Here, In The Calvinia District, Several
Commandos United In October 1901 Under Maritz, Louw, Smit, And
Theron.
Their united bands rode down into the rich grain-growing
country round Piquetberg and Malmesbury, pushing south until it
seemed as if their academic supporters at Paarl were actually to
have a sight of the rebellion which they had fanned to a flame.
At
one period their patrols were within forty miles of Cape Town. The
movement was checked, however, by a small force of Lancers and
district troops, and towards the end of October, Maritz, who was
chief in this quarter, turned northwards, and on the 29th captured
a small British convoy which crossed his line of march. Early in
November he doubled back and attacked Piquetberg, but was beaten
off with some loss. From that time a steady pressure from the south
and east drove these bands farther and farther into the great
barren lands of the west, until, in the following April, they had
got as far as Namaqualand, many hundred miles away.
Upon October 9th, the second anniversary of the Ultimatum, the
hands of the military were strengthened by the proclamation of Cape
Town and all the seaport towns as being in a state of martial law.
By this means a possible source of supplies and recruits for the
enemy was effectually blocked. That it had not been done two years
before is a proof of how far local political considerations can be
allowed to over-ride the essentials of Imperial policy.
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