The Result Was One Which Has
Not Only Solved The Question Of The Future Of South Africa, But Has
Given An Illustration Of Strategy Which Will Become Classical To
The Military Student.
How brisk was the course of events, how
incessant the marching and fighting, may be shown by a brief
recapitulation.
On February 13th cavalry and infantry were marching
to the utmost capacity of men and horses. On the 14th the cavalry
were halted, but the infantry were marching hard. On the 15th the
cavalry covered forty miles, fought an action, and relieved
Kimberley. On the 16th the cavalry were in pursuit of the Boer guns
all day, and were off on a thirty-mile march to the Modder at
night, while the infantry were fighting Cronje's rearguard action,
and closing up all day. On the 17th the infantry were marching
hard. On the 18th was the battle of Paardeberg. From the 19th to
the 27th was incessant fighting with Cronje inside the laager and
with De Wet outside. From the 28th to March 6th was rest. On March
7th was the action of Poplars Grove with heavy marching; on March
10th the battle of Driefontein. On the 11th and 12th the infantry
covered forty miles, and on the 13th were in Bloemfontein. All this
was accomplished by men on half-rations, with horses which could
hardly be urged beyond a walk, in a land where water is scarce and
the sun semi-tropical, each infantryman carrying a weight of nearly
forty pounds.
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