There Are Few More Brilliant Achievements In The
History Of British Arms.
The tactics were occasionally faulty, and
the battle of Paardeberg was a blot upon the operations; but the
strategy of the General and the spirit of the soldier were alike
admirable.
CHAPTER 21.
STRATEGIC EFFECTS OF LORD ROBERTS'S MARCH.
From the moment that Lord Roberts with his army advanced from
Ramdam all the other British forces in South Africa, the Colesberg
force, the Stormberg force, Brabant's force, and the Natal force,
had the pressure relieved in front of them, a tendency which
increased with every fresh success of the main body. A short
chapter must be devoted to following rapidly the fortunes of these
various armies, and tracing the effect of Lord Roberts's strategy
upon their movements. They may be taken in turn from west to east.
The force under General Clements (formerly French's) had, as has
already been told, been denuded of nearly all its cavalry and horse
artillery, and so left in the presence of a very superior body of
the enemy. Under these circumstances Clements had to withdraw his
immensely extended line, and to concentrate at Arundel, closely
followed by the elated enemy. The situation was a more critical one
than has been appreciated by the public, for if the force had been
defeated the Boers would have been in a position to cut Lord
Roberts's line of communications, and the main army would have been
in the air. Much credit is due, not only to General Clements, but
to Carter of the Wiltshires, Hacket Pain of the Worcesters, Butcher
of the 4th R.F.A., the admirable Australians, and all the other
good men and true who did their best to hold the gap for the
Empire.
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