Three British forces, those
of French, Rundle, and Ian Hamilton, were despatched to cut it off.
It successfully threaded its way among them and escaped. It was
followed to the northward as far as the town of Winburg, which
remained in the British possession. Lord Roberts had failed in his
plan of cutting off De Wet's army, but, at the expense of many
marches and skirmishes, the south-east of the State was cleared of
the enemy.
CHAPTER 24.
THE SIEGE OF MAFEKING.
This small place, which sprang in the course of a few weeks from
obscurity to fame, is situated upon the long line of railway which
connects Kimberley in the south with Rhodesia in the north. In
character it resembles one of those western American townlets which
possess small present assets but immense aspirations. In its litter
of corrugated-iron roofs, and in the church and the racecourse,
which are the first-fruits everywhere of Anglo-Celtic civilisation,
one sees the seeds of the great city of the future. It is the
obvious depot for the western Transvaal upon one side, and the
starting-point for all attempts upon the Kalahari Desert upon the
other. The Transvaal border runs within a few miles.
It is not clear why the imperial authorities should desire to hold
this place, since it has no natural advantages to help the defence,
but lies exposed in a widespread plain.
