The Empire May Reflect With Pride That The
People In Whose Cause Mainly They Fought Showed Themselves By Their
Gallantry And Their Devotion Worthy Of Any Sacrifice Which Has Been
Made.
Again the siege settled down to a monotonous record of decreasing
rations and of expectation.
On December 10 there came a sign of
hope from the outside world. Far on the southern horizon a little
golden speck shimmered against the blue African sky. It was
Methuen's balloon gleaming in the sunshine. Next morning the low
grumble of distant cannon was the sweetest of music to the
listening citizens. But days passed without further news, and it
was not for more than a week that they learned of the bloody
repulse of Magersfontein, and that help was once more indefinitely
postponed. Heliographic communication had been opened with the
relieving army, and it is on record that the first message flashed
through from the south was a question about the number of a horse.
With inconceivable stupidity this has been cited as an example of
military levity and incapacity. Of course the object of the
question was a test as to whether they were really in communication
with the garrison. It must be confessed that the town seems to have
contained some very querulous and unreasonable people.
The New Year found the beleaguered city reduced to a quarter of a
pound of meat per head, while the health of the inhabitants began
to break down under their confinement. Their interest, however, was
keenly aroused by the attempt made in the De Beers workshops to
build a gun which might reach their opponents.
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