In The First Week Of April Hunter's
Division Was Sent Down To Durban And Transferred To The Western
Side, Where They Were Moved Up To Kimberley, Whence They Advanced
Northwards.
The man on the horse has had in this war an immense
advantage over the man on foot, but there have been times when the
man on the ship has restored the balance.
Captain Mahan might find
some fresh texts in the transference of Hunter's Division, or in
the subsequent expedition to Beira.
On April 10th the Boers descended from their mountains and woke up
our sleepy army corps by a brisk artillery fire. Our own guns
silenced it, and the troops instantly relapsed into their slumber.
There was no movement for a fortnight afterwards upon either side,
save that of Sir Charles Warren, who left the army in order to take
up the governorship of British Bechuanaland, a district which was
still in a disturbed state, and in which his presence had a
peculiar significance, since he had rescued portions of it from
Boer domination in the early days of the Transvaal Republic.
Hildyard took over the command of the 5th Division. In this state
of inertia the Natal force remained until Lord Roberts, after a six
weeks' halt in Bloemfontein, necessitated by the insecurity of his
railway communication and his want of every sort of military
supply, more especially horses for his cavalry and boots for his
infantry, was at last able on May 2nd to start upon his famous
march to Pretoria. Before accompanying him, however, upon this
victorious progress, it is necessary to devote a chapter to the
series of incidents and operations which had taken place to the
east and south-east of Bloemfontein during this period of
compulsory inactivity.
One incident must be recorded in this place, though it was
political rather than military. This was the interchange of notes
concerning peace between Paul Kruger and Lord Salisbury. There is
an old English jingle about 'the fault of the Dutch, giving too
little and asking too much,' but surely there was never a more
singular example of it than this. The united Presidents prepare for
war for years, spring an insulting ultimatum upon us, invade our
unfortunate Colonies, solemnly annex all the portions invaded, and
then, when at last driven back, propose a peace which shall secure
for them the whole point originally at issue. It is difficult to
believe that the proposals could have been seriously meant, but
more probable that the plan may have been to strengthen the hands
of the Peace deputation who were being sent to endeavour to secure
European intervention. Could they point to a proposal from the
Transvaal and a refusal from England, it might, if not too
curiously examined, excite the sympathy of those who follow
emotions rather than facts.
The documents were as follow: -
'The Presidents of the Orange Free State and of the South African
Republic to the Marquess of Salisbury. Bloemfontein March 5th,
1900.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 215 of 435
Words from 111276 to 111776
of 225456
