CHAPTER V

IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL--CHASING DE WET--THE SIEGES OF RUSTENBURG AND ELANDS RIVER

Before entering on the complications which occurred in the Western Transvaal immediately after the return of Lord Roberts and General Ian Hamilton from the Middelburg Campaign, it is necessary to remember that, while the Chief's back was turned and most of the army was moving to the east, and a certain portion was forced to guard Pretoria, Delarey's gang had been mustering round the Magaliesberg range. Here, as we know, the passes were but poorly, if at all, protected, owing to the disasters at Deerdepoort and Nitral's Nek, which thinned the already thin British forces. Therefore the direct road from Pretoria to Mafeking, the road past Rustenburg, Elands River, and Ottoshoop, which it was imperative to guard--and which was guarded by Colonel Hore at Elands River, General Baden-Powell at Rustenburg, and Sir Frederick Carrington further on--was seriously menaced by the hovering hordes of the enemy.

Indeed the Boers, after their petty triumphs at Nitral's and Commando Neks, had continued so to cluster around Rustenburg, that towards the end of July General Baden-Powell was in danger of enduring the miseries of a second siege. The General prepared himself for all emergencies, and investigated all the Boer arrangements for bombardment which were in course of completion. Meanwhile he was aware that to his support Methuen, with a force of 6000 men, was approaching Olifant's Nek, and Colonel Plumer prepared himself to co-operate. Unluckily the synchronal arrangements were imperfect, and the result was that the passes which should have been blocked to the Boers were open, and their several forces succeeded in effecting a junction, and menacing not only Rustenburg and the Elands River Station, but the Krugersdorp-Potchefstroom railway line. Therefore Lord Methuen promptly retraced his steps, and by the 23rd of July, as we have seen, had moved back to Krugersdorp, leaving General Baden-Powell to rely on the wits that had hitherto stood him in such good stead.

At this time Colonel Airey sent information to Rustenburg which promised to bring about the capture of Boers who were threatening a convoy that was expected from Mafeking, and accordingly reinforcements were sent out, but only to find that Colonel Airey's Australians had got into difficulties, and that the enemy, having killed six, wounded nineteen, and shot down their horses, were very much in the ascendant. The Colonials were fairly trapped, and surrender stared them in the face. Fortunately, at this juncture, Captain FitzClarence and the Protectorate Regiment galloped up, threatening the rear of the assailants, and forced them to make off with all possible speed. But from this date until at the beginning of August, when relief was sent from Pretoria, Rustenburg remained cut off from the outer world.

General Ian Hamilton with the opening of August started towards the west on his way to Rustenburg to the rescue of General Baden-Powell's garrison. Near Vitbaal Nek he encountered some opposition, but skilfully brushed away the Dutchmen, losing in the fray two officers and five men wounded. He succeeded in turning the enemy entirely off the Magaliesberg Range, a feat which was mainly accomplished by the gallantry of the Berkshires and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The officers wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes, Berkshire Regiment, and Major G. D. Williams. Thirty-nine men, twenty-six of whom belonged to the Berkshires, were also injured. Their wounds were mostly of a serious nature, as the seventeen prisoners who were taken, owned to the fact that they had had soft-nosed bullets served out to them and used them.

The General reached Rustenburg on the 5th, and scattered the investing Boers. He then heard the sound of firing in the direction of Elands River, and soon it became known that the small force mounting guard there was also in trouble. The fact was that at dawn on the morning of the 4th, the garrison at Elands River--they arrived there on the day before to guard the line between Zeerust and Rustenburg--was attacked by the Boers. The force, which was commanded by Colonel Hore of Mafeking fame, consisted of 140 Bushmen, 80 Rhodesians, and 80 Rhodesian Volunteers. Sir Frederick Carrington, with a smart force of Yeomanry (Paget's Horse) and Bushmen, about 700 rifles, and a 15-pounder battery manned by New Zealanders, who was on his way to that region, being warned of the trouble, had instantly hurried to the succour of the garrison. His troops had reached Zeerust on the 1st, the Boers who were there decamping before them in the direction of Elands River. The force followed them up and fought them, but more Dutchmen--those pushed off from the neighbourhood of Rustenburg--had added to the already large mass of the enemy, and made further advance impracticable. General Carrington had barely realised the impossibility of proceeding, when the report came in that Elands River garrison had surrendered. He therefore decided to go no farther, but fall back on Mafeking. This he did on the 9th, moving afterwards to Ottoshoop with supplies for Lord Methuen, and engaging the enemy _en route_. His casualties were somewhat large, but the fighting was of a desperate kind, and the mettlesome New Zealanders were as usual to the fore. Captain J. A. Harvey, New Zealand Mounted Infantry, and Lieutenant Gilpin, Victoria Bushmen, were killed. Captain H. F. Fulton and Lieutenant R. W. Rollins, New Zealand Rough Riders, were wounded. Captain R. Arbuthnot, Royal Irish Regiment, was dangerously wounded. In the engagements prior to the return to Mafeking, Major Paget, 20th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, and Lieutenant Webb were among the twelve wounded.

To return to General Hamilton. Having accomplished his mission, and freed General Baden-Powell, and being advised that Colonel Hore had surrendered, he was returning with General Baden-Powell and Colonel Plumer to Commando Nek, when in came contradictory yet joyful news that Elands River garrison was still holding out. Off went his mounted troops to the rescue, while the unfortunates who had had to leave their homes in Rustenburg, and the prisoners, among whom was a son of Kruger, were sent on to Pretoria in charge of General Baden-Powell.

Meanwhile the small garrison at Brakfontein (Elands River), to whose aid two forces had been moving, were fighting like demons, and making one of the most magnificent stands of the war. Very little is known of their pluck, their dexterity, and their heroism, but what little we do know goes to prove that these Australians and Rhodesians were made of the stuff that supplies the conquerors of the world. No sooner had they comfortably settled down than they became aware of the close proximity of Boers. Their camp was on a flat plain near a boulder-strewn kopje, enclosed by a girdle of menacing hills which commanded not only them but the nearest point of the river half a mile off. The Colonials looked and saw, and came to their conclusion with rapidity: they were in a trap as close as Cronje's, a trap which must be kept open as long as possible. There were Boers already in the hills, but it was only on the morning of the 4th that they knew the Boers had big guns--six of them--in position, and meant to use them!

With dawn the overture had begun, an overture to a murderous opera, for shells, 1500 in number, during that dismal day, were hurled over the little British band. But these were not the fellows to be bombarded with impunity. They examined their resources, looked ruefully at their one gun, a muzzle-loader, which before long jammed, and became more of a danger than a defence. The Boers' fire was too hot and snipers too numerous to allow of remedy to the damage, so nothing could be done but wait--wait for the kindly cloak of night. Then, the besieged set to work with a will, brawny arms and knowing heads helping to construct trenches and shelters, splinter proofs and tunnels, which should defy the snorting weapons of the Dutchmen. But these, despite the darkness, continued to snort and to shriek, and went on persistently till daybreak. Then the besiegers varied the entertainment by directing at the defenceless ones a pom-pom. This was as the last straw that breaks the camel's back. Off rushed gallant young Aanat with twenty-five dashing dare-devils, creeping, rifles in hand, into the bush, and then--the pom-pom was silent! The Boers, chastened, were too cautious again to approach it. But alas! at night this remarkable young Queenslander, so full of grit and gallantry, dropped dead, a victim to the shells that still poured intermittently into the camp. But his good work was done, and the valiant Lieutenant, though he knew it not, had struck the keynote of victory. His comrades swore with a tremendous oath that they would die rather than give in, that the white flag should never float over those five acres that were then the melancholy and diminutive symbol of British Empire.

The next day Delarey sent in to say that Rustenburg and Zeerust were occupied by Boers, that they presently would be in possession of the whole country, and he further mildly suggested that if they refused to surrender, his 94-pounder "would blow them off the face of the earth." Colonel Hore's reply stated that he was in command of Imperial troops who would not surrender, and the ultimatum was met with renewed bombardment. All day long the tempest of artillery raged. Then, to their joy, and also to their anxiety, they heard the guns of Carrington coming to their relief--the echo of them in the distant hills--and hope grew and grew, and--waned. Carrington, as we know, had heard the report of their surrender, and having given battle to an overwhelming force of Boers for what he thought no purpose, had retired!

So, the 3000 Republicans in their hills laughed together, and trained their guns on to the spot where, at night, they knew the gallant men who defied them must water their horses and refresh themselves after their long day's burrowing in the bowels of the earth. But these, emerging parched and sinking from their subterranean holes, were still equal to the ruses of their tormentors. Some took one way--the way towards the longed-for river--while others took another, and went forth on sniping operations which subdued, if they did not vanquish, their enemies, and protected those who had to run through fire to reach the longed-for draught. And so for eleven days the contest between Boer obstinacy and British determination continued, till at last on the horizon the dust rose and a rumour of the approach of Broadwood's Cavalry brought gladness into a scene of desperation. But the little garrison by now was sadly thinned, and the nature of the warlike activities may be guessed by the casualty list. Five were killed, seven were mortally struck down, eleven were wounded, and twenty-seven, though slightly injured, remained combatants to the end! What the losses might have been had not the ingenious Colonials applied their pluck and their wits to the scientific construction of trenches, which defied the six big guns of the enemy, cannot be discussed, for surrender would have been inevitable.

However, on the 16th, Colonel Hore and his doughty warriors were still holding out when, to his intense relief, and that of his emaciated band of heroes, the Boers were routed. Lord Kitchener had pressed to their succour from the south-east. How Lord Kitchener contrived to push up and arrive on the scene, may be told in a few words; but, to make the movement intelligible, it is necessary to go back several days.

* * * * *

On the 5th of August Lord Kitchener, who was operating south of the Vaal, was joined by a strong detachment of what was familiarly known as "Brabanditti," and also by the Canadian Regiment. The late Sirdar was personally superintending the hunt after the wiliest of foxes, De Wet, whose nimbleness since his rush from Stabbert's Nek was a matter for marvel and admiration even to his opponents. On the one side of the quarry was Lord Kitchener, with cavalry and mounted infantry; while on the right bank of the Vaal was Lord Methuen, preparing to pounce on the Dutchman's advance guard, which was known to have crossed the river.

Early on the 7th, Lord Methuen engaged a portion of De Wet's force, which was occupying a strong position on a succession of kopjes near Venterskroon. In brilliant style the Scots and the Welsh Fusiliers charged hill after hill, driving the Boers therefrom, but without frustrating the designs of De Wet, who had succeeded in getting across. The fighting was costly, for seven men were killed, and among the wounded officers were Major F. C. Meyrick and Lieutenant H. Gurney, both 5th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry; Major A. P. G. Gough, Captain G. F. Barttelot, Second Lieutenant E. A. T. Bayly, all Royal Welsh Fusiliers; and also Lieutenant E. S. St. Quintin, 10th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.

On the 9th, Lord Methuen fought a rearguard action near Buffel's Hoek, captured six waggons, two ambulances, but--no De Wet. Lieutenant Knowles was killed, and Colonel Younghusband was wounded. The fugitive, fleeing before the forces of Kitchener at Gatsrand (south of the Krugersdorp-Potchefstroom Railway) and those of Methuen still further to the south-west, now strove to cross the rail at Welverdiend Station, and in so doing dropped almost into the jaws of Smith-Dorrien, who promptly engaged him. Into the plan for frustrating the Dutchman's design the City Imperial Volunteers and the 2nd Shropshires flung themselves with zeal, the former regiment marching thirty miles in seventeen hours, the latter forty-three in thirty-two hours, in order, as they hoped, to be "in at the finish." But De Wet accomplished his purpose and eluded all. Later Lord Methuen, after a forced march of thirty-two miles, came in contact with the Boer convoy, fought vigorously a whole day, recaptured one of our guns lost at Stormberg, sixteen waggons of stores and ammunition, but again--no De Wet. Still the troops were full of hopes, and telegrams home said, "His capture is only a matter of hours."

But the Dutchman was more than their match. He blew up three waggons rather than be impeded by them--(he always attributed Cronje's downfall to the tenacity with which he clung to his waggons)--and let loose from his camp sixty British prisoners and an officer, left behind thirty wrecks of horses at Schoolplats, and even flung away ammunition. Having thus thrown out ballast, as it were, he soared into the unknown. The disappointment on all sides was extreme, for sometimes the troops had been so close on the track that they had even boiled their kettles on the camp fires left by their quarry. "Collisions, but no cornering," was the terse telegram home of a youthful officer who had been keen in the hunt. Colonel Ricardo (10th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry) whose gallant men had displayed first-rate cavalry qualifications, had gone so far as to offer £50 for the prize, dead or alive! Yet the _ignis fatuus_ danced gaily ahead, but never within clutch! Still, clever as he showed himself to be, it must be remembered he had everything in his favour. His spies were in every farmhouse, and no inch of the country was strange to him; he could burrow, circle, or climb by day or by night, while his pursuers, though their waggons had double teams of picked animals, were forced to relinquish their vigilance at sundown. So both Lords Methuen and Kitchener found themselves outmarched, and De Wet (who had gone off through Olifant's Nek in the Magaliesberg range, while Methuen was blocking Magato Pass, some twelve miles further westward) doubtless plumed himself on his ingenuity. The reason for his success lay in the fact that, owing to some synchronal accident, General Baden-Powell on vacating Olifant's Nek had not been immediately relieved by General Ian Hamilton, who was due on the 13th. Lord Methuen, unaware of this hitch, thought that by veering towards Magato Pass De Wet must effectually be cornered, and discovered too late that his mighty marches and spirited efforts had been thrown away. Thus in following De Wet's evolutions we learnt not so much a lesson in strategy as a lesson in quick-wittedness. Moral maxims teach us to catch time on the wing; De Wet taught us more--to leap to the back of opportunity, and fly with it where it may lead. As at Koorn Spruit so elsewhere. He jumped to his decisions and acted on them at one and the same moment. At Koorn Spruit it was a matter of minutes that made him master of the situation. At Stabbert's Nek it was little more. He was informed that there must be some hours' delay in the clicking of the padlock round the Brandwater basin, and he used those hours, exactly as he had now used the synchronal hitch that left a gap at Olifant's Nek between the evacuation of General Baden-Powell and the arrival of General Ian Hamilton. Deliberation in all three cases would have been fatal. He did not deliberate but acted, and in getting across from the south of Orange River Colony to the north of Pretoria he showed himself a born genius in the art of war. Lord Methuen, knowing further pursuit to be useless, moved afterwards to Mafeking, where he could recoup his force, and allow it to recuperate after having fought fourteen engagements besides skirmishes innumerable since his march from Boshof in May.

Lord Kitchener, saving his strength, diverted his course and rushed to the rescue of Colonel Hore. He arrived, as we know, on the 16th, and scattered the enemy with small loss to himself. Unluckily in the collision one of the most active and brilliant of the heroes of the campaign, Colonel De Lisle (Durham Light Infantry), was seriously wounded.[9]

To resume. General Carrington, as we know, was at Ottoshoop, and General Ian Hamilton, freed from the necessity to relieve Colonel Hore, was now able to occupy Olifant's Nek in the Magaliesberg, which he did on the 17th, meeting with considerable opposition from the enemy. His advance troops (under Colonel Mahon) having reached Roode Kopjes on the west bank of the Crocodile River, came in for a full share of fighting, but the operations were crowned with success, and finally General Hamilton crossed the Crocodile River in a north-easterly direction, plus two Krupp guns, some transport and ammunition waggons, and seven Boer prisoners. The losses on our side were small, but unhappily Lieutenant Henry Bradburn succumbed to his injuries.

An interesting case of diamond cut diamond took place elsewhere, which resulted in the temporary tracing of De Wet. General Baden-Powell, who was now holding Commando Nek, received a messenger with a flag of truce from the Boer commandant requiring him to surrender, his real purpose being to discover the strength of the garrison. The General, with his usual "slimness," replied demanding what terms he was prepared to offer, his demand being formulated with the object of ascertaining whether De Wet himself was conducting the operations! Each of the "slim" ones having obtained the information he required--having crossed the swords of intellect, as it were--De Wet proceeded on his way to the north, probably to effect a junction with Delarey, and General Baden-Powell, chuckling, "shadowed" him.

The 20th found an animated chase taking place on the north-west of Pretoria. De Wet was scurrying north-eastwards from Hebron--which is nineteen miles north-west of the capital, with Colonel Mahon at his heels, General Paget menacing his right rear, and General Baden-Powell--who was now encamped at Waterval, and whose soldierly defenders of Mafeking had there been inspected and complimented by the Chief--in readiness to assist. Both the latter officer and General Paget, while moving up the Pietersburg railway between Haman's Kraal and Pienaars River Station, became engaged with some of the roving commandos, and unfortunately a gallant young fellow, Lieutenant Fordham Flowers, Warwickshire Yeomanry, was killed. Lieutenant Kirkby (49th Company Imperial Yeomanry) was severely wounded, and six men of various corps were also injured.

The whole of the 21st was spent in warm contest with Grobler's forces, with the result that the enemy was driven off, prevented from going west, and the railway station was occupied by General Baden-Powell's forces. But these hard marching days in the bush veldt, groping after the enemy, involved lamentable sacrifice. The splendid Rhodesian Regiment lost many of its fine fighters, but most notably Colonel Spreckley,[10] whose services throughout Colonel Plumer's operations had been invaluable. Lieutenant Irvine and six men were wounded, as also was Captain Kinsman (Dublin Fusiliers). Captain Bolton, 1st Wiltshire Regiment, was also wounded during General Paget's operations.

De Wet, finding himself cornered towards the east, had now whisked back in the direction of the Magaliesberg with the intention of again trying his success in Orange River Colony. His excursion from Bethlehem had been costly. Starting, he had some 1500 men and six or eight guns, while behind him in the hills were Prinsloo and some 5000 Dutchmen. He now was returning to find the Bethlehem band on its way to Ceylon and his own force thinned to attenuation. Poor De Wet! At this juncture his display of talent in the field had bred a feeling of pity which was "akin to love," and those who were most interested in his capture were those loudest in appreciation of his sporting proclivities, and pronounced him "a first-class fighting man." He certainly seemed never at a loss, and even now, in making his way back to Orange Colony, chased and jaded as he was, he pursued the mosquito tactics which worried, annoyed, and wore out those who were subjected to them. To cover his crossing of the rail near Bank Station on the Potchefstroom line, his ally Delarey with a large force summoned the garrison (the City Imperial Volunteers, under Lord Albemarle) to surrender. Of course, the summons was declined, but the little interlude served De Wet's purpose and gave him the time he needed to save his skin and gather himself together. Still, as he was fairly crippled, and the recuperative period promised to be a long one, the main operations against Botha on the east, which had been gradually planned out, could now be begun.

PLOTS AND PROCLAMATIONS. AUGUST.--THE TRIAL OF CORDUA

Affairs in Pretoria and Johannesburg that preceded the warlike movements connected with the Lydenburg campaign must now be briefly discussed. On the 1st of August the Railway Pioneer Regiment arrived at Johannesburg, and entered on its new duties, that of policing the mines. The Transvaal constabulary, under Colonel Maxse, continued to increase in size--by this time 700 Colonials had joined--and in the Court of Justice many actions which, owing to lack of faith in Transvaal administration, had been set aside during the war, were now brought up for adjudication. Things seemed to be shaping themselves fairly well, notwithstanding the rumour that the Boers intended to maintain guerilla warfare till the presidential election in America in November was over, when intervention was promised them. America was scarcely propitiated by the conduct of Theron's Scouts, however, for a day later a train flying the stars and stripes, and containing the American Consul-General, Colonel Stowe, was thrown off the rails and burned at Honing Spruit. To be awakened at 1 A.M. by the hail of bullets and the hurly-burly of derailed waggons is scarcely pleasing, and Theron's mode of ingratiating himself with the Americans, if not happy, was original. Seventeen bullets penetrated the carriage in which the Consul was travelling, one of which struck a friend who was occupying the compartment. Colonel Lord Algernon Gordon Lennox, who was journeying south, was taken prisoner, together with forty men, but all were liberated at the request of Colonel Stowe. Two, however, were killed by the overturning of the waggons.

The next day a force of Mounted Infantry chased the Boers, but these, later on, continued to hover in the neighbourhood of the line. Though General Knox was operating north of Kroonstad, and had attacked them at Rhenoster Kop, and driven them off with the loss of their cattle and waggons, these operations, and others which were going forward in all parts of the line, remained similar to the action of fanning away gnats--the pests receded merely to buzz elsewhere! As an instance of this, it was found that owing to the withdrawal of the garrison at Springs (an important coal centre on the East Rand) the Boers had buzzed back there, seized railway rolling stock, threatened the destruction of the mines, and generally made themselves offensive. A regiment was sent to retake the place. Meanwhile, at Waterval, they were giving trouble by treachery. A party having notified to the officer commanding there their intention to surrender, seized the occasion to attempt ambush and assassination. Fifteen of Strathcona's Horse approached the place of rendezvous--fortunately in extended order--and when within fifty yards of the house three native scouts were shot--two wounded, and one killed. That done, the sergeant was called on to surrender. "Never!" he shouted, and before he could gallop off a bullet had pierced his heart. A trooper was also wounded, and only discovered a day later by a patrol.

Examples of Boer treachery were continually being reported, and one incident described by Reuter's correspondent served to show how regardless were the enemy of the sacred oath of neutrality, and what a farce was the administration of it.

"A Boer ambulance sometime ago marched into our lines by error, thinking they were their own. The waggon was searched, and was found to contain a number of boxes of ammunition and seven burghers carrying arms. When the latter were searched, each was found to be carrying on him the oath of neutrality which he had subscribed in Bloemfontein."

But little else could be expected of a nation fed on deceit. Lies hot from the Boer factory had continually been served out to the simple farmers, and were still being foisted on them with a view to stimulating their interest in further hostilities. At one time it was announced that Lord Roberts had committed suicide, at another that the plague was ravaging the British. Fabrications regarding American sympathy and intervention were many, and they asserted that both the commandants, De Wet and Botha, had indignantly refused the offer of bribes to surrender. Among the lesser and wilder tarradiddles was the statement that the first batch of Dublin Fusiliers who had been taken prisoners, had offered to join the Boers, but their sympathetic overtures had been declined! These fictions were swallowed greedily, and thus the "neutrals" were inveigled into having a new lunge at the British, which lunge they firmly believed might yet be effective.

Still the western districts of Cape Colony were becoming pacified, so much so that Sir Charles Warren was able to leave for England, and the command of the troops in the Colony was given over to Sir F. Forestier Walker. On the 13th a sad discovery was made by Colonel Hickman. He came on the body of Colonel Helyar,[11] who had been reported missing since the end of July. The gallant officer, who had so nobly rendered his services in the hour of the nation's distress, was deeply regretted. He was buried with military honours, and Lord Roberts attended the impressive ceremony.

General Paget's Brigade, which returned to Pretoria on the 14th, was followed on the 23rd by Colonel Mackinnon and a wing of his sturdy battalion of C.I.V. after a 224 mile march, accomplished in fourteen days, of which one was a halt. In telegrams home the Chief expatiated on the excellent and workmanlike appearance of the force and of the gallant 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry and Munster Fusiliers, who had so distinguished themselves in operations around Bethlehem.

While the military routine continued as usual, Pretoria was seething with inordinate emotion and excitement. Early in August an alarming conspiracy had been suddenly brought to light. The main feature of the plot was simultaneously to assassinate the British officers in Pretoria, and to carry off the Chief. The idea was to set fire to some big buildings on the west of the town, in the hope of drawing thither the troops for the purpose of extinguishing the flames. While this excitement distracted the attention of the British force, the Boers and their allies in the town, headed by the ringleader Cordua, were to combine and kidnap Lord Roberts, posting off with him, on fleet horses kept ready for the purpose, to join the nearest commando. The conspirators, about fifteen in number, ten of whom were immediately arrested, had taken the oath of neutrality, which especially stated that any contravention was liable to punishment under martial law. This diabolical development in the tactics of a supposed civilised belligerent naturally caused consternation not unmixed with rage, and there was a general outcry against the leniency which had made an abuse of trust possible, and a universal demand for more drastic measures in dealing with an enemy who had descended from the level of fine fighters to that of marauders and assassins. The trial of the ringleader, Hans Cordua, a youth of twenty-three, formerly lieutenant of the Staats Artillery, was opened on the 16th. The prisoner was charged with having broken his parole, and attempted to abduct British officers, to which charges he pleaded guilty. Evidence was then brought forward to prove the extent and ramifications of the plot, the complicity of Botha and others therein. The prisoner was ably defended by Mr. Berrange, who endeavoured to show the complicity of the witness, Detective Gano, a clever Mexican, who was accused by Cordua of having been instigator of the plot. This imputation was denied by Gano, who declared that the plot was already hatched when he was sounded on the subject. The accused, on the other hand, declared his own unwillingness to join in the plot, and pretended that he had been overpersuaded by the detective, who represented that he was a pro-Boer in British employ, who, tired of his position, desired to help the Boers. The detective gave evidence rebutting these assertions, stating on oath that he had been employed to carry out inquiries in regard to a suspected plot to injure persons and property connected with the British troops. He obtained close acquaintance with the prisoner for the purpose of discovering, in his capacity as secret-service agent, the nature of the plot, and his actions in relation to Cordua were conducted with a view to that end. With this object he affected a desire to join the enemy, and had purposely behaved so as to arouse suspicion and cause his own arrest, and with it that of the prisoner. The trial was conducted with the utmost impartiality, and at the close of the address for the defence the prisoner's counsel thanked the court for all the facilities which he had been afforded for the conduct of that defence. The prisoner was found guilty on all charges, and was condemned to death. On the 24th he met his fate like a brave man within the precincts of the gaol, General Maxwell, Colonel Maxse, the chaplain, the doctor, and the firing squad being the only persons present at the execution.

So ended one of the most remarkable episodes of the campaign, and the career of a young enthusiast, whose curious ambition renders more convincing the old aphorism that every blackguard is a hero spoilt.

Regarding the clever capture which averted a crime calculated to "stagger humanity," the _Bloemfontein Post_ reproduced some details. These were given to an interviewer by Gano himself:--

"When the plot seemed to be nearly ripe," said Mr. Gano, "Cordua and I rode out of Pretoria one night to communicate with Botha, a fire burning on a kopje being the signal that his commando had arrived. Of course the authorities knew of Cordua's move, so I was ordered to accompany him to see what was really going to take place. Cordua was going to obtain for me a billet on Botha's staff, and that was the ostensible reason of my travelling with him. When we were some distance out in the direction of Silverton, I hinted to Cordua that it would be advisable for me to return to Pretoria with him, but he did not think it necessary.

"This put me into rather a difficult position, but fortunately the commando was not at the kopje, and after riding round for hours we had to return. I knew he had some papers on him, but how to get at them was the difficulty. We both entered a farmhouse, and then I purposely so aroused the farmer's suspicions without giving myself away to Cordua that he sent for the English picket, and the farmhouse was surrounded. We were arrested and taken to a tent.

"I wanted the officer to search us, but this he neglected to do, and Cordua still held the indispensable papers to prove the plot. Then I turned to Cordua suddenly and said: 'Quick, hand me your papers, they are going to search us.' He handed me some letters, and as I hastily put them in my pocket, I noticed him chewing, and later swallowing, a piece of paper. The letters were in cypher, and he had swallowed the key. But I had the letters, and that was something. My next move was to find out who were actively implicated in the plot. As we jolted along to Pretoria in an ox-waggon, I told Cordua it was a serious business for me; who would protect me should I escape? He gave me the names of several persons in Pretoria who would shelter me. When we reached the city I prevailed on the picket to take two cabs, and we were driven as prisoners to the Provost-Marshal's office. That is the story of how Cordua was captured, but my experiences were by no means ended there.

"Cordua was still under the impression that I was a prisoner, an impression I wanted maintained, in order that I might lay hold of the other conspirators. When we were taken into the office, I therefore darted through a back door, and escaped into the street, the officer recognising me. I was instructed to continue my investigations, and went as an escaped prisoner to the house to which I was directed by Cordua, where I was concealed. The police, of course, kept searching for me, and soon after I was settled they came along. I was changed from one house to another with great rapidity. Sometimes there were shots fired during the operations, sometimes not; sometimes I even fired myself. I became quite expert at jumping out of back windows and over fences, but it was necessary in the interests of the service. After a short experience of this kind I was allowed to relinquish my rôle of escaped prisoner, and return to my ordinary duties."

It was now admitted that the Boers had misunderstood the principle of leniency. They had used it as a cloak for further resistance, with the result that precious lives were sacrificed, owing to the impossibility of distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants, between supposed neutrals and intending guerillas. Lord Roberts, therefore, found it necessary to revoke his former proclamation--except in regard to those who had already taken the oath--and promulgate a new set of rules of a more stringent nature. In future all persons who had taken the oath and broken it would be punished with death, imprisonment, or fine. All burghers in districts occupied by British forces, except those who had sworn the oath, would be regarded as prisoners of war and transported; and all buildings, structures, and farms where the enemy's scouts were harboured would be liable to be razed to the ground. All fines under the former proclamation would be rigorously exacted, and prisoners were warned to acquaint her Majesty's forces of the presence of the enemy on their farms, otherwise they would be regarded as aiding and abetting the enemy.

This new move afforded general satisfaction to those who had suffered from the duplicity of the foe, and it was felt that the time was ripe for the formal annexation of the country, whose capital was in our hands, and for the intimation to Mr. Kruger that no longer could his scattered knots of burghers be viewed in the light of belligerents, but merely as irresponsible marauders.

In reference to Lord Roberts's proclamations, it is of interest to read the following letter, which was addressed by "the envoys of the South African Republic and of the Orange Free State to the Right Honourable the Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.," by the "Consul-General temporarily in charge of the interests of the South African Republic":--

"ST. PETERSBURG, _August 18, 1900_.

"EXCELLENCY,--According to a publication issued at Pretoria on June 25, 1900, under the designation, 'Government Gazette Extraordinary, vol. i. No. 7,' some proclamations have been addressed to inhabitants of the South African Republic by Lord Roberts, Field-Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of her Britannic Majesty's troops in South Africa.

"By the first of those proclamations, dated Johannesburg, May 31, 1900, it is, _inter alia_, announced to all burghers 'who have not taken a prominent part in the policy which has led to the war between her Majesty and the South African Republic,' &c., 'and who are willing to lay down their arms at once, to bind themselves by an oath to abstain from further participation in the war,' that they would be allowed, after taking the oath, to return to their homes (section 2 of the proclamation).

"By the second proclamation, dated at Pretoria, June 6, 1900, it is, _inter alia_, notified that, in the event of any burgher being granted a pass under paragraph 2 of the above proclamation, he would be allowed to retain possession of his stock; or should any or all of this stock be required for the use of her Majesty's troops, he would receive current market value for the same in cash.

"The undersigned, in the name of the Government of the South African Republic and the Government of the Orange Free State, feel themselves obliged most strenuously to protest against the intent of both these proclamations.

"Because from these proclamations, taken in their mutual relation to each other, there appears to be no other deduction than that the burghers are only guaranteed retention of their property if they shall first have taken the oath referred to in paragraph 2 of the first-named proclamation clearly. The declaration set forth in the proclamation of June 6, 1900, only has sense if it is assumed that in the judgment of Field-Marshal Roberts the property of burghers (even of those who have taken no 'prominent part' in the policy which led to the war) may be taken away from them by him solely on the ground of there being war between England and the South African Republic.

"This now is in direct conflict with principles of international law in force for ages already, according to which private property, not being contraband of war, must be respected in war with the country, and which have been once more expressly acknowledged by Article 46 (being a part of the 3rd Section, entitled 'De l'autorité militaire en le territoire de l'état ennemi') of the declaration annexed to the 'Convention concernant les lois et coutumes de la guerre sur terre,' which was also signed on behalf of her Britannic Majesty. Said article reads as follows:--

"'L'honneur et les droits de la famille, la vie des individus, et la propriété privée, ainsi que les convictions religieuses et l'exercice des cultes, doivent être respectés. La propriété privée ne peut pas être confisquée.'

"Although the South African Republics are not included amongst the contracting Powers, the principles enunciated in the article quoted may none the less be invoked by them, because that article does nothing more than formulate what during ages has been common right in war between civilised nations.

"By further proclamations of June 16, marked A 1 and A 2, the threat is made in case of damage occasioned to railways and telegraph lines that the principal inhabitants of the villages and districts affected would be held jointly and severally responsible for such damage; moreover, a heavy fine would be imposed, and nothing be paid for goods delivered; also that houses and farms in the neighbourhood would be devastated, and that one or more of the inhabitants would be taken along in trains used for purposes of war.

"By these proclamations punishments are threatened for actions whereto a belligerent party has every right, and the infliction of those punishments are by anticipation provided for even for cases wherein no proof whatever of guilt is furnished, private property is confiscated and destroyed, and an attempt is made to make burghers appear against one another.

"Against the intent also of both these proclamations, which violate every sense of right, the undersigned desire to record their most strenuous protest.

"The Envoys, "W. J. LEYDS. "A. FISCHER. "C. H. WESSELS. "A. D. W. WOLMARANS.

"His Excellency the Right Hon. the Marquis of Salisbury, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, &c., London."

Elsewhere the Dutchmen continued to make themselves obnoxious. On the morning of the 27th Major Brooke, R.E., commanding at Kraai Railway Station, had come in for his share of annoyance, some Boers having lodged themselves in a kopje preparatory to pouncing on the rail. The Major with a hundred men promptly went forth to tackle the conspirators, and with the assistance of this small but plucky crew, notable among them the brave fellows, Lieutenant Maurice Griffith and Sergeant Hannam (Volunteer Company Royal Welsh Fusiliers) and Sergeant Southrood (Cape Garrison Artillery), he succeeded in completely routing the Dutchmen, who left five dead on the field.

FOOTNOTES:

[9] In order to fully appreciate the excitement of the De Wet chase, it is interesting to read the account, contributed by the editors of _St. Paul's School Magazine_, of a British prisoner who perforce was with the hunted: "On the seventh day of our captivity we joined De Wet's commandos as they were crossing the Vaal, going north to Lindique. As we arrived at the Vaal a battle was in progress with Lord Methuen's force, which had come down from Potchefstroom. We were hurried across Schoeman's Drift, and barely cleared the drift when British infantry appeared, lining the ridges commanding the drift, and we came under a heavy rifle fire. We joined up with De Wet's waggons, who were trekking as fast as they could towards Wolve Nek. A very steep ridge of hills runs from Schoeman's Drift in a north-easterly direction, parallel with the Vaal River. De Wet held a very strong position here. Lord Methuen's force was on the west and north-west, and Lord Kitchener's cavalry and mounted infantry column was on the southern bank of the Vaal. We remained here twenty-four hours, and could see the British columns closing in on De Wet's laagers. It was here the Boer general did a smart thing. Seeing that his only plan was to break up his laagers, directly night came he moved his waggons out and spread them in a long line along the roads that led out of the hills in horse-shoe shape, commanding both western and eastern ridges. This gave him two alternate routes to escape by, and commanded the narrow neks where the three ridges of hills running in a north-east direction met at an apex. Theron's force, with whom we still remained, were camped a mile south of the front bend of the horse-shoe laagers, and nearest to the British lines. At daybreak the following morning the Boers were caught napping; a tremendous commotion was observable, and our inquiry elicited the two words, 'Khaki's coming!' And no mistake, for during the night the British had occupied a ridge on the west, flanking and commanding the western end of the horse-shoe, and with the first grey streaks of dawn bang came their shells into the waggons. The Boers scattered, abandoned eight waggons, took half their convoy by the main road to the north, and the balance, with their main column, the road to the north-east, Theron's crowd and De Wet's burghers covering their rear. I saw at a glance we were in an awkward fix, with two alternatives--either blown to pieces where we stood, or run the gauntlet of a direct flank fire. De Wet soon settled it, and ran the gauntlet. Away we went helter-skelter up the steep slopes of the hills, aiming for an almost impossible-looking pass, strewn with gigantic boulders and small stones. We had just reached the pass when three waggons toppled over and fell down the gorge, and every moment we expected the same fate. The pass selected was an inconceivable place for vehicles to get through, but the Boer has a happy knack of negotiating difficult country. Over through the nek we went bumping and thumping on the boulders, and directly we showed on the other side we were greeted with shell, as British artillery had gained a position covering our exit. Shell after shell came whizzing over our heads; one struck ten yards on the right of our cart, another shaved our left, a third whizzed close by my head, causing a deafening sensation in my ears, and a fourth plumped right down in front of our leading horses, killing both. A crash, and over went the cart, flinging us through the air in company with mailbags, Mausers, and cushions, landing amongst a pile of boulders. With great difficulty the Boers righted the cart, pulled the hood down, as being too conspicuous a mark, and putting in two horses we dashed off. Fortunately, when we toppled over the British stopped shelling, but directly we started, whiz! bang! came the shells, until we reached a dip in the road, which shielded us from view, and, dashing on, we caught up their main body, a mass of Cape carts and guns, yelling and shrieking drivers, flogging their oxen and urging them on, while the rattle of Mausers and boom of guns showed that a fierce rearguard action was in progress. Again we were doomed to disappointment. Shelled by our comrades, within an ace of being killed, we had the mortification of being dragged away from the scene of what might have been our deliverance. All through the broiling hot day we pushed on, never halting until 6 P.M., to enable the rearguard to close up. We were on the move again at 10 P.M. to midnight; then on at 2 A.M., climbing the Gatsrand, and halting at 7 in the morning. Again on the march at 8 to 10 A.M.; twenty hours' continuous trekking out of the twenty-four, covering a distance of close upon 40 miles. Here we rested until 2 P.M., then inspanned, and crossed a high ridge of the Gatsrand near Wolvaardt. As we reached the top of this ridge we heard the boom of British artillery, showing that we were being closely followed up. This welcome sound to us caused the Boers to redouble their efforts, and we went scrambling, tumbling, and slipping down the slopes of the Gatsrand at breakneck speed, halting at 7 P.M. a few miles from the Potchefstroom-Krugersdorp railway. At 8 P.M. we crossed this railway near Welverdiend, the Boers blowing up the line in half-a-dozen places. Pushing on to 1 A.M., De Wet thought he had outdistanced his pursuers, and felt safe, especially as he was reinforced here by 1500 burghers and some guns. Our position now was near to Bosman's Kop and Rietfontein, and we had covered about 95 miles from Schoeman's Drift in 46 hours, fighting a rearguard action the whole time. I here learnt our objective was the fastness of the Magaliesberg mountains, to effect a junction with Delarey's commandos. At 8 P.M., to De Wet's consternation, artillery fire was heard close to his left rear flank, which turned out to be either Lord Kitchener's, Smith-Dorrien's, or Lord Methuen's force shelling the Boer left rearguard, posted in some kopjes near Klerkskraal, while the British field battery of horse artillery were paying attention to his convoy. A shell burst on the waggon containing British prisoners, wounding three men. The Boer guard fled, and sixty out of eighty British soldiers made a rush in the confusion for the British lines. De Wet was so closely pressed here that he abandoned a gun and hastily left his position, trekking night and day to reach the bush veldt of the Magaliesberg, where he knew kopjes or ridges offered excellent positions to hold and detain the British from following him up too closely. We pushed on the following day, climbing the Magaliesberg, while a stiff rearguard action was being fought with Lord Kitchener's combined forces, and, dropping into the Hox River valley, pushed on till we reached the Olifant's Nek. De Wet was now comparatively safe, having the mountains behind and between him and the British force. A day or so after reaching Olifant's Nek all the British prisoners taken at Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, and ourselves were collected and placed in four ox waggons, with an escort of 100 burghers, and proceeded through Rustenburg, our ultimate destination being Nooitgedacht."

[10] Lieutenant-Colonel Spreckley was the son of the late Mr. George Spreckley of Derby, and was born in 1865. After spending four years on an ostrich farm, he joined the British Bechuanaland Police in 1885, and remained two years. He was quartermaster in the South Africa Company's pioneer expedition to Mashonaland in 1890, and a Mining Commissioner in Rhodesia from 1891 to 1894. He served with the Salisbury Horse against the Matabele in 1893 and 1894, for which he was awarded a medal, and on the outbreak of the Matabele rebellion in 1896 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the volunteer force which fought against the rebels. He greatly distinguished himself during that campaign, and Sir Frederick Carrington spoke highly of him in his despatches. He did good service in the conduct of a successful engagement at Umquasa, and commanded an important patrol to Shiloh and Inyati. His services were rewarded with a C.M.G. He was manager of the Willoughby Consolidated Company at Buluwayo. He, with Colonel Plumer, had fought during the various engagements on the Transvaal border, and was present at the relief of Mafeking.

[11] Colonel Helyar obtained his commission on February 2, 1864; he was promoted to lieutenant on December 1, 1868, obtained his company on October 31, 1871, was gazetted major on October 15, 1881, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on April 15, 1891, and became a colonel on April 15, 1895. He retired on half-pay on October 26, 1895, but volunteered his service for South Africa, where he was given the command of a battalion of Imperial Yeomanry.