The Latter Was
Used By The Boers In The Shape Of Hand-Bombs, And Proved To Be A
Very Efficient Weapon When Employed Against Blockhouses.
Several of
the British defences were wrecked by them, with considerable loss
to the garrison; but in the course of a month's siege, in spite of
several attacks, the Boers were never able to carry the frail works
which guarded the town.
Once more, at the end of the war as at the
beginning of it, there was shown the impotence of the Dutch
riflemen against a British defence. A relief column, under Colonel
Cooper, was quickly organised at Port Nolloth, and advanced along
the railway line, forcing Smuts to raise the siege in the first
week of May. Immediately afterwards came the news of the
negotiations for peace, and the Boer general presented himself at
Port Nolloth, whence he was conveyed by ship to Cape Town, and so
north again to take part in the deliberations of his
fellow-countrymen. Throughout the war he had played a manly and
honourable part. It may be hoped that with youth and remarkable
experience, both of diplomacy and of war, he may now find a long
and brilliant career awaiting him in a wider arena than that for
which he strove.
CHAPTER 36.
THE SPRING CAMPAIGN (SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, 1901).
The history of the war during the African winter of 1901 has now
been sketched, and some account given of the course of events in
the Transvaal, the Orange River Colony, and the Cape Colony. The
hope of the British that they might stamp out resistance before the
grass should restore mobility to the larger bodies of Boers was
destined to be disappointed. By the middle of September the veld
had turned from drab to green, and the great drama was fated to
last for one more act, however anxious all the British and the
majority of the Boers might be to ring down the curtain.
Exasperating as this senseless prolongation of a hopeless struggle
might be, there was still some consolation in the reflection that
those who drank this bitter cup to the very lees would be less
likely to thirst for it again.
September 15th was the date which brought into force the British
Proclamation announcing the banishment of those Boer leaders who
continued in arms. It must be confessed that this step may appear
harsh and unchivalrous to the impartial observer, so long as those
leaders were guilty of no practices which are foreign to the laws
of civilised warfare. The imposition of personal penalties upon the
officers of an opposing army is a step for which it is difficult to
quote a precedent, nor is it wise to officially rule your enemy
outside the pale of ordinary warfare, since it is equally open to
him to take the same step against you. The only justification for
such a course would be its complete success, as this would suggest
that the Intelligence Department were aware that the leaders
desired some strong excuse for coming in - such an excuse as the
Proclamation would afford.
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