Upon October 9th, The Second Anniversary Of The Ultimatum, The
Hands Of The Military Were Strengthened By The Proclamation Of Cape
Town And All The Seaport Towns As Being In A State Of Martial Law.
By This Means A Possible Source Of Supplies And Recruits For The
Enemy Was Effectually Blocked.
That it had not been done two years
before is a proof of how far local political considerations can be
allowed to over-ride the essentials of Imperial policy.
Meanwhile
treason courts were sitting, and sentences, increasing rapidly from
the most trivial to the most tragic, were teaching the rebel that
his danger did not end upon the field of battle. The execution of
Lotter and his lieutenants was a sign that the patience of a
long-suffering Empire had at last reached an end.
The young Boer leader, Scheepers, had long been a thorn in the side
of the British. He had infested the southern districts for some
months, and he had distinguished himself both by the activity of
his movements and by the ruthless vigour of some of his actions.
Early in October a serious illness and consequent confinement to
his bed brought him at last within the range of British mobility.
On his recovery he was tried for repeated breaches of the laws of
war, including the murder of several natives. He was condemned to
death, and was executed in December. Much sympathy was excited by
his gallantry and his youth - he was only twenty-three. On the other
hand, our word was pledged to protect the natives, and if he whose
hand had been so heavy upon them escaped, all confidence would have
been lost in our promises and our justice. That British vengeance
was not indiscriminate was shown soon afterwards in the case of a
more important commander, Kritzinger, who was the chief leader of
the Boers within Cape Colony. Kritzinger was wounded and captured
while endeavouring to cross the line near Hanover Road upon
December 15th. He was put upon his trial, and his fate turned upon
how far he was responsible for the misdeeds of some of his
subordinates. It was clearly shown that he had endeavoured to hold
them within the bounds of civilised warfare, and with
congratulations and handshakings he was acquitted by the military
court.
In the last two months of the year 1901, a new system was
introduced into the Cape Colony campaign by placing the Colonial
and district troops immediately under the command of Colonial
officers and of the Colonial Government. It had long been felt that
some devolution was necessary, and the change was justified by the
result. Without any dramatic incident, an inexorable process of
attrition, caused by continual pursuit and hardship, wore out the
commandos. Large bands had become small ones, and small ones had
vanished. Only by the union of several bodies could any enterprise
higher than the looting of a farmhouse be successfully attempted.
Such a union occurred, however, in the early days of February 1902,
when Smuts, Malan, and several other Boer leaders showed great
activity in the country round Calvinia.
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