Some examples were
made therefore of offending farmhouses, and stock was confiscated
where there was evidence of double dealing upon the part of the
owner. In a country where property is a more serious thing than
life, these measures, together with more stringent rules about the
possession of horses and arms, did much to stamp out the chances of
an insurrection in our rear. The worst sort of peace is an enforced
peace, but if that can be established time and justice may do the
rest.
The operations which have been here described may be finally summed
up in one short paragraph. A Boer army came south of the British
line and besieged a British garrison. 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. A glance at the map must
show that the railway line would surely be cut both to the north
and south of the town, and the garrison isolated at a point some
two hundred and fifty miles from any reinforcements. Considering
that the Boers could throw any strength of men or guns against the
place, it seemed certain that if they seriously desired to take
possession of it they could do so. Under ordinary circumstances any
force shut up there was doomed to capture. But what may have seemed
short-sighted policy became the highest wisdom, owing to the
extraordinary tenacity and resource of Baden-Powell, the officer in
command.
