This Check Constituted
The Action Of Modderfontein.
On the 4th, however, Cunningham,
assisted by some of the South African Constabulary, made his way
round the flank, and dislodged the enemy, who retreated to the
south.
A few days later some of Smuts's men made an attempt upon
the railway near Bank, but were driven off with twenty-six
casualties. It was after this that Smuts moved west and joined De
la Rey's commando to make the attack already described upon
Lichtenburg. These six attempts represent the chief aggressive
movements which the Boers made against British posts in the
Transvaal during these months. Attacks upon trains were still
common, and every variety of sniping appears to have been rife,
from the legitimate ambuscade to something little removed from
murder.
It has been described in a previous chapter how Lord Kitchener made
an offer to the burghers which amounted to an amnesty, and how a
number of those Boers who had come under the influence of the
British formed themselves into peace committees, and endeavoured to
convey to the fighting commandos some information as to the
hopelessness of the struggle, and the lenient mood of the British.
Unfortunately these well-meant offers appear to have been mistaken
for signs of weakness by the Boer leaders, and encouraged them to
harden their hearts. Of the delegates who conveyed the terms to
their fellow countrymen two at least were shot, several were
condemned to death, and few returned without ill-usage. In no case
did they bear back a favourable answer.
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