For This Purpose Two Small Forces
Were Necessary - The One To Oppose The Advance Through Bethulie And
Stormberg, The Other To Meet The Invaders, Who, Having Passed The
River At Norval's Pont, Had Now Occupied Colesberg.
The former task
was, as already shown, committed to General Gatacre.
The latter was
allotted to General French, the victor of Elandslaagte, who had
escaped in the very last train from Ladysmith, and had taken over
this new and important duty. French's force assembled at Arundel
and Gatacre's at Sterkstroom. It is with the operations of the
former that we have now to deal.
General French, for whom South Africa has for once proved not the
grave but the cradle of a reputation, had before the war gained
some name as a smart and energetic cavalry officer. There were some
who, watching his handling of a considerable body of horse at the
great Salisbury manoeuvres in 1898, conceived the highest opinion
of his capacity, and it was due to the strong support of General
Buller, who had commanded in these peaceful operations, that French
received his appointment for South Africa. In person he is short
and thick, with a pugnacious jaw. In character he is a man of cold
persistence and of fiery energy, cautious and yet audacious,
weighing his actions well, but carrying them out with the dash
which befits a mounted leader. He is remarkable for the quickness
of his decision - 'can think at a gallop,' as an admirer expressed
it.
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