At Beira, A Portuguese Port Through Which We Have
Treaty Rights By Which We May Pass Troops, A Curious Mixed Force Of
Australians, New Zealanders And Others Was Being Disembarked And
Pushed Through To Rhodesia, So As To Cut Off Any Trek Which The
Boers Might Make In That Direction.
Carrington, a fierce old
soldier with a large experience of South African warfare, was in
command of this picturesque force, which moved amid tropical
forests over crocodile-haunted streams, while their comrades were
shivering in the cold southerly winds of a Cape winter.
Neither our
Government, our people, nor the world understood at the beginning
of this campaign how grave was the task which we had undertaken,
but, having once realised it, it must be acknowledged that it was
carried through in no half-hearted way. So vast was the scene of
operations that the Canadian might almost find his native climate
at one end of it and the Queenslander at the other.
To follow in close detail the movements of the Boers and the
counter movements of the British in the southeast portion of the
Free State during this period would tax the industry of the
historian and the patience of the reader. Let it be told with as
much general truth and as little geographical detail as possible.
The narrative which is interrupted by an eternal reference to the
map is a narrative spoiled.
The main force of the Freestaters had assembled in the
north-eastern corner of their State, and from this they made their
sally southwards, attacking or avoiding at their pleasure the
eastern line of British outposts.
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