helped to convert the sleepy, dozing capital into a miniature
sphere of many dialects born of a common tongue. Human beings, the
conquered and the conquerors, brushed shoulders in friendliness, bought
and sold, listened to the bands playing the well-worn British airs in
the market-place, and discoursed, under the aegis of the Union Jack,
which fluttered from pinnacle and spire, of trade and prospects as
though such things as big guns had never acted in place of handshakes,
and such men as Steyn had never staked their all on the possibilities of
a mirage.
That potentate had betaken himself to Kroonstad, which, in new
conditions, had also assumed a new aspect. It was now the capital of the
Free Staters, and the seat of the polyglot army that was gathered
together to consider the new face of affairs. A Norwegian attache, who
was with the strange horde, gave a description of the quaint dust-bound
town and its still quainter inhabitants:--
"KROONSTAD, _March 16_.
"Here prevails the most extraordinary life it has ever been my
lot to witness. All hotels and private houses are filled to
overflowing, whilst little laagers are spread everywhere in and
outside the town. A wild stream of loose horses, mules,
donkeys, and oxen, and little bodies of troops and solitary
riders pour through the streets, broken by heavy ox-waggons and
mule-carts driven by whips and shouts. All nationalities and
all colours are present, and the most Babylonian babble of
tongues resounds on all sides. Here are foreign military
attaches, surgeons, nurses, regular and irregular Boer troops,
volunteers of all arms, officers as well as privates, and
besides a goodly lot which I can only stamp as 'freebooters,'
for they do not belong to any fixed commando, but look upon the
fighting as sport or chase. Frequently, however, among them I
come across men of high culture and of first-class families,
often fine handsome men with martial bearing, side by side with
the worst scum of the earth. Many pass from one war to another.
I have spoken with some who have gone through the Greek, Cuban,
and Philippine wars. And what uniforms do these mercenaries
wear? None at all, or, more correctly speaking, each one has
invented his own! The only common badge is the bandolier across
the shoulder and the slouch hat. Otherwise every one wears
whatever clothes he may possess, only so that it is nothing
new. Many of them who are well off have donned a fantastic
costume--slouch hat, with waving ostrich feathers and gold
lace, jacket edged with yellow, orange, and green bands,
epaulettes with great gold tassels, white or gilt buttons,
stripes on the trousers, top-boots with spurs, cockades in the
hat and on the breast, and revolvers in the belt. At present
the Boer troops are spread all over the place, mostly without
any order or discipline. Most of them, particularly the Orange
Boers, are sick of the war, and long to go home to their
families and farms. Others have simply gone home after the
Bloemfontein _debacle_. In these circumstances Steyn considered
it best to allow his men to go home for a few days, and call
them together again when the great council of war at the end of
the week had decided whether the war should be continued. Many
thousands have thus gone home, with or without leave. Will they
return? It seems a dangerous experiment."
The fact was that gradually, very gradually, the eyes of the Boers were
being opened, though they still tried to persuade themselves that Lord
Roberts' presence in the capital of the Free State had no decisive
effect on the game of war. They began to look anxiously towards the
Continental Powers, who, they had been led to believe, were in sympathy
with them, and to wonder when some intervention would save them from the
doom they had brought on themselves. In one respect they were beginning
to see clearly and to understand, that the great ideal of sweeping the
British into the sea was a chimera, and that they must limit their aim
to retaining their own freedom, the sole one that could be indulged in
and clung to with any shadow of success.
The Dutchmen still hoped against hope for victory, but their scorn for
the British was fast dying a natural death. Our repeated fights, had
they served no other purpose, succeeded in educating those who had dared
to flout us, and after the capture of Cronje the effect of the somewhat
brusque lesson was very conspicuous. Before the battle of Elandslaagte,
a resident of Cape Town indulged in argument with an obstinate Boer in
terms somewhat similar to these:--
"We are going to send 50,000 or 60,000 troops into the field."
"They will be all shot!" he bragged.
"We shall send another 50,000 or 60,000."
"They, too, will all be shot!" he repeated.
"We shall send more."
"Almighty! am I to keep on shooting the Englishman all my life!" sighed
the Dutchman, with his best air of braggadocio.
Such bumptiousness was not confined to himself. All his compatriots
started on the campaign with identical bombast, for they took their cue
from the attitude of those Continental nations with which they had
lately become associated. Our neighbours across the Channel had found it
convenient to persuade themselves we were a decadent race, that the Old
Country was played out and her children effete. As with the empires of
Xerxes, Alexander, Augustus, so with that of Victoria, they said to
themselves; and since the wish is father to the thought, the idea was
rapidly propagated that Great Britain was fast becoming a second-rate
Power.
Almost the whole of Europe had indulged in objectionable comment on the
subject of the campaign, and treated us to naked truths that, though
unpalatable, were useful as an excellent opportunity to see ourselves as
others see us, and correct a somewhat overweening passion for resting on
British-grown laurels. But however good as a tonic the cosmopolitan
criticism may have been, it was distinctly ill-timed and decidedly
ungrateful. Our sneering foes should have patted us on the back, have
applauded us. They might even have subscribed to help us to do the hard
work of Europe, for, as the Norwegian showed, we were not fighting the
Boer alone, but were attacking thousands of his mercenaries--the scum of
Europe. We were scouring a veritable Augean stable. Ne'er-do-weels of
every nationality were congregated under the Transvaal flag--vagabonds,
for the most part, who had made their own country too hot to hold them,
and who hoped by promoting a general upheaval to come down on their feet
safely--somehow, somewhere!
Fortunately Lord Roberts' masterly combinations had rapidly brought
about a general disillusionment, and served to prove to our critical
neighbours that our martial race--from officers to the most raw and
fledgling "Tommies"--was the same race as of yore, "game for anything,"
even when the thing might range between and include shot and shell,
sickness and starvation! The object-lesson was a grand one, and could
not pass unrecognised. For us the sad part of it was that the flower of
our country, the valiant sons of brave men and the noble descendants of
kings, should have had to risk their lives against such a mob of
adventurers and filibusters, creatures who were actuated by none of the
finer and natural impulses of the Boers to secure their independence,
but flung themselves into the fight merely because the spirit of
ruffianism which had driven them from their native soils was too rampant
to be appeased by any other exercise. But there is no achievement
without sadness--no success without pain. Lives must ever be sacrificed
to maintain any great nation's prestige, and now how much more noble
seemed the sacrifice when it secured the prestige of a Power that had
propagated equality and civilisation over the whole face of the world!
[Illustration: THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF BLOEMFONTEIN--AN EVENING
CONCERT IN MARKET SQUARE BY THE PIPERS OF THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE.
Drawing by A. Forestier.]
The British once having put their hand to the plough, had stuck manfully
to their work, not in hope of reward, but in the belief in the ministry
of their great race. Beyond the minor considerations of franchise and
political advantage, there had been greater and higher ends to be
attained, and as the flag was fluttering over the capital of the Free
State these great ends served to inspire and refresh those who almost
fainted by the way. Where the British flag waved there was freedom,
enlightenment, progress, evolution--there was emancipation from sin,
injustice, and degradation; therefore at the cost of precious lives, and
for no personal gain, the great end for which they toiled and suffered
and died had to be achieved.
Every ideal, whether merely human or bordering on the divine, demands
enormous sacrifices from those who desire to realise it, and the spread
of civilisation calls for its ministers and martyrs, and will continue
to call for them so long as there are men of heroic mould who,
regardless of personal cost, are ready to prize and protect a great and
national cause. Only this reflection could serve to hearten and brace
our warriors at the front, for, at this time, Lord Roberts' glorious
position was far from a happy one. It was impossible to ignore the cost
at which the prestige of his country and his splendid success was being
secured. He found himself at Bloemfontein with the wreck of an army on
his hands, with men dropping thick as flies from disease resulting from
the terrible exhaustion of the march and from the insanitary conditions
of the camp at Paardeberg. There the only water available for drinking
purposes had flowed down from the Boer camp a mile and a half up the
river, and was polluted by rotting carcases in various stages of
decomposition, and, as a natural consequence of these conditions,
Bloemfontein was suddenly filled with an appalling number of sick, some
2000 patients suffering from typhoid and enteric, in addition to a very
considerable number of wounded at the fight at Driefontein. How to help
the abnormal number of sufferers was a problem that taxed the medical
authorities to the utmost, for it was impossible to meet the huge demand
under the existing conditions. To improvise mere accommodation for so
large an influx of sick within the narrow confines of Bloemfontein was a
hard task in itself, and even the field-hospitals were inadequate, for
owing to the rapidity of the march from the Modder no tents were carried
with the force, and none were available until railway communication with
Cape Colony could be restored. The Commander-in-Chief of this immense
army in this dilemma had but a single narrow-gauge line of railway
between himself and his base some 700 miles distant, and this line of
rails was not yet available. The first duty was to utilise it for the
bringing up of supplies sufficient to sustain the bare life of the
healthy force, and prevent those who were sound from joining those who
were already exhausted. Tents for the sick, nurses, doctors, hospitals
were ordered up, but these could only arrive in their turn, and
meanwhile the patients were distributed in all the public buildings,
schools, &c. The town being small, this accommodation was meagre in the
extreme, and quantities of the sick in the field hospitals had to place
their blankets and waterproof sheets on the ground, and lie there
huddled together in a condition that was grievous in the extreme. The
mortality was tremendous, and the sufferings of those who were
recovering were pitiable, but these things it was impossible to avert;
they have belonged in all ages to the horror of war, and in other times
were the natural and ordinary, and not, as in the present case, an
abnormal consequence of an exceptional situation.
* * * * *
The relief of Ladysmith and Kimberley accomplished, Lord Roberts was
able to adhere to the cherished Napoleonic maxim--an army should have
but one line of operation, which should be carefully preserved, and
abandoned only as the result of weightier considerations. This army was
now being reorganised as one great whole, a task which involved gigantic
labour and called for rare discrimination. But the marvellous tact, one
might say magnetism, of Lord Roberts smoothed every difficulty, and the
enthusiasm with which those who were brought into contact with the
Commander-in-Chief alluded to him, was remarkable. An army chaplain,
writing home, voiced the popular feelings for the one and only
"Bobs":--"We are serving under the best and noblest man who ever led an
army. You can have no conception of the passionate and devoted affection
which Lord Roberts inspires in all ranks. It is not artifice, or
adroitness, or dramatic power, but a simple overflowing of the milk of
human kindness. Every one notices it; all remark it. The roughest and
most cynical of the brave men out here cannot escape the fascination of
his delightfully quiet and natural manner, his transparent
unselfishness; and one sees in him the value in a born leader of men of
a clear and musical voice, and eyes bright and piercing, yet full of
kindness and benevolent sympathy. He is entirely without affectation,
and takes care that the troops are fed, and not stinted of recreation
whenever it can be found. Nothing pleases him more than to mix with the
men when at play. And he is an example to all in his regular attendance
at public worship and in resting on the Lord's Day. His staff take their
'tone' from him, and this is good for all who come into contact with
that staff. I never met so active a man. At daybreak he is in the
saddle, riding round the camp before he makes an informal inspection,
without notice, of some portion of the lines. He shows no sign of
failing strength or of impaired energy, and fatigue is a word not to be
found in his vocabulary. I am told that the secret is frugal living and
early to rest which keeps him in such excellent health. It is a
privilege which all value very highly that they have had the good
fortune to serve under our Field-Marshal."
No such raptures were expended on the silent man of Egyptian fame who
had made himself into the machinery of the tremendous movement, but how
much his wonderful work was appreciated the following extract from the
_Times_ serves to show:--"When Lord Roberts and his Chief of the Staff
reached Cape Town, we had troops of all arms in South Africa, but we had
no field-army, and until we had a field-army the enemy were to a great
extent masters of the position. It is not easy to realise the abilities
and the unwearying energy needed to convert all the scattered raw
material we possessed in South Africa and the reinforcements daily
arriving from all parts of the Empire into the coherent and mobile
fighting machine now directed by the Commander-in-Chief. To Lord
Kitchener under him belongs the credit of that remarkable achievement.
He has not only marshalled the fragmentary units of the paper army corps
into a workmanlike fighting force, but in a country without roads in a
European sense, and with few and light railways, he has seen that they
were fed and clothed and supplied with all the innumerable articles
indispensable to their efficiency. If Lord Roberts has won the battles,
Lord Kitchener has been the 'organiser of victory.'"
The result of the combined methods of these two great soldiers was
little short of marvellous, and when we look back to the days of
Wellington, and compare the army of his day with the army at
Bloemfontein, we can but wonder and admire and congratulate ourselves.
For instance, the army at Bloemfontein, the victorious army, which had
suffered exceedingly from the many annoyances of the Boers, comported
themselves in their day of triumph with admirable reserve. Brave as the
British warriors of old, they showed themselves men of finer stamp and
higher discipline than the men who followed Wellington. We have the
words of that great commander, to assure us that his force was almost
incorrigible. He declared that his own troops at the beginning of the
Peninsular war were "a rabble, who cannot bear success any more than Sir
John Moore's army could bear failure." He also confessed, "I am
endeavouring to tame them, but if I should not succeed, I must make an
official complaint of them, and send one or two corps home in disgrace.
They plunder in all directions."
Things in Bloemfontein were very different. The victorious army under
Lord Roberts walked in like the heroes they were, stopped their
predatory instincts at a word, and paid their way and conducted
themselves like gentlemen. Indeed the Free Staters lined their pockets
almost too satisfactorily at the expense of their conquerors!
Meanwhile the enemy conspired and plotted. On the 17th of March, at
Kroonstad, a great council of war was held by the two Presidents, which
was attended by a strange and mongrel community. Among the motley crew
were some forty Boer leaders, De Wet, De Larey, Botha, and De
Villebois-Mareuil (who was killed at Boshop later on). They were not
goodly to look on, as uniform was non-existent, and clean shirts were
luxuries that long since had been dispensed with. The action of the
Boers, their strength and weakness, came under discussion, and all
decided that they must fight to the bitter end. President Kruger offered
up prayer, and petitioned the Almighty to give ear to the just claims of
his people, while President Steyn, when his turn came, stuck to
practical matters, discussed the situation, and declared that if the
English thought that because they had captured the Free State capital
they had won the battle they were self-deluded. He went on to say: "How
should we now continue the war? Should we, as before, defend ourselves
in fortified positions, or should we try a new method? I am no soldier,"
he continued, "but, according to my conviction, we ought no longer to
occupy fortified positions, as the English have learned to manoeuvre us
out of them without fighting, for which they invariably have plenty of
men. Therefore, we ought only, as much as possible, to hamper the
enemy's forward march, and, whilst threatening his rear and flank,
attack him everywhere where there is a chance with small commandos
without train. We must by this method proceed more offensively than
hitherto, and before all turn upon his lines of communication."
The President's scheme was much applauded and approved, after which De
Larey began to complain of the state of the Boer army, the size and
irregularity of the commandos, and the huge waggon laagers behind their
positions, stating that owing to these being threatened by a manoeuvre
of the British, the men were forced hurriedly to leave the ranks to look
after the safety of the waggons. He attributed the Boers' flight at
Poplar Grove entirely to anxiety regarding these waggons. He suggested
in future fighting with small commandos without train, as he declared it
impossible for the Boers to succeed in wielding big armies, because when
the enemy attempted to surround or outflank them the Boers lost their
heads.
General Joubert proposed "that the so-called 'veldcornetschappen,' which
are too large bodies to be led by one man, should be reduced to sections
of twenty-five, with a corporal at the head. In the Transvaal this had
already been initiated with very satisfactory results." This proposal
was also adopted, with the proviso that "'veldcornets' who did not at
once adopt it should be fined L10." The position of such a corporal is
similar to that of a sergeant in Europe.
Discussion later turned to the coalfields in Dundee, and to prevent them
becoming of use to the British it was decided that they must be
destroyed. General Botha, however, objected to this destruction, on the
principle that the fields were not contraband of war, but private
property. Thereupon President Steyn argued: "I am not of a destructive
disposition, but this is necessary, and in accord with the law of
nations. Does any one think that the English would let a vessel with
coal for the Transvaal go by? If I had to blow up half the Orange Free
State in order to secure the independence of my people I would do so."
The great council then closed with the following appeal by President
Steyn:----"I close the council in the hope that every officer realises
the seriousness of the situation. It is a question of life or death to
us, whether we shall remain an independent nation or become slaves. I do
all that is in my power, and so does also my elder brother (Kruger). I
am no soldier, but you officers are, and to you much is entrusted--the
future of our country. Your reward will depend on your actions. Your
task is a very difficult one. May God aid you! We are all mortal, but is
there a more glorious death than to fall for your country and people at
the head of your fellow-Burghers. May God help us! The position is
indeed full of trouble, but when night is darkest dawn is nearest."
These impassioned periods were highly effective, and the Burghers who
were present forgot to ask themselves why the speaker had carefully
insured himself against so glorious an exit from life by carefully
taking to his heels whenever he was confronted by the British!
Some Burghers evidently thinking that an ounce of example was worth a
ton of precept, decided not to die gloriously, but to live at peace with
all men inside their homes, and consequently turned their backs on their
party and returned to their farms.
A proclamation had been issued requiring Burghers residing within ten
miles of the military headquarters and the town to deliver up all arms
and ammunition by noon on the 18th, under penalty of being punished and
having their goods confiscated, and by degrees, as a consequence of the
proclamation, rifles in considerable quantities were handed in. On the
other hand, a great many more modern weapons were surreptitiously
disposed of, many of them being buried in order to be dug up as occasion
might require, and obsolete firearms surrendered in their place.
The work of pacification was going on apace at Springfontein, where the
1st Scots Guards, the 3rd Grenadier Guards, four Royal Artillery guns,
and forty Mounted Infantry were now stationed, and at Bethulie, which
place also had decided not to show fight.
Sir Godfrey Lagden from Maseru now telegraphed to Lord Roberts stating
that the residents of Wepener (a town at the extreme east of the Free
State on the Basutoland border) wished to receive copies of the
proclamation and had decided to lay down their arms, and it was stated
that many more towns on the eastern fringe desired to follow suit.
With marvellous celerity things began to shape themselves. The law
courts resumed work. Mr. Papenfus, whose services as Landrost had been
dispensed with, was replaced by Mr. Collins. A train service was
speedily established between Bloemfontein and Cape Town, and the Bank of
Africa and the National Bank of the Free State were permitted (subject
to restriction) to continue business. Transactions with towns in the
Transvaal and Free State still occupied by the enemy were not allowed.
[Illustration: SIGNAL STATION AT BLOEMFONTEIN.
On the left of the picture is the heliograph, and on the right a Begbie
signal lamp, for use when there is no sun. (Photo by Reinhold Thiele.)]
Naturally some of the best type of farmers in the vicinity who had
surrendered were anxious for protection against attacks by Boers still
in the field, and Lord Roberts, bearing this in mind, sent out columns
to register names and take over arms, and give assurance that the
necessary protection was forthcoming. During the end of March, General
French, on this mission intent, was sent to Thabanchu (forty miles east
of Bloemfontein), while a detachment from General Gatacre's headquarters
had gone to Smithfield (some forty miles north of Aliwal North). General
Clements operated in the same pacific way round the south-west skirts of
Bloemfontein, while General Brabant "tackled" the only still aggressive
force of the Boers in the southern part of the Free State. Commandant
Olivier with a force of some 5000 men and sixteen guns was there, being
pushed back inch by inch, it was hoped into the arms of General French,
who was waiting with such horses as he could still muster at Thabanchu
to pounce on him. Still, though slowly, the country was settling down,
and the inhabitants were beginning to realise the advantage of bringing
in supplies for sale. They, however, were "slim" at the core, and their
slimness was responsible for some lamentable occurrences with which we
shall have to deal anon.
The telegraph was now restored as far as Reddersberg Railway,
communication had been restored with Bethulie, and the railway at
Norval's Pont had been completed. In south and west peace reigned. There
were even signs that the Transvaalers were thinking of abandoning the
defence of the Free State. Friction between the Federals was reported on
all sides. Even Mr. Steyn and Mr. Kruger were scarcely at one. Mr.
Steyn's last remark to the grand old man of Pretoria when they parted at
Bloemfontein was, "Mind the British don't catch you, or you will get
better quarters in St. Helena than I." Both Presidents were aware that
the Commander-in-Chief was a person to be reckoned with, and that, if
they wished to make a last wild effort, they must put their shoulder to
the wheel. So on the 21st of March President Steyn and General Joubert
went on a tour of inspection for the purpose of encouraging the troops.
With them was a foreigner who described their movements. "The troops who
are in laager at Venterburg, Roodstation, Zand River Bridge, and
Smaldeel (Winburgroodstation), number only some 700 men, with a battery
and six machine guns, all Transvaal Boers. The feeling was everywhere
buoyant, and all were determined to hold out. To-day the Orange Boers
begin to return after their leave. It looks as if they are recovering
their breath after the Bloemfontein _debacle_, and if the English wait
much before they advance, the men will have time to reorganise
themselves. Colonel De Villebois-Mareuil is now occupied with the scheme
of organising a flying column of foreigners, to be called the 'European
Corps,' of 600 men, two guns, and a waggon with dynamite and tools, with
which he intends to operate on the English lines of communication, if
possible in conjunction with Major Stenekamp, who has collected some
2000 men to the west, who are furnished with ammunition, stores, and
money by General du Toit at Fourteen Streams. The English have indeed
lost much valuable time; the next few weeks should show if the Boers
have understood to take advantage of it. But there seems to be too
little plan and too little organisation among them."
The loss of time was deplored on all hands, but Lord Roberts, rather
than do things imperfectly, was content to wait. There was no use in
attempting to hammer at the demoralised Boers till, rail, horses, and
constitutions being in working order, his tools should be equal to the
task required of them.
But the Chief, though stationary, was not allowing the grass to grow
under his feet. It must be remembered that prior to his entry into
Bloemfontein he had been marching and fighting for a month away from the
railway, and that his primary duties had been, first, to capture and
secure the railroad; second, to repair it and get it, together with
bridges, &c., in working order; and thirdly, to shift his base from Cape
Town to Port Elizabeth, a distance of 750 miles, by a single line of
rails with a rise of 4500 feet. Much time had also been spent in
defeating detached forces of the enemy which threatened his
communications with Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, and blocked them from
East London.
The question of horses, too, was a most important one, one which could
not be settled without much delay, because, do what it might, the
Government could scarcely send them off with sufficient haste to meet
the demand. During the first four months of the new year there had been
shipped, as remounts, in addition to those sent with the troops, 27,041
horses and 17,143 mules. A further supply was expected in May,
consisting of 7500 horses and 4500 mules, and after that date another
batch of 7500 horses and 20,000 mules was to be forwarded. The total of
remounts bought since the opening of 1900 was about 42,000 horses and
23,000 mules! But, until the steady flow of these into the country
commenced, the great final move could not be more than planned out.
[Illustration: STRATHCONA'S HORSE.
Photo by Pittaway, Ottawa.]
The art of battle had resolved itself into a question of pace. The Boers
had taught us that to be successful we must be slim, swift, and sudden.
Lord Roberts decided that there must be no breathing-time, that their
cunning commandos must not be permitted to collect, and that mounted
troops must be met by mounted troops. It began to be evident that the
army of the future would need to gallop--machine guns with the Horse
Artillery, Royal Engineers with the cavalry, while guns of position and
traction engines would have to follow a corresponding process of
activity! With flying cavalry and mounted infantry must also go flying
engineers, ready to take their share in schemes of scientific
demolition, effective destruction of lines and culverts and bridges,
which cannot be remedied under the loss of days--days which will mean
the success or the failure of the enterprise in hand. In fact, hereafter
a vast and wonderful military dictionary will be comprised in the word
"mobility."
To the ordinary mind the question of mobility resolves itself into a
mere matter of mounted men. It is almost impossible to follow the
extraordinary ramifications strategically and tactically connected with
the term. To increase the mobility of the army--the problem which had to
be faced by Lord Roberts on his arrival at the Cape and again at
Bloemfontein--it was, above all things, imperative to have quicker
moving transport; strategically, a leader would be hand-tied without it.
After this it was necessary to provide for perpetual relays of mounts
for the cavalry with far less weight on the saddle, and to feed up the
infantry, and thus restore to the men their mental and muscular
elasticity. Tactical mobility was dependent on these considerations, and
they had to be faced equally with the great difficulty of how to deal
with the daily increasing number of sick. The Boers had been given too
much breathing-time at first, and the delay had to be made up for by the
hurried and costly swoop on Cronje, which turned the tide of British
fortune. It was now important that another rush should be made--a rush
without the "intervals for refreshments" which had served the Boers so
conveniently, and enabled their recuperative courage to assert
itself--and to organise this a somewhat long halt was obligatory.
The Chief now intended to make the capital the advanced base for the
invasion of the Transvaal, and decided to attempt no further move till
sixty days' supplies should have arrived from the Cape. The
heterogeneous units of Imperial and Colonial troops now called for
redistribution. Gaps had to be filled in and "inefficients" weeded out.
General Warren was put into civil charge of Griqualand West; General
Nicholson was given charge of the transport--a thankless and onerous
post; General Chermside took over the Third Division from General
Gatacre; General Hunter was drawn with Barton's Brigade from Natal to
the Free State side; Generals Pole-Carew and Rundle got Divisions; and
General Ian Hamilton was appointed to the command of a Division of
Mounted Infantry, 11,000 men in all, composed of two Brigades, each of
four corps, with batteries of artillery attached. The remounting of the
cavalry and Mounted Infantry was an undertaking needing time and help
from all parts of the British world. Activities were not all serious,
however.
Bloemfontein boasted a newspaper. It was styled the _Friend of the Free
State_. Before many days were over it had changed hands, and had become
the perquisite of the war correspondents. It was now run on Imperial
lines, and formed the organ of official communications during the
military occupation of the capital. But for that reason it did not lose
the sense of humour with which the freelances of the press--Rudyard
Kipling among them--were bubbling. A specimen of the jocosity of our
exuberant scribes serves as a memento of a wonderful period.
"STINKOSSMULEFONTEIN"
THE DESCRIPTIVE ART
We have often felt that the gallant members of Lord Roberts'
force, although themselves daily engaged in doing deeds which
will live in history, yet have to exercise a vast amount of
patience before they can read for themselves the brilliant,
graphic, and wonderful accounts of their doings sent home by
the war correspondents attached to the force. England is three
weeks away, and it is a long time for the gallant soldier to
wait to see his name in all the glory of leaded type. With the
usual enterprise of the _Friend_, we have--we will not say
how--managed to see and copy the telegrams sent home by the
leading correspondents describing the action at
Stinkossmulefontein Kopje. It was not, it is true, a very big
engagement, for two companies of Mounted Infantry were sent to
see if there were any Boers in the said kopje. They found them
there--in the usual manner--one man wounded and six horses--and
then retired to report the fact. That is the bare solid truth
of the whole thing; now for the correspondents' accounts:--
_Times_ (London):--Human element in what commonly supposed be
machine, namely, two companies Mounted Infantry to-day severely
tried. To put to-day's action form algebraic equation situation
briefly this Boers keen-eyed, rugged held kopje (forget name
kopje but know stink and fontein in it but see Reuter) sitting
behind boulders, while other portion equation represented two
companies Mounted Infantry (don't know commander or regiment
see Reuter) is possible work whole thing algebraically Boer on
kopje equal ten Mounted Infantry advancing along level plain
therefore fifty boers on kopje more than match for two hundred
Mounted Infantry advancing across plain whole thing followed
mathematical sequence Mounted Infantry returned from kopje
having tried solve impossible equation.
_Daily Telegraph_ (London):--Early morning while camp asleep
rose prepared my coffee saddled horse left camp each side lay
poor wearied soldiers fast asleep dreaming doubtless home
mothers wives sweethearts some tossed uneasily hard veldt moon
shone pouring paling with silver light features [please insert
here one my night-before-battle scenes No. 4] but I could not
help feeling Army doing wrong sleep knew enemy front determined
myself go forward find out position enemy passed outlying
picket told officer keep good look out as knew enemy front
officer answer and actually wished prevent me passing picket
but when told him my name allowed pass sun now rising glorious
[insert sunrise scene No. 2] moved cautiously forward saw near
distance kopje approached near suddenly whole kopje burst forth
into flame of flashes bullets whizzed past but I remained still
counting carefully each flash till I found out exactly number
Boers then putting spurs galloped back full speed flying past
picket sentries horse lines arrived myself and horse breathless
Field Marshal's cart dismounted saluted told him I had
discovered fifty enemy in position four miles on. Field marshal
drinking coffee said thank you continued eating breakfast I
then developed to him my plan campaign drew statement correct
map. Field marshal continued breakfast again said thank you I
left him field marshal following my plan ordered two companies
Mounted Infantry reconnoitre position which did with loss one
man six horses wounded [insert famous "Vulture Scene"].
_Daily News_ (London):--Again British arms successfully came
contact enemy locating position number with great exactness
early morning two companies mounted infantry under Major Jones
pushed just as sun tinging kopjes with ruby light saw kopje
front which from indications appeared be held enemy opening
into skirmishing order small force advanced till within rifle
range when enemy opened heavy fire Major Jones having found
what he wanted immediately ordered retirement of force without
replying to enemys fire our loss man wounded six horses enemys
loss unknown but must be enormous value of horses wounded about
L150.
_Cape Times_ (Capetown):--Morning opened with soft breezes from
north just sufficient to shake mimosa bushes into sweet
rustling music when I rose rode forward fully sure that I
should see something and I did for before we rode forward two
gallant companies of Mounted Infantry having, it is true, none
of the shining pomp war for every button, every shining bit of
steel or metal covered with kharki still little force looked
gallant enough reminded me one James Grant's novels. Veldt was
green with recent rains there was a freshness in the air
everything was peaceful around me but in front was war and
wounds and death. I stood on rising ground and saw before me a
panorama unfolded the little band of British soldiers
approaching the grim kopje where lay the watchful Boer. Closer
and closer rode our men and now I could see them open out and
work like a perfect machine round the bases of the kopje and
then across the still morning air came the ominous crack! which
told me that the grim game had commenced crack! crack! crack!
followed in quick succession the Boers were firing on our men
whose orders were simply to feel for the enemy, but they not
only felt for him, but also felt him for as we retired one man
was wounded in the fleshy part of the arm, and through six
horses Boer bullets passed though without fatal effects. And
then I rode back with the little force who in spite of the
shower of lead which had passed through their ranks laughed and
chaffed and thought only of their coming breakfast.
_Cape Argus_ (Capetown):--Early this morning two companies
Mounted Infantry under Major Jones proceeded west came into
touch with enemy at Stinkossmulefontein Kopje which lies on
farm belonging old Pete Bumbleknuckel who well known Rand
circles his daughter married Jacobus Pimplewinkel who lost an
eye fighting in the Langberg Campaign his cousin maternal side
is Jack Jackson who is one of General Brabant's most active
Scouts. But to return to the skirmish the mounted infantry
succeeded in locating the enemy retired having effected their
object with the loss of one man and six horses wounded on way
back I met native who told me commander Boer force Lucus
Prussic old personal friend mine who curious to relate still
owes me five pounds which borrowed just before I left
Johannesburg.
_Daily Mail_ (London):--Shakespeare said better lie bed than go
fighting early morning. I agree but Plutarch said man who lies
abed when work abroad moral coward am not moral coward but all
same wish people fight decent hours fancy going out fighting
cold raw morning nothing in stomach but one miserable cup cocoa
however went being late lost my way instead witnessing fight
British side found myself next Boer who not perceive me firing
over our men by happy interposition Providence managed reach
our men leaving behind enemy's hand one horse Cape cart pipe
lucky get off with life insensibly reminded celebrated lines
Heine "wo ist mein pferd und mein kaap-tart?" no breakfast when
arrived camp kept thinking how Boers enjoying my sausages
drinking my whisky Boers must be destroyed now, with spirit old
Roman I now say "delendi sunt Boeri" though I have greater
reason for saying so since Hannibal's soldiers never stole
sausages and whisky from Roman correspondents.
_Morning Post_ (London):--Stinkossmulefontein mounted Jones
reconnoitred kopje half dismounted half rear enemy fired
returned front. Experience say half gone left flank greater
success turning movement only against Boers see Page 431
Napoleonic Legends also Life Moltke Page 239 Battle
Schweitzerkaesse. Had Jones read more Schweitzerkaesse--no
Moltke--would capture whole army waggons. Paper should impress
importance this all arms.
_Reuter_ (London):--Stinkossmulefontein Thursday via
Disselboomlaagte per despatch riders--Yesterday two companies
Mounted Infantry Major Jones under orders General Flanker
proceeded reconnoitre kopje was present what some may call
unimportant rearguard action can say was most important event
entire expedition at distance 2033.4216 yards enemy opened
fire. Jones dismounted A company, B company sent E.N.E. by E.
direction rear enemy. At 6.31/2 a.m. front rank left section A
after returned fire 6.41/4 a.m. Trooper Metford, fourth man rear
rank right section A received wound four inches below left
elbow. Having ascertained strength enemy force returned camp
object reconnaissance accomplished six horses missing five
receiving wounds sixth left behind with staggers not shot as
some declare.
Every one exerted himself to make the newspaper a success, and, as may
be imagined, the journal became a source of merriment and delight. Nor
was it without pathos. Mr. Rudyard Kipling, whose patriotic feeling had
dragged him to the scene of action to view the British flag as erected
there by Mr. Thomas Atkins, contributed his quota. On the death of Mr.
G. W. Steevens, the brilliant young war correspondent, who died in
Ladysmith, he wrote the following lines:--
"Through war and pestilence, red siege and fire,
Silent and self-contained, he drew his breath.
Brave not for show of courage, his desire:
Truth as he saw it, even to the death."
The Naval Brigade was now busy furbishing itself up, and veritably began
to look as "fresh as paint." The guns received new coats, and the
Bluejackets and marines made themselves spick and span. It is not often
that Tommy waxes enthusiastic over Jack, but over the conduct of the
Naval Brigade he was even eloquent. One writing home said:--"It was a
good job the Boers did not make a stand at Bloemfontein, for it would
have been a great pity to have had to destroy so fine a town. It would
not have taken us long to have made the town a heap of stones, as in
addition to our ordinary batteries, we had with us 'Joe Chamberlain' and
five of his 'chums' belonging to the Naval Brigade. I hope when the war
is over you at home will not forget the splendid service of the Naval
men. I for one shall never forget the way in which they dragged their
heavy guns across a most difficult country, or the manner in which they
handled them in the face of the enemy." On the 21st the Brigade, under
Captain Bearcroft, was inspected by Lord Roberts, who made one of the
charming and appropriate speeches which have always rendered him so
popular. He thanked the Brigade for the excellent work done in the
campaign, and wished good luck to those about to rejoin their ship. The
Chief also eulogised the splendid service of Captain Lambton and his men
in saving the situation at Ladysmith.
Meanwhile on the east and south of the Free State things were not
entirely comfortable. Commandant Olivier and his hordes, with their
usual cunning, assisted by their remarkable mobility, were flitting
about, now withdrawing before General Brabant, now evading the equally
cunning and active French, now laying in wait for unprotected
detachments, or hanging about railway lines in order to wreck them, but
making themselves scarce with lightning velocity when a hint of British
reinforcements was given by the appearance of a dust-cloud on the
horizon. Fortunately our officers on the principal line of
communications were so vigilant and cautious that the rail, running
through some hundred miles of hostile ground, was safely protected.
On the 23rd of March an unlucky incident took place in the neighbourhood
of Karee Siding. Some officers of the Guards Brigade rode off from Glen
Camp in the early morning to make arrangements with the local farmers
for ensuring forage and supplies. Glen Siding is a station on the Orange
Free State Railway some fourteen miles north of Bloemfontein. Near here
the Brigade of Guards and a force of Mounted Infantry had been stationed
owing to the destruction by the Boers of a bridge on the Modder. Other
troops were posted at intervals along the line of rail in order to watch
over the enemy and prevent any further efforts at dynamite wrecking. On
this day the party consisted of Colonel Crabbe, 3rd Grenadiers (who
greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Belmont, and was
wounded); Colonel Codrington, Coldstreams; Adjutant Hon. E. Lygon, who
was also wounded at Belmont; Captain Trotter, and an orderly, Private
Turner of the 1st Cape Volunteers. Why, when officers of high rank were
so extremely valuable, these two Colonels should have thus recklessly
exposed themselves has never been satisfactorily explained. The day was
spent in making a tour of the farms, and everything went well until the
middle of the afternoon. While riding along close to a homestead called
Maas Farm, the Guards party discovered that four mounted men were making
for a kopje as though to head them off. Whereupon the party instantly
advanced to meet the enemy. These promptly hid themselves behind the
friendly boulders, where they were joined by three other Dutchmen, who
assisted them in pouring a smart shower of lead upon the approaching
officers. These, with only four Lee-Metfords between them, made an
effort to get at the unseen enemy, but in a very few moments all the
members of the British band had dropped. Colonel Crabbe had a bullet
through arm and leg, and his horse was killed. Colonel Codrington was
injured in the thigh. Lieutenant Lygon was shot through the heart and
died instantaneously, while Captain Trotter and Private Turner were also
wounded. The situation was a lamentable one. The veldt was strewn with
helpless men, while from the kopje the Dutchmen continued to fire, the
flute-like song of the Mauser falling ominously on the ears of the
gallant men who were unable to move a limb in defence. Then between the
prostrate Colonels a debate took place. Now that resistance was useless,
each invited the other to display a white handkerchief. One refused
because he declared he couldn't--his handkerchief was a crimson one. The
other refused because he vowed he wouldn't--his handkerchief was a
British one, and never manufactured for waving at Boers. But, finally,
he was brought to reason, and immediately on the display of the magic
square the Boers ceased fire. They now emerged from their boulders,
tended the wounded, spoke apologetically of their good marksmanship, and
finally carried off their prizes to the neighbouring farm. Here the
prisoners were fed and carefully looked after till evening. A messenger
was sent to the Guards' Camp at Glen requesting surgeons and an
ambulance to remove the wounded to their headquarters, and on the
arrival of the medical party the officers were given up by their captors
and allowed to return to camp in their charge. They were relieved of
their warlike belongings, firearms, and glasses, &c., but their private
effects remained in their pockets undisturbed.
The body of the Hon. E. Lygon was also removed, but the next day, in
accordance with the wishes of his family, it was interred in the wild
and lonely spot where he met his death.
On the 27th of March Sir Alfred Milner arrived at Bloemfontein on a
private visit, and was met by Lord Roberts and his Staff. General French
returned from Thabanchu after having occupied the town and captured the
flour-mills.
Lord Kitchener also reappeared. His operations had been short and to the
point. He came on the same day from Prieska, having received the
submission of some 200 rebels, and put to flight such of them as had no
taste for an encounter with "the man of ice and iron" as the Italians
called the hero of Omdurman.
Towards Ladybrand news was less satisfactory. The British loyalists,
owing to their sympathy with their fellow-countrymen, were subjected to
annoyance and cruelty. Many of them were captured, imprisoned, and some
were sent to Kroonstad, which had been declared to be the capital of the
Free State. Daily, English farmers were commandeered, robbed,
threatened. The smart activities of Olivier had produced a lamentable
effect on the state of affairs, as it was now impossible to afford full
protection to the farmers in the south-east and east who had surrendered
their rifles, and who were subjected to the vengeful barbarity of the
Boers. The mistaken policy of leniency to the Free Staters was now being
demonstrated, the "live and let live" principle having helped Olivier to
gather together under his banner such of the enemy as had met us with a
Janus-faced surrender. Those who fight and run away, live to fight
another day; and on this cautious code the Free Staters had modelled
their manners, so as to reserve themselves for further truculent
exploits. Again British magnanimity was mistaken for weakness, and the
temporary success of their manoeuvres in the east was causing the Boers
to indulge in reprisals of abominable kind on British born people, whose
action in surrendering was the only possible one in the circumstances. A
rumour existed that the late President Steyn had issued orders that all
British burghers refusing to fight with the Boer army would be shot.
On the 27th of March a formidable figure was removed from the drama in
South Africa. General Joubert, who had long been in somewhat delicate
health (so much so that in his campaigns he was accompanied by his wife,
who cooked for him), now suddenly succumbed to an acute attack of
inflammation of the kidneys. General Joubert was much esteemed by all
who knew him. In him the Boers lost not only a remarkable commander, but
an enlightened and level-headed politician. It was declared that had the
General succeeded to the Presidency in 1895, the whole Uitlander
agitation would have ceased to exist. The deceased Dutchman had
moderately progressive views, and he announced his belief that the
demand for a five years' franchise was a reasonable one. He also
discountenanced the idea of war, and in many ways used the influence he
had with his countrymen in the cause of reason and liberality of
outlook. At times he seemed to desire friendly co-operation with Great
Britain. For this cause he was accused by his more narrow countrymen of
being half-hearted in the Africander cause, and was intrigued against by
Mr. Kruger and such of the subsidised sympathisers as the President
could gather around him. Still his attitude may be gauged by his famous
speech in 1878:--
"I have been to England, and have with my own eyes seen the might of
that mighty nation. And let me tell you that England is a very mighty
nation--in my opinion the mightiest in the world. But, thank God, it is
not almighty." And his motto, which he invented for himself, was, "Trust
in God, and fight England."
On hearing the news of General Joubert's death, Lord Roberts sent the
following to President Kruger:--
"I have just received the news of General Joubert's death, and
desire at once to offer my sincere condolence to your Honour
and the burghers of the South African Republic on the sad
event.
"I would ask you to convey to General Joubert's family the
expression of my most respectful sympathy in their sad
bereavement, and to assure them also from me that all ranks of
her Majesty's forces serving in South Africa share my feeling
of deep regret at the sudden and untimely end of so
distinguished a general, who devoted his life to the service of
his country, and whose personal gallantry was only surpassed by
his humane conduct and chivalrous bearing under all
circumstances."
On the afternoon of the 29th the funeral took place, and many wreaths
were sent by the British officers in the Pretoria prison.
THE BATTLE OF KARREE
Karree Station is situated some seventy miles north of Bloemfontein, and
here the Dutchmen were distributed on kopjes commanding the railway west
and north. As they promised to be an impediment to further progress,
Lord Roberts decided that they must be removed. Generals Tucker, Wavell,
and Chermside, with infantry and artillery, were already in the
vicinity. To join them General French started from Bloemfontein with
reinforcements on the 28th of March. These consisted of a Cavalry
Brigade composed of 12th Lancers, the Carabineers, the Greys, the
Australian Horse, a Mounted Infantry Brigade, Kitchener's Horse, and
three Vickers-Maxim guns under Colonel Le Gallais.
[Illustration: Mr M. T. STEYN.
LATE PRESIDENT ORANGE FREE STATE.
From "South Africa" by permission of the Publishers.]
The artillery planted their shells with admirable exactness on the
kopjes west of Karree where the enemy had ensconced himself. Meanwhile,
in a wonderful and almost invisible manner, an enveloping movement was
organised, Colonel Le Gallais, the Mounted Infantry, and Kitchener's
Horse operating on the right wing, while General French with 1st and 3rd
Cavalry Brigades were on the left. General Chermside's Brigade was on
the right centre, and General Wavell's on the left centre. About midday
the enemy was discovered near a farmhouse some two miles east of Karree.
The Dutchmen then began to fire from some small kopjes, on the infantry.
From this point they were routed by the smart action of the Norfolks,
but they continually reappeared, there being some five thousand of them,
under Grobler, occupying four different positions, with a frontage some
three miles long. Both ends of the position were strengthened by
trenches and guns. The right flank consisted of a thickly wooded hill
connected with the main position by a ridge also covered with scrub.
The left was protected by an incrustation of minor kopjes, and round
these fastnesses the Boers clung tenaciously.
The finest performance of the day was that of the East Lancashires, who,
with comparatively small loss, eventually succeeded in moving the enemy
from his main stronghold. The City Imperial Volunteers also
distinguished themselves, the men advancing the first time under fire
with the utmost coolness.
While the enemy were retreating from the assault of the Lancashires
General French's guns opened on them, and with such good result that the
fight was practically at an end, for the Boers having begun to beat a
retreat were forced finally to scuttle off as fast as legs would carry
them. Till sunset the artillery continued to direct deadly attentions to
the various kopjes, thus deciding the Dutchmen that their efforts to run
and return would be of no avail. Dusk was setting in, and consequently
the cavalry failed to pursue them, and they succeeded once more in
getting away clear. Owing to the rapidity with which the night came on,
most of the troops, who had experienced some very trying hours of
fighting, bivouacked where they were.
The battery on the right centre was unable to come into action owing to
the nature of the ground, which was sliced with ravines and blotched
with irregularities, but nevertheless the upshot of the day's work was
satisfactory, as the country as far as the little town of
Brandfort--important to us in our future operations--was swept clear of
the enemy, and henceforth the British outposts covered the ground gained
and preserved it from further incursions of the nimble Dutchmen.
The casualties were numerous:--
King's Own Scottish Borderers.--_Killed._--Capt. A. C. Going.
_Wounded._--Lieut. E. M. Young, dangerously (since dead);
Second Lieut. B. J. Coulson; Capt. W. D. Sellar. Norfolk
Regiment.--Capt. E. Peebles; Capt. A. H. Luard. Lincolnshire
Regiment.--Capt. L. Edwards. South Wales Borderers.--Lieut. W.
C. Curgenven. Hampshire Regiment.--Lieut. C. N. French. 1st
Dragoon Guards.--Capt. W. M. Marter (Brigade Major).