CHAPTER VIII

GUERILLA WARFARE

With the ceremony of the formal annexation of the Transvaal, under title

of the Transvaal Colony, which took place at Pretoria on the 25th of

October, a recrudescence of hostility on the part of the enemy became

apparent. A violent attack was made on Jacobsdaal (near Kimberley), the

Boers having succeeded in secreting themselves in the houses surrounding

the British camp, and this through the treachery of the women whom we

were protecting! The attack was repulsed after some hours of hard

fighting by the energy of the garrison (composed mainly of Cape Town

Highlanders), and by the dash of Finlayson in charge of the Cape Mounted

Police who came to the rescue, routed the Boers, and killed Bosman their

Commandant. Fourteen of the garrison were slain and thirteen wounded, and

the sole punishment which could be meted out to the dastardly inhabitants

who had been "accessories" of the assault was the burning of their

houses. In three of these were found large stores of soft-nosed bullets.

General Paget, who was becoming quite a master in the cunning of the

guerillas, made himself notable for defeating a huge gang of Dutchmen

with a convoy, taking--together with twenty-six prisoners--some 25,000

head of cattle--"the biggest haul of the campaign." The Boers had been

driven out of the region of Bethlehem, which was occupied by Colonel

Oakes with the Worcesters, 62nd Middlesex Yeomanry, and two guns of the

79th Battery. The marauders were further routed from a valuable well some

miles off by Colonel Golightly, Imperial Yeomanry, with Hants and

Gloucester companies, and two companies of Grenadier Guards, and half a

battalion of Scots Guards. During the operations young Lord G. R.

Grosvenor (Scots Guards) while gallantly leading his company, was wounded

in the thigh. Meanwhile Lord Methuen, with General Douglas and Lord

Erroll, by a skilfully combined movement, dislodged and dispersed the

enemy from his settling-place near Zeerust, and possessed himself of more

cattle and more prisoners. General Barton, too, with Scots and Welsh

Fusiliers, did smart work near Frederickstad, at close quarters and at

bayonets' point; but in the brush with De Wet lost thirteen killed and

forty-five wounded. The Boers suffered correspondingly, and twenty-six of

them were captured. Of the Scots Fusiliers Captain Baillie fell, while

Lieutenant Elliott was dangerously wounded. Captain Dick's injuries were

also severe, and Lieutenant Bruce was slightly wounded. Among the Welsh

Fusiliers' officers wounded were Captain Delmé Radcliffe and Lieutenants

Best and Nangle.

The plucky little garrison of Phillipolis, which for some days had been

withstanding the assault of the Boers, were relieved on the 24th, by the

Imperial Yeomanry acting in conjunction with two other columns, and two

days later, General Kitchener attacked by night the Boers around

Krugerspoort, and captured their laager. General French, ever active,

swept his way from Bethel to Heidelberg, fighting continuously, and

gathering up prisoners and stores; while General C. Knox on the 27th

harassed De Wet's force in its retreat from Barton's stalwart Fusiliers,

and succeeded in depriving the Dutchmen of two guns and three waggons,

while U Battery R.H.A. blew up another ammunition waggon by a shell. The

engagement was another feather in the cap of De Lisle, whose handling of

the troops was excellent. Of the two guns taken from De Wet one was a

Krupp. It was captured by the New South Wales Mounted Infantry. The other

belonged to U Battery, and was captured by Le Gallais's mounted troops,

assisted, much to the satisfaction of the officers and men, by U Battery.

General Hunter engaged in operations for the purpose of driving the Boers

from the line near Ventersburg, where they had been intent on mischief

for some time, and in the fighting on the 30th a gallant officer of

Artillery, Major Hanwell, commanding the 39th Battery, received such

serious injuries that he succumbed. A company of the 3rd Battalion of the

Buffs became hotly engaged, and behaved "with conspicuous steadiness,"

while the Surrey Regiment, charging grandly, sent the Boers scudding into

space.

To those at home who ignore the truth of the German's dictum that

"invading armies melt away like snow," it was a matter of wonder what

became of the enormous force of some 200,000 men which was reported to be

in South Africa, and how it happened that, with so many troops engaged,

the proportionately small number of Boers attacking them achieved any

success whatever. A glance at the map of the main railway routes will

serve to show the melting-away process. At every bridge and at every

culvert were camps; at every village and at every town were posted

portions of the army. From Cape Town to Komati, from Durban to

Potchefstroom, from De Aar to Mafeking, from Mafeking to Pretoria, and

from Mafeking to Rhodesia the British forces were distributed, and far

from wondering why the regiments thus trickling along the country failed

to annihilate the Boers, those who knew were inclined to marvel that

there were any regiments to spare for giving chase to the marauders in

their desultory schemes of annoyance. The British duty of sticking fast

was infinitely more arduous than the Boer one of slipping away.

On the 28th a Boer commando captured near Kroonstad an outpost of ninety

volunteers, and proceeded to loot a mail train, but later General Paget

at Magato Pass drove the enemy from two positions. Night expeditions to

surprise the Dutchmen were engaged in by Lord Kitchener and General

Smith-Dorrien, the former near Lydenburg attacking two Boer laagers, one

under Schalk Burger, and driving the Dutchmen north, the latter moving

towards Witkop and surrounding the enemy, but failing to do the damage

intended owing to inclement weather. A more awful night than that of the

1st of November the unhappy troops could scarcely recollect, but as the

two small columns, one under General Smith-Dorrien and the other under

Colonel Spens (Shropshire Light Infantry), were operating in support of

each other and some miles apart, neither could turn back. Only after

surrounding and surprising the Boers at daybreak were they able to

retire, and no sooner was the retirement commenced than the Boers boldly

dashed after them, one of their number being slain within fifty yards of

the Gordons. Our losses were Captain Chalmers, Canadian Mounted Rifles,

killed, and Major Saunders, of the same corps, wounded. Captain Gardyne

of the Gordons sustained slight injuries.

The circumstances attending the death of Captain Chalmers were most

pathetic. Major Saunders, in the thick of a blizzard of fire, was riding

back with a sergeant who had lost his horse, and to whose rescue he had

bravely galloped. At this moment the Major's horse, which was cumbered

with the two riders, was killed, and the Major himself wounded. To his

assistance rushed Chalmers, who, though begged to save himself, refused,

and promptly fell a sacrifice to his own gallantry.

Such deeds of heroism were occurring daily. Though at home public

interest in the war began to wane, and certain notoriety hunters

endeavoured to hint that the British troops were not as smart as they

might be, the gallant men at the front fought and toiled and suffered

nobly. Besides actual warfare, pillage and the wrecking and burning of

trains formed part of the normal programme, and daily deeds of devotion

and courage were enacted. But these deeds, as a rule, found none to

record them, and only now and then some special instance of heroism was

wafted home on the wires. In one case the _Pall Mall Gazette_ gave

publicity to a story that makes one glory in the name of Briton. About

this time a train to the south of Standerton, on the Natal line, was

"stuck up" and fired upon. The driver and stoker were both wounded, the

former being hit eight times and having both his arms smashed. Nothing

daunted, however, he butted the lever of his engine with his head, and

drove it full speed into Standerton, working the lever the whole way with

his head alone!

The Boers, some said, were growing disheartened for want of food and

ammunition, but others found that as the want grew stronger they became

emboldened. Success of any serious kind was impossible, but their

capacity for annoyance was considerable, and Boer marauding bands

continued to raid the neighbourhoods of Cradock, Aliwal North, Ladybrand,

causing alarm to the British farmers and also to those Boer ones who were

pacifically inclined. The hopes of the guerillas were mainly stayed by

the inventive fertility of Mr. Steyn, who stimulated them to the struggle

by false accounts of their successes. He assured them also that 5000

Dutchmen had risen in Cape Colony, and that Mr. Kruger had gone to Europe

to obtain intervention, and, failing it, meant to sell the Transvaal to

the highest bidder. This the sturdy fellows believed, and continued to

fight on, not with the valour of despair, but the persistence of

anticipation.

* * * * *

Meanwhile at home, on the 25th of September, Parliament had been

dissolved, and a general election had taken place, with the result that

Lord Salisbury's Government triumphantly returned to power. Thus the

hopes of the Boers--that with a Radical Government might come a

repetition of the climb-down policy of '81--were defeated. To vent his

disgust, and as a sequel to his letter of a year ago,[15] the

correspondent signing himself P. S. sent another highly educational

letter to the London journals, a letter which is quoted to serve, as did

the former one, to allay the doubt of any who may have questioned the

original aggressiveness of the Boers, or doubted the justice of the war

sentiment among the British:--

"SIR,--I beg you to give expression to the immense surprise and

satisfaction with which my colleagues on the Continent and

myself have learnt the results of the election. We fully

expected that in consequence of British intoxication with the

partial success your Government has achieved in North and South

Africa, that the Anti-Boer Party would have obtained a majority

of at least two hundred and twenty votes in the new Parliament.

Now we know that there will be a strong Opposition of about two

hundred and seventy members in the new House, our hopes of the

future independence of South Africa have risen high. We are

sorry for the loss of some old friends, but we rejoice in

having some new and more discreet allies in the House of

Commons. Not only that, but we see also good grounds for hope

for vengeance. In China, India, and Morocco trouble is brewing,

and will overtake you before you can reorganise your little

military forces or form a decent army to protect your own land

from the invasion of the trained millions of the Continental

Powers. Soon there will be such a conflagration in Europe that

all your energies will be needed to try to defend your own

island, but you will be too late in your preparations, and then

our chance will come.

"You seek to settle matters quickly in Africa by your leniency

and conceding the use of the Dutch language to us. See 'British

Leniency,' in _Morning Post_, Saturday 13th inst. But I tell

you that your leniency in general and your kindness to our men,

now prisoners in your hands, are regarded by us only as bribes,

offered to us to be faithless to our land and our independence.

We will accept your bribes, but we will not be seduced by them

to accept your friendship and to cease from working for our

independence and the downfall of your Empire. But as my

Continental colleagues truly say, your destruction at an early

date is assured. The present election shows that at the first

sign of invasion fully one-third of the population of the

island of Great Britain will rise against the Government and

welcome the invaders, as their forefathers would have done in

the days of the first Napoleon.

"We have not studied the domestic history of the English people

and the present feelings of the great working class for

nothing. We are not so blind as your statesmen. Moreover, we

can pay for the services that we shall receive from our

friends. Thanks to our previous arrangements we shall still be

able to obtain in Europe the sinews of war from our

inexhaustible gold mines in the Transvaal, and we know that

European politicians as well as the European press can always

be bought at a moderate price, and that they will faithfully

render good service therefor.--Yours, &c.

"P. S."

In this frank epistle we were given the programme of future guerilla

warfare, of Boer hopes, and Boer ambition. Whether the European

politicians and press would continue to be purchasable at "a moderate

price" remained to be seen, but this honest avowal revealed the secret of

Pro-Boerism in its nakedness, and served to account most appositely for

many curious and unjustifiable assertions which have been made regarding

British actions in the course of the war. While Boer gold existed, Europe

and even Great Britain would find Judases ready to do business.

The Dutchmen, their political prospects in Great Britain blighted, now

hung all their expectations on the chance that in America the

Presidential election of 6th of November would bring about a change in

their favour. Mr. M'Kinley, the President, in a private interview with

the Boer delegates on the 2nd of May, had informed them of his intention

to persist in a policy of impartial neutrality between Great Britain and

the Boer Republics, and from that moment they looked to the

Opposition--to Mr. Bryan and Democrat sympathisers--for the intervention

that they still eagerly sought. But in America they met with even less

luck than in England. The election resulted in an overwhelming victory

for the Republicans. Mr. M'Kinley secured 292 electoral votes, while Mr.

Bryan had to content himself with 155.

[Illustration: BURNING THE FARM OF A TREACHEROUS BURGHER

Drawing by R. Caton Woodville, from a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist]

In France the Boer cause met with sympathy, and the late President of the

Transvaal on arrival there was fêted. He was the lion of the moment--but

political activity went no further than lionising. In Holland the gentle

young Queen extended hospitality to a distinguished fellow-countryman; in

Germany a straightforward line was taken, the Emperor refused an

interview which might mar the hue of his neutrality; while in Russia the

Tzar, though seriously ill, maintained his determination not to be lured

into the imbroglio. But of these matters the burghers in the Transvaal

were kept in ignorance, and they doggedly fought on--wearing themselves

out and losing and taking life for a now hopeless cause.

On the 3rd of November Koffyfontein, which had been besieged since the

24th of October, was relieved by Sir Charles Parsons and some of General

Settle's Mounted troops. The dogged way in which a garrison of but fifty

miners under a volunteer officer, Captain Robertson of the Kimberley

Light Horse, withstood the persistence of the foe, excited the admiration

of friends and enemies. The miners in the débris heaps contrived so

cleverly to render their position impregnable that all the efforts of the

enemy were frustrated. Captain Robertson escaped with his life by a

miracle. He, with four natives, made a midnight raid on a Boer hot-bed--a

farmhouse a mile and a half from the village. He was met by a man with a

Mauser, who fortunately missed him, but in so doing extinguished the

light. A hand-to-hand encounter followed, and in complete darkness some

thrilling moments were passed--the officer firing ineffectual shots, the

Boer being assisted by another of his tribe, who succeeded in disarming

Captain Robertson and wounding him, almost stunning him with the butt of

a rifle. This gallant officer, with some of his wits still about him,

regained his pistol, and transferring it from one hand to the other, shot

his assailant dead!

While all this was going forward, Steyn and De Wet became more actively

aggressive, and consequently Colonel Le Gallais's force was sent from

Honing Spruit, while De Lisle, with the Colonial Division, marched from

Koppies, the first station north of Rhenoster, for the purpose of

executing a wide turning movement, and if possible cutting off the

retreat of De Wet across the Vaal. Le Gallais, after some disappointments

and heavy marching, got at last on the track of the fugitive in the

region of Bothaville. Early on the 6th the chase was continued with

considerable animation, the 5th Mounted Infantry leading, followed by the

8th Corps under Colonel Ross. Three guns of U Battery, under escort of

the 5th, 17th, and 18th Companies of Imperial Yeomanry, moved with the

force, while one gun of U Battery, with the 7th Mounted Infantry under

Major Welsh, remained to protect the baggage in crossing the drifts.

Major Lean, with some sixty of the 5th Mounted Infantry in advance, came

to a rise, whence suddenly they viewed the enemy's laager. Quickly they

surprised the Boers with some volleys, and caused a stampede. Hot-foot

flew De Wet and Steyn to their Cape cart, mounted it, and were off. The

rest flung themselves into their stirrups. It was a case of _sauve qui

peut_, for everything, guns, waggons, and ammunition, were left behind.

But soon the Dutchmen found a harbour--a strong position in the

neighbourhood of a farmhouse, and from the adjacent dams, a stone-walled

enclosure, and even a pigsty, they began to return the fire of the

British party. By this time Colonels Le Gallais and Ross had galloped to

the fray, and dismounting, took up a position in a farmhouse, whence they

could survey the proceedings. This central position was held by some men

of the Oxford Light Infantry, while on their right were some Buffs and

Royal Irish Mounted Infantry under gallant Engelbach, who was slain, and

beyond them came Captain Holland and some Worcester Mounted Infantry,

skirted by the Royal Irish under Captain Brush. To left of the farmhouse,

near a Kaffir kraal, were the 8th Mounted Infantry and some men of the

Oxford Light Infantry under Captain Maurice. Later on, as the Boers were

seen to be making an effort to wheel round both flanks, Major Welsh was

ordered to place his baggage in safety and to push forwards to the

rescue with every available man. Meanwhile the situation was growing more

and more serious, as the Boers had got the range of the farmhouse to a

nicety, and fired through doors and windows, so that within it now

dropped Le Gallais, and Ross, and young Lieutenant Percy-Smith, and

several men. Lieutenant Williams fell dead at once, and Captain Colvile

had been hit while leading the Oxford Light Infantry earlier in the day.

Nevertheless the splendid party holding the front clung tenaciously to

their position, though one after another dropped, and groaning and dying

littered the ground, already too thinly defended against the 200 active

Mausers of the foe. For four long hours of the morning the battle pursued

its course, Major Taylor, with U Battery, paying with interest the debts

incurred at Koorn Spruit. Gradually--both flanks becoming stronger with

the arrival of Major Welsh and his party--an adequate defence against the

encroachments of the Boers was attempted, and their attempts at flanking

operations repulsed. Then with considerable skill the troops to right and

left were manoeuvred by De Lisle, so that, while relieving the pressure

on the front, the Boer laager was practically enclosed on three sides and

finally rendered untenable. The white flag then fluttered within the

Dutchman's stronghold; but it was not to be trusted now, and the Boers

were shouted to to leave cover and surrender, which, sulkily, they did.

During the persistent fighting Le Gallais, mortally wounded though he

was, continued his inquiries as to the progress of the battle. The noble

fellow's last words serve better than all else to show the heroic mould

of his dauntless mind: "If I die, tell my mother that I died happy, as we

got the guns!"[16] Happily he lived to know that, dearly bought as they

were, we were in possession of seven guns lost by the 14th Battery at

Colenso, a 12-pounder taken from Q Battery at Sanna's Post, three Krupp

75 mm., one "pom-pom," and one 37 mm. quick-firer--not to speak of stores

of gun and small-arm ammunition, black powder, dynamite, and other camp

supplies, and a "bag" of 100 prisoners. In addition to those already

mentioned, Major Welsh, Captains Harris and Mair, and Lieutenant Peebles

were wounded.

At the same time tussles innumerable were going forward in various

regions. Lord Methuen, near Ottoshoop, was harassing Snyman with success,

and the 3rd Royal Rifle corps near Heidelberg repulsed a party of raiders

without loss. Phillipolis was occupied by Major MacIntosh (Seaforth

Highlanders) with loss in wounded of several gallant Scotsmen and Surgeon

Hartley of Lovat's Scouts, and in the neighbourhood of Lydenburg a party

of the 19th Hussars and Manchester Mounted Infantry distinguished

themselves mightily, the troopers under Captain Chetwode charging by

moonlight into the midst of the enemy, who were finally routed by the

artillery and mounted infantry. The redoubtable Plumer also repulsed an

attack of 400 men under Delarey, and elsewhere--at Vrede, Reitz,

Harrismith, Pienaar's River--parties of guerillas, driven desperate by

famine, were beaten off with more or less ease. While the affair at

Bothaville was demonstrating the cool courage and tenacity of our troops,

General Smith-Dorrien's much-embattled braves were again displaying

devoted gallantry in the country between Belfast and Komati River. The

force consisted of 250 mounted men from the 5th Lancers, Canadian

Dragoons, and Mounted Rifles, two guns of the Canadian Royal Horse

Artillery, and four of the 84th Battery. With them were 900 of the

Suffolks and Shropshires. The Boers hung upon the front, flanks, and rear

of the troops from Belfast to Komati River, but here they established

themselves in a species of stronghold whence they thought they could not

be dislodged. Nevertheless the Suffolks and Canadian Rifles, creeping

round their flank, showed them their mistake, and caused them to retire.

The next day, reinforced, the Dutchmen returned and endeavoured again to

seize their lost ground, but Colonel Evans, with the Canadians and two

guns of the 84th Battery, had the legs of them, and after a two-mile race

disappointed the nimble ones and established themselves at the goal.

But all this activity was no child's play. On the 6th the smart force

lost six killed and twenty wounded, mostly gallant Shropshires, and on

the following day two were killed and twelve wounded of the Royal

Canadian Dragoons, whose splendid energy in keeping the enemy off the

infantry and convoys was highly extolled by the general. The fighting at

one time took place at extremely close quarters, for the Boers, contrary

to custom, charged the rearguard to within seventy yards, and were only

repulsed by the magnificent dash of the Canadian Dragoons, sixteen of

whom fell into the hands of the Boers. These were afterwards released.

Three plucky Canadian subalterns were among the wounded--Lieutenants

Elmsley, Turner, and Cockburn. Desultory fighting went on in various

directions, the Boers near Wepener, Standerton, and elsewhere maintaining

persistent activity, which did credit to their tenacity if not to their

common sense.

Notwithstanding the failure of the Cordua plot, the towns of Johannesburg

and Pretoria continued to seethe with disaffection and intrigue.

Anarchists and ruffians of all nations were known to be in league against

the authorities, and a strict watch was kept over their movements, with

the result that five Italians, four Greeks, and a Frenchman were arrested

on the 16th of November. They had prepared a diabolical plot against the

life of the Commander-in-Chief--their intention having been to explode a

mine in the church to be attended by him on the 18th--a plot which was

fortunately discovered before any ill consequences could arise. Minor

engagements took place near Frankfort, and Dainsfontein, fine hauls of

stock were made at Klersdorp and Heidelberg, near which regions were

nests of marauders.

A serious disaster occurred at Dewetsdorp on the 23rd of November, when

the garrison, some 400, consisting of 68th Field Battery, detachments of

Gloucesters, Highland Light Infantry, and Irish Rifles, the whole under

Major Massy, after losing fifteen killed and forty-two wounded,

surrendered to the enemy, who numbered about 2500. The Dutchmen, under De

Wet, had invested the place on the 18th, and poured a heavy fire on the

position occupied by the Highlanders, creeping nightly nearer and nearer,

and ceasing neither day nor night in their attack. The water supply was

cut off, and the wretched men were scorched by sun and torn by raging

thirst. By the 22nd their position was rendered untenable, but through

the gallantry of their comrades, the men were able to retire on their

main position. But the occupation of their trenches rendered the

situation hopeless, and ammunitionless and waterless, surrender was

inevitable.[17] A column, 1400, had been sent to the relief but failed to

arrive in time. General C. Knox joined this force and entered the town,

which he found evacuated, seventy-five sick and wounded being left

behind. He promptly pursued the Dutchmen, and caught Steyn and De Wet and

their followers near Vaalbank on the 27th, and handled them somewhat

roughly, scattering them west and north-west, and capturing two waggons

and stampeding 300 horses.

Engagements also took place between Plumer and some 500 malcontents near

De Wagen Drift, with the result that the enemy retired in confusion. At

Tiger Kloof on the 23rd, when the Scots Guards routed the foe from a

strong position, the Imperial Yeomanry did excellent work. Unfortunately

Lieutenant Southey, while gallantly leading his men, was shot dead, and

Major Hanbury was hit in three places. Near Springs in the Transvaal, on

the 25th, General Bruce Hamilton surprised a Boer laager, and on the

27th, at Bullfontein, Colonel White achieved a success, and drove the

enemy across the river, mainly through the dash and gallantry of the

troops under Colonel Forbes, and the skilful handling of them by the

commanding officer. General Settle, a day later, occupied Luckhoff, after

fighting for five hours and defeating Herzog's commando at Kloof.

General Paget, with Colonels Plumer and Hickman, with Queenslanders, New

Zealanders, and Tasmanian Bushmen, York, Warwick, and Montgomery

Yeomanry, some companies of West Riding and Munster Regiments, the 7th

and 38th Batteries, two "pom-poms," one Colt, one Maxim, and two naval

quick-firing 12-pounders, moved from the region north-east of Bronker's

Spruit on the 29th with a view to giving battle to the enemy, the plan

being for General Lyttelton to co-operate by sweeping up from Middelburg

on the enemy's rear. The synchronal arrangements were imperfect, and the

projected attacks did not proceed as intended. The enemy's lines were

longer than those of the British, and General Paget's attempt to turn

them was a failure, the enemy, some 2000 of them, being screened by

boulders as big as houses, behind which they were completely safe. To

left and right went Plumer and Hickman respectively, pushing on in a

leaden blast from the hidden foe, while on Hickman's right the gallant

West Ridings, led by their splendid Colonel--Colonel Lloyd--pressed to

the attack.

So close they came that the voices of the Dutchmen were to be heard in

conversation, but these with Mausers and four guns and friendly boulders

made themselves unassailable. Over seventeen hours of fighting cost the

West Riding their colonel, and the brilliant New Zealanders some thirty

killed and wounded, all the officers save one being hit. The wounded

officers were: Lieutenants Townsend and Oakes, Captain Acworth and

Lieutenant Harman, all of West Riding Regiment; Lieutenant Challis, Royal

Army Medical Corps, severely, being hit in three places while gallantly

attending wounded men under a heavy fire; Captain Crawshaw and

Lieutenants Montgomerie, Somerville, and Tucker, and Surgeon-Captain

Godfray, all of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. The total loss was

eighteen killed and fifty-eight wounded. At night the guns of General

Lyttelton came to work, and by morning the Boers had disappeared.

[Illustration: THE HARBOUR, BUFFALO RIVER, EAST LONDON

Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen]

By this time Lord Kitchener, with the local rank of General, had assumed

command of the troops in South Africa, Lord Roberts having started for

England in complete confidence that his successor would accomplish the

pacification of the country in due time. His work was most complicated,

for besides being impoverished by the scarcity of troops (the Volunteers

and Colonials having many of them left on the expiration of their year of

service), the lack of horses put a perpetual stopper on the flow of

military operations. Clausewitz has said that when cavalry is deficient,

"La riche moisson de la victoire ne se coupe pas plus alors à la faux,

mais à la faucille" (The rich harvest of victory is not cut with scythe

but with the sickle.) And never was the truth of his aphorism more keenly

felt than at this moment. The harvest of splendid victories that had been

achieved was being reaped with the sickle, and the reaping operations

were taking months, which, had mounts been available, would have taken

moments!

December opened with animation. General C. Knox, near the

Bethulie-Smithfield Road, on the 2nd harassed the Boers with a convoy and

succeeded in capturing seven prisoners. General Paget's mounted men

skirmished successfully around Lieufontein, and near Utrecht some of the

garrison engaged 200 of the foe for two and a half hours and put them to

flight, leaving six Dutchmen _hors de combat_.

In the Cape Colony the members of the Bond were preparing for a Congress,

and sundry chameleon complexioned gentlemen indulged in speeches

regarding the question of loyalty and future settlement, which were

sufficiently ambiguous to have served as examples in the art of blowing

hot and cold with the same mouth, but fortunately the eagle eye of

Kitchener was upon them and the result of their verbosity was a careful

readjustment of such forces as were at the Commander-in-Chief's disposal,

to advert any general rising among those who had previously been

pacified.

The Congress eventually took place at Worcester, and the freedom of

speech indulged in at the meeting was said to be responsible for the

aggressions of the Boers which subsequently took place. Mr. Cronwright

Schreiner declared that the British people had grossly failed in their

duty toward the people of Cape Colony, their attitude since the Raid

being one of dishonesty and cowardice. "British statesmen," he said, "had

been the tools of Capitalists. Their attitude had been to force war on

South Africa. Great Britain is now forcing British soldiers to wage war

with an inhumanity and barbarism that is astonishing the civilised

world." He dilated on the alleged wrong done to women and children

(already disproved to the satisfaction of every one), and proceeded to

harrow his audience by describing details. In conclusion he stormed, "We

Africanders will never acquiesce in Britain taking away the independence

of the Republics." In the end it was decided that an African mission to

Great Britain should demand: First, the termination of the war raging

with untold misery and sorrow--such as the burning of houses and the

devastation of the country, the extermination of the white nationality,

and the treatment to which women and children were subjected which would

leave a lasting heritage of bitterness and hatred, while endangering

further relations between civilisation and barbarism in South Africa.

Second, the retention by the Republics of their independence, whereby the

peace of South Africa can be maintained.

Meanwhile, Great Britain was taking her own steps for the maintenance of

lasting peace in South Africa. Parliament reassembled to vote a

continuance of the current of men, horses, weapons, and supplies, without

which the generals who were striving to bring guerilla-raiding to a

summary conclusion, would remain paralysed and resourceless.

The Boers achieved something of a success on the 3rd as they came across

a convoy of 140 waggons three miles long, proceeding in two sections from

Pretoria to Rustenburg, and succeeded in destroying the first section

(escorted by two companies of West Yorks, and two squadrons of the

Victoria Mounted Rifles, with two guns of the 75th Battery). Delarey,

hiding in a donga with 700 of his gang, waited till the convoy and men

got within effective range, and sent a shower of bullets into their

midst. The troops made a grand defence, set the guns trail to trail, and

blazed back at the approaching hordes who were now endeavouring to

surround them, with the result that the marauders failing to capture the

convoy satisfied themselves by setting fire to the waggons and retiring,

thus leaving the second section (escorted by two companies of the Argyll

and Sutherland Highlanders) unharmed. Our loss was fifteen killed and

twenty-three wounded, among the latter Lieutenant Baker, R.F.A.

On the 5th De Wet made an audacious attempt upon Cape Colony, which, in

spite of his marvellous acuteness and activity, proved a failure. He

crossed the Caledon and moved towards Odendaal, which was held by the 1st

Coldstreams. (It must here be noted that the Guards after their march to

Komati Poort, and a brief rest in the Transvaal, were moved to their old

hunting grounds on the Orange River, all the drifts of which they

assiduously guarded.) At Commassie Bridge he was completely worsted by

our troops and forced to trek to the north-east, and back over the

Caledon, leaving behind him 500 horses, many Cape carts, and a long

stream of dying and dead cattle. He was continually pursued and harassed

by General C. Knox, who captured a Krupp gun and a waggon-load of

ammunition, and kept up a running fight in the direction of Reddersburg;

which was said to be one of the most exciting episodes in the whole war.

On the 8th a Boer gang near Barberton made a violent and indeed valiant

lunge at the troops guarding the place. Though once repulsed by the

Mounted Infantry they again returned to the attack, and succeeded in

getting to very close quarters. The British lost three and had five

wounded and thirteen taken prisoners. These, as too troublesome to feed,

were afterwards released.

On 13th of December a grievous affair took place at Nooitgedacht on the

Magaliesberg, where General Clements with his force of 500 mounted men

and 400 Northumberland Fusiliers, while holding the tops of some kopjes

was attacked by 2500 kharki-clad Boers under Delarey. The foe crept up

without being recognised and seized vantage-points on the ridges, first

overpowering the Northumberland Fusiliers (who fought for hours till

ammunition was exhausted), and thereby rendering the position of the camp

untenable. Under a heavy fire guns and transport were moved, and a

second position one mile and a half to south-east taken, where till

afternoon the troops remained. Then they retired on Rietfontein, sixty of

the 12th Brigade of Mounted Infantry keeping the Boers at bay while the

movement was accomplished. The fighting was very severe, and five

officers and nine men were killed; eighteen officers and 555 men, most of

them Northumberland Fusiliers, were missing. As the natives bolted, a

considerable amount of transport was lost, though the Army Service Corps

vigorously defended the waggons. A most popular officer, Colonel Legge,

20th Hussars, was hit by three bullets, but was seen to shoot five Boers

with his revolver before he dropped. The other officers killed were

Captain Macbean, Dublin Fusiliers; Captain Murdoch, Cameron Highlanders;

and Captain Atkins, Wiltshire Regiment.

On the same day Colonel Blomfield (at this time in command of the

Lancashire Brigade) achieved a great success in the neighbourhood of

Vryheid. There, three days previously, the Boers had attacked and had

been driven off with a loss of about 100 killed and wounded, to our six

killed, nineteen wounded, and thirty missing. Unfortunately two gallant

officers of the Royal Lancaster Regiment were killed, Colonel Gawne and

Lieutenant Woodgate. Now the avenging Colonel swooped down on the

Dutchmen at Scheepers Nek, and drove them off in confusion, securing a

quantity of arms and stock, and inflicting heavy punishment. Two Naval

Volunteers, whose corps behaved splendidly, were killed. Lord Methuen at

the same time was helping to balance the Nooitgedacht account by

attacking two Boer positions in the region of Ottoshoop, and taking unto

himself fifteen ox waggons and Cape carts, 15,000 rounds of ammunition,

1460 head of cattle, and 2000 sheep. Unfortunately the roll of prisoners

was small; for the art of running away is simpler than the art of holding

on, and the chase ended, as chases usually ended, by the capture of a

handful of prisoners and a prodigious haul of waggons and cattle.

In the Zastron district a party of the 2nd Division of Brabant's

Horse--mostly raw recruits--got into difficulties on the 13th. They

became detached from the main body, were caught in a defile, and 120 of

them were taken prisoners. The captain in command was wounded in several

places, and the Colonials lost eight killed and eighteen wounded, three

of whom since died. At this time De Wet was retreating north, flying

towards the Thabanchu region from the pursuit of Knox, and struggling to

break through the British cordon. After delivering several ineffectual

assaults on the various British positions, on the 14th, he in person led

a gallant attack--charged through the British lines, and, with the loss

of thirty men killed and wounded, twelve prisoners, some waggons of

ammunition, a 15-pounder gun (taken at Dewetsdorp), a "pom-pom," and many

horses and mules, succeeded once more in making his escape!

Parties of his dispersed force at different points had crossed the Orange

River and commenced cutting railway lines, threatening communications

between Cape Town and Buluwayo, their object being to possess themselves

of De Aar Junction. But their movements were circumscribed. Burghersdorp,

Stormberg, Rosmead, and Naauwpoort were all strongly held by the British,

while the Orange River, as though vengefully, had risen at the back of

the marauders and pressed them close to the British forces, hemming them

round. Still, some 2000 of them on mischief bent caused considerable

alarm and annoyance, holding up trains, capturing convoys, and calling on

small garrisons to surrender, and fighting, till, on the approach of

reinforcements, they deemed it advisable to decamp to fresh fields of

diversion. Lord Kitchener promptly arrived at De Aar and adopted

measures to quell the invasion and allay the apprehensions of those who

found themselves at the mercy of the bandits. But the work was not to be

accomplished without infinite patience, for, as one of the gay Colonials

remarked, "Sport in these districts is no longer fox-hunting, but

rat-catching!"

A new proclamation, dated 20th December, was issued by the

Commander-in-Chief. It ran thus: "It is hereby notified to all burghers

that if, after this date, they voluntarily surrender, they will be

allowed to live with their families in Government laagers until such time

as the guerilla warfare now being carried on will admit of their

returning safely to their homes.

"All stock and property brought in at the time of surrender of such

burghers will be respected and paid for if requisitioned by the military

authorities."

To ensure a more speedy termination of hostilities, active steps were

taken to make up for the loss of the Colonial and other troops which had

returned to their homes. The recruiting of Colonial Police to the number

of 10,000 was being carried forward, 800 mounted infantry and two cavalry

regiments from England were under orders to leave as soon as possible,

and a sixth New Zealand Contingent consisting of 200 men (one-half

Maoris) was preparing to sail.

A second band of marauders had now got across by Zandsdrift, the object

of the Boer leaders being to run all over Cape Colony and there gather

around them as many Dutch sympathisers as they could manage to stimulate

with a belief in their ultimate success, and, if possible, to get access

to the sea coast. A Gazette Extraordinary was therefore issued on the

20th proclaiming martial law in twelve additional districts of Cape

Colony, and warning all persons of the risks incurred by those who had

previously assisted the enemy and had been released. It was subsequently

arranged that owing to the state of affairs the loyal inhabitants should

be called upon to form a Colonial Defence Force in order to resist the

invasion, protect communications, and preserve order in the disturbed

districts. The term of service named was three months. The operations in

the Colony were to be conducted by Generals Little, Jones, and MacDonald.

On the 19th and 20th General Clements, in conjunction with General

French, fought a continuous series of engagements with Delarey's men, and

eventually drove them from the Magaliesberg region. But these took their

revenge on the 29th by capturing Helvetia, on the Machadodorp-Lydenburg

Railway. This position, a very strong one, was held by a detachment of

the Liverpool Regiment, who were surprised by the enemy at 2.30 A.M., the

Dutchmen having first "rushed" the 4.7 gun. The officer commanding the

post at Swarzkopjes sent out a post, shelled away the enemy, and forced

them to temporarily abandon their prize; but the Boers eventually secured

the trophy by knowingly forming an ægis of British prisoners around it.

Major Cotton was severely wounded, and four other officers; eleven men

were killed and twenty-two wounded, and two hundred taken prisoners. It

was a sorry finale for the year, yet those who could appreciate the

complexities of the work of subjugation now engaging Lord Kitchener,

possessed their souls in patience, and looked to 1901 for the dawn of

better things.

LONDON, _December 1900_.

[Illustration: THE INSPECTION OF COLONIAL SOLDIERS AT WINDSOR CASTLE BY

QUEEN VICTORIA, NOV. 16, 1900

Drawing by R. Caton Woodville]

FOOTNOTES:

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

[16] Colonel Philip Walter Jules Le Gallais was born on August 17, 1861.

He entered the army, from the Militia, as a second lieutenant in the 8th

Hussars on April 23, 1881, obtaining his lieutenancy in the following

July and his troop in March 1888. He served on the staff as aide-de-camp

to the Commander-in-Chief in Bombay from July 1891 to March 1893, and was

adjutant of his regiment from July 1893 to May 1896. From November 1896

until he went out to South Africa he was serving with the Egyptian Army,

obtaining his majority in April 1897. He was actively engaged in the Nile

Expedition in 1897 (for which he received the medal with clasp), and also

in the expedition of the following year, when he took part in the cavalry

reconnaissance on April 4, and the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum,

obtaining mention in despatches, published in the _London Gazette_ of May

24 and September 30, and being rewarded with the brevet of

lieutenant-colonel (November 16, 1898) and the 4th class of the Osmanieh

and two clasps to his Egyptian medal. Colonel Le Gallais was an officer

qualified as an interpreter in French. He had been on the staff of the

army in South Africa as a cavalry leader, graded as an assistant

adjutant-general, since April 7 last. A correspondent, writing to the

_Times_, said: "His death is especially to be deplored, as he stood in

the front rank of the few cavalry officers who have proved exceptional

abilities during the recent war.... It is interesting to note that the

three junior cavalry officers who have been given independent commands in

South Africa upon merit were serving together in the last Nile campaign.

These are Brigadier-General Broadwood and Colonels Le Gallais and Mahon.

At Bloemfontein, where the Mounted Infantry Division was formed, Colonel

Le Gallais was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to General Ian

Hamilton, and he accompanied that officer in his flank march to Pretoria

and Heidelberg. After the breaking up of the Division, Colonel Le Gallais

was given a detached mounted infantry command, and his force has since

been operating with the many flying columns on the heels of De Wet, with

the final result reported on Friday. Besides being a brilliant soldier,

Colonel Le Gallais was well known as a polo player and an expert

steeple-chase rider."

[17] The following were taken prisoners: Gloucestershire Regiment, Major

H. R. Tufnell, Second Lieutenant A. K. Ford, Captain B. O. Fyffe, Captain

A. J. Menzies, Captain W. H. Walshe, and all non-commissioned officers

and men of "A," "B," and "F" Companies; 68th Battery R.F.A., Major Massy

and one section; Highland Light Infantry, Second Lieutenant Alston and

one Company; Army Service Corps, Second Lieutenant M'Nally; Orange River

Colony Police, Lieutenant Boyle; Royal Irish Rifles, detachment, strength

unknown. The total taken prisoners numbered 451 of all ranks.

AFTERWORD

JANUARY 1

Lord Kitchener, on the departure of Lord Roberts from the scene of his

triumphs, had found himself confronted with a tangled skein of military

affairs. The army, through loss by disease and death in the field, was a

phantom of the army that was, and in consequence of the prodigious work

that had been going forward, a proportionate amount of wastage and

disorganisation had set in. The troops were here, there, and everywhere,

just where fate had landed them after their chases of De Wet and their

scurries to protect threatened posts on the lines of communication. At

one point were knots of mounted men and guns in plenty, while at another

there was found a mere handful of troops to maintain some important

strategic position; here, remote and useless, were gathered batteries of

artillery; there, where Boers threatened to pounce at any moment, a

scarcely protected gun or two offered invitation to the clustering foe.

In fact there had been a species of general post, and, as a natural

consequence, brigades loosened from their original positions were often

hovering perilously in mid-country with an uncertainty of purpose which

was far from reassuring. For this reason it was but possible to act on

the defensive till affairs should be righted; though Lord Kitchener's

giant brain bent itself to the load, and in a comparatively short time--a

little over two months--things began to get once again into working

order. Reinforcements had been demanded from England, and these, together

with the force of newly raised Colonials, brought the number of troops

about to operate in South Africa to over 500,000 men, half of whom

consisted of field artillery, cavalry, and mounted infantry. Arrangements

were made on a revised principle to meet the newer form that warfare had

assumed. Owing to the necessity to dot bunches of troops in every

direction, the old divisional commands were broken up, and brigades,

grouped under the central command of a general of division, were fixed in

definite positions, each working over a special area to a point where

they would overlap or get in touch with other brigades who, working again

under their special divisional commander, operated in like manner within

their special radius. Thus the country was divided, as in a chess-board,

into squares, but still more geometrically subdivided in order that,

should necessity require it, the angles forming squares could point

together on emergency and form a solid concentration at any place, their

action being much as that of a kaleidoscope, which at one time breaks

into particles of colour, or at another groups into masses of it, at

will. As may be imagined, with this possibility of diverse movement, the

position of the enemy, astute and slippery as they were, was hardly

enviable. For one turn of the military kaleidoscope might bring them

against the hard teeth of the converging brigades, while another might

find them inextricably harassed by an army in their rear.

The towns were being garrisoned and stored to act as bases of supply for

mounted troops scouring the country, and supply depots were so arranged

as to be within two days' journey of brigades, and thus enable these, if

despoiled by the Boers, to hold on till provisions from another depot

should reach them. Thus a sense of security began to prevail, while a

corresponding sense of doubt and diffidence influenced the conduct of the

Dutchmen. Nevertheless they continued active in their attacks on trains,

convoys, and isolated posts, the nature of the attacks being invariably

of the nature of a surprise. The operations, though involving great loss

to the troops, and retarding the settlement of the country, produced no

effect on the strategical position, and the position of the British

troops in the important towns occupied by them remained impregnable.

Ventersdorp, a central point of the Western Transvaal, which for some

months had been in the hands of the Boers, was captured by General

French, with small loss to himself. The garrisons of Jagersfontein and

Fauresmith being withdrawn, the inhabitants seeking protection were

removed to Edenburg. Ficksburg and Senekal were in the hands of the

British, but in the northern part of the Cape Colony a commando, which

was supposed to be surrounded by the British, had succeeded in slipping

through the cordon and escaping into the Middelburg district. They

captured a small patrol of Nesbitt's Horse, and held up a train near

Sherborne. Finding the town of Middelburg was held by the British, they

dispersed and turned west in the direction of Hanover and Richmond, while

the main body marched south, bent on a colossal loot and the recruiting

of rebels. Engagements, with slight loss on either side, took place on

the 1st and 2nd of January west and south of Middelburg. Meanwhile a

western commando made for Carnarvon and tore on to Fraserburgh, with De

Lisle and Thorneycroft's columns thundering at their heels, losing horses

in the heat of their rush, and living from hand to mouth, as it were, on

the country they were harassing, but still succeeding admirably in

evading the skill of their pursuers. Fortunately this rolling stone of a

commando gathered little moss in the form of rebels, for though they

received help in stores and supplies, and the British gained no

information, the number of the enemy was little augmented by the

invasion. Still, there was no knowing how much more to the south the

Boers would penetrate, and how many sympathisers they would enlist, and

how much damage they would do, and precautions for moral and material

reasons were set on foot to frustrate their machinations.

Therefore the new year opened with a surprise for Cape Town in the form

of the following call to arms:--

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, CAPE TOWN, _31st December 1900_.

In view of the fact that armed forces of the enemy have invaded

this Colony, and that parties of them have penetrated south of

Carnarvon in one direction and south of the town of Middelburg

in another, and in view of the necessity for repelling such

invasion as promptly as possible, the Government of this Colony

has decided to call upon the loyal inhabitants, more especially

of certain districts thereof mentioned in the annexed schedule,

to aid the efforts which the military forces of her Majesty are

making in that direction.

It is contemplated to raise a special force, to be called the

Colonial Defence Force, to be utilised for the sole and

exclusive purpose of repelling the present invasion, guarding

railways and other lines of communication, and maintaining

order and tranquillity in districts in which such measures are

necessary.

Volunteers are called for to give in their names with a view to

enrolment in this force to the Civil Commissioner of the

division in which they reside, or to any officer specially

appointed for that purpose, and whose appointment has been

publicly notified.

Applicants should state:

(_a_) Whether they can ride and shoot.

(_b_) Whether they are prepared to serve as mounted men, and if

so, whether they can provide their own horses, saddles, and

bridles.

(_c_) Whether they are prepared to serve only in their own

district or in any part of the Colony, it being clearly

understood that the services of this force will not be utilised

anywhere outside the boundaries of this Colony.

Persons whose services are accepted by the Government will

receive pay at the rate of 5s. a day, with 2s. 6d. extra to

those supplying their own horses, saddles, and bridles.

Rations, forage, and arms will be provided.

Pay of officers and non-commissioned officers in proportion.

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

three months.

The force will be under military control, but officers under

the rank of Major will, as far as possible, be elected by the

members of the force.

J. GORDON SPRIGG.

SCHEDULE.

_List of Districts to which this Notice is Specially

Applicable._

Cape Town and Cape Division

Paarl

Stellenbosch

Worcester

Prince Albert

Beaufort West

Port Elizabeth

Uitenhage

Jansenville

Aberdeen

Graaf-Reinet

Cradock

Somerset East

Bedford

Fort Beaufort

Albany

Bathurst

Victoria East

Queen's Town

Cathcart

Stutterheim

King William's Town

Komgha

East London

Peddie

Any person resident in any other district and desirous of

joining the force may send in his name to the nearest Civil

Commissioner.

(Government Notice No. 8, 1901.)

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE,

CAPE TOWN, _4th January 1901_.

COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCE.

With reference to the enrolment of men of the above-mentioned

force, the following orders are published for general

information.

SYDNEY COWPER, _Secretary_.

I.--ARTILLERY.

An Artillery Contingent is being formed in connection with the

above force of men who have already had training in Artillery

Corps.

Application should be made to Kitchener Anderson, Esq., late

Lieutenant, P.A.O.C.A., Artillery Quarters, Drill Hall, Darling

Street.

II.--TOWN GUARD.

Enrolment will take place for

(1) Cape Town, at the Town House, Greenmarket Square,

(2) Green and Sea Point,

(3) Woodstock,

(4) Mowbray,

(5) Rondebosch,

--at the respective Municipal Offices.

(6) Claremont,

(7) Newlands,

(8) Kenilworth,

(9) Wynberg,

--at the Office of the Resident Magistrate, Wynberg.

(10) Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, at the Municipal Office.

(11) Simons Town, at the Office of the Resident Magistrate.

III.--GENERAL CONDITIONS.

The force raised will be organised in companies of 100 strong,

under the orders of the Colonel Commanding Base.

The officers will be in proportion of one subaltern to every

twenty-five men, and one captain to every 100. Officers will

be elected by the men. N.C.O.'s will be appointed by the

captains of companies. Only one-fourth of the effective

strength of the corps will be called out at a time for service,

except in case of emergency.

In the event of men being called out for active service, pay

and allowances will be in accordance with the provisions of

Government Notice No. 943, of the 31st December.

Men called out for drilling purposes only will be allowed five

shillings per week, conditionally on their attending not less

than two drills per week, of not less than one hour's duration

each.

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

hours.

The character, formation, and duties of the Town Guard may be judged from

the following rules, which enabled every loyal citizen to come forward

for the protection of hearth and home:--

(1) Employers may enrol their own men, and obtain enrolment cards from

the Town House.

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

(3) Employers or captains of companies will be empowered to arrange their

own times for drills.

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

(5) In case of the Commandant finding it necessary to call out the Town

Guard, he will make a levy upon all companies in equal proportions, that

is to say, every company will be required to furnish an equal percentage

of men.

(6) Volunteers of one company will be allowed to make arrangements with

another company for drill.

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

a company.

(8) The duties of the Town Guard will consist in guarding positions,

picket and patrol duty usually undertaken by the regular forces now being

withdrawn for service further afield. The area of service of the Town

Guard will be the limit of the Municipality.

(9) No member of the Town Guard will be employed for more than

twenty-four hours at a stretch.

(10) The duration of service will not exceed three months; if, as all

hope will prove to be the case, the danger to the peace of the Western

Province be removed earlier, the Town Guard will be disbanded before the

three months have expired.

These conditions applied equally to town and suburb.

In response to the "call" came a spontaneous, remarkable, almost mad rush

of recruits. No such scene of martial ardour had taken place since the

outbreak of the war. The excitement was intense. The Drill Hall, where

Colonels Girouard, R.E., and Southey, and Captain Chester-Master were

presiding, became a pandemonium, every man anxious to know how best he

could assist, either by his personal efforts or by allowing those in his

employ to "sign on," and the streets, and clubs, and public conveyances

literally buzzed with enthusiastic volunteers, who were itching to be

"each of them doing his country's work."

It appeared that no section of the public would consent to be left out in

the cold. Streaming to the banner came numbers of prominent townsmen,

among them Messrs. R. M. Maxwell, Cecil Jones, L. Cloete, J. Rawbone

(Somerset West), T. Bromley, Abe Bailey, G. Kilgour, C.E., A. Myburgh, E.

Field, Colonel Coates, W. Duffus, and W. G. Rattray. Mr. R. Stuart

Solomon was busily engaged as recruiting officer of the Defence Force,

and was beset by volunteers Colonial born, who, when asked where they

would like to serve--town districts or Colony--replied unanimously,

"Anywhere!"

[Illustration: (Corporal). (Private).

THE 2nd NORTHAMPTON REGIMENT.

The Uniform, with the exception of the Badge and Buckle, is the same for

the Middlesex, Lincolnshire and Devon Regiments.

Photo by Gregory & Co., London.]

The spirit with which the Town Guard proposition was taken up was

altogether without precedent, a striking demonstration of the solidarity

of sentiment in the city, and within a few days the number of those eager

to come forward in defence of home and district had reached 4000. As an

instance of the practical zeal of the community, it may be mentioned that

the Civil Service Company of the Town Guards (under Captain Callcott

Stevens, who had previously seen active service with the D.E.O.V.R. in

the Basuto War) was raised in the course of an afternoon! There was

little martial glory to be attained in spending dreary nights on picket

work or in sentry-go, therefore the enthusiasm with which these civilians

threw themselves into the drudgery of battle for duty's sake was as

amazing as it was honourable. Naturally the partisans of Dutch

independence looked on with dumb consternation, and in the face of this

ardent multitude their hopes gradually trickled away.

The force was given in charge of General Brabant, while Colonel Cooper,

the Base Commandant, took control of the arrangements of the Town Guards,

and put the enrolling in the hands of the Major of each municipality,

thus relieving the pressure on the Drill Hall Staff. Recruiting went

merrily, and soon the first drafts for the Western Province Mounted

Rifles, commanded by Captain Chester-Master, were equipped and despatched

to Piquetberg Road, where their mounts awaited them--and where Colonel Du

Cane expressed his approval of the expedition with which the admirable

corps had been despatched. These were followed by others without loss of

time. The crack infantry regiment of the Colony, the Duke's, under the

auspices of Colonel Goold Adams, was permitted to form a second

battalion; a Cyclist Corps was raised, which included a number of

well-known cyclists--Messrs. Donald Menzies, T. Denham, G. Roberts, A. M.

Carroll, W. E. Tyler--with Captain J. G. Rose in command, and Lieutenants

Brunton and Walker as subalterns; and the Cape Medical Staff Corps was

augmented, in order that a medical company should be attached to every

regiment of 800 men. Additional recruits were secured for the C. G.

Artillery and the C. T. Highlanders, forces which had already

distinguished themselves in the field; a Jewish Corps was originated

under the direction of Mr. L. Waldman, assisted by a recruiting

committee: Messrs. Harry Solomon, H. Goodman, S. Bebro, and J. H.

Goldreich; while a Caledonian, a Legal, and a Cricketers' Corps were also

started.

Mr. Abe Bailey showed practical appreciation of the Cricketers, by giving

a donation of £100 to the troop for the purpose of transport equipment,

and the first troop, commanded by Lieutenant Feltham (late Protectorate

Regiment)--and among whom were the well-known players: M. Bisset

(sergeant), T. W. Bell, E. Yates, G. Macfarlane, J. Rushton, D. Home, C.

Bartlett, E. Warren, E. Gill, H. Wrensch, C. M. Neustetel, J. Graham, K.

Hunter, F. R. Brooke, L. H. Fripp, W. Reid, H. Stidolph, S. Horwood, A.

Baker, W. Marshant, J. Fehrsen, R. Solomon, I. Difford, H. Reid, and L.

J. Tancred--was soon under way.

Arrangements for forming a second troop were in course of completion. The

Volunteer Veterans' Association, by means of their Vice-President, Major

J. Scott, introduced themselves to the favourable consideration of

Colonel Southey; and the Scotsmen--so many were already in the

field--rallied bravely round Messrs. Parker, M'Leod, Bowie, Collie, and

Ramage, the energetic committee in charge of the formation of the

Caledonian Corps.

Colonel Warren (late Kitchener's Horse) was now appointed to the command

of a regiment to be styled Warren's Mounted Infantry--and a grand reunion

of veterans of Prince Alfred's Own Cape Artillery took place in order

that old gunners might form a company. When it is explained that at this

time 6500 South African Irregulars had already been recruited, 2500 of

whom had been contributed by Cape Town, the wonderful zeal of the

community may be appreciated. Indeed, space does not admit of a detailed

account of the further warlike preparations, but sufficient has been said

to prove that this demonstration of loyalty was unparalleled in the

history of the Cape.

All these exertions were due to the fact that De Wet and Botha had

secretly arranged a combined system of attack which would keep our troops

on tenterhooks while the Boers gathered together recruits, arms, and

ammunition. Hertzog was to skirmish his way down the Colony, fan the

smouldering disloyalty of Africanders, and gradually steer his course to

the coast. De Wet, with more men, was to join him, and together they were

to fight their way to a point of St. Helena's Bay, where a vessel bearing

a fresh consignment of arms and ammunition forwarded by sympathisers in

Europe, or from their own party in Holland, would be awaiting them. While

they were thus carrying out their movements, Botha was to assist them by

creating a diversion, and invading Natal with all the commandos at his

disposal. The most important and alarming scheme--the parent scheme as it

were--was De Wet's. That needed to be strangled in its birth, and to this

end various complicated military movements were set on foot; firstly, to

prevent Hertzog from advancing farther into British territory; secondly,

to frustrate his efforts to gain recruits either by intimidation or

inflated promises of success; thirdly, and chiefly, to arrest the rush to

his assistance of De Wet and the concentration of the scattered commandos

at any given point. So much for the arrangements to meet the parent

scheme.

In regard to Botha's tactics, Lord Kitchener's plans for meeting them

were of that complex nature which makes for simplicity. A crescent shaped

rake of troops was to work eastwards towards the low country of Piet

Retief, sweeping Botha's hordes--they numbered from five to eight

thousand still--before it till the Boer chief should find himself wedged

against the Swaziland border, and confronted with four equally uninviting

alternatives.

1st. He might elect to fly into the arms of the loyal Swazis (who cherish

an old-time hatred for their hereditary oppressors); 2nd, into those of

the Zulus (who may be said to be equally antagonistic to Boer ways); 3rd,

he might trek north-east into regions redolent of fever, and more deadly

than the most bullet-laden battlefield; or, 4th, he might surrender and

come to really easy terms with conquerors who were ready and anxious to

hold out to him the hand of fellowship. But to return to Scheme No. 1.

At Cape Town the City Guard was armed, and musketry practice went on

apace. The enrolment of the Johannesburg Mine Guard continued, and other

regiments, the Western Province Horse and the Prince of Wales' Horse,

were moved to strong positions, while Colonel Owen Thomas took command of

a growing corps of smartly mounted men to replace troops that had worn

themselves out with repeated combats with the enemy. The Marquis of

Tullibardine, in command of the first regiment of Scottish Horse,

prepared to take up his quarters at Johannesburg, _viâ_ Natal.

In a brisk encounter by a detachment of General C. Knox's force, 120

strong, with an overwhelming herd of Boers near Lindley, the British had

the misfortune to lose three officers--Lieutenant-Colonel D. T. Laing,

Lieutenants S. W. King and Vonschade--and fifteen men, while two

officers--Lieutenants Sampson and Perrin--and twenty men were wounded.

The facts were these. On the morning of the 3rd, the Commander-in-Chief's

Body-guard, under Colonel Laing, were ordered to get in touch with the

town of Reitz. In so doing, they found themselves assailed by Boers to

right and to left of them--Boers carefully concealed in kopjes some 600

yards distant. The colonel fell, and an effort was made to retire, but

the Dutchmen placed a wedge of some 500 of their number between the

bodyguard and Colonel White's column. An appalling scene ensued. The

British at bay fought ferociously, determining never to surrender, while

young Bateson of the gallant number charged through the mass of Boers to

inform Colonel White of the desperate drama that was going forward; but

in spite of this noble effort, by the time reinforcements and guns

appeared on the scene, the bodyguard was surrounded. Some even then

refused to cease firing, but finally the Boer general threatened to shoot

every man who continued, and they were eventually made prisoners.

On the 5th, General Babington drove back from Naauwpoort, a place north

of Potchefstroom, the commandos of Delarey and Steenkamp, and captured a

prisoner in the form of Commandant Duprez. The Dutchmen had secured an

excellent and almost impregnable position in the Witwatersrand, but when

the mounted infantry of Babington at Naauwpoort and Gordon at Zandfontein

launched themselves at the offensive strongholds, the enemy fled to the

north-west, pursued for fifteen miles by the Imperial Light Horse, who

had lost heavily through their gallantry in the affair.

In the neighbourhood of the Delagoa line the Boers still buzzed, and on

the night of the 7th, in a dense fog, which served as a curtain to their

machinations, they simultaneously crept up to all the British posts--at

Belfast, Wonderfontein, Nooitgedacht, Widfontein, and Pan.

The movement was most astutely managed, and not till about 4 A.M., after

ferocious firing, were the swarming Dutchmen driven off and dispersed.

Captain Fosbery was killed and twenty of the men, and three officers and

fifty-nine men were wounded. The Boers left twenty-four of their number

on the field.

On the 9th, Lieutenant Spedding, with sixty dashing men of the Royal

Irish Rifles, proceeded by night from Ventersburg road, surprised the

enemy at the romantically named kopje, Alleen, and returned plus three

prisoners, 300 horses, and a quantity of cattle. A few days later the

Victorians, under Captain Umpleby, made a fine haul of sixty fat cattle

near Rustenburg, but unfortunately, starvation only made the Boers more

daring and more rabid in their animosity.

Lord Kitchener now decided to evacuate all towns lying outside the line

of communications, thus clearing the Boers' happy hunting-grounds of

lootable convoys. Large camps of Boer families under British protection

were formed at Brandfort and Kroonstad, and elsewhere near the railway

lines.

De Wet, driven hither and thither, now developed symptoms of unusual

ferocity, which seemed to prove that such civilised habits as have been

accredited to him owed their origin rather to the desire to obtain the

respect and sympathy of Europe than to humanitarian motives. Now that

intervention was out of the question, the commandant decided to "gang his

ain gait," and gave rein to his bitterness. Three agents of the Peace

Committee were taken as prisoners to De Wet's laager; the burghers were

flogged by his orders, and a British subject, one Morgendaal, was flogged

and afterwards shot. Piet De Wet endeavoured to mediate, to point out the

futility of further bloodshed, and sent an appeal which was both pathetic

and practical, an appeal which passed unheeded.

An attack was made by night on Machadodorp, but before dawn on the 10th,

the marauders had been routed, though a gallant young fellow, Lieutenant

E. M. Harris, Royal Irish Fusiliers, lost his life in defending the

post.

At Zeerust, Durban, in the region of Krugersdorp and the stations

Zuurfontein and Kaalfontein, the Boers made themselves offensive, and

from all places, after brisk fighting, retired with loss. At Zuurfontein,

on the 12th, owing to the enemy being clothed in kharki, they were able

to deceive the sentry and capture him, but the detachments of the

Lincolns under Lieutenant Cordeaux, and the detachments of the Norfolks

under Lieutenant Atkinson, soon routed their assailants and shot their

commandant, who was within seven yards of the trenches.

While these subalterns were distinguishing themselves at Zuurfontein,

another--Williams-Freeman of the Cheshires--was having a warm time at

Kaalfontein; but he, with the small garrison of 120, after fighting for

six hours in a blizzard from the Mausers of the foe, succeeded in driving

them off without sustaining a single casualty.

About this period Sir A. Milner was appointed Governor of the Transvaal

and Orange River Colony, retaining the High Commissionership; Sir W.

Hely-Hutchinson, Governor of the Cape Colony; Sir Henry McCallum,

Governor of Natal; and Major Goold Adams, Lieutenant-Governor of the

Orange River Colony. The Secretary of State for War now authorised the

enlistment of 5000 Imperial Yeomen to make up for the wastage which had

occurred in that force at the front, and further contributions of troops

were also invited from the colonies. The invitations, it is almost

needless to say, were accepted with alacrity bordering on enthusiasm.

A few words must now be said on what may be called the Hospitals

question. In consequence of grave allegations made by Mr. Burdett-Coutts

(M.P. for Westminster) regarding the treatment of the sick and wounded in

South Africa, the Government, on the 5th of July, decided to appoint a

small Commission of three persons, afterwards increased to five, to

report on the arrangements for the care and treatment of the sick and

wounded during the campaign. The Commission, which consisted of Dr.

Church, President of the College of Physicians; President Cunningham, of

Trinity College, Dublin; Sir David Richmond (ex-Lord Provost of Glasgow);

and Mr. Harrison, General Manager of the London and North-Western

Railway, with Lord Justice Romer, went to South Africa, returned late in

October, and concluded taking its evidence on the 5th of November.

Into the particulars of the inquiry it is impossible to enter; the sorry

state of the mass of sufferers in Bloemfontein at the time of the

epidemic has been described.[18] The utter impossibility of instantly

remedying the evils and relieving the distress, while the bare life of

the force depended on the supplies coming by train along a railway some

900 miles long, of which every bridge for the last 128 miles had been

destroyed, was recognised by all who gave the matter practical thought.

Still, in view of the charges made, which unrefuted, may live after those

concerned have passed away and the good they have done has been "interred

with their bones," it may be as well to state that after pointing out

defects, &c., in the care of the sick and wounded, the commissioners came

to the following conclusion:--"Reviewing the campaign as a whole," they

said, "it has not been one where it can properly be said that the medical

and hospital arrangements have broken down. There has been nothing in the

nature of a scandal with regard to the care of the sick and wounded; no

general or widespread neglect of patients, or indifference to their

suffering." All witnesses of experience in other wars were, the

commissioners declared, "practically unanimous in the view that, taking

it all in all, in no campaign have the sick and wounded been so well

looked after as they have been in this."

The report of the commissioners merely corroborated the views of all

experienced men. The military and medical authorities could not have

anticipated that the war would attain the proportions it did, and the

Royal Army Medical Corps was insufficient in staff and equipment for the

magnitude of the conflict. It was so constituted that the staff could not

be suddenly enlarged or deficiencies instantly rectified. The deficiency

in the staff of the corps before the war was, it was pointed out, not the

fault of the Director-General and the staff of officers associated with

him. They had, it is said, for a considerable time before the outbreak

"urged on the military authorities the necessity for an increase of the

corps, but for the most part without avail."

[Illustration: RETURN OF THE CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS: ARRIVAL AT ST.

PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

Drawing by Frank Dadd, R.I., and S. T. Dadd]

The commissioners, while suggesting for future guidance various

improvements and the correction of defects, declared in regard to the

officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps that, as a whole, their "conduct

and capacity deserve great praise"; while the civil surgeons as a body

did their duty "extremely well."

Taking in special consideration the state of affairs in hospital in

Bloemfontein, respecting which most of the serious charges had been made,

the commissioners, in stating where the conditions were unsatisfactory,

pointed out that "there is nothing in them to justify any charge of

inhumanity or of gross or wilful neglect, or of disregard for the

sufferings of sick and wounded." They went on to state:--

"There were some special allegations made by certain witnesses which we

ought to refer to before we leave the subject of Bloemfontein. It is said

that on one occasion twenty typhoid patients were improperly removed to

the Portland Hospital. We have inquired into this allegation, and as a

result we have to state that in our own opinion the removal was necessary

in the interests of the patients. A gruesome story of a corpse being

stuffed into a lavatory was mentioned by Mr. Burdett-Coutts, M.P., but he

states that he only spoke of the matter from information given to him.

Inquiry has been made in all quarters to find out whether there is any

foundation for this allegation. No such case can be found to have

occurred, either at Bloemfontein or elsewhere in South Africa, and we are

satisfied that Mr. Burdett-Coutts was misled by his informant. Some

observations have also been made with reference to the dead at

Bloemfontein, as if the corpses, owing to their great number, were dealt

with in a hurried or neglectful way. This is not the fact. In the first

place the numbers of men dying in Bloemfontein have been overstated by

some witnesses. There were not fifty deaths a day, the maximum was forty,

and that only for one day. Each body was buried separately and with every

respect and care, and each grave was numbered, and the number and name of

the dead man registered."

Certain other complaints and statements were not attended to by the

commissioners, who explained their silence as indicating that they

regarded them as not well founded.

* * * * *

And now comes the most painful duty of the chronicler. In writing of the

end of the war and the triumph of British arms in the cause of

civilisation, it is a grievous necessity to speak of the close of a great

and glorious life. Queen Victoria, to the inexpressible grief of her

large family and her devoted subjects, passed away at 6.30 P.M. on the

22nd January. On Friday, the 18th, the British public was shocked to hear

that their hitherto hale, though venerable, Sovereign was stricken in

health. On the following day her condition was found to be grave. On

Sunday the Empire lived in suspense. The members of the Royal Family were

called together, the German Emperor--as the Queen's grandson, not as a

reigning monarch--hurried to these shores. Monday was a day of

tribulation, for all knew there was no hope, and the world figurately

watched with bated breath around that august bedside where the glorious

Queen, a good and gracious lady, was slowly throwing aside the weight of

years and sovereignty which she had so nobly borne. On Tuesday the end

came, and the Empire was plunged in gloom. Victoria, the greatest queen

the world has ever known, the purest ideal of womanhood, strong of brain

and gentle of heart, had breathed her last. But she left behind her an

undying fame, an influence which will be felt not for one but for many

generations--a light to lighten the feet of men and women of the future

whether in State or home.

* * * * *

To return to the Cape. About the middle of the month the situation stood

thus. Colonel de Lisle's column, consisting of the 6th Mounted Infantry,

the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, the Irish Yeomanry, a section of R

Battery Royal Horse Artillery, and a "pom-pom," arrived at Piquetsberg,

to assist in routing the guerillas, who, in clusters varying from 120 to

2000 strong, were reported to be marching towards Clanwilliam, Calvinia,

Worcester, Piquetsberg, and the Beaufort West district.

A concerted movement against the invaders was being rapidly organised,

and quantities of separate columns under General Settle, each in touch

with the other and moving simultaneously, were to sweep clear the country

and wipe off the Boers from the neighbourhood of Matjesfontein and

Calvinia, whither Hertzog's commando had penetrated. At Matjesfontein

Colonel Henniker's troops formed the centre of a semicircle, travelling

left in the direction where Thorneycroft's and Bethune's forces operated,

and bending coastwards were De Lisle and his nimble men who kept guard

over the loopholes to the sea whence supplies might be drawn. The passes

in the hills, of this the most difficult and mountainous country, were

held by the Cape Town Cyclist Corps, together with the Western Province,

Scottish and Welsh Horse, while the Australians patrolled around Lamberts

and Bast, Clanwilliam and the coast, and took care the enemy found no

means of squeezing to the left. There was little chance of a complete

cessation of hostilities for a good time to come, for the Dutchmen were

cunning, and having discovered that their wives and children were so

humanely provided for, considered themselves free to keep the field with

increased persistence. That they were not unsuccessful in their

machinations was due to the fact that they carefully eluded the British

troops, and were fed and cared for at the expense of the country people

who kept them well informed as to the manoeuvres of their pursuers.

Meanwhile Hertzog was beating up recruits and scouring districts known to

be disaffected for hale and hearty bachelors who would share the life of

the marauders. But martial law having been proclaimed there was no great

rush to his banner, though from the attitude, laudatory and almost

reverential, of the farmers towards De Wet and his exploits, it was plain

that, should he succeed in eluding Knox and breaking south, he might end

by fizzing comet-wise through the Colony with a trail of rebels at his

heels.

In the Transvaal Botha's followers, to the strength of 3000, were

concentrated near Carolina, while others of the gang hovered round

Johannesburg and Standerton. On the 17th, from this latter place, they

were driven off with loss by Colonel Colville's mobile column, and their

discomfiture was completed by the seizure by the Johannesburg Mounted

Rifles of a Boer outpost near Springs. They scored, however, by capturing

a train with mine materials near Balmoral, and also by damaging, on the

22nd, the electric light work near Johannesburg. Lord Methuen, meanwhile,

was clearing the Boers out of Kuruman and Griqualand.

On the 25th a goods train, with cattle and provisions for the far north

of Kimberley, was captured at Slipklip by the marauders, who had

previously captured an outpost of twenty Dublin Fusiliers. The Dutchman

would have succeeded in seizing a second train which was following, but

for the presence of mind of the driver of the first train, who directly

he found himself pelted by bullets rolled off the engine, made a detour

of several miles, and reached the line near Kimberley in time to arrest

the progress of the second train.

General Smith-Dorrien, marching from Wonderfontein to Carolina, came on a

mass of the enemy who had been tampering with the line, and were now

strongly ensconced round the river. He gave battle to them--five hours

the engagement lasted--and eventually succeeded in dispersing them, but

with the loss of one officer and four men killed and three officers and

thirteen men wounded. He afterwards returned to Pretoria. The scattered

horde, after sniping at him to the best of their ability, gathered round

a train with a view to creating damage, but the driver, a smart fellow,

shot down the ringleader, one Commandant Liebrant (who was tampering with

the vacuum brake), with the result that his comrades fled, leaving his

body behind.

On the 29th the ubiquitous Knox engaged De Wet's force about forty miles

north of Thabanchu. De Wet had been "loafing about" in the region between

Ladybrand and Winburg, waiting, it was believed, for more of his

followers (who were enjoying furlough), prior to making the grand

invasion of Cape Colony. Fighting was fierce and sustained, but at last

the Dutchmen made off, leaving behind them five dead Boers and three

others who were taken prisoners. Our losses included Lieutenant Way,

Durham Light Infantry, and one man, while among the wounded was Major

Copeman, Essex Regiment.

De Wet himself, with a gang of some 2500 guerillas, came into contact

with Major Crewe's composite column on the 31st of January near

Tabaksberg, a rectangular slab of mountain, which was held by a force

five times superior to the British in number, who poured a terribly

severe rifle fire on the British party. A brilliant retirement was

effected in the dusk and the convoy saved, though a pom-pom, after

desperate efforts to remove it, had to be abandoned. Meanwhile, disaster

had overtaken us in the eastern Transvaal.

On the 30th, during a storm of rain, a post at Moddersfontein was

"rushed" by night by some 1400 Dutchmen with a gun and a pom-pom. A

relief column sent out from Krugersdorp failed to avert the fall of the

post, who had had their water supply cut off, and had no resource but to

surrender. They however disabled their Maxim before so doing.

The casualties were:--Two officers, Lieutenant Green, 59th Company

Imperial Yeomanry, and Civil Surgeon Walker, killed; Captain Magniac,

59th Company Imperial Yeomanry, and Lieutenant Crawley, South Wales

Borderers, wounded.

To the south of Middelburg General Campbell's column was engaged with

some 500 Boers, who were driven back with loss. Lieutenant Cawston, 18th

Hussars, was dangerously wounded (since dead); Lieutenant Reade, King's

Royal Rifles, severely wounded. Eighteen men were killed and wounded.

Of the situation at the close of January and the beginning of February it

is impossible to give more than a rough outline. Four main movements had

been organised against the cliques of the enemy. Towards the east of the

Transvaal, in order to make a complete clearance of the Boers from

Delagoa line of communications, the following columns, each in touch with

the other, had started on the 27th of January:--

General Smith-Dorrien's from Wonderfontein, General Campbell's from

Middelburg, General Alderson's from Eerstefabrieken, General Knox's from

Kaalfontein, Colonel Allanby's (?) from Zuurfontein, General Dartnell's

from Springs, and Colonel Colville's from Greylingstad. The southern

columns were commanded by General French; those sweeping from the north

by General Lyttelton.

In the Potchefstroom, Rand, and Krugersdorp districts, General Cunningham

was operating against some 2000 of Delarey's followers, while Generals

Knox, Plumer, Bruce-Hamilton, and Maxwell, with Colonels White and

Pilcher and Major Crewe, were all engaged in hunting De Wet in hope of

forcing him into the arms of one or other of the corps concentrated on

the Orange River. This irrepressible one was marching hot-foot with a

force of 3000 men south of Thabanchu, and the excitement among the

various British regiments preparing to intercept his plan of crossing the

Orange River was intense.

The fourth movement for the clearance of Cape Colony was being developed

by General Brabant and Colonel Girouard (chief of staff). These two were

on the watch to prevent De Wet and his followers, two 15-pounders, a

Maxim and a pom-pom (captured from Major Crewe's column while crossing

the rail between Edenburg and Springfontein), from co-operating with

Hertzog's band in the Cape Colony, and carrying out his threat to "give

the farmers there a taste of what we ourselves have suffered through this

war."

The volunteers and town-guards in the districts of Oudtshoorn,

Clanwilliam, Somerset East, and other parts of the Colony had exciting

times, as the enemy, broken into mere marauding bands, looted and

destroyed or damaged farms and property at every turn; but they bore

these ills with spirit, and prepared themselves by night or day to give

the aggressors a fitting reception. The marauders' tactics were

everywhere the same--they lived on the country, and worked east, avoiding

contact with the mounted troops, and speedily dispersing before places

which offered resistance to their attacks.

Ermelo was occupied by General French on the 6th, when fifty Boers

surrendered. Botha and his tribe of 7000 had retired eastward, and in the

dusk before dawn attacked General Smith-Dorrien at Bothwell. After fierce

fighting the Dutchman was repulsed with considerable loss to himself, for

General Spruit was killed and two field cornets, while General Raademeger

was wounded. Many other Boers were seriously wounded, and twenty were

left on the ground. Of the British party twenty-four were slain and

fifty-three wounded.

At Petrusburg a column brought in some 3500 horses and cattle without

sustaining any casualty. More captures were made at Lillefontein, east of

Vryburg; 12 waggons and 200 cattle formed the bag, and the enemy was

dispersed.

On the 11th, General French made a magnificent haul, a convoy being

captured--50 waggons, 15 carts, and 45 prisoners--and this with the loss

of one man only.

[Illustration: MARKET SQUARE, JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL COLONY.

Photo by G. W. Wilson & Co., Aberdeen.]

Indeed day after day, before French and his hard-worked warriors in the

neighbourhood of Piet Retief, Botha was suffering severely, and some

5000 Dutchmen were dispersing in disorganised gangs, having lost

already over 280 in killed and wounded. Of their number 183 had

surrendered, while 56 were made prisoners. They had lost a 15-pounder

gun, 462 rifles, 160,000 rounds of small-arm ammunition, 3600 horses, 70

mules, 3530 trek oxen, 18,700 cattle, 155,400 sheep, and 1070 waggons and

carts! But this was not all. A few days later, on the 25th, came

additional captures in the form of a 19-pounder Krupp gun, a howitzer, a

Maxim, 20,000 rounds of small-arm ammunition, 153 rifles, 388 horses, 52

mules, 834 trek oxen, 5600 cattle, 9800 sheep, and 287 waggons and carts!

Three hundred of the enemy now surrendered, while their losses in killed

and wounded were about nine. No British casualties were reported. Further

operations were delayed by torrents of rain, which converted the country

into a swamp; but Boers surrendered daily, and Botha's whole force was

now represented only by scattered bands of malcontents.

The plight of the Dutchmen was equally sorry elsewhere. Lord Methuen, who

was marching from Taungs to Klerksdorp with the object of clearing the

Masakani Range at Haartbeestfontein, engaged De Villiers and Liebenberg

with a band of 400 and defeated them, losing in the encounter 16 killed

(among them 3 officers) and 34 wounded, while 18 Dutchmen bit the dust.

The 10th Yeomanry, Victoria Bushmen, and the Loyal North Lancashire

Regiment came out of the fray with flying colours. De Wet also, after a

really magnificent venture south, was forced back to his old haunts

discomfited.

The tale of his audacious invasion of Cape Colony can but be outlined

here. Briefly, the Dutchman with his force succeeded, despite the

resistance of the troops before-mentioned, in getting across the Orange

River by Zand Drift on the 11th, with a view to following in the track of

Hertzog, and fulfilling the programme already described. Ever active, he

sped on, made a lunge at the garrison of Philipstown on the 14th, and,

after a three hours' tussle, was repulsed, and bolted (followed closely

by General Plumer) in the direction of Hout Kraal. Here he arrived on the

15th, with the intention of pushing on to De Aar, but he was frustrated

by the timely arrival there of Lord Kitchener, who bore down on the scene

from Pretoria and made dispositions which finally forced the foe into

more northerly hunting-grounds. Meanwhile, Colonel Crabbe, thundering in

rear of the Dutchman, caught up his convoy, seized twenty waggons, a

score of Boer tatterdemalions, a Maxim, and over 200 horses. Still De Wet

continued to flee, his aim being to cross the Brak River and reach

Britstown; but Nature frustrated him, for the swollen river had become

impassable, and there was nothing left but to turn tail and scurry

northwards and escape the hunters Knox and Plumer, who were still in full

chase. Dividing his forces, De Wet steered them between the Brak River

and the rail, pounding on from the keen pursuit of the converging columns

as fast as floods and quagmires would permit. His sole object now was to

recross the Orange River with a whole skin, and rushing breathlessly

first to Read's Drift, then to Mark's Drift (near Douglas), both of which

were impassable, he found himself again frustrated and forced to twist

downwards--clinging ever to the river bank, with the indomitable Plumer

hanging to his coat-tails.

At last, near Hopetown, on the 23rd, he was overtaken by Colonel Owen,

one of Plumer's lieutenants, who relieved him of fifty of his gang, some

carts full of ammunition, a gun and a pom-pom. The wily one himself

veered off in the direction of Petrusville with a following of some 400

men, the rest having dispersed before the avenging K.D.G.'s, Victorians,

and Imperial Light Horse, according to custom, like the fragments of a

bursting shell, leaving behind them steaming cooking-pots and horses

ready saddled. The affair was another plume in the cap of the man who so

unostentatiously had harried and fought and skirmished around Mafeking

for the relief of Colonel Baden-Powell, but he had to pay for his hard

work in persistently chasing and eventually turning the foe, by a spell

of complete exhaustion. The pursuit was then carried forward by Colonels

Henniker and Crabbe. General Plumer entrained and moved to Springfontein

in order to await developments and be ready on the north of the river

should De Wet succeed in evading the pursuit and in getting across. The

fugitive at this time (24th) was in no enviable position. Chased by

Henniker and Crabbe, worn, weary, and dropping shattered horses as he

went, he found himself again within the same square hunting-ground he had

left, bounded on the north by the Orange, on the south by the De

Aar-to-Naauwpoort line, on the east by the line connecting Naauwpoort

with Norval's Pont, on the west by that leading from De Aar up to Orange

River Station.

But there were now stern limitations. Coming down from Hopetown towards

Petrusville he was conscious of his cramped position and of his danger,

for he had fled into a ring which was growing smaller and smaller as he

rushed across country for an outlet. At the back of him was a half hoop,

like an incoming wave, created by the troops of Henniker and Crabbe,

supported by those of Thorneycroft, who guarded the region from Krankuil

to the bank of the river. Coming up from Hanover Road on the south (to

prevent him doubling back) were Colonels Hickman, Haig, and Williams; and

waiting for him towards the east, with his arms open as it were, was

Colonel Byng, moving from Colesberg. Thus all along the line of the

Zeekoe River was guarded, or supposed to be. As De Wet's luck would have

it, Colonel Byng, under orders, made a temporary move to Hamilfontein,

causing a gap, of which the slim Dutchman was not slow to avail himself.

He tore along towards the bank of the river, found the loophole at

Lilliefontein (some four miles west of Colesberg Road bridge), and was

over the river like a rocket! Space does not admit of a detailed account

of this exciting chase, of Captain Dallimore's prodigious haul of

twenty-seven Boers by fifteen Victorians, and of the part taken by all

the splendid troops, that knew no rest night nor day for over a

fortnight. Disappointment was great at the loss of the quarry, but there

was at least the consolation of knowing that the projected invasion was a

disastrous failure from beginning to end, and the brilliant guerilla

chief was crippled for a good time to come.

On the 27th, a meeting took place at Middelburg between Lord Kitchener

and Botha, with the object of making terms which would induce the

Dutchman and his allies to surrender. A most liberal offer was made, but

the Boers clamouring only for "independence," the one thing which it was

impossible they could have, failed to come to terms, and after a lengthy

correspondence of some weeks' duration, the proceedings fell through, and

it was understood, both at home and abroad, that the enemy had decided to

fight to the finish.

This decision was received by many with unfeigned thanksgiving. Though

all were weary of war, of the ruin and sacrifice involved, they yet

preferred to suffer and endure rather than run the risk of a magnanimous

compromise which would "shame the living and cheat the dead," which must

assuredly be regarded by the Boers as a demonstration of weakness, and

might eventually bring about a recurrence of the terrible war drama that

is now drawing to a close. Patience and pluck and determination are

needed--they will be required for some months to come--but the end is in

view. The bold, dogged, and doughty enemy will have to learn the lesson

that the British are equally bold, dogged, and doughty--that they mean

not only to have, but to hold, that which they have earned by a vast

expenditure of blood and treasure; to maintain the avowed policy of the

British nation, to establish British suzerainty from the Cape to the

Zambesi, and make South Africa "indisputably and for ever one country

under one flag, with one system of Government, and that system the

British." The lesson once taught, the vista will grow clear. Into the

newly acquired territory will be introduced the true meaning of the word

Justice; of the phrase "liberty and equality for all white men." Then,

slowly--by infinitesimal degrees, perhaps--but surely, will liberty and

equality develop into fraternity, and the stalwarts who, like ourselves,

have passed bravely through the fiercest ordeal of Manhood, will, with

us, work shoulder to shoulder to bring about an era of prosperous peace

and abiding amity.

LONDON, _March 1901_.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] See vol. iv. p. 177.

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF NOTABLE PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN

CAMPAIGN[19]

ABBREVIATIONS

K.G. Knight of the Garter.

K.T. Knight of the Thistle.

K.P. Knight of St. Patrick.

G.C.B. Knight Grand Cross }

K.C.B. Knight Commander } of the Bath.

C.B. Companion }

G.C.S.I. Knight Grand Commander }

K.C.S.I. Knight Commander } of the Star of

C.S.I. Companion } India.

G.C.M.G. Knight Grand Cross }

K.C.M.G. Knight Commander } of St. Michael and St.

C.M.G. Companion } George.

G.C.I.E. Knight Grand Commander }

K.C.I.E. Knight Commander } of the Indian

C.I.E. Companion } Empire.

G.C.V.O. Knight Grand Cross }

K.C.V.O. Knight Commander } of the Royal Victorian

C.V.O. Commander } Order.

M.V.O. Member 4th or 5th Class }

D.S.O. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

A.D.C. Aide-de-Camp.

V.C. Victoria Cross.

=Abinger= (4th Baron).--James Yorke Macgregor Scarlett. Late Captain 3rd

Battalion Queen's Own (Cameron Highlanders).

=Acheson= (Viscount).--Archibald Charles Montagu Brabazon, D.L. for

County Armagh. Lieutenant 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

=À Court.=--Lieut.-Col. C. À Court. Entered Rifle Brigade, 1878; Brev.

Lieut.-Col., 1899. _Staff Service_--Staff Capt. (Intell.) Headquarters of

Army, 1890-93; D.A.A.G. (Intell.) Headquarters of Army, 1893-95;

D.A.A.G., Egypt, 1897-98; Brig.-Maj. Soudan Ex. Force, 1898; Mil. Attaché

(temp.) Brussels and the Hague, 1899; D.A.A.G., S. Africa, 1899-1900.

_War Service_--Afghan War, 1878 (medal with clasp); Nile Ex., 1898

(Despatches, May and Sept. 1898; Brev. of Lieut.-Col.; Egyptian medal

with clasp; medal); S. African War, 1899-1900; with Ladysmith Relief

Force; Spion Kop (Despatches).

=Airey.=--Lieut.-Col. H. P. Airey, D.S.O. This dashing officer commanded

the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen.

=Airlie= (8th Earl of).--David William Stanley Ogilvy, Baron Ogilvy of

Airlie (_see_ vol. vi. p. 15).

=Albemarle= (8th Earl of).--Arnold Allan Cecil Keppel, Baron Ashford,

Viscount Bury. Colonel, C.I.V.; late Dorset Militia; late Scots Guards.

=Alderson.=--Lieut.-Col. E. A. H. Alderson, Royal West Kent Regt. Entered

1878; Brev. Lieut.-Col., 1897. _Staff Service_--Spec. Serv. S. Africa,

1896-97; D.A.A.G., Aldershot, 1897-99; Comdg. Mounted Inf. Cav., 1st

Brig., S. Africa, 1899. _War Service_--S. African War, 1881; Egyptian

Ex., 1882 (medal with clasp; bronze star); Soudan Ex., 1884-85 (2

clasps); Op. in S. Africa, 1896 (Despatches; Brev. of Lieut.-Col.); S.

African War, 1899-1900; Comdg. Corps of Mounted Inf.

=Aldworth.=--Lieutenant-Colonel W. Aldworth, D.S.O. Commanding 2nd

Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. For career, _see_ vol. iv.

p. 60.

=Alexander.=--Lieut.-Col. H. Alexander, 10th Hussars. Entered 1880;

Lieut.-Col., Aug. 1900. _Staff Service_--Adjt. Yeomanry Cavalry, 1890-95.

_War Service_--S. African War, 1899-1900; twice wounded (once severely).

=Alexander.=--Lieut.-Col. Hon. W. P. Alexander, Royal Scots Greys. Cor.

2nd Dragoons, 1869; Brev.-Col., July 1900. _Staff Service_--Adjt. Aux.

Forces, 1884-89. _War Service_--S. African War, 1899-1900.

=Allen.=--Major-General Ralph Edward Allen, J.P., A.A.G. South African

Field Force. Entered 1865; Colonel, 1896. _Staff Service_--Brigade Major,

Belfast, 1884; D.A.A. and Q.M.G., South Africa, 1884-85; Brigade Major,

Eastern District, 1886-87; D.A.A.G., Chatham, 1887; A.A.G., Curragh,

1896-97; A.A.G., South Africa, 1899-1900. _War Service_--Bechuanaland

Expedition, 1884-85 (honourably mentioned; Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel);

South African War, 1899-1900; on Staff. Major-General Allen, born in

1846, is the son of the late Major R. Shuttleworth Allen, J.P., D.L., and

the daughter of Sir Samuel Cunard, Bart.

=Allin.=--Lieut.-Col. W. B. Allin, A.M.S., P.M.O., Natal Field Force;

Lieut.-Col. R.A.M.C., 1893. _War Service_--Afghan War, 1878-1880 (medal);

Soudan Ex., 1884-85 (Despatches, 1885; medal with clasp; bronze star;

promoted Surg.-Maj.); Isazai Ex., 1892; S. African War, 1899-1900.

=Appelbe.=--Col. E. B. Appelbe. Lieut.-Col., 1898. _Staff

Service_--Employed with Egyptian Army, 1887-93; Ord. Officer 3rd class,

1896-98; Ord. Officer 2nd class, 1898. _War Service_--S. African War,

1879-81 (medal with clasp); Soudan Ex., 1884-85 (medal with 2 clasps;

bronze star); Soudan, 1888-89 (3rd class Medjidie); S. African War,

1899-1900; Chief Ord. Officer, Lines of Communication.

=Armstrong.=--Lieut.-Col. F. W. Armstrong. This officer rendered valuable

service with the East Griqualand Mounted Volunteers.

=Arthur.=--Sir George Compton Archibald Arthur, 3rd Battalion Herts

Yeomanry Cavalry; Lieutenant, 2nd Life Guards, 1880-86. _War

Service_--Egyptian Campaign, 1882; Nile Expedition, 1885. Born 1860.

[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL BARTON, C.B.

Photo, Debenham & Smith, Southampton]

=Ava= (Earl of).--Archibald James Leofric Temple Blackwood (late 17th

Lancers), son of 1st Marquis of Dufferin and Ava. For career, see vol

iii. p. 90.

=Babington.=--Major-General J. M. Babington. Entered 1873; Colonel, 1896.

_Staff Service_--A.A.G., Punjab, 1896-99. _War Service_--Bechuanaland

Expedition, 1884-85 (Despatches); S. African War, 1899-1901; A.A.G.,

afterwards Commanding 1st Cavalry Brigade.

=Babtie.=--Major W. Babtie, #V.C.#, C.M.G., R.A.M.C. (_See_ Recipients of

the V.C.) Entered 1881. This notable medical officer, the first of the

Scottish heroes to earn the V.C. in South Africa, was born in 1859, and

is the son of Mr. J. Babtie, J.P., of Dumbarton. He served with

distinction in India, Malta, and Crete, and was decorated for services

rendered during the international occupation of that island. His action

at Colenso is described elsewhere.

=Bacon.=--Maj. W. Bacon. This officer rendered notable service with the

Queensland Mounted Infantry.

=Baden-Powell.=--Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell.

Special Service, Mafeking. Entered 13th Hussars, 1876; Major-General,

23rd May 1900. _Staff Service_--A.D.C. to G.O.C. Cape of Good Hope, 1888;

A.M.S. and A.D.C. to G.O.C. Cape of Good Hope, 1888-90; A.M.S. and A.D.C.

to Governor of Malta, 1890-93. Special Service, Ashanti, 1895-96; South

Africa, 1899-1900. _War Service_--Operations in Zululand, 1888

(honourably mentioned); Ashanti Expedition, 1895-96 (honourably

mentioned; Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, Star); Operations in South

Africa, 1896 (Despatches; Brevet of Colonel); South African War,

1899-1900; Mafeking. Afterwards on Staff. Promoted Major-General for

distinguished services in the field. The heroic defender of Mafeking is

the son of the late Prof. Baden-Powell, who married the eldest daughter

of Admiral W. H. Smyth, F.R.S., a descendant of the gallant Captain John

Smith of Elizabethan age. Their son, Robert Stephenson Smyth

Baden-Powell, was born on the 22nd February 1857. He was a godson of

Robert Stephenson, the celebrated engineer. He is a keen soldier, a smart

scholar, a fine actor, and a born wit, and to these qualities, combined

with his amazing versatility and excellent spirits, he owes his

popularity and success. In 1870 he was nominated by the Duke of

Marlborough for Charterhouse, where he distinguished himself not only by

his mental but moral qualities, while his irrepressible spirits caused

him to be looked upon as the life of the school. In addition to his other

accomplishments he is a first-rate polo-player and pig-sticker, a capital

shot, and an ambidextrous artist. His favourite mottoes are: "Don't

flurry; patience gains the day!" and "A smile and a stick will carry you

through any difficulty in the world."

=Bagot.=--J. F. Bagot, J.P., D.L., M.P. for South Westmorland since 1892,

County Councillor for Westmorland, Parliamentary Private Secretary to

Financial Secretary to Treasury. This gallant officer (serving with

Yeomanry Cavalry) retired as Captain in Grenadier Guards in 1886. Prior

to that date he acted as A.D.C. to the Governor-General of Canada in

1882-83 and 1888-89. He is the eldest son of Colonel Charles Bagot,

Grenadier Guards; was born in 1854, and married in 1885 to the daughter

of Sir John Leslie, Bart.

=Bainbridge.=--Brev.-Maj. E. G. T. Bainbridge, The Buffs. Entered 1888;

Brev.-Maj., 1898. _Staff Service_--Employed with Egyptian Army, 1896-98;

D.A.A.G., S. Africa, 1899-1900. _War Service_--Ex. to Dongola, 1896

(Despatches, Nov. 1896); Nile Ex., 1897 (Despatches, Jan. 1898; clasp to

Egyptian medal); Nile Ex., 1898 (Despatches, Sept. and Dec., 1898; Brev.

of Maj.; clasp to Egyptian medal; medal); S. African War, 1899-1900; on

Staff; Commanding Corps of Mounted Inf.

=Ball.=--Maj. J. W. Ball. This officer rendered valuable service with the

Queenstown Rifle Volunteers.

=Banfield.=--Lieut.-Col. R. J. F. Banfield, The Welsh Regiment. Entered

1871; Lieut.-Col., 1896. _Staff Service_--D.A.A.G. for Inst. W. Dist.,

1887-92. _War Service_--S. African War, 1899-1900; Op. at Paardeberg;

severely wounded, 18th Feb. 1900.

=Bartlett.=--Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, M.P., Lieutenant, 4th Battalion

Bedfordshire Regiment. Sir Ellis was born in 1849, and married in 1874

the daughter of Mr. Walsh of Philadelphia. He was M.P. for Suffolk from

1880-85, for Ecclesall Division, Sheffield, since 1885, and Civil Lord of

the Admiralty from 1885-86, 1886-92.

=Barton.=--Major-General G. Barton, C.B. Commanding 6th Brigade Natal

Field Force. Entered 1862; Major-General, 1898. _Staff Service_--Special

Service, Ashanti Expedition, 1873-74; A.D.C. to Brigadier-General,

Aldershot, 1874-77; Special Service, South Africa, 1878-79; D.A.A. and

Q.M.G. (commandant Foot Police); Expeditionary Force, Egypt, 1882;

Assistant Military Secretary, China, 1884-85; Assistant Military

Secretary to Lieutenant-General, Expeditionary Force, Suakim, 1885;

A.A.G. Thames District, 1895-97, North-West District, 1897-98;

Major-General Infantry Brigade, South Africa, 1899. _War

Service_--Ashanti, 1873-74, wounded (Despatches; medal with clasp;

promoted Captain); South African War, 1879 (Despatches; medal with clasp;

Brevet of Major); Egyptian Expedition, 1882 (Despatches; medal with

clasp; bronze star; Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, 4th class, Osmanieh);

Soudan Expedition, 1885 (clasp); South African War, 1899-1900; on Staff;

wounded February 27, 1900.

=Basing= (2nd Baron).--George Limbrey Sclater-Booth. Entered 1st

Dragoons, 1882; Major 1898. _War Service_--S. African War (Despatches).

Lord Basing was born in 1860, and married, in 1889, the daughter of Mr.

John Hargreaves, Maiden Erleigh, Berks, and Whalley Abbey, Lancs.

=Bayly.=--Lieut.-Col. A. W. L. Bayly, D.S.O., I.S.C. Entered 108th Foot,

1874; Lieut.-Col., June 1900. _Staff Service_--D.A.A. and Q.M.G. Burmese

Ex., 1886-87; D.A.Q.M.G. Dist. Staff Officer, 2nd class; D.A.A.G.,

Bombay, 1887-92; A.A.G., India, 1896; D.A.A.G., S. Africa, March 1900.

_War Service_--Afghan War, 1879-80 (medal with clasp); Soudan Ex., 1885

(medal with clasp; bronze star); Burmese Ex., 1886-87 (Despatches, Sept.

1887; medal with 2 clasps; D.S.O.); S. African War, with Ladysmith Relief

Force; wounded 24th Jan.

=Beale.=--Col. Beale. This officer rendered valuable service with the

Rhodesian Regt., British S. Africa Company.

=Bearcroft.=--Capt. J. Bearcroft, Royal Navy. Entered R.N. 1864; Capt.,

1895. _War Service_--Commanded _Philomel_, and landed in command of Naval

Brigade, S. African War, 1899-1900; C.B., Oct. 1900.

=Beckett.=--Colonel C. E. Beckett, C.B., 3rd Hussars. Entered 1869;

Colonel, 1898. _Staff Service_--D.A.A. and Q.M.G., Egypt, 1882;

Brigadier-Major Cavalry Brigade, Egypt, 1882-83; Assistant Military

Secretary to G.O.C. Forces, Ireland, 1886-88; D.A.A.G., Headquarters,

Ireland, 1888-91; Assistant-Inspector General of Ordnance, Headquarters

of Army, 1898-99; A.A.G., Natal, 1899; A.Q.M.G., Headquarters of Army,

1900. _War Service_--Egyptian Expedition, 1882 (Despatches; medal with

clasp; bronze star; Brevet of Major, 4th class Medjidie); Soudan, 1884-85

(clasp); South African War, Dundee, severely wounded.

=Belcher.=--Maj. R. Belcher acted as second in command of the splendid

corps known as Strathcona's Horse. See vol. iii. p. 147.

=Belfield.=--Col. H. E. Belfield. Entered 1876; Col., 1899. _Staff

Service_--Brig.-Maj., Aldershot, 1890-93; D.A.A.G. (and also for Inst.),

Aldershot, 1893-95; Spec. Serv., Ashanti, 1895-96; A.A.G., S. Africa,

1899. _War Service_--Ashanti Ex., 1895-96 (hon. mentioned; Brev. of

Lieut.-Col.; star); S. African War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

=Bell-Irving.=--Lieut.-Col. A. Bell-Irving, R.A. Entered 1875;

Lieut.-Col., 1900. _War Service_--Afghan War, 1878-80 (Despatches; medal

with clasp); S. African War, 1899-1900.

=Benson.=--Colonel F. W. Benson. Joined 21st Hussars, 1869; Colonel,

1898. _Staff Service_--A.D.C. to Lieutenant-Governor North-West

Provinces, India, 1877; employed with Egyptian Army, 1893-94; D.A.A.G.

for Inst., Dublin, 1895-98; A.A.G. South-East District, 1898-99; Special

Service, South Africa, 1899-1900; A.A.G. South Africa, 1900. _War

Service_--Fenian Raid, Canada (medal with clasp); South African War,

1899-1900; on Staff.

=Bentinck.=--Lord Charles Cavendish Cavendish Bentinck, Lieutenant 9th

Lancers. Special Service, S. Africa, 1900.

=Bentinck.=--Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, M.P., Yeomanry Cavalry. Lord

Henry, born in 1863, is the son of General Bentinck. He married in 1892

Lady Olivia, daughter of the late Earl of Bective.

=Bethell.=--Lieut.-Col. E. H. Bethell, R.E. Entered 1873; Lieut.-Col.,

Jan. 1900. _Staff Service_--Brig.-Maj. Royal Engineers, Headquarters,

Ireland, 1890-95; Staff Off. Royal Engineers, S. Africa, 1899. _War

Service_--Afghan War, 1878-80 (Despatches; medal). S. African War,

1899-1900; on Staff.

=Bethune.=--Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Bethune. Entered 1875;

Lieutenant-Colonel, 1900. _Staff Service_--Garrison Instructor, D.A.A.G.,

Madras, 1887-94; D.A.A.G., India, 1898-99; A.A.G., India, 1899; D.A.A.G.,

South Africa, 1899; Special Service, South Africa, 1899. _War

Service_--Afghan War, 1878-80 (medal with clasp); South African War,

1881; South African War, 1900; on Staff; raised and commanded Bethune's

Mounted Infantry.

=Bewicke-Copley.=--Lieut.-Col. R. C. A. B. Bewicke-Copley, 3rd Batt.

King's Royal Rifle Corps. Entered 1876; Lieut.-Col., March 1900. _Staff

Service_--A.D.C. to Lieut.-Gov., Bengal, 1880; D.A.A.G., Barbadoes,

1890-92; Headquarters, Ireland, 1892-95; A.M.S. and A.D.C. to

Lieut.-Gen., India, 1896-98. _War Service_--Soudan Ex., 1884-85 (medal

with clasp; bronze star); Op. in Chitral, 1895 (medal with clasp); N.W.

Frontier of India, 1897-98 (Despatches; Feb. 1898; 2 clasps); Tirah,

1897-98 (Despatches; April 1900; clasp); S. African War, 1899-1900.

=Bingham.=--Maj. Hon. C. E. Bingham, 1st Life Guards, A.D.C. Entered 3rd

Hussars 1882; Major, 1st Life Guards, 1898. _Staff Service_--A.D.C. to

Maj.-Gen. Cav. Brig., S. Africa, 1899-1900; A.D.C. to Lieut.-Gen. Cav.

Brig., S. Africa, Feb. 1900; D.A.A.G., S. Africa, May 1900. _War

Service_--S. African War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

=Blagrove.=--Colonel H. J. Blagrove. Commanding 13th Hussars. Entered

13th Hussars 1875; Brevet-Colonel, July 1900. _Staff Service_--Staff

Captain Remount Establishment, 1887-92. _War Service_--Egyptian

Expedition, 1882 (medal with clasp; bronze star); South African War,

1899-1900.

=Blomfield.=--Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Blomfield, D.S.O. Commanding 2nd

Lancashire Fusiliers. Entered 1875; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1898. _Staff

Service_--Adjutant, Auxiliary Forces, 1884-89; D.A.A.G., Bombay, 1892-97;

A.A.G., India, 1897. _War Service_--Nile Expedition, 1898 (Despatches;

D.S.O. Egyptian medal with clasp; medal); South African War, 1899-1900.

Colonel Blomfield, born in 1855, is the son of the late Rev. G. Blomfield

and the daughter of the late Bishop of London. He married the daughter of

the late Major E. Bristoe. The gallant Colonel, whose splendid regiment

distinguished itself at Spion Kop, had the misfortune to be taken

prisoner on that occasion (see vol. iii. p. 111).

=Bodle.=--Lieut.-Col. Bodle. This officer rendered valuable service with

the British S. Africa Police.

=Bowles.=--Lieut.-Col. H. Bowles, Yorkshire Regt. Entered 1876; Brev.

Lieut.-Col., 1899. _Staff Service_--Staff Capt., Egypt, 1884-85; D.A.A.,

and Q.M.G., Egypt, 1885-86. _War Service_--Soudan Ex., 1884-85

(Despatches; Brev. of Maj.); Op. on N.W. Frontier of India (Despatches;

Brev. of Lieut.-Col.; medal with 2 clasps); S. African War, 1899-1900

(Despatches, May 1900); Paardeberg, wounded.

=Boyes.=--Major-General T. E. Boyes. Commanding 17th Brigade. Entered

1861; Major-General, 1899. _Staff Service_--Brigade-Major, Straits

Settlements, 1869-70; Major-General Infantry, Aldershot, January 1900 to

March 1900; South Africa, March 1900. _War Service_--Egyptian Expedition,

1882-84; (Despatches; medal with clasp; bronze star; Brevet of

Lieutenant-Colonel, 4th class Osmanieh); Soudan (2 clasps); Soudan

Expedition, 1884-85 (clasp); South African War, 1900.

=Brabant.=--Brigadier-General E. Y. Brabant, M.L.D., C.M.G. (Brabant's

Horse). Entered 2nd Derby Militia, 1855; joined Cape Mounted Rifles,

1856, and retired in 1870. Commandant of Colonial Forces, 1878; C.M.G.,

1880; Commanding Colonial Division in South Africa, 1900.

[Illustration: MAJ.-GEN. BRABAZON

_Photo by H. W. Barrett, London_]

=Brabazon.=--Major-General J. P. Brabazon, C.B., A.D.C. to the Queen.

Commanding Imperial Yeomanry, South Africa. Entered 1862; Colonel, January

1899. _Staff Service_--Acting as Volunteer with rank of Captain, Ashanti

Expedition, 1873-74; A.D.C. (extra to Viceroy of India), 1877-79;

Brigade-Major, Afghan Campaign, 1870-80; A.D.C. to the Queen, 1889;

Colonel on Staff; Commanding Cavalry Brigade, South-East District, 1899;

Major-General, Cavalry Brigade, South Africa, 1899-1900. _War

Service_--Ashanti, 1874 (medal with clasp); Afghan War 1878-80

(Despatches; March, November, 1879; January, May, December, 1880; Medal

with 4 clasps; bronze star; Brevet of Major); Egyptian Expedition, 1884

(Despatches; medal with clasp; bronze star; Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel);

Soudan, 1884-85 (clasp); South African War, 1899-1900 (Despatches).

General Brabazon, born in 1843, is the son of the late Major Brabazon

(late 15th Hussars), and the daughter of the late Sir W. H. Palmer, Bart.

=Bradley.=--Lieut.-Col. C. E. Bradley, North Stafford Regiment. Entered

1874; Lieut-Col., 1899. _War Service_--Op. in Zululand, 1888; S. African

War, 1890-1900.

=Brassey.=--Captain Hon. T. Allnutt Brassey, B.A., J.P., West Kent

Yeomanry Cavalry. Captain Brassey is the son of the 1st Baron Brassey and

the daughter of 1st Marquis of Abergavenny.

=Bridge.=--Col. C. H. Bridge, C.B., A.S.C. Brev.-Col., 1898. _Staff

Service_--D.A.Q.M.G., Headquarters of Army, 1888-91; D.A.A.G., S. Africa,

1896-97; E. Dist., 1897-99; D.A.G. for Transport, S. Africa, 1899. _War

Service_--Egyptian Ex., 1882 (medal; bronze star); Op. in S. Africa, 1896

(Despatches; C.B.); S. African War, 1899-1900; on Staff.

[Illustration: BRIG.-GEN. ROBERT GEORGE BROADWOOD _Photo by T. Fall,

London_]

=Broadwood.=--Brigadier-General R. G. Broadwood. Entered 12th Lancers

1881; Brevet of Colonel, 1898. _Staff Service_--A.D.C. to G.O.C. Belfast

District, 1892; employed with Egyptian Army, 1892-99; Brigadier-General,

Cavalry Brigade, South Africa, February 1900. _War Service_--Expedition

to Dongola, 1896 (Despatches; Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel; Egyptian

medal with 2 clasps; medal); Nile Expedition, 1897 (2 clasps to Egyptian

medal, 4th class Osmanieh); Nile Expedition, 1898 (Despatches, May and

September 1898; Brevet of Colonel; 2 clasps to Egyptian medal; medal);

South African War, 1899-1900.

=Brocklehurst.=--Major-General J. F. Brocklehurst, M.V.O. Commanding 13th

Cavalry Brigade. Entered 1874; Colonel, 1899. _Staff Service_--D.A.A. and

Q.M.G., Egypt, 1884-85; Equerry to the Queen, 1899; Major-General,

Cavalry Brigade, Natal, 1899. _War Service_--Egyptian Expedition, 1882

(medal with clasp; bronze star); Soudan Expedition, 1884-85 (Despatches;

clasp; Brevet of Major); South African War, 1899-1900.

=Bromley Davenport.=--W. J. P. Bromley Davenport, M.P., Yeomanry Cavalry.

Born 1863. Son of late Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bromley Davenport, M.P.

=Brooke.=--Col. L. G. Brooke, 1st Batt. Connaught Rangers. Entered 1869;

Brev.-Col., 1899. _Staff Service_--Adjt. Aux. Forces, 1881-86. _War

Service_--S. African War, 1879; Ulundi, slightly wounded (Despatches;

medal with clasp); S. African War, 1899-1900; Ladysmith Relief Force;

Colenso, dangerously wounded.

=Brooke.=--Captain R. G. Brooke, D.S.O., A.D.C. to Sir George White.

Entered 1885; Captain, 7th Hussars, 1896. _War Service_--Operations in

Chitral, 1895 (Despatches; medal with clasp); Operations on North-Western

Frontier of India, 1897-98 (2 clasps); Nile Expedition, 1898 (Despatches,

May and September 1898; D.S.O. Egyptian medal with 2 clasps); South

African War, 1899-1900; Elandslaagte, severely wounded. Captain Brooke is

the son of Sir Victor Brooke and the daughter of Sir Alan Bellingham.

=Browne.=--Maj. R. S. Browne. This officer rendered valuable service with

the Queensland Mounted Infantry.

=Bryan.=--Major Hon. G. L. Bryan, Imperial Yeomanry. This officer, born

in 1857, is a son of the 3rd Baron Bellew. He spent some years in the

10th Hussars, and served in the Nile Expedition.

=Buchan.=--Lieut.-Col. L. Buchan. This officer served with distinction

with the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.

=Buchanan-Riddell.=--Lieut.-Col. R. G. Buchanan-Riddell, 3rd Batt. King's

Royal Rifle Corps. For particulars see vol. iii. p. 111.

=Buller.=--General Sir Redvers Henry Buller, #V.C.#, P.C., G.C.B., K.C.M.G.

Commander-in-Chief of Forces, Natal. Entered 1858; Colonel, 1879;

General, 1896. _Staff Service_--D.A.A.G., Ashanti Expedition, 1873-74;

D.A.A.G., Headquarters of Army, 1874-78; Special Service, Cape of Good

Hope, 1878-79; A.D.C. to the Queen, 1879-84; A.A. and Q.M.G., North

Britain; Aldershot, 1880-81; D.A. and Q.M.G., South Africa, 1881;

Brigadier-General, South Africa, 1881; D.A. and Q.M.G., Intelligence

Department, Expeditionary Force, Egypt, 1882; A.A.G., Headquarters of

Army, 1883-84; Major-General (Chief of Staff), Egypt, 1884-85; D.A.G. to

the Forces, Headquarters of Army, 1885-86; Special Service, 1886-87;

Q.M.G. to the Forces, Headquarters of Army, 1887-90; Adjutant-General to

the Forces, Headquarters of Army, 1890-97; Lieutenant-General commanding

troops, Aldershot, 1898-99; General Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa,

October 1899 to January 1900; General Officer Commanding Natal, January

1900. _War Service_--China War, 1860 (medal with clasp); Red River

Expedition, 1870; Ashanti, 1873-74; wounded (Despatches, November 1873,

March 1874; medal with clasp; Brevet of Major; C.B.); South African War,

1878-79 (thanked in General Orders; Despatches, 11th, 18th June 1878;

5th, 15th, 28th March; 7th May, 21st August 1879; medal with clasp;

Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel; A.D.C. to Queen; #V.C.#, C.M.G.); Egyptian

Campaign, 1882-84 (Despatches; medal with clasp; bronze star, 3rd class

Osmanieh; K.C.M.G.); Soudan, 1884 (Despatches, March, April, May, 1884; 2

clasps; promoted Major-General for distinguished service); Soudan,

1884-85 (Despatches, March, August, 1885; clasp; K.C.B.); South African

War, 1899-1900. Sir Redvers Buller, born in 1839, is the son of the late

Mr. J. W. Buller and the daughter of the late Lord H. M. Howard. He

married in 1882 the daughter of the 4th Marquis Townshend and widow of

the Hon. G. T. Howard. The General's character has been much discussed,

and it is universally allowed that for pluck, obstinacy, and bluntness he

cannot find his match. The deeds that won him the Victoria Cross are now

world-famous (_see_ vol. i. p. 60), but the public is less acquainted

with the story of his gallantry at El-Teb, and the way he saved the

situation at the desperate little battle of Tamai. Of this Mr. Charles

Lowe, in his interesting book of "Our Greatest Living Soldiers," says:

"Buller's square, composed of the 'Gay Gordons,' the Royal Irish, and the

60th Rifles, amongst the ranks of whom he had first won his spurs, had

been assailed in the same furious manner as that of Davis, but had blown

away all opposition to its advance, about five hundred yards on the right

rear of its fellow-brigade, to whose support it now moved up, steady and

machine-like, as if on parade. Encouraged by the splendid steadfastness

of Buller's embattled men, Davis's disrupted square was quick to rally,

and then the two brigades began to rain such an infernal fire of bullets

on their savage foe that the latter were forced to break, and the day was

won." Of his obstinacy an amusing anecdote is told. While he and Lord

Charles Beresford were serving together in Egypt, an argument arose as to

the direction to be taken by the river steamer. Each doggedly defended

his own opinion, but finally, on gaining the day, Sir Redvers triumphed.

"I was right after all!" he cried, when his programme had been fulfilled.

"And so was I," replied Lord Charles. "I merely recommended the other

because I knew you would go against anything I said!"

=Bullock.=--Lieut.-Col. G. M. Bullock, 2nd Batt. Devonshire Regt. Entered

1872; Lieut.-Col., 1897. _Staff Service_--Brig. Maj. S.E. Dist., 1882-87;

Station Staff Off., 1st class, Bengal, 1889-91; D.A.A.G., Bengal,

1891-94. War Service--S. African War, 1899-1900; with Ladysmith Relief

Force; Action at Colenso (Despatches); wounded.

=Burdett-Coutts.=--W. Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-Coutts, J.P., M.P. This

gentleman, whose dissatisfaction with the hospital arrangements in South

Africa caused considerable stir in the country, acted as Correspondent of

the _Times_. Mr. Burdett-Coutts, born in America in 1851, is mainly

notable in consequence of his marriage with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts,

one of the most benevolent and esteemed ladies of the Victorian Era.

=Burger.=--Schalk Burger, the reported "Acting President" of the

Transvaal, _vice_ Mr. Kruger, was born at Lydenburg in the year in which

the Sand River Convention was signed. His grandfather, one of the

original Voortrekkers, had the distinction of having the price of £300

set on his head by the British Government, in consequence of his share in

a Natal rebellion. His grandson is more of a politician than a soldier.

Enlightened and shrewd, but--progressive though he was inclined to be--he

could never have rivalled Mr. Kruger in his influence over his

countrymen.

=Burnham.=--F. R. Burnham. This marvellous Canadian scout and tracker was

invited by Lord Roberts to join his Staff. He was formerly a cow-boy, and

has had unlimited experience of warfare. His hairbreadth 'scapes would

form the nucleus of a library of adventure. His services have been

invaluable.

=Burn-Murdoch.=--Brigadier-General J. F. Burn-Murdoch, J.P. Entered 1878;

Brevet-Colonel, 1st Dragoons, 1898. _Staff Service_--Brigade-Major of

Cavalry, 1890-91; Brigade-Major Cavalry Brigade, Aldershot, 1891-94;

employed with Egyptian Army, 1894-95; Brigadier-General Cavalry Brigade,

South Africa, February 1900. _War Service_--Soudan Expedition, 1884-85

(medal with clasps; bronze star); Expedition to Dongola, 1896

(Despatches, Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, Egyptian Medal with 2 clasps);

South African War, 1899-1900; on Staff. Colonel Burn-Murdoch, born 1859,

is the son of the Rev. Canon Burn-Murdoch.

=Buston.=--Lieut.-Col. P. T. Buston, R.E. Entered 1872; Lieut.-Col.,

1899. _War Service_--Afghan War, 1878-79-80 (Despatches; medal with 2

clasps); Hazara Ex., 1888 (Despatches; medal with clasp; Brev. of Maj.);

Hazara Ex., 1891 (Despatches; clasp); S. African War, 1899-1900.