Lord Roberts Might Naturally
Suppose, When He Had Formed Two Cordons Through Which De Wet Must
Pass, That One Or Other Must Hold Him.
But with extraordinary skill
and mobility De Wet, aided by the fact that every inhabitant was a
member of his intelligence department, slipped through the double
net which had been laid for him.
The first net was not in its place
in time, and the second was too small to hold him.
While Rundle and French had advanced on Dewetsdorp as described,
the other force which was intended to head off De Wet had gone
direct to Thabanchu. The advance began by a movement of Ian
Hamilton on April 22nd with eight hundred mounted infantry upon the
waterworks. The enemy, who held the hills beyond, allowed
Hamilton's force to come right down to the Modder before they
opened fire from three guns. The mounted infantry fell back, and
encamped for the night out of range. [Footnote: This was a
remarkable exhibition of the harmlessness of shell-fire against
troops in open formation. I myself saw at least forty shells, all
of which burst, fall among the ranks of the mounted infantry, who
retired at a contemptuous walk. There were no casualties.] Before
morning they were reinforced by Smith-Dorrien's brigade (Gordons,
Canadians, and Shropshires - the Cornwalls had been left behind) and
some more mounted Infantry. With daylight a fine advance was begun,
the brigade moving up in very extended order and the mounted men
turning the right flank of the defence.
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