diff options
Diffstat (limited to '41511-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 41511-8.txt | 5226 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5226 deletions
diff --git a/41511-8.txt b/41511-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1e23eb3..0000000 --- a/41511-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5226 +0,0 @@ - MAFEKING: A DIARY OF A SIEGE - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Mafeking: A Diary of a Siege -Author: F. D. Baillie -Release Date: November 29, 2012 [EBook #41511] -Language: English -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAFEKING: A DIARY OF A SIEGE -*** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - -[Illustration: WRECKING THE ARMOURED TRAIN AT KRAAIPAN.] - - - - - MAFEKING - - A Diary of the Siege - - - BY - MAJOR F. D. BAILLIE - - LATE IVTH (Q.O.) HUSSARS - - - - [Illustration: SIGNALLING FROM AN ARMOURED TRAIN.] - - - - _WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS_ - - - - WESTMINSTER - ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & COMPANY, LTD. - 1900 - - - - - Prefatory Note - - -I must crave the indulgence of the public for producing a more or less -rough form of diary in the form of a book, and it is only the interest -which they have manifested in Mafeking which has induced me to do so. To -the proprietor of _The Morning Post_ I am indebted for his kindness in -allowing me to re-publish the diary in book form. To the proprietors of -_The Daily Graphic_ I am indeed grateful for the sketches with which -they have allowed me to supplement my diary. Such as it is, I dedicate -it to all members of my dear old regiment, past and present. Four of us -were serving there: myself, and Private Brierly, B squadron, now -B.S.A.P., Private Williams and Private Lambart, D squadron (the former -now sergeant), Protectorate Regiment, while the adjutant of the I.L.H. -portion of the relieving force was Captain Barnes, also B squadron. -These are only matters of regimental interest, but as the publication is -dedicated to the regiment, I feel justified in giving these details. - -F. D. BAILLIE, Major, -_late 4th Queen's Own Hussars._ - - - - - The Siege of Mafeking - - - -"War declared to-night, October 10th, 1899, by old Kruger. So much the -better, this intolerable waiting is over." This I find is the entry in -my diary for that date, but little did I know we were about to commence -the "Siege of Mafeking"--a much more intolerable wait, with the -additional pleasure of being fired at without the chance of returning it -with effect. - -Till you have experienced it no one (at least I hadn't) has any idea how -trying it is to exist without news of the outside world. - -On October 11th nothing happened. On the 12th, the Protectorate -Regiment under Colonel Hore took up a position on the eastern heights, -which overlook the town and waited attack. The Boers, however, did not -arrive. - -In the meantime the town defences under Colonel Vyvyan and Major Panzera -were progressing apace. We had only quite recently been enabled to do -anything in that direction, owing to the repressive policy of the Bond -Ministry. Therefore the defences at this time consisted merely of a few -breastworks, wagons drawn across the ends of roads leading on to the -market square, and a few strands of barbed wire fastened up on these -points. - -October 13th, 1899. In the morning the same programme; the Boers -reported to the south and also to the north. Whilst lying on the -heights--if they can be so called--we saw a magnificent sight. For -safety two trucks of dynamite were being run up to a northern siding -clear of the town. About eight miles out the Boers commenced firing. -The engine-driver uncoupled his trucks and ran his engine back towards -the town. The Boers closed in and continued firing, thinking it was the -armoured train. Result--a terrific explosion, a column of smoke -shooting up into the air and mushrooming out until it became a vast -cloud in the clear blue sky. In the afternoon I went out in the armoured -train to inspect the damage, but they had pulled up the line short of -the spot. We opened with a Maxim on the body of Boers engaged in -inspecting the hole and bagged a couple. The remainder galloped in the -utmost confusion towards their laager. - -The armoured train had previously been out in the morning due south and -bagged one, and went out again in the same direction on its return, -under Captain Williams, and secured another. - -October 14th, 1899. The fight to-day may be summarized thus: Boers -firing on the picquets; Boer retirement harassed by the armoured train, -which was eventually supported by one squadron, which engaged the -retreating Boers heavily. The Boers tried to cut them off, but the -arrival of another squadron and a seven-pounder settled the matter. -Their attack was repelled with great loss, and we retired to our lines. - -Whilst we were at breakfast firing was heard in the direction of the -cemetery to the north of the town, and shortly afterwards increased in -volume; then came the bark of the Maxim, the boom of heavy guns and the -increasing rattle of musketry. D squadron of the Protectorate Regiment -was ordered out to support the armoured train. We waited on the Market -Square knowing nothing, hearing only the heavy fire. - -What had transpired was this: a squadron of the Protectorate Regiment -commanded by Lord Charles Bentinck had furnished a strong patrol to -discover the whereabouts of the Boers. He happened to come upon them -about four miles out. They promptly pursued and tried to cut him off. -The Corporal with his right flank patrol galloped on to the armoured -train, and on his own initiative directed it to move out in support. -The Boers were driven back, hotly engaged by the armoured train, in -charge of Captain Williams, British South Africa Police, a train which -was constructed and conducted by Lieutenant More, Railway Volunteers. -The train drove their artillery from two positions; their shells burst -all round, under and over the train, and, strange to say, only two men -were slightly scratched. - -[Illustration: THE CREW OF THE H.M.S. "FIREFLY."] - -At that period Captain Fitzclarence arrived, and engaged the Boers who -were withdrawing, firing at the armoured train, towards their own -laager. To explain the situation now, I must describe the field of -battle. The railway runs due north and south of Mafeking. The Boers' -laager about eight miles N.N.E. of the town. The train had driven the -enemy about five miles and a half back from the town, therefore by this -divergence, when Captain Fitzclarence came into action he had perforce -lost the effective support of the train, and the squadron fought on its -own account. It numbered about seventy men: it faced about five or six -hundred. Two orderlies were sent to Captain Fitzclarence and the -armoured train to tell them to fall back, one on a bicycle who was -captured, and the other on horseback. - -Now to show the advantage of khaki as a fighting colour on the -well-bleached Veldt. The horseman rode up to the Boers and was fired -upon. He then galloped along the front of, and through and along the -rear of our own men without seeing a man, delivered his message to the -armoured train, and returned to seek his invisible friends -unsuccessfully. His horse was shot, and he returned to Mafeking on an -engine. In at least two instances he was within thirty yards of his own -men and could not see them. The dark clothing of the Boers is, however, -more conspicuous, but with smokeless powder and khaki the firing line -even at short ranges is invisible as a target. - -To return to the actual fight. The Boers pelted by a well-directed fire -returned a wild and ineffectual one. The incidents of the fight -commenced. Two cousins, Corporals Walshe and Parland, Irishmen, and men -of means who had joined not for pay but for patriotism, quickly fell, -both shot through the head by the same Dutchman, who was ensconced in a -tree, but unfortunately for himself he let fall a piece of paper which -caught the quick eye of Private Wormald, who promptly picked him off -like a rook. Several other Dutchmen in like positions met the same -fate. This treatment did not appeal to the Boer, who came out to shoot -and not to be shot at, and so he made his usual move to work round and -cut off the squadron from their base. - -At the distance the squadron was from the line (over three quarters of a -mile), and at the angle it was to the line, in addition to the -difficulty with smokeless powder of telling friend from foe, it was -impossible for the armoured train to act. Previous to this they had -been supported by a troop of A squadron under Lieutenant Brady who was -wounded on coming into action. The situation was distinctly serious, -their flank was nearly turned, and the Boers had almost interposed -themselves between the squadron and Mafeking; at this critical juncture -Lord Charles Bentinck and two more troops with a seven-pound gun arrived -within striking distance. Two rounds of shrapnel and the Boers -commenced retiring. When their retirement was assured D squadron -withdrew, placing their wounded in the armoured train. The fight was -over. - -Surgeon-Major Anderson, who had had his horse shot, attended to the -wounded throughout the fight in the firing line. Our losses were two -killed, twelve wounded, two of whom subsequently died. Four horses -killed, twelve wounded. Boer losses reported eighty killed, about twice -that number wounded. - -Too much credit cannot be given to Captain Fitzclarence and Lord Charles -Bentinck for the coolness and gallantry with which they handled their -men, or to the men for the way they responded, and what is said of them -applies in the same degree to Captain Williams and the men of the -British South Africa Police and Railway Volunteers engaged. The Boers -had fought in the scrubb, in vastly superior numbers and had been -thoroughly beaten. - -The strain on Colonel Baden-Powell and the headquarter staff must indeed -have been great. For four hours they were anxiously waiting, reports -were not favourable, and they knew that a disaster to a small force -engaged risked the whole defence as there was literally not another man -to send to their support. Indeed one squadron engaged was actually a -part of the defence of the northern portion of the town. On the return -of the wounded a train with a relief party under Major Baillie with -Father Ogle, and Mr. Peart, Wesleyan minister, went to recover the -bodies, and if necessary to render assistance to any wounded Boers who -might have been left in the retreat. The train stopped near the scene -of the action and the party with stretchers, preceded by a large Red -Cross flag, moved towards the spot. They were fired on about half a -mile before they reached it, and as the firing increased it was decided -to retire as the men were known to be dead, and all the wounded were -brought in. - -This they did quietly, the Boers in the meantime were working round to -the line to cut them off from the train. The train returned to -Mafeking, and on a report being made to Colonel Baden-Powell he -addressed a letter of remonstrance to General Cronje. - -15th, Sunday. Landau and pair, with huge Red Cross flag, arrived -containing Dr. Pirow, Cronje's doctor, who came to lunch. He explained -that the firing on the Red Cross was a mistake, as the Boers thought -that the train was the armoured train returning, and gave us news of -Lieutenant Nesbitt and our prisoners of the armoured train which has -been captured at Kraaipan. He took whisky and beer back with him for -Cronje. Sunday is a tacit truce with both parties, and no fighting goes -on. I suppose we are the only two Nations who would observe it. The -ambulance went out and fetched in the dead. They were buried by -moonlight by Father Ogle, a most impressive ceremony. The Father said a -few words to the effect that it was a righteous war, and that the -Sisters were praying for us. - -16th, Monday. The Boers brought up two twelve-pounders to a long-range -position N.-E. of the town and commenced bombarding. They drove in our -picquet at the head of the waterworks and occupied the trench. They -directed their fire mainly on the town and station, consequently did -most damage in the convent, which was flying the Red Cross and was -fitted up as a hospital. The shells that missed the convent struck the -centre of the town, but did little harm. The shells that missed the -station pitched round the B.S.A.P. fort, which was occupied by Colonel -Hore and a squadron of the Protectorate Regiment. This they continued -all day. Casualties _nil_. Our seven-pounders out-ranged. No reply -made to their fire. - -The Boers had thus occupied the head of the waterworks and cut off our -water supply. The headquarter staff had made provision for this, and -under Major Hepworth's supervision had had all wells cleaned out and Sir -Charles Warren's old well reopened. We thus have an abundance of water. - -Towards mid-day a flag of truce, borne by a renegade English Colonial, -rode towards our lines. This was unfortunate. They had not detected -the armoured train, and the skirmishing line of the Boers and their -artillery was just coming within deadly Maxim range. They rode straight -on to the armoured train, and of course the trap was disclosed. It was -a message from Cronje, who sent in to demand surrender to avoid further -bloodshed. Baden-Powell answered, "Certainly, but when will bloodshed -begin?" and pointed out that they were again firing on the Red Cross -flag. - -Two of our wounded, both corporals, died to-day. The town is -practically surrounded. - -17th, 18th, and 19th. Nothing happened. Investment completed. Boers -estimated six thousand men, undoubtedly correct. - -20th. Boers cut off some cattle which had strayed out too far. - -21st. In addition to the main railway line, a temporary line had been -laid down in an easterly direction towards the race course, and north of -the town extending about a mile and a half. The armoured train now -patrolled this line; painted green and covered with bushes, it was -indistinguishable from the scrub surrounding it. I slept in the -armoured train at the railhead. In the early morning Captain Williams -commenced firing on the Boers at the head of the waterworks as they came -out of their trench to make their coffee, with two Maxims. I fear they -got their coffee rather late, and that some even did not get it at all. -This went on with fitful replies for two or three hours, and then firing -in that quarter ceased. - -On the western front in the afternoon the Boers looted some cattle which -had strayed, and from this date sniping commenced, pretty generally all -round on both sides. - -22nd, Sunday. Band and calls on various outlying forts, hospitals, &c. -All church services were held. - -[Illustration: FIRING FROM AN ARMOURED TRAIN] - -And now to endeavour to describe the town and defences of Mafeking. -Mafeking is situated on a rise about three hundred yards north of the -Molopo river, which flows from east to west. It is about three-quarters -of a mile square. The railroad runs to the west of the town, and -practically speaking, due north and south, but immediately south where -it crosses the Molopo by an iron bridge it inclines rather westward for -a distance of two or three miles. The railway embankment north and -south of the river thus furnishes cover from the east and south-east -heights on the southern bank of the Molopo. To the west again of the -railway, and nearly butting it half a mile south of the Molopo, is the -native stadt, lying on both sides of the river, and on the northern -bank, commencing about half a mile from the railway, then running in a -north-westerly direction for about a mile and a half, and ends about a -mile and three-quarters west of the railway. The ground in front of the -northern end is slightly higher than the stadt and soon commences to -sink away from it, affording good cover to an enemy moving on that side. -Near the railway the ground slopes gradually down for a considerable -distance to the river. The country round Mafeking to the west, north -and east, is flat, but across the Molopo to the south and south-east it -commands the town. The ground to the west of the stadt commands the -stadt. - -Situated two thousand yards south, and slightly east of the centre of -the town, is an old fort of Sir Charles Warren's--Cannon Kopje. This is -the key of the position. It is an old circular stone fort, and only by -dint of extraordinary exertion had it been possible to bring it by this -time up in any degree to a state of efficiency enough to enable it to -resist even old ordinary seven-pounder guns. It has an interior -diameter of approximately twenty-five yards. The native location -occupied by half-breeds lies directly between Cannon Kopje and the town -on the southern bank of the river. Following the course of the river -eastward about twelve hundred yards from the town, and on the northern -bank extend the brickfields (eventually occupied by both parties), while -in the same direction, and about three miles and a half from Mafeking on -a ridge, is MacMullan's farm (subsequently the Boer headquarters). To -return to the town--at the north-eastern corner is the convent. Due -east of that is the grand stand about a mile away, while N.N.E. from the -convent, and a mile and a half away, is the base of the waterworks, -which extend to a trench at their head in the same direction for nearly -a mile. - -Thus we have the railway station the north-west corner, the convent the -north-east corner, Ellis's house the south-east corner, and the -south-west corner the pound; while in a line from the south-west corner -of the town and the northern portion of the stadt, the B.S.A.P. barracks -and fort lie about midway. With the exception of a strip of scrub about -a mile wide to the north and east of the convent the country all round -is almost bare. - -The town is composed of one-storey houses built of soft bricks and -roofed with corrugated iron, the only exception being the convent of two -storeys and the station, which is not yet complete. The native stadt -consists of Kaffir huts. The B.S.A.P. fort is a duplicate of Cannon -Kopje, thus the outline of the defences of Mafeking is, roughly -speaking, an obtuse angled triangle, of which the apex is Cannon Kopje, -while the other two angles are the northern end of the native stadt and -the convent. The population in time of peace is, Mafeking two thousand -whites, the native stadt four to five thousand, location five hundred. -At the present moment fifteen hundred whites approximately, native stadt -seven thousand owing to native refugees, location five hundred. - -The perimeter of the defences was between five and six miles. -Commencing with the convent, and working westward at the outset, the -defences were as follows:--The railway line and armoured train protected -the north-west front, then nearer to the railway came Fort Victoria, -occupied by Railway Volunteers; and in the arc of a circle extending to -the north end of the stadt trenches occupied by the Protectorate -Regiment at night. These were gradually turned into forts. The women's -laager was established on the edge of the stadt near the B.S.A.P. -officers' quarters, and a refugee camp in the hollow north of the stadt, -the northern end of which was held by Captain Vernon and C squadron -Protectorate Regiment, while B squadron, under Captain Marsh, and the -natives, held the stadt itself--the whole under Major Godley, who -commanded the western outposts. The town was garrisoned by the Cape -Police under Captains Brown and Marsh; these and the Railway Volunteers -being under Colonel Vyvyan, while Cannon Kopje was entrusted to Colonel -Walford and the B.S.A.P. Colonel Baden-Powell retained one squadron of -the Protectorate Regiment as reserve under his own immediate control. -These arrangements were subsequently much augmented. After the convent -had been practically demolished by shell fire and the railway line all -round the town pulled up or mined during the close investment by the -Boers, the small work was erected at the convent corner, garrisoned by -the Cape Police and a Maxim, under Lieutenant Murray, who was also put -in charge of the armoured train, which had, however, been withdrawn to -the railway station out of harm's way. The Railway Volunteers -garrisoned the cemetery, and had an advanced trench about eight hundred -yards to the front and immediately to the right of the line. To the -westward came Fort Cardigan, and then again Fort Miller. In the -south-west was Major Godley's fort, at the north of the native stadt, -with an advance fort--Fort Ayr--crowning the down to the northern end of -the stadt. Although this was rather detached, it commanded a view and -fire for a great distance to the south of the northern portion of the -stadt, and here the Cape Police were entrenched with the Maxim. Five -hundred yards to the west front of Captain Marsh's post lay Limestone -fort, commanding the valley, on the other side of which lay the Boer -laager and entrenchments. At the south-western corner, and on the edge -of the stadt Captain Marsh's fort was situated. The whole of the edge -of the stadt was furnished with loopholes and trenches, and garrisoned -by the native inhabitants. By the railway were situated two armoured -trucks with a Nordenfeldt. Cannon Kopje, with two Maxims and a -seven-pounder, lay to the south-east. And now to the immediate defence -of the town. At the south-western corner is the pound, garrisoned by -Cape Police, under Captain Marsh; then eastwards Early's fort, Dixon's -redan, Dall's fort, Ellis's corner, with Maxim and Cape Police, under -Captain Brown. On the eastern front, Ellitson's kraal, Musson's fort, -De Kock's fort, with Maxim, recreation ground fort, and so back to the -convent, on the left of which lies the hospital fort--all these, unless -otherwise mentioned, garrisoned by Town Guard. These so-called forts -are garrisoned with from fifteen to forty men, and furnished with head -cover and bomb proofs against artillery. Bomb proofs have been -constructed everywhere, traverses erected at the end of streets, -trenches giving cover leading from every portion of the town and -defences; and it is possible to walk round the town without being -exposed to aimed fire. The trenches are constructed with a view to -being manned in case of need. Telephones are established in all the -headquarter bomb proofs of outlying forts, and are connected with the -headquarter bomb proof, thus securing instant communication and avoiding -the chance of orderlies being sniped, which would assuredly otherwise be -the case. These defences were all improvised on the spot--every -conceivable sort of material being utilized therein. - -23rd, Monday. Bombardment threatened, so commenced by forestalling it. -Two guns under Captain Williams, B.S.A.P., and Lieutenant Murchison, -Protectorate Regiment, started at 3 a.m., to take up a position at our -end of the waterworks and the rail head temporary line, respectively, -with orders not to fire unless fired on. I rode out with them and saw -as pretty an artillery duel in miniature as one would wish to see. We -waited patiently, Lieutenant Murchison laid his gun on the enemy's -seven-pounder, which we could distinctly see in their trenches at the -head of the waterworks. We were under cover from view. At last a puff -of smoke came from their gun, and before it was well clear of the muzzle -ours had answered, and that gun was out of action for a considerable -period. In the meantime, both of our guns were playing gaily on their -trenches and remaining gun. This went on intermittently till mid-day, -and then both their guns ceased fire altogether. We then returned, and -since heard that their guns were rendered useless for some time. On the -south-western portion of the defences a similar seven-pounder fight was -going on, and the Boers then fired their twelve-pounder high velocity -gun a few times. Their ninety-four-pounder Creechy (an abbreviation for -Marguerite) or, as the men call her, Creaky, has arrived and taken up a -position at Jackall Tree, 3400 yards S.S.W. of Cannon Kopje, accompanied -by some field guns. - -24th. Creaky commenced her ministrations by firing about forty shells -and damaged property but hurt no one. The convent of course was hit, -and the twelve-pounders also joined in the fire. Marvellous escapes -reported all round. - -25th. Creaky began in real earnest, and also seven-pounders, -twelve-pounders, Maxims, and all. They fired about four hundred shells, -mostly in the direction of the convent hospital, trying, I fancy, to hit -the station. I was in the trenches in the recreation ground. The -convent was struck several times. Their shell fire seemed very noisy, -but its effect was more moral than physical, as casualties therefrom -were few; the musketry fire, however, did more damage. The advance party -down the Malmani road had a man hit badly (since dead), young Kelly, -Protectorate Regiment, and when a party went out to fetch him, though -obviously wounded, they were exposed to a hail of bullets--for at least -half a mile. I saw the lad in the hospital, and his only anxiety was to -get out and have another go at them. At the same time on the other flank -the Boers made an attack on the native staff, hoping on the assurance of -the Baralongs to obtain a footing there; and then when they had got us -thoroughly engaged on the south-western face, their real attack was to -have been made from the north. The Baralongs, however, supplemented by -two squadrons of ours, greeted them with a heavy fire, killing many. -Consequently that attack on our face never came off. - -27th. Shelling continued, and now, having beaten the enemy in the -field, Colonel Baden-Powell resolved to give them a taste of cold steel, -accordingly, at 8 p.m. D squadron, fifty-three strong, paraded under -Captain Fitzclarence, with two parties of the Cape Police in support. -It was a fine dark night, and the squadron moved off with injunctions -only to use the bayonet. The two parties of Cape Police moved towards -the brickfields, one considerably further east than the other to -enfilade the rear of the Boer trenches. The object of the attack was -some trenches of Commandant Louw's on our side of the racecourse and to -the north of the Malmani road (which runs due east of the town to -Malmani). It was a still night, and lying waiting one could hear the -order to charge, and then the din began. The first trench was carried -with a rush; the Boers lying under tarpaulins did not hear the advance -till they were almost on them. Sword and bayonet did their work well, -and with the flanking parties firing on the rear trench, and the Boers -commencing a heavy fire in all directions and from all quarters, things -for a time were very lively indeed. It was estimated that six hundred -Boers were in laager, so after giving them a thorough dose of the -bayonet, the signal to retire was given by a loud whistle, and carried -out in the same cool and orderly manner as the advance. In the meantime -a furious fire was being maintained by the Boers all round; the volleys -from the Cape Police completed their confusion, and they kept on firing -even after the wounded had been dressed and placed in hospital. -Something frightened them again about 2 a.m., and they recommenced their -fusilade at nothing and continued it for about an hour. Our losses were -six killed, eleven wounded and two prisoners, including Captain -Fitzclarence and Lieutenant Swinburne slightly wounded. We subsequently -heard that the Boers lost one hundred--forty killed by the bayonet, and -sixty whom they had probably shot themselves in the hideous confusion -that reigned in their camp. Captain Fitzclarence used his sword with -good effect. The Cape Police, who were under Lieutenant Murray, lost -none. The attacking squadron did not fire a shot, but in the rush to -the second trench the occupants probably shot their own men in the dark -at close range. This story later shows the terror the Boers here have of -cold steel. Our snipers were now close to the enemy's trench, and one -of the Boers, probably an artilleryman, waved his sword over the top, -whereupon one of his comrades was overheard to shout, "For God's sake do -not do that, or they will come with their bayonets." - -[Illustration: FITZCLARENCE'S BAYONET CHARGE.] - -What I said about coolness and gallantry in the first fight applies in -even a greater degree to this encounter. The men were admirably led and -did splendidly. Our success so far was marked. The Boers had been kept -at a respectful distance from the town. They never felt safe at night; -they had been beaten at their own game in the open, and we practically -disregarded their vaunted artillery, on which they had pinned their -faith to reduce the town. Daily the situation became more a question of -endurance. - -28th. Ambulance, under a flag of truce, fetched in our dead. Boers -very surly. The dead were buried that night. Shell-fire and sniping -continued; little harm done. - -29th, Sunday. Band, &c. - -30th. Transferred my residence to the western portion to watch the -Boers moving to and fro on our western front, about two miles out, -sniping going on both sides all round. Desultory shell fire. - -31st. Enemy's force occupied a position on the south-eastern heights -and from Jackall Tree three thousand four hundred yards S.S.W. of Cannon -Kopje, where they had erected earthworks, their artillery pushed forward -to within two thousand yards, and opened a heavy fire on the kopje, -commencing at 4.40 a.m., under cover of which their infantry attack was -pushed from the south-east to within three hundred yards of the kopje, -but was repelled by the B.S.A.P., fifty-seven strong, with two Maxims -and a seven-pounder under Colonel Walford. They attacked with great -resolution, but our fire was held till they came within good range, and -then after sustaining it for some time they broke and fled. Their -ambulances came to pick up the dead and, under their cover, many who had -been playing "possum" got up and ran for their lives. Our losses were -six killed, including Captain the Hon. D. H. Marsham and Captain -Pechell, K.R.R., and two sergeant-majors, five wounded severely. I may -perhaps be permitted to say a few words about personal friends. It -seemed as if it could not be true. In Captain Marsham's case, well -known as he was to the Boers, and popular as he was on both sides of the -border, the enemy will regret his death almost as deeply as his comrades -here did. Captain Pechell had a brother serving here as a private in the -Protectorate, who has since got his commission in that regiment; an -additional sympathy must be felt for his family and regiment, as almost -at the same time his brother in the same regiment was killed in a Natal -fight. I only voice the one feeling here of personal sorrow for their -loss and sympathy with their relations. - -The Boers were well thrashed, and my previous description of Cannon -Kopje will enable readers to grasp what a thoroughly gallant fight it -was. The Boers must have lost very heavily. Later in the day they -attacked the southern end of the native stadt, in a half-hearted manner, -but it was not pushed home, and were easily driven off. Both these -fights were easily visible across the valley, with the exception of the -commencement of the Boer infantry advance, which one could only gather -from the continuous musketry fire. This night we buried the dead, all -the available officers in the garrison attending. - -November 1st. The enemy shelled Cannon Kopje again, and galloped up -from the south within about a mile, dismounted, and made a show of -attack, but were driven away. Shell fire and sniping. - -2nd. Desultory shell fire and lots of sniping at horses watering, five -horses wounded. At about 10 p.m. Lieutenant Murchison shot Mr. Parslow, -_Daily Chronicle_ representative, but as the matter is still _sub -judice_, comments or opinions are undesirable. - -3rd. Heavy shelling and sniping. The Boers having occupied a position -in the brickfields, Captain Goodyear and the Cape Boys attacked them and -turned them out, during which Captain Goodyear was unfortunately -severely wounded in the leg. - -Inquest this morning returned a verdict of wilful murder against -Lieutenant Murchison, who will be tried by Field General Court Martial. -Mr. Parslow's funeral took place to-night, attended by the staff and -many others; the other correspondents and myself carried the coffin to -the grave. - -4th. Heavy shelling and sniping all round, eight horses shot. The -Boers having experienced the delights of the dynamite explosion, now -determine to repay us in our own coin. Loading a truck with dynamite, -they brought it up to the top of the incline on the railway, which runs -from the north down to Mafeking Station, meaning to run it into the -station and explode it in the town. In this amiable intention they were -foiled, as either owing to the rustiness or roughness of the line, which -had not been used for three weeks, to the defective fuse, or some other -unexplained cause, it blew up a mile and a half out of town, and I trust -assisted a few of them to the other world. The curious part of the -explosion was that everyone insisted that a shell had burst exactly over -the spot he happened to be in, and it was not until next day that the -occurrence was explained. - -5th. Sunday. Band, and celebrated Guy Fawkes day with fireworks, first -warning the enemy not to be alarmed. - -6th. A smart bit of work on the part of the Boers. Their big gun -opened fire at 4.30 a.m., and after firing one shot they took her round -to the south-eastern heights, where they had erected a work for her, and -fired again within twelve hours; by the remote road they preferred, it -must have been more than four miles; two field guns and a large escort -accompanied her. - -[Illustration: RELICS.] - -7th. Rumours were rife as to the intended attack on the native stadt -this morning, but this pleasant attention was anticipated. At 3 a.m. -Major Godley paraded with Captain Vernon's squadron, Protectorate -Regiment and mounted Bechuanaland Rifles under Captain Cowan, with two -seven-pounders and the Hotchkiss gun, under Lieutenant Daniel, B.S.A.P., -Captain Marsh's Squadron P.R., being held in readiness to support, if -necessary, from the southern portion of the stadt. And here it must be -explained that due west the Boers had established a laager with about -two hundred and fifty men, two twelve-pounders and a diabolical -one-pound Maxim in entrenchments, and daily shelled the stadt and -western defences, and that it was from this quarter that the attack was -expected. However, Major Godley took up a position within good range of -the laager, and as day broke the Boers were roused by the seven-pounders -and the Hotchkiss, supplemented by long range volleys. The Boers broke -to ward Cronje's large laager, about three or four miles south-west of -the stadt. I was watching operations from the top of the B.S.A.P. fort, -and the whole fight was clearly discernible in its earlier stages, an -admirable example of Boer tactics, as their advance to their attacking -position was across our western front, though at safe distance from -rifle fire. Within ten minutes of the commencement of fire knots of -Boers came galloping from the large laager, in tens, twenties, twos and -threes, anyhow, in fact, and about half way they met the Boers who were -retreating, who then rallied and returned with them to the attack. They -swept over the ridge towards the north, and as they drew nearer were -assailed by long range volleys from Captain Marsh, and then the fight -began. There could not have been less than five hundred, personally I -fancy eight. Their guns were in full swing and firing wildly -fortunately, for the majority of the shells burst by the women's laager -and the fort, which did not seem logical, as we were not hurting them. -Their one-pound Maxim, however, was putting in good work. The object of -the sortie had been attained in drawing the attack where we wanted it, -and a gradual and slow retirement on the works commenced. Then, -unfortunately, one of our guns was temporarily disabled, but under a -very heavy fire was righted without any casualty, which was miraculous, -as the one-pounder had got the range and put shells around it all the -time, shooting off the heel of a man's boot and bursting all around and -among the men and horses. However, all got under cover all right. -Captain Vernon handled his men coolly and well, and retiring by -alternate troops they kept the enemy at bay. The fire was very heavy, -and but that the majority of the Boer firing was wild, we should have -lost heavily. Major Godley was shot through the hat, slightly wounded -in the hand, and his horse shot. The Bechuanaland Rifles at their -baptism of fire behaved steadily and well, and Captain Cowan was well -justified at his pride in his men. The Boers attacked the -entrenchments, advancing to within six hundred yards of them, but were -beaten off with loss. Working round to the northern flank, however, -they managed to account for eleven horses and two men in about as many -seconds, but the undesirable attention of the stationary Maxim convinced -them that their presence was no longer necessary. It was very hot -whilst it lasted, and then to the looker-on came the welcome sight of -first one, then twos and threes, then larger bodies, cantering off in -the direction from which they had come, and then, the most welcome sight -of all, three large wagons flying the Red Cross flag coming to pick up -their casualties, showing that their loss must have been heavy. Our -loss, six men wounded, six horses killed, nine wounded, and many cattle -and donkeys in the vicinity of the forts killed and wounded. - -8th. Sniping and shelling and a new earthwork being constructed by the -Boers three thousand yards due north of the B.S.A.P. fort, called Game -Tree fort. - -9th. The cheering news from Natal of three British victories has -arrived, great excitement prevails, and naturally--it is our first news -for nearly a month. Shelling and sniping of course goes on, and one -shell burst in Colonel Walford's stable, where three horses were -together, and killed the centre horse, thirty-one shrapnel bullets being -found in it. The others were untouched, as were also the men all round. - -10th. Game Tree fort has begun with high velocity twelve-pounders. -These are pernicious guns. Old Creaky can be provided for. She is -carefully watched from everywhere--if she is pointed a bell rings, when -the smoke comes from her muzzle another bell rings, and everybody goes -to ground till the shell does (or does not) burst. But these smokeless -guns give no warning; the report and the shell arrive simultaneously. -Twenty-seven shells were fired in a very short time round the fort, -three burst in it, and one knocked a bucket from a nigger. But when -they had got the range accurately the Boers desisted. Their artillery -tactics are marvellous. They fire in a casual way at any thing; if they -get the range accurately they seem satisfied, and begin to shoot at -something else. They keep on shooting for some time and unexpectedly -stop; then just as vaguely begin again, with apparently no ulterior -object, but general annoyance. One thing only is certain, that from -4.30 to 5 a.m. Creaky will fire a round or two, and probably stop till -after breakfast, and that from 8.30 to 9 p.m. she has never missed her -farewell shot. - -11th. Shelling all day, sniping getting really lively. - -12th. News of Colonel Plumer's column. We were all grieved to hear of -poor Blackburne's death. - -13th. Slight shell fire, very quiet all round. - -14th. Sniping and shelling rather lively, to compensate for yesterday. - -15th. Very quiet. Heavy rain during the night; the Boers entrenching -themselves towards the brickfields. An American despatch rider of -Reuter's, Mr. Pearson, arrived, having ridden from south of Kimberley--a -great performance. - -16th. Heavy thunderstorm and rain; shelling and sniping all round. - -17th. Shelling and sniping. The big gun again shifted rather farther -back. Mr. Pearson started on his adventurous ride back to Cape Town. I -wish him every success. - -18th. To-day is the beginning of the end, I hope. Cronje's laager to -the south-west is breaking up and trekking south. All squadrons have -been warned to be in readiness to start at once, and we hope our turn is -coming at last, but General Cronje is capable of any ruse to draw us out -and endeavour to overwhelm us in the open. They do not forget to leave -us Creaky, who gave us a heavy doing to-day; sniping is going on -continually daily on our south-eastern and eastern front. - -At this point of the siege it is worth while to review the situation. -The Boers have been compelled to detach a large portion of their force -to the south, leaving, however, ample men to invest the town. They have -had four severe lessons and seem more disinclined than ever to come to -close quarters. They have, however, entrenched themselves in suitable -positions round the town, and it is impossible to say at any given point -what their strength might be. Our strength is about nine hundred -rifles, including all available white men, and a sortie, even if -successful, might seriously impair our strength; whereas, as we are, we -can hold the town, which is our primary object. For a sortie at the -most we could only hope for two hundred to two hundred and fifty men, -and the rapidity with which the Boers concentrate, and their vast -superiority in artillery, would give them a very good chance of -inflicting a defeat, which might be ruinous. No! their shell and -musketry fire is annoying, but with the precautions that have been taken -they cannot inflict sufficient damage to compel surrender. Thus, the -whole thing resolves itself into a matter of "patience, our turn is -coming soon." For if we cannot get out, neither they nor three times -their number can get in. - -From this time on till the beginning of December it may be as well to -explain the situation in advance. The fighting on the western and -southern fronts had almost ceased, but the Boer entrenchments were -occupied by picquets, who indulged in occasional sniping, and it was -unknown how many were in the rear of them. The fort to the north, Game -Tree fort, was armed with a five-pounder gun, and was occupied fairly -strongly, and between that and the waterworks was another trench, -occupied by the Boers, from which they were eventually ousted by the -fire of the Bechuanaland Rifles. To our eastern front lay the trench by -the race-course, strongly held; and south of that in front of McMullen's -farm (the Boer main laager), a trench about thirteen hundred yards from -the town. There are four or five brick-kilns about eleven to twelve -hundred yards from the town, running in a diagonal direction from the -trench down towards the Molopo, and it was about here that the -continuous skirmishing took place; our works being pushed out to meet -theirs from the bed of the river, which was connected with the town by a -trench running due south from Ellis's corner, past the old Dutch church. -Their guns were admirably placed for raking the town, stadt, and -defences on the south-eastern heights, about three thousand yards from -the town. To the south of the river the Cape boys occupied a trench, -near the eastern end of location, and about two thousand yards from the -enemy's big gun. - -19th, Sunday. Band and calls. Laager, to the north-east at Signal -Hill, trekking eastward. - -20th to 23rd. Daily shelling and sniping. Captain Sandford moved the -Boers and the seven-pounders from the western entrenchments. One of -these guns they now abandoned with the exception of a picquet. - -24th. Shelling and sniping; the B.S.A.P. fort came in for most of it; -two men wounded. - -26th, Sunday. We had our first game of polo, a concert, and a football -match. Church in the evening. - -27th. An advanced trench had been constructed in the river bed, six -hundred yards from the Boer trench, and fourteen hundred yards from the -big gun: Lord Charles Bentinck occupied it after dark. - -28th. The big gun was harassed by volleys all day, and did not fire -much, a lively skirmish going on at intervals throughout the day on the -eastern front, Maxims, guns and rifles; Cape Boys partaking from the -south of the Molopo. Fitzclarence relieved Lord Charles Bentinck this -evening. The Boers vacated the brick-kilns after the firing had been -going on for some time. - -29th. The long-range volleys have undoubtedly had good effect. The big -gun cocked up her nose and fired two rounds wildly this morning. On the -eastern front was a crowd with telescopes and field glasses, laughing at -the gunners, who could plainly be seen dodging about, and making many -futile efforts to get off their piece safely somehow. Ellis's corner, -Fitzclarence's squadron, the Cape Boys in the river bed and in the -trench, volleyed him directly old Creaky's muzzle was elevated. The -enemy could not find out where the fire came from, and fired their -smaller guns and one-pound Maxim, on chance, all about the place, but -did no harm. Creaky only got off three rounds to-day. When the Boers -in the trench tried to join in, the Maxim at Ellis's corner was turned -on to them; while the Maxim from De Kock's fort paid a similar attention -to the race-course trenches. The Boers in the north-west also shelled -to-day. Lord Charles Bentinck relieved Fitzclarence after dark. - -30th. This was the hottest day's firing we have had for some time. At -3 a.m. a heavy fire commenced all round. The Boers had been annoyed by -our native snipers in the river and brickfields, and commenced firing -so-called volleys from their trench in the direction of the river bed. -The Cape Boys and the squadron fired on the big gun and Ellis's corner -fired on the Boers. Our Hotchkiss also fired, but the seven-pounder -gun, concealed in the bed of the river, did not fire, but awaited -developments, as its position was still unknown to the enemy; this went -on with short intervals all day, but an hour and an half before sundown -began a most furious fusillade all round. Creaky, who had now been -furnished with cover for her gunners, joined in the fray, and for over -an hour heavy firing was incessant, and a very pretty fight followed. In -all this firing on the south-eastern corner the bullets drop in the -town, and the market square and surrounding streets are no places for a -contemplative stroll at these times. The other day, during a game of -football, a ninety-four-pound shell passed through the players and burst -in the town house, in the centre of the square, but marvellous to -relate, none were injured though the interior of the town house has -disappeared. To return to the skirmish, after a vast expenditure of -ammunition our casualties were nil; I trust the enemy's were heavy. In -a Transvaal paper, dated December 2nd, they confessed to several being -slightly wounded lately by our continuous fire. - -December 1st. To check an undesirable expenditure of ammunition, -Colonel Baden-Powell detailed an officer, Mr. Greenfield and six men to -accompany the Cape Boys (who invariably opened the ball) up the river -bed with orders not to fire unless sure of killing some one, because, -though they thoroughly enjoyed themselves yesterday they got through an -enormous quantity of powder and shot. These Cape Boys are good men, fair -shots, very brave, and have accounted for quite a large number of Boers -while out sniping. In consequence of these orders sniping resumed its -old condition, and not many volleys were fired. Creaky, in consequence, -fired rather more. - -2nd. The fire of the Bechuanaland Rifles drove the Boers from their -advanced trench to the north-east, which they had occupied, but -subsequently abandoned and destroyed, as it was too advanced. But -another trench was constructed midway between this trench and our own -advanced trench. Four railway men out sniping towards Game Tree fort, -came upon the niggers the Boers had posted in advance of that earthwork, -and shot one, the rest fled. The Boers swarmed into the trench and their -commander was heard to order some men to go and cut the party off. -Sharp came the answer, "No, the rooineks are attacking in force." -Eventually, after crawling a thousand yards under fire, the party got -off safely, having accounted for two Boers. - -3rd, Sunday. As our parties were digging late Saturday night and early -this morning in the vicinity of the Boer trenches the Boers sent in a -flag this morning to ask if we meant to fight on Sunday. We sent back -to say no. I rode round the western outpost from the outside and was -much struck by the admirable way Major Godley had laid out the trenches; -they were practically impregnable. I also went up to Cannon Kopje -which, with infinite difficulty, has been much strengthened daily, or, I -should say, nightly. We then had sports, tilting at the ring, -tent-pegging, &c., two pony races, and a polo match, and all the rank -and fashion of Mafeking assembled to partake of Colonel Hore's and the -Protectorate Regiment's hospitality, and to "listen to the band." The -only thing that has been thoroughly levelled in Mafeking is the Polo -ground, which is very fair, and the ponies surprisingly good. Practising -polo, and mounted sports, however, have been forbidden during week days, -as it draws so much fire. Indeed, Creaky elevated her muzzle once -during the afternoon, which caused a certain amount of sensation, as we -do not exactly trust our foes, and one shell in the crowd would have -secured a good bag. It was probably to show her to the Dutch ladies who -drive out to their camp on Sunday. These ladies have ceased watching -the effects of the shells on the town since long range volleys began. -Church in the evening. Sunday is indeed a welcome fillip all round, -particularly for the poor women and children, who are confined to the -laager all the week; eleven of the latter have died since the -commencement of the siege. There are services for all denominations, -every Sunday; but I think the evening ones are the more plentifully -attended. - -4th. A quiet day; not much shelling or sniping. - -5th. Shelling and sniping. A shell burst in Well's store, killing a -nigger outside (at least he died afterwards), close to me. The pieces -flew all about, and I had not time to analyse where they were falling; -they came too quick, but it was a pretty close shave; but then there -have been innumerable close shaves and marvellous little damage done to -life so far. The shell passed through the roof, just below the look-out -man, whom the shot threw into the air. Fortunately it exploded in the -next store, otherwise no doubt he would have been blown to pieces. As I -write two shells have just exploded, one blowing a Kaffir to pieces and -wrecking a chemist shop, the other knocking over a white man, who is -just being removed to hospital; how much hurt I do not know. (I hear -that he was killed.) About 3 o'clock began the most tremendous rain, -which lasted for two hours, the market square became a lake, the streets -rivers, whilst our little Molopo developed at short notice into a raging -torrent. It swept away all impedimenta, wooden bridges, &c., at once. -The squadron in the river bed had to retire and Captain Fitzclarence -while endeavouring to cross was nearly drowned. The seven-pounder was -nearly washed away; the ammunition was. The trenches and bomb proofs -were full to the brim, many of them proving to be in the beds of regular -streams. Had the Boers known or been able to seize their opportunity -they might have made it very nasty for us with shell fire, but as it was -they were in a worse plight than we were, as they had no dry cover for -drying their clothes, and could not replace them, and when they emerged -from their trenches our Maxims opened on them. The headquarters' staff -set to work and had everybody fairly comfortable by 7 o'clock. Natives -were at work bailing all night; dry clothes were given to those who had -no change, brandy and quinine served out to all the trenches, the men -sleeping in adjacent cover. Wagons fetched up the women from the laager, -and blankets were distributed to all who required them. As usual all -rose to the occasion, and having proved themselves under fire now -repeated the process under this onslaught from water. Perhaps the -people who were worst off were the B.S.A.P. at Cannon Kopje. A wet -night--their shelters flooded--and literally everything they possessed -carried away, except their blankets, arms and the clothes they stood up -in, and no shelter at all. However, take it all round, the enemy were -much worse off than we, which is always consoling, and consequently -being miserable, and having nothing to do, they opened a lively fire on -the town generally, lasting about half an hour. - -6th. Shelling and sniping as usual. It is their custom now to begin in -the evening about 4, keep it up till dark, and then fire Creaky once -from about 8.30 to 9 o'clock. Mr. Gerrans, town councillor, was -extracting the fuse of an exploded shell--result--he was blown down and -severely injured. His foreman, Green, had his foot blown off, and a -passer by, Smith, a Johannesburg refugee, returning to his trench, was -so injured that he died in an hour. Everybody was much depressed by -this; it seemed so sad that more damage should be caused among the -whites by an accident than had hitherto been the result of six weeks' -shelling by the enemy's heavy gun. However, since artillery has been -invented mankind will tamper with loaded shells, in spite of all -warnings, orders, or entreaties to the contrary. - -7th. Lady Sarah Wilson arrived this morning, having been exchanged for -Viljoen who had been sentenced to six months' imprisonment before the -war began. He, I fancy, will look fatter and in better condition than -his friends outside, and did not appear over keen to join them. This -plucky lady was received with loud cheers when she entered the town; she -has indeed had a bad time, and everybody was greatly relieved to see her -back safely, though perhaps this is not quite the best place that I know -of to have a villa residence. As she drove up to her house the firing -commenced again--they did not waste much time. Heavy shelling continued -after dark. Three men killed, eight wounded. - -Apropos of shells, I presume in the course of his life Colonel -Baden-Powell has had many curious communications, but certainly none -more curious than this one. The other morning a Kaffir picked up an -unexploded five-pound shell; when the fuse was unscrewed, instead of a -charge the following missive was found:-- - -"Mr. Baden-Powell, - -Pleas excuse me for sending this iron messenger i have no other to send -at Present. He is rather exentric but vorgive him if he does not behave -well i wish to ask you not to let your men drink all the whisky as i -wish to have a drink when we all come to see you. cindly tell Mrs. -Dunkley that her mother and vamily are all quite well. - -I remaijn, Yours trewly, a Republican." - -I am afraid the ingenious gentleman in question will have to wait a -while for his whisky. - -8th. Quiet all the morning; but this afternoon shell fire began, -killing one man, Protectorate Regiment, and wounding two. Creaky only -fired one round, our snipers keeping her quiet; but sniping all round -made things pretty lively. - -9th. Pretty quiet; not much shell fire in the morning, but began in the -evening, and pretty smart sniping continued all day. I must now -endeavour to describe the hospital arrangements, and the noble work done -by the ladies of Mafeking. The hospital arrangements for the defence of -the town were made under the supervision of Dr. Haves, Major Anderson, -R.A.M.C., and Surgeon Holmden assisting him; Major Anderson being -attached to the Protectorate Regiment, which might have been moved at -any time. In addition to being under a hot fire the whole of the first -fight, he accompanied the ambulance to Cannon Kopje, during the fight -there. Bullets whistled round the Red Cross the whole way there and -round the stretchers (which he assisted to carry) on their return to the -shelter of the railway embankment. There may have been some excuse for -firing on the Red Cross during the first fight, on the second occasion -there can have been none; probably the Boers considered that we adopted -the same practice as themselves and brought up our ammunition in -ambulances. Whether this is a valid excuse or not, I will leave my -readers to decide. The Red Cross flag, at the commencement of the siege -floated over the railway embankment, the first dressing station, the -refugee camp dressing station, the women's laager, Messrs. Weil's (who -had placed their house at the disposal of the authorities for the use of -the wounded), the convent, which is fitted up as a hospital, and the -Victoria Hospital. General Cronje stated, and with some show of reason, -that he could only recognize one hospital, and the women's laager. -However, prior to this, he had sent many shells through the convent, -possibly from its being a two-storied building and naturally a -conspicuous mark. Consequently Victoria Hospital, always the main -hospital, became the only one used throughout the operations. Dr. Haves -was the P.M.O., Miss Hill the matron; and here, on behalf of the -garrison of Mafeking, I must endeavour to convey our feelings of deep -gratitude and admiration for the work done by this lady, the nurses, and -their assistants (the ladies of Mafeking) during the siege. I can -testify personally to their devoted care and attention to patients, and -Britain may well be proud of them. One ninety-four pounder went through -the hospital, wrecking a ward and killing a little native boy. Shells -fell all round it, and bullets were continually hitting it, one, indeed, -wounded an already wounded man, but these ladies continued their work -undisturbed, assisted to the utmost by the sisters from the adjacent -convent, situated some fifty yards away. These poor ladies having had to -abandon their home (which was literally wrecked, and will have to be -entirely rebuilt), had to take refuge in a dug-out by the hospital. The -hospital arrangements and the attention of Dr. Haves, Major Anderson, -and Surgeon Holmden (who was himself sick in the hospital), were beyond -all praise. Fortunately the accommodation was adequate, an additional -building being erected for Kaffirs. But these for the most part -preferred being treated and returning to their own abode. They appear -nearly insensible to pain. - -To give a few instances, one native was shot with a Martini bullet -through the lung; he roared with laughter when it was extracted, and -will not part with it for anything, and is now all right. A Zulu -wounded in the toe, on seeing a man's temperature being taken, when -given the thermometer, placed it between his toes, and on being told to -put it in his mouth, said he was not hurt in the mouth, but in the foot. -Another native was shot through the head with a Mauser and lived; so, -indeed, did a railway volunteer, Nelson; the bullet went clean through -his head, and he is well and out of hospital. But the natives, though -suffering from horrible injuries, seem to regard them lightly. Most of -the native wounded are by shells; they are very careless, but I fancy -the numerous casualties are making them more cautious. The unfortunate -man killed yesterday was a man named Footman, of the Protectorate -Regiment, who was in a room singing a song, "Poor old Joe has gone to -rest," to the accompaniment of a banjo, when the shell burst on him, and -literally blew him to pieces--two more men were slightly injured, and a -chaff-cutter knocked to pieces; but the remainder were providentially -untouched. The worst of sniping is that it consumes such a lot of the -ammunition which we may eventually require, though it certainly has a -quietening effect upon the enemy's artillery; but I cannot believe the -Boers will abandon this place without one more serious attack, when they -hear of the advance of our troops, and the remnants of other commandoes -join them. They must have one tangible proof of success. So far, beyond -doubt, the prolonged defence of Mafeking has resulted in the natives -either keeping quiet or rising on our side, whereas had the Boers been -successful in these parts, the natives must have perforce sided with -them, as their emissaries had strained every nerve to induce them to do, -prior to the war. I sincerely trust that the penalties of treason will -be rigidly enforced, and that if not death, at least outlawry and -confiscation will be inflicted on the Colonial Dutch who have risen, for -no man has a right to a vote who has deliberately risen in British -territory and fought against Her Majesty. The Transvaal is another -matter, though they have raided our territory, burnt farms, and looted -cattle and annexed British Bechuanaland--that is a matter for settlement -by the Government and not for individuals to suffer. If the Boers are -well thrashed, and they have fought well, the two nationalities will -soon settle down together. But a Dutchman, or at least the lower -classes (which correspond, after all, to poor whites of America with -this difference, that they have a lot of black blood in them), cannot -understand anything but a good licking. Disarm them rigorously, and -give them a just government and they will soon peacefully acquiesce -therein. But pack the Hollander-cum-German official back to his own -country. South Africa is no place for them. Let them try the South -American Republics; with their venal habits, they will be thoroughly at -home. - -A more heterogeneous garrison has seldom been collected. A mounted -corps (the Protectorate Regiment), two detachments of mounted Cape -Police, the B.S.A.P., also mounted, the Bechuanaland Rifles, the Railway -D.W., and the Town Guard, all employed in trenches, and the horses only -used for orderly work. The Town Guard is composed of every white man or -householder, Indian or otherwise, capable of bearing arms, unless -enrolled under the Red Cross. They are formed into companies in their -own districts, and under their own commanders, Colonel Vyvyan being -commander of the whole, and range from boys of sixteen to men of -seventy. The younger boys are employed as messengers. The Town Guard -have been subjected to severe tests, sleeping and living in trenches, -and enduring the hardships of war for two months, without a chance of -returning the enemy's fire. A few individuals who are good shots are -permitted to go out sniping, but the majority have to keep their fire -for short ranges, in case of an assault. They have done their duty -well, and been under fire continually. All sorts and conditions of men -are there, and a more mixed body it would be impossible to conceive. In -any case, they have stood the test well, and surprised myself and indeed -everybody by their efficiency. Of the police of both corps, it is -impossible to say too much--they are as fine a body of men as you could -wish to see, and the work they have done speaks for itself. The -B.S.A.P. have had the more opportunities as a body, but wherever the -Cape Police have had a chance they have done every bit as well. The -Protectorate Regiment I have already described fully, and they also have -proved themselves to be the fine fighting material I thought them from -the first. But when, oh! when, shall we use our horses? The -Bechuanaland Rifles, a fine body of men, largely augmented since the -commencement of the war, had a mounted detachment under Captain Cowell. -The Railway Division under Captain Moore, who has been promoted since -the commencement of the war, are also a fine body of men who can turn -their hand to anything, from fighting in a land ironclad to manning -their own works. The authorities were warned long prior to the outbreak -of hostilities, that more troops were required here. With even two -squadrons of cavalry and half a battery we should have been able to keep -the Boers at a greater distance from the town, and beaten them -occasionally in the open, well away from our lines. Half a battalion of -infantry would have done the garrison work as efficiently as the -dismounted men of our mounted corps. In fact, we might long ago have -raised the siege by a decisive blow, which we have been, under our -present circumstances, unable to deliver. I think I stated this in a -letter some six weeks prior to the outbreak of the war. However, I -presume we shall soon be out of this now, though we have no news, as for -the past fortnight no runners seem able to get through at all. - -10th, Sunday. We had mounted sports, polo, and in the evening, church. -Heavy rain threatened, but held off. I watched through a telescope a -party of Dutch ladies being shown Creaky, who was put through her -antics, being elevated, depressed, levelled in various directions, for -their benefit. So, both sides enjoyed themselves after their kind. - -General Snyman's harangues and reports of victories (which roughly -surmised are--extirpation of the British army--the only two places in -South Africa held by the British, being Mafeking and Cape -Town--possession of Delagoa Bay, and a fight at sea, where the British -were defeated) are now received in silence and _cum grano_, by his -followers, instead of being greeted with cheers, as formerly. Really, I -begin to believe there is a limit to the credulity of the Boer, though -hitherto I had supposed it boundless. But what can equal their colossal -impudence, in invading the suzerain power, annexing Bechuanaland, and -proclaiming us rebels. Colonel Baden-Powell has recently organized a -troop of old cavalry soldiers, and armed them with lances. They have -to-day ridden all round the town, showing themselves in all quarters, to -the great astonishment of the Boers, who, I suppose, now expect another -little surprise packet, and will be anxious for a few days; as they knew -we had no lances with us. - -11th, Monday. Colonel Baden-Powell has issued a proclamation calling -upon all burghers to return to their farms by the 14th, and that if they -do so, and surrendered their rifles and one hundred and fifty rounds of -ammunition, they will not be molested, otherwise, they will be treated -most rigorously, when we take the offensive; that they are being grossly -misled by their leaders; that foreign intervention is hopeless. The -Staats Artillery may surrender as prisoners of war at any time; this -does not apply to British subjects, traitors or deserters. This might -have produced an increase of shell fire, I should fancy, judging from -our heavy days' shelling last week. Their General rode forth with his -escort, our snipers placed three volleys round him, whereupon he -galloped back to the big gun, and all the artillery began merrily, -trying to hit our headquarters. They fired a few shells this morning, -but the heavy rain seriously damped their ardour. Still, if the General -be annoyed, they will probably re-commence their attentions. Later. -The orderlies with the various flags of truce, have returned, -proclamations were sent to each of their outworks, and all the Dutchmen -volunteered that they were quite sick of it, and had had enough, which I -can quite believe. The rains are beginning, they complained of the -soakings they have already had, and with inadequate cover sickness will -soon play havoc with them. The orderlies gave them cigarettes and -conversed with them, and in two or three cases they asked them how they -came to let the re-inforcements in, referring to the lancer troop. In -one case the Dutchman said he had heard them come in, but did not know -what it was, in the other cases they said they had not seen the -re-inforcements, but they had seen their spoor. Shelling has -recommenced. To-night we send up fire balloons, weather permitting, -which will probably produce some effect on their side. - -The following is a copy of Colonel Baden-Powell's letter to Snyman and -the proclamation to the burghers:-- - - - A LETTER TO THE BOERS. - -Mafeking, 8th Dec., 1899. - -To General J. P. Snyman, - near Mafeking. - -SIR,--I beg to thank you for having handed over Lady Sarah Wilson in -exchange for the convict P. Viljoen. - -At the same time, I beg to point out that I have only consented to the -exchange under protest, as being contrary to the custom of civilised -warfare. - -In treating this lady as a prisoner of war, as well as in various other -acts, you have in the present campaign, altered the usual conditions of -war. This is a very serious matter; and I do not know whether it has -the sanction of General Joubert or not, but I warn you of the -consequences. - -The war was at first, and would remain, as far as Her Majesty's troops -are concerned, a war between one Government and another; but you are -making it one of people against people in which women are considered as -belligerents. I warn you that the consequence of this may shortly be -very serious to your own people, and you yourself will be to blame for -anything that may happen. - -Regarding your complaint as to your being attacked by Natives, I beg to -refer you to my letter dated 14th November, addressed to your -predecessor General Cronje. In this letter I went out of my way, as one -white man to another, to warn you that the Natives are becoming -extremely incensed at your stealing their cattle, and the wanton burning -of their Kraals; they argued that the war lay only between our two -Nations, and that the quarrel had nothing to do with themselves, and -they had remained neutral in consequence, excepting in the case of the -Mafeking Baralongs, who had to defend their homes in consequence of your -unjustifiable invasion. Nevertheless you thought fit to carry on cattle -thefts and raids against them, and you are now beginning to feel the -consequences; and, as I told you, I could not be responsible. And I -fear from what I have just heard by wireless telegraph that the Natives -are contemplating further operations should your Forces continue to -remain within or on the borders of their territories. Before the -commencement of the war the High Commissioner issued stringent orders to -all Natives that they were to remain quiet and not to take up Arms -unless their territory were invaded (in which case, of course, they had -a perfect right to defend themselves). - -Linchwe--of whom you complain--remained neutral until you brought a -force into his principal town and looted his traders' stores, and were -making preparations for shelling his stadt on the 26th ultimo. Having -obtained accurate information of these intentions of yours, and warned -by what had happened to the Natives near Mafeking, he attacked your -laager on the 24th in order to save his town from being shelled and -consequent loss of life amongst his women and children. In this I -consider he was quite justified, and you have no one but yourself to -blame in the matter. - -While on the subject of Natives please do not suppose that I am ignorant -of what you have been doing with regard to seeking the assistance of -armed natives, nor of the use of the Natives by you in the destruction -of the railway line south of Mafeking. However, having done my duty in -briefly giving you warning on these points, I do not propose to further -discuss them by letter. - -I have the honour to be, - Sir, - Your obedient servant, - R.S.S. BADEN-POWELL. - - - NOTICE - - -To THE BURGHERS OP THE Z.A.R. AT PRESENT UNDER ARMS NEAR MAFEKING. - -_From the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Forces, Mafeking_. - -BURGHERS,--I address you in this manner because I have only recently -learnt how you are being intentionally kept in the dark by your officers -and your Government newspapers as to what is really happening in other -parts of South Africa. - -As officer commanding Her Majesty's troops on this border I think it -right to point out to you clearly the inevitable result of your -remaining any longer in arms against Great Britain. - -You are all aware that the present war was caused by the invasion of -British territory by your forces, and as most of you know, without any -justifiable reason. - -Your leaders do not tell you that so far your forces have met with what -is only the advanced guard of the British force, and that circumstances -have changed within the past week; the main body of the British is now -daily arriving by thousands from England, Canada, India, and Australia, -and is about to advance through your country. In a few weeks the South -African Republic will be in the hands of the English; no sacrifice of -life on your part can stop it. The question now to put to yourselves -before it is, is this: Is it worth while losing your lives in a vain -attempt to stop their invasion or to take a town beyond your borders -which, if taken, would be of no use to you? (And I may tell you that -Mafeking cannot be taken by sitting down and looking at it, for we have -ample supplies for several months to come). - -The Staat Artillery have done us very little damage, and we are now well -protected with forts and mines. Your presence here, or elsewhere, under -arms, cannot stop the British advancing into your country. - -Your leaders and newspapers are also trying to make you believe that -some foreign continental powers are likely to intervene in your behalf -against England. This is not in keeping with their pretence that your -side is going to be victorious, nor is it in accordance with facts. The -S.A.R. having declared war and taken the offensive cannot claim -intervention on its behalf. And were it not so, the German Emperor is -at present in England, and fully in sympathy with us: the American -Government have warned others of their intention to side with England -should any other nation interfere; France has large interests in the -gold fields identical with those of England; and Italy is entirely in -accord with us; and Russia sees no cause to interfere. - -The war is a war of one Government against another and not of people -against people. The duty assigned to my troops is to sit still here -until the proper time arrives and then to fight and to kill until you -give in. You, on the other hand, have other interests to think of, in -your families and farms and their safety. - -Your leaders have caused the destruction of farms in this country and -have fired on women and children, and our men are becoming hard to -restrain in consequence. Your leaders have also caused invasion of -Kaffir territory, and looting of their cattle, and have thus induced -them to rise, and in their turn to invade your country, and to kill your -burghers. As one white man to another, I warned General Cronje on the -14th November that this would occur, and yesterday I heard that more -Kaffirs are rising, and are contemplating similar moves; and I have -warned Snyman accordingly. Thus great bloodshed, and destruction of -farms threaten you on all sides, and I wish to offer you a chance of -avoiding it. To this end my advice to you is to return without delay to -your homes and there remain peacefully till the war is over. Those of -you who do this before the 14th instant will be as far as possible -protected, as regards yourselves, your families, and property, from -confiscations, looting, and other penalties to which those who remain -under arms may be subjected when the invasion takes place. - -Our secret agents will communicate to me the names of those who do and -of those who do not avail themselves, before the 13th instant, of the -terms now offered. To ensure their property being respected, all the men -of a family must be present at home when the troops arrive and be -prepared to hand over a rifle and 150 rounds of ammunition each. - -The above terms do not apply to officers or to members of the Staats -Artillery, who may surrender as prisoners of war at any time; nor do -they apply to rebels from British territory or others against whom there -may be other charges. It is probable that my force will shortly again -take the offensive. - -To those who, after this warning, defer their submission till too late, -I can offer no promise, and they will only have themselves to blame for -an injury or loss of property that they or their families may afterwards -suffer. - -(Signed) R.S.S. BADEN-POWELL, - _Colonel._ -MAFEKING, 10th Dec., 1899. - - -The proclamation has either had a good effect or it is a curious -coincidence, that, since its issue, the town has been barely shelled at -all, sniping has almost ceased, and the Boers have only shelled the -trenches in front of the native location, and the location itself, in a -perfunctory manner, the result being that though we have shot a few -Boers, our casualties have been nil, except some natives in the -location, and from the 12th to the 15th nothing worth mentioning has -happened. I fancy their news from the south must be bad, and undoubtedly -men and cattle have gone away lately. Thanks to their recent vigilance, -our native runners have failed to get through, and I imagine the same -fate has befallen the runners trying to come in, for we have been -absolutely without reliable news for the last three weeks. General -Snyman sent in a copy of the _Volkstem_, relating our enormities and -their victories, all underlined. I am bound to say the news was taken -with much salt; but still it was news of a sort. The leading articles -were mainly whining for foreign intervention, so we could read between -the lines. - -15th. Later. I was somewhat previous in my remarks, they have just -placed a shell within a hundred yards of the hotel. - -December 16th. (Dingaan Day.) We were aroused at 2.39 a.m. by the -Boers celebrating their independence. They sent a ninety-four pounder -through the corner of Dixon's Hotel, which is our headquarters, -consequently all rooms and passages are full of sleepers, the orderlies -sleeping in the passages and billiard room. However, fortunately they -managed to put their shell through the bar, which is the only empty room -in the house, and wrecked a portion of it and the stoep, which by day is -full of occupants. A splinter stopped the town clock, hence the -accuracy with which we timed our unlooked-for alarum. They have tried -to hit headquarters for some weeks, shells pitching all round the hotel -and wrecking neighbouring buildings, but heretofore we had escaped. -Then, having drawn their bow at a venture by night, they have at last -succeeded in hitting it. After having inspected the damage I turned in -again. But as our seven-pounder at Cannon Kopje returned the fire, it -became universal, and I think the Boers intended to attack. Colonel -Baden-Powell having anticipated something of the sort, had had the -little gun laid on their big one the night before. As it was impossible -to sleep, I went down to Ellis's corner to join in the fun. For nearly -three weeks we had let them fire away without taking much notice of -them. To-day, however, knowing it was their national festival, we were -determined to disturb their amusement. Our old seven-pounders had their -advanced trenches well in range, and three of them, about three-quarters -of a mile apart, commenced playing havoc with the said trenches, shells -bursting beautifully in and over them. While Creaky, like a big dog -annoyed by little ones, snapped hurriedly at each of its puny -antagonists in turn. It made better practice than I have yet seen, and -burst its huge shells within fifteen and twenty yards of the guns. When -the smoke from its muzzle was seen, our gun detachments laid down, but -the explosion and smoke of the big shells had not died away before -"boom," through the smoke, came the derisive return of its tiny -antagonist, showing "a miss to the Boers." The guns took no notice of -Creaky after the first shot, but concentrated their attention on the -trenches, leaving her to be soothed by musketry volleys. Our shell fire -had a most quieting effect on the occupants of the trenches, and we had -to stir them up by sniping their individuals, and then when they woke up -a bit the Maxims assisted in calming their unruly spirits again. -Altogether a most enjoyable morning. It is so dull being shot at -without answering, but when one's own guns keep the game going, it is -quite another thing. This lasted till about 6.30. Just to prevent -their being too much taken up by any amusements they might have -contemplated, to celebrate the day, our guns fired a few rounds again at -noon, but the big gun only answered with a few rounds, and after a -feeble spatter of musketry we knocked off. On the western front, about -dusk, our seven-pounder, under Captain Sandford, knocked out their -five-pounder, and they dismantled their fort and withdrew to a more -retired position. - -[Illustration: REMOVING THE EFFECTS OF A BOER SHELL.] - -We have advanced our seven-pounder to Fort Ayr, and hope to repeat the -process. The first of our shells burst right among them whilst they were -outside making coffee. - -17th, Sunday. We had a handicap polo tournament. Here are the teams -and the result from _The Mafeking Mail_:-- - - No. I.--Colonel Baden-Powell (Captain), - Captain Gordon Wilson, - Captain Singleton, - Lieutenant Hon. A. Hanbury-Tracey. - - No. II.--Captain Lord C. Cavendish-Bentinck (Captain), - Lieutenant-Colonel Walford, - Major Anderson, - Lieutenant Mackenzie. - - No. III.--Lieutenant-Colonel Hore (Captain), - Captain Sandford, - Captain Vernon, - Lieutenant Bridges. - - No. IV.--Major Godley (Captain), - Major Goold-Adams, C.B., C.M.G., - Captain Fitzclarence, - Lieutenant Moncreiffe. - - No. V.--Major Baillie (Captain), - Captain Marsh, - Captain Cowan, - Lieutenant Paton. - - - *Match.* *Goals scored*. - - 1 Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1 - Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1 - 2 Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 0 - Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 1 - 3 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1 - Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 1 - 4 Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 0 - Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1 - 5 Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 0 - Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 2 - 6 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 0 - Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 1 - 7 Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 1 - Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . . 1 - 8 Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 0 - Colonel Baden-Powell . . . . . 1 - 9 Lord C. Bentinck . . . . . . . 1 - Major Godley . . . . . . . . . 0 - 10 Major Baillie . . . . . . . . 1 - Colonel Hore . . . . . . . . 0 - - Total - goals scored. - - Colonel Baden-Powell's team . . . . 2 - Captain Lord C. Bentinck's team . . 3 - Lieutenant-Colonel Hore's team . . . 3 - Major Baillie's team . . . . . . . . 4 - Major Godley's team . . . . . . . . 2 - -Colonel Baden-Powell's team had a Captain who played an excellent game. -Major Baillie was decidedly the mainstay of his team, not only by the -unerring accuracy with which he hit the ball, but also on account of the -verbal assistance delivered unceasingly in stentorian tones to his side. - - -We are now making great preparations for Christmas, which we are -apparently condemned to spend here. Church services as usual. - -18th. A quiet day; except on the western front, where their -five-pounder keeps pegging away; however, no one takes any notice of it, -as our new gun-pit is not yet completed. To-morrow we hope to have -another lively morning. The Boers have been drilling, apparently -practising an attack formation, somewhat late in the day, however, and -not of much use now, as they could not get in if they tried, and they -are not likely to make the attempt. As I before said, Colonel -Baden-Powell has collected some thirty lances and armed a troop with -them, so that, if the enemy depart hurriedly, we may be able to speed -them on their way. Went sniping in the evening; they fired the -one-pound Maxim and a good deal of musketry fire. Our troops in the -advance trenches had quite good shooting all day. - -19th. As I anticipated. The Boers' _reveille_ was sounded for them at -4.30 a.m. by our seven-pounders, which made excellent practice on the -brickfield trench. Their big gun repeated its performance of Saturday -harmlessly. We shifted them from their trenches and turned Maxims on -them, while the Nordenfeldt at long range volleys pestered their big -gun. Their one-pound Maxim fire was wild, but they slew an inoffensive -jackass. This lasted until about 6, and was very pretty. At about 7 -Creaky began to fire at Cannon Kopje, but without effect; she shot -straighter in the morning; and at about 9 our seven-pounders began -again, but the enemy would not be drawn, and now only occasional -dropping shots come idly from both sides. On the western front our -seven-pounder silenced the five-pounder at Game Tree fort. On the -eastern front the race-course trench much annoyed the gun under Major -Panzera, with volleys, till kept under by the convent Maxim and our -one-pound Maxim. These two artillery fights cannot much impress the -Boers with the extraordinary value of the much belauded ten-tonner, and -must destroy her moral effect, for whichever of our guns she fires at -immediately returns her fire. However, she has annoyed us quite enough -and done sufficient damage to life and property, but if we had only had -a gun which could have reached her properly, we should have knocked her -out long ago. A duel between our Nordenfeldt and Creaky began this -afternoon, and has since been of daily occurrence, amidst the laughter -and applause of the spectators. No sooner has the big shell struck, than -crack, crack, comes from the Nordenfeldt. Indeed, of late the little -gun fires when the smoke from Creaky's muzzle appears, and gets off its -three shots before the arrival of the shell, which the gunners of the -monster do not seem to appreciate at all. It is a regular case of -dignity and impudence with the laugh on the side of impudence. In the -evening Captain Sandford silenced the Boer gun on the western front. - -20th and 21st. Quiet days. - -22nd. Quiet, but furious musketry fire at night, bullets flying -everywhere. - -23rd, Saturday. Fairly quiet. - -I broke my head taking a fall at polo, which we now play two or three -times a week; it is a new experience going to and from the polo ground -under fire. - -24th, Sunday. Owing to siege exigencies it was deemed necessary to hold -our Christmas on the Sunday, as the Boers' religious festival is held on -New Year's Day. All creeds held their ordinary Church services. Lady -Sarah Wilson and Mr. B. Weil had organized a Christmas tree and tea for -the two hundred and fifty children of Dutch and English parentage who -were in the town. Brakes were running to and from the laager, filled -with children, shrilly cheering and waving the Union Jack, the most -effective one run by poor Captain Vernon, who was killed within -forty-eight hours. The children seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves, -and great thanks are due to the organizers of the fête and their -assistants, for everyone was pleased to see the children enjoy -themselves. For the adults, sports were held, and a cheerful Christmas -Day was passed. - -Christmas Day. All creeds held their usual Christmas services though -under some difficulty, as everyone was on duty, though the Boers kept -Christmas as Sunday; yet it was no certainty to commence with. The Rev. -Mr. Weekes, the Church of England clergyman, had to play the harmonium, -as well as conduct the service. - -26th. The myriads of locusts which had lately devastated our grazing -grounds, already insufficient for the large number of cattle in and -about the town, had rendered it imperative that some steps should be -taken to raise our close investment sufficiently to obtain an extended -field for grazing secure from attack or raid. This was sufficient -reason for action in itself, but in addition, the approach of our forces -to Gaberones in the north, made it advisable to prepare to open up the -line and endeavour to join hands with them, and thus by extending our -perimeter and line of forts to throw additional work on the investing -force, and so prevent reinforcements being sent to the commandoes acting -against our troops north and south; nay, we even hoped to draw -reinforcement from these commandoes to assist in maintaining the strict -investment which the Boers deemed it so necessary to retain around -Mafeking. Accordingly, Colonel Baden-Powell decided to attack Game Tree -fort, which commands the line to the north. And now, before going -further with an account of the fight, let me say that in spite of great -secrecy, as to the time or place of attack, the Boers, through -treachery, were forewarned and forearmed as to our intentions. The -garrison was doubled, and the fort from an open earthwork turned into a -block-house with three tiers of fire, while the line was broken in the -night between the fort and the town, preventing the efficient -co-operation of the armoured train. On Christmas night, at about 11 -o'clock, the chief of the staff, Lord Edward Cecil, collected the -correspondents and told them of the intended attack, advising them to -rendezvous at 3 o'clock, with the headquarters at Dummie fort. The plan -of attack was as follows:--C squadron, Protectorate Regiment, were to -take up a position during the night near the railway to the west of Game -Tree fort, supported by D squadron, under Captain Fitzclarence, and the -armoured train with a Hotchkiss and Maxim, under Captain Williams, -B.S.A.P. The right flank being protected by the Bechuanaland Rifles, -under Captain Cowan. The whole of the right attack under Major Godley. -The left attack being composed of three seven-pounder guns, one cavalry -Maxim, and one troop, Lord Charles Bentinck's A squadron, Protectorate -Regiment, under Major Panzera, with the other two troops in support, the -whole left attack being under Colonel Hore. The Dummie fort lay midway -between the two attacks. The wait from 3 o'clock seemed interminable, -but at 4.28 the first gun fired, and then our seven-pounder shells burst -merrily over the fort. The infantry commenced volleys and the Maxim -joined in. The armoured train was stopped by the broken line some half -mile from where it could have efficiently co-operated, and the squadrons -commenced their attack from the railway line, D being escheloned some -three hundred yards in the rear of C. From the Dummie fort the attack -could be perfectly seen, as it advanced rapidly across our front. The -rushes were well made, and the charge in perfect order, the leaders -racing in front of their men right up to the fort, where the firing for -a while ceased, and then broke out again with renewed vigour. From where -I was, I thought the attacking squadron had secured the position, and, -from the slowness and deliberation with which the men retired, that the -supporting squadron was falling back to its lines, as, with the -smokeless powder, we could not see our men firing, and the sound was -drowned in the rattle of Boer musketry. This, alas, was not the case. -Captain Vernon, who had been wounded in the advance, led his men most -gallantly up to the work, to find it with three tiers of loopholes and -an iron roof, the bushes in front concealing this until right on to the -fort. Here he and Lieutenant Paton and fifteen men fell, and his -sergeant-major mortally wounded. Captain Sandford had been shot twice -just short of the work, but called on his men to charge. These were the -last words he spoke, and only four of the men of his troop were not -placed _hors de combat_. Captain Fitzclarence had also fallen wounded, -before reaching the work, but I am glad to say is doing well. With this -spirit shown by the officers and responded to by the men, small wonder -that we may be proud of the attack, even though unsuccessful in -obtaining possession of the work, and that the Boers afterwards seemed -more depressed than ourselves. They knew the men they had to deal with. -Corporal Cooke got on the roof of the work, and had four bullets through -his tunic, but was untouched. Mr. Paton and Sergeant-Major Paget were -shot whilst firing with their revolvers through the loop-holes (the -Boers still speak of Paton's courage), and so were many men. After the -retirement, the stretcher parties went out, and the Boers assisted in -succouring our wounded, and behaved on the whole very well, though some -young roughs got out of hand and plundered the dead and wounded. Their -leaders behaved exceedingly well, and did their best to restrain them. -I went up there and a more ghastly collection of wounds could not be -imagined, mostly shot at the muzzles of the rifles in the head, and in -some cases with large Boer bullets. Death must have been instantaneous. -The field cornets told me they had been expecting the attack, and the -rapidity with which reinforcements arrived--the presence of General -Snyman, and several leaders, and the destruction of the line, together -with the increase of the garrison, tend to endorse their statements. -Our wounded were all wounded in front, some of the men retiring -backwards so as not to be shot in the back. Sergeant Barry, mortally -wounded, sent word to his mother that he had three wounds all in front. -Our force was under one hundred actually attacking. The Boers when -reinforced about four hundred. Our losses killed or since dead: Captain -Vernon, Captain Sandford, Lieutenant Paton, twenty-one rank and file; -wounded: Captain Fitzclarence, twenty-two rank and file; four prisoners. -The men retiring were quite cool and willing to have another go--smoking -and laughing in some cases, but in the majority bitter and angry at not -having got in. British troops have certainly performed as fine feats of -arms, but no more determined attack with inferior numbers against an -enemy armed with modern rifles in a strong position has ever been pushed -home, or a more deliberate and gallant retirement under heavy fire been -made. The enemy were much impressed, and said they had never seen such -brave men, and though we failed in taking the fort, the action has -resulted in the enemy daily strengthening every work, and upset them -greatly, as they hourly anticipate a fresh attack, and gusts of musketry -break out from, their lines at night, for no apparent reason. Indeed, -the rapidity with which their white flags were hoisted on the arrival of -our ambulances make me, in my own mind, absolutely certain that they -were prepared to contemplate surrender, and in any case they will -certainly not be able to spare men from this place to assist their -retiring commandoes. Altogether their rash and insolent advance into -British territory has placed them here, as elsewhere, in about as -unpleasant a position for irregular troops as can well be imagined. In -the evening we buried our dead. - -The Protectorate Regiment, after a life of four months, and a strength -of four hundred, has now suffered one hundred and ten casualties. It -has accordingly had to be re-organized from four squadrons into three. -On no occasion has it been engaged without distinguishing itself, and I -think in its last action, though repulsed, it has, if possible, -distinguished itself most. - -What I have said about the contemplated surrender of the Boers has since -been confirmed by what I heard on my journey south towards Vryburg. -Keely, now Resident Magistrate in these parts, had been taken into camp -about this time to swear neutrality; and the Boers made no secret of -their intention to surrender the fort; but they were kept up to the mark -by one determined man, who, lying behind an ammunition box, swore he -would blow out the brains of the first man who offered to surrender. It -was at this man that Paton was firing through a loophole with a pistol -when he was shot. Nobody else on our side seems to have spotted the -individual in question, hence the Boers, on our retiring, continued the -fight. - -27th, 28th, and 29th. Desultory shelling, sniping, and occasional wild -firing from the enemy by night. We hear cheering native rumours from -the south. - -31st, Sunday. Sports, &c., driving competition, horse-show. I won hack -competition. - -January 1st, 1900, New Year's Day. We had anticipated a quiet day, as -this is a Boer festival. I presume they thought we anticipated this, -for they commenced early with a heavy bombardment and experimented with -incendiary bombs, which however were of no success. A valuable member -of the garrison, one of our few carpenters, Slater by name, was killed. - -2nd. Our usual shelling, and a niece of a Baralong chief killed in the -stadt, amongst others. In the evening Mr. Hamilton, _Times_ -correspondent, gave the staff and the other correspondents a most -excellent dinner, which we all thoroughly appreciated, at Riesle's -Hotel. How so good a dinner could be served after about four months' -siege is indeed extraordinary. - -3rd. The quick Q.-F. Krupp was moved to the north-west of the town, and -fired on the western forts, amongst other places into the women's -laager, killing two children, one Dutch, one English. - -4th. Typhoid has broken out in the women's laager. I suppose we may -consider ourselves lucky it is not more prevalent. The usual shelling -goes on. - -5th. Enemy quiet, with the usual shelling, which is terribly -monotonous. - -6th. Boers rather vicious to-day, and the usual Saturday's spar all -round at sundown. Runners went north and south. - -7th, Sunday. In the early morning heavy musketry fire from the Boers, -quite contrary to their usual custom. Sports, Christie Minstrels, and a -comical turn-out competition. - -8th. Rained hard. Shelling went on as usual, and my usual sniping -ground destroyed by four shells, and the occupant fatally injured, -Shrapnell fired over the women's laager. - -9th. From now onwards we may assume a very heavy shelling every day. -Two whites and two natives injured while tampering with a hundred pound -shell, one white since dead. - -10th. Mrs. Poulton, born a Dutch woman, shot through the head and -killed, also a few natives; this woman's sister at the commencement of -the siege expressed the wish that the streets of Mafeking might run with -English blood. This charming lady, named Hammond, created so much -disturbance at the commencement of the siege that she was put under -restraint; her daughter has since been severely wounded. Curses, like -chickens, come home to roost. - -11th. Usual day of shelling. - -12th. A Boer attack on Fort Ayr. They galloped wildly fifty yards in -advance of their trenches, about one thousand five hundred yards from -Fort Ayr, and indulged in a fantasia, but never came any nearer. Their -guns, however, five, twelve, and one hundred pounders, shot very -straight and shelled for two hours. Our casualties, one man wounded, -since dead. - -13th. Big gun did not fire, enemy very quiet; expect they are running -short of small arm ammunition. - -14th, Sunday. Great excitement caused by disappearance of Creaky, many -rumours. She was seen in at least six different places, but we all hoped -she had taken a fond farewell. - -15th. Creaky actually discovered about two miles down the Malmani Road. -She had apparently been moved by our persistent persecutions, and we -thought she had been moved into a worse position for her. We have -materially changed our minds, at any rate, at the eastern end of the -town, where she fires regularly at meal times, mostly hitting hotels. -She commenced firing at 11 o'clock. - -16th. Dislike the shelling more since I have fever; one shell struck -auxiliary hospital. - -17th. Enemy tried to foist Kaffirs into the town, to further diminish -our food supply, under a flag of truce. Colonel Baden-Powell refused to -receive them. They fired heavily and inexplicably on our white flag -carried by Ronny Moncrieffe while retreating. Tremendous indignation in -the town, though there is some rumour that one of our Kaffirs fired a -shot somewhere (this was subsequently found to be untrue). Shell hit -bomb proof occupied by Mr. Vere Stent, Reuter's representative, and -myself. Large pieces ricocheted through Dixon's Hotel which was -crowded; usual providential escapes. - -18th. They shell the town as usual. Most unpleasant this end. They -knocked off all corners of the square in two days; several casualties. - -Our system of avoiding the gun is having look-out men in all parts, who -ring so many strokes when the gun is loaded, so many when pointed, three -strokes for the town, six when pointed off it. The enemy, however, have -rather frustrated this, as they do not fire till uncertain intervals -after the gun is pointed, ranging from an hour downwards. The lookout -then rings another bell, but it gives a remarkably short time to take -cover, and it is these odd shells and not a sustained shell fire which -causes the loss of life; at any rate, there is no doubt that since the -change of position of the gun a far greater proportion of damage has -been done. - -19th. There was an artillery duel between one of our -seven-pounders--whose shells were made at our own factory here, and the -fuses designed by Lieutenant Daniels, B.S.A.P., in which the shells and -fuses proved a complete success--and the enemy's five-pounder which was -almost immediately silenced. And now as regards the factory. The -ammunition for the ship's gun, that weapon of our grandfathers, which -was unearthed in the stadt, and which shoots with great violence, though -doubtful precision, to enormous ranges, has been cast here. The -seven-pounder's shells have been cast, studded, fused, and in every -respect made perfect here. Some 2.5-pounder shells, left here by Dr. -Jameson, have been fitted with two enlarged driving-bands and have been -fired from our seven-pounders with complete success. Too much credit -cannot be given to the ingenuity, ability, and energy with which Conolly -and all his mates have worked at strengthening that portion of our -defences. - -20th. The two sides when at trench work happened on each other at night -in the vicinity of Fort Ayr, and we drove them back. A very effective -day's shelling. - -21st, Sunday. Agricultural and produce show, including babies. The -first prize for foals since the commencement of the siege to Mr. -Minchin, Bechuanaland Rifles; for babies, to Sergeant Brady, B.S.A.P.; a -great success, and really extraordinarily good show. My fever nearly -gone. - -22nd. Rather late shelling to-day, and rumoured attack on Kaffir stadt -by Boer friendlies did not take place. A certain amount of firing from -Fort Ayr. Rain begun again. - -Colonel Baden-Powell protested the other day against the firing on our -white flag, and General Snynian, who, as far as I could judge personally -whilst in conversation with him after the action at Game Tree fort, is a -crabbed old gentleman, somewhat naturally rabidly anti-British, and -according to the Boer standard an extreme martinet, sent in an answer -apologising for his burghers having fired on the white flag, and stating -with regard to Colonel Baden-Powell's remonstrance to his arming and -raising the natives, that he had merely armed a few as cattle guards. -In that case the Boers must have many cattle in close proximity to our -camp, unseen and unknown to us. He further stated that he had noticed -us building fortifications on Sunday, to which Colonel Baden-Powell -replied that we had merely taken out and relaid some mine lines, and -that he had been vastly interested, while riding round the western -outposts on Sunday, to see the assiduity with which the Boers had been -working at their new fortifications in that part. - -23rd. The usual sniping continues on the western front, but peace, -punctuated occasionally by one-hundred pound shell, is more or less -prevalent on the eastern. As regards our food supply, luxuries -purchased at store are a thing of the past, as the authorities have -taken charge of all tinned and other eatables in the place. We have now -stood four months' siege, and it seems probable that this may be -indefinitely prolonged, and it is mainly owing to the private enterprise -of Mr. Benjamin Weil, the representative of Julius Weil & Co. here, that -we are really ready to stand, as far as provisions and stores go, as -long a time again. In addition to having supplied all the Government -required, he laid in large stocks on his own account, and when the -history of the siege of Mafeking comes to be written, he will be found -to have played by no means the least important part. In addition to the -white troops employed, and to the Baralongs, who defend their own stadt, -we have four other black contingents: the Fingoes under Webster, the -Cape Boys under Corporal Currie, C.P., a detachment of Baralongs under -Sergeant Abrahams, and the "Black Watch" under Mackenzie, a mixed Zulu -crowd. These gentry, to their huge delight, are continually engaged in -endeavouring, with some success, to spend as much gunpowder and spill as -much blood as in them lies. The Cape Boys, under Corporal Currie, who -took charge of them after Captain Goodyear's wound, from which I am glad -to say he is recovering, have done notably good service, their motto and -apparently only principle being "Don't know retiring." In this there is -a good deal of common sense; for the Boer, though not very dangerous -when faced, becomes deadly and dangerous when he can shoot quietly at -you as you retire. There is another portion of our defences--or perhaps -that is a misnomer, I should rather say of our forces--to which I have -hitherto not alluded, and that is the excellent transport service. All -the mules were individually selected by Colonel Baden-Powell and Colonel -Walford, assisted by Mr. Dunlop Smith, A.V.D., and Mr. Mackenzie, -transport officer, and anybody who saw the beautiful spans of mules -turned out for the driving competitions would have felt that in all -cases their choice was well justified, and the condition of the mules -reflected the greatest credit on the squadron leaders (for each squadron -leader is responsible for his own transport), conductors and drivers, -and to the care and supervision given by the two officers before -mentioned. The driving was excellent, and the mules looked in the pink -of condition. Rather heavy shelling, and more sniping than usual. There -were several casualties, mostly natives, one shell exploding in a hut -and killing and wounding most of its occupants. From this date the -authorities have taken over all stores of food and drink, and nothing, -even luxuries, can be obtained without an order from headquarters. - -24th. Desultory shelling. - -25th. There was a good deal of firing to-day round the western -trenches. In the evening a native convicted as a spy was executed. He -had been sent in to obtain full information as to the stores, forts, -their garrisons, and the general disposition of the forces of the town. -He quite acknowledged the justice of his sentence, but only seemed to -think that it was hard lines that he should be executed before he had -had time to procure any information at all. This is the third native -spy executed, and the various native contingents are detailed in turn -for the duty. - -26th. Bradley's Hotel was partially wrecked by a shell. This is the -most effective explosion we have so far had. A large piece from the -shell went humming overhead beyond the B.S.A.P. fort, quite -three-quarters of a mile from its bursting. There is generally time for -a morning ride before the big gun commences shelling, but during the -last three or four hundred yards into the town, if the bells have begun -to ring, there is a certain amount of excitement in returning to the -hotel, as it is to this portion of the town that the enemy generally -confines his attentions about breakfast time. Later in the afternoon, -Lady Sarah Wilson and Captain Wilson, who are both now convalescent, -were seated with Major Goold Adams in a passage in the upper storey of -the convent, when a shell burst about four feet over their heads, -covering them with a pile of bricks and rubbish, but fortunately they -escaped with a few bruises. There were rumours of a contemplated attack -early next morning, and the northern and western fronts accordingly -stood to arms. More significance was given to the rumours in that the -Dutch women in the women's laager unanimously sought the shelter of the -bomb proofs at an early hour. It was not till the next day that the -reason was patent. - -27th. During my return from my morning ride the big gun fired, and I -saw the shell burst somewhat short of the women's laager. I naturally -supposed this was an accident. It was not, however, the case. The big -gun commenced a rapid fire in the same direction, and the effects of the -shells as they fell were heliographed back from the western heights. -The messages were intercepted by our signallers, under Sergeant Moffat. -They placed eight large shells in and close round the laager, and we now -understood the reason for the Dutch women taking the cover they did. It -was a most deliberate piece of barbarism; mercifully, there were no -casualties. - -28th, Sunday. A quiet day. I rode round the western outposts in the -morning and found them considerably augmented in strength. They are now -a series of bomb-proof block-houses, a zig-zag approach runs from the -refugee laager up to Fort Ayr. So approach is possible without danger -(which was not so before). A thousand yards to the front of Fort Ayr -the new Boer fort is plainly visible, and flies a flag we have not seen -before, blue, white, and orange, with a vertical green stripe. It is -possible that there may be some political significance attached to this, -possibly that our friends, the Transvaalers, by uniting the two -Republics, hope to get the Free State Boers to fight their battles -further away from their own territory; but, after all, it is pure -surmise, for we get but little news of any sort--and of political news -none at all. Due south, and about eight hundred yards away from Fort -Ayr, a new fort has been constructed, commanding the bed of the Molopo, -and garrisoned by Cape Police. It is about on the position of the old -look-out post. In the afternoon I rode round the eastern works. A -trench now runs from Ellis's corner across the river, past the gun -emplacement, past Webster's Kraal, up to and beyond the Nordenfelt -position. It is hard to believe with the much stronger position we now -have, and the reduced number of Boers, that they will attack again; but, -on the other hand, it is harder to believe that they will leave Mafeking -without a desperate effort to capture it. In any case, the garrison are -confident. On the termination of evening service we sing the National -Anthem. I have heard it sung in many places, the most impressive of all -at St. Paul's on Jubilee day; certainly next to that occasion, I think -the singing of it in Mafeking appealed to me most. For the men who were -singing it on Sunday night would be fighting for it on Monday morning. -And now, whilst on the subject, and having just read Mr. Kipling's poem, -I hope the widows and children of the irregular troops serving out here -will not be forgotten when it comes to "pay, pay, pay." - -[Illustration: THE OLD NAVAL GUN AT WORK.] - -29th. Good news of victories from the south. It seems as if the tide -had turned, and as if Old England, slow as usual, was going to forge -ahead at last. Her Majesty's message was received with the deepest -satisfaction here. It was a month late, but none the less acceptable -for being delayed. Colonel Baden-Powell issued an order, in which he -referred to the execution of the spy, and warning all persons, women -included, who might be found treasonably corresponding with the enemy, -that, on conviction, they would be inevitably shot; also that he -regretted having to take such strong measures, but that as the enemy -chose to fire on the women's laager, he should confine the Dutch -prisoners in a gaol constructed in the laager, so that, if the enemy -persisted in their brutality, they would kill their own friends. (It -was a curious coincidence that on Sunday, after Saturday's performance, -there was a feeling of insecurity in the town, and most people were of -opinion that in all probability the Boers would violate the Sunday -truce; but when the Dutch women were seen walking about, the feeling of -confidence was quickly restored.) In the afternoon the gun bequeathed -to us by Lord Nelson commenced firing on the Boer laager at Weasel's -Springs, near the head of the waterworks--a range of something over -three thousand yards. Her round shot bounded about the veldt through, -over, short of, the laager, rapidly dispersing a mounted body of Boers -in its proximity; for, unlike a shell, when she strikes, you have by no -means done with her. The drill is somewhat complicated, but thanks to -an edition of Captain Marryatt's works, we have succeeded in -resuscitating this long extinct form of exercise. - -30th. The results of our ancient piece's firing last night has been -that the laager has shifted away, in the direction of Signal Hill, and -that the Boers generally have been so busy that they have not yet found -time (mid-day) to discharge their Creuzot gun. There was an alarm, last -night, and the eastern front and reserve squadron were held in readiness -all night. Yesterday the Boers re-established themselves on the nearest -brick-kiln, and a sniping entertainment was organized for them by -Corporal Currie, C.P., who has charge of the Cape Boy Post, within three -hundred yards. One Boer, who for some extraordinary reason, wore a -white shirt (which he will never do again) occasionally showed his back -over the edge of a shelter he was constructing for himself, acting -apparently on the principle of the ostrich, Trooper Piper of the Cape -Police eventually got him, and at the same moment, his friend who was -firing from a loop-hole, fired at Piper; fortunately Currie, who was -covering the loop-hole, fired almost simultaneously and got him too, to -the huge delight of the Cape Boys; stretchers came up under the Red -Cross and removed the bodies, the second man was a bearded man and a -well known sniper, he was an excellent shot, and the news of his demise -was received with universal pleasure by the garrison, while for the rest -of the day his friends made the post very warm for its occupants. - -31st. There is one effect of this continual shell fire which is perhaps -undesirable, and that is the remarkable degree of selfishness it -engenders. There is really nothing to do and no excitement. News is -rare, and not always of the best, and with lack of the proper amount of -exercise and the frequent ringing of bells, which are almost as bad as -the shells themselves, tempers get short, and the solicitude on "No. -1's" account increases. However, entertainments like the one organized -this evening, go far to relieve our spleen and vary the interminable -monotony of the siege. We were warned in the afternoon that our -artillery was going to bombard the Boer lines, and from various points -of vantage numerous spectators strolled out to look on. Personally, I -made my way to the trench running from Ellis's corner to the river, and -selected a spot where I was well away from other people, and which -commanded a good view of the Boer trench, and, above all, of the big -gun, which showed clearly against the white marquees in rear of it. At -the time there was no firing going on, and cattle on both sides were -being brought home. Absolute stillness reigned, only broken by the -lowing of the beasts, the sounds of the poultry yards, and the barking -of dogs. These, with the drowsy hum of the insects, made one feel -extremely sleepy, and one might well have imagined oneself lolling -between two peaceful villages at home. However, at 5.30 p.m. a change -came very distinctly "o'er the spirit of the dream." Our guns -commenced, three seven-pounders and the Nordenfeldt, and steadily -shelled for about an hour, answered by the nine-pounder quick-firer, -five-pounder Krupps, and old Creaky, who swung her nose backwards and -forwards from one extremity of the eastern defences to the other, -making, on the whole, moderate but extremely varied practice. As I had -a pair of very strong glasses, a small cluster soon collected around me, -thereby inviting the undesirable attentions of their riflemen, who, -however, were pretty well engaged themselves, and consequently did not -annoy us very much. It was about as safe a performance for the -onlookers as could well be imagined. The guns drew most of the fire, -and were scattered over a large extent of front. One could plainly see -the big gun, and when she fired our way, had ample time to get into the -trench. There were no casualties on our side, but after dark the Boers, -who had been much upset by this disturbance of their reliefs and feeding -arrangements, commenced to shell the town, killing one man outside the -newspaper offices, and contriving, in some extraordinary manner, to drop -a fragment of shell down the chimney of the headquarters' staff offices. -This they continued till past nine, doing no further damage, except to -houses. The Boers in the course of the day put a five-pounder shell -through a portion of the hospital, and at night fired a volley into the -operating room, where a patient was being examined. So we conclude that -they must have lost some men during the day, which made them vicious. -During the past fortnight they fired upon a flag of truce, deliberately -shelled the women's laager, and fired on the hospital. - -February 1st. To-day completes the sixteenth week of the siege, and we -have had plenty of shell fire to celebrate it; one big shell, I regret -to say, bursting on a splinter proof at Cannon Kopje, wrecking it, and -killing one man and wounding two others. These splinter proofs were a -line of trenches running down towards the town from the kopje, and it -had seemed that by no chance could they possibly be struck direct by a -shell. In the evening the Boer shell fire again continued till a late -hour, and the last explosion that we heard puzzled us a good deal. It -subsequently transpired that Major Panzera and Corporal Carrie, with -three natives, had crept up to the nearest brick-kiln, from which the -Boers were unfortunately absent, and had blown it up with fifty pounds -of dynamite. This will probably keep the Boers away from that locality -for a while, as they are not unnaturally very cautious of approaching -any place where they suspect the presence of dynamite. A Kimberley -native informed us that they stop the natives going home from the -Kimberley mines and ask them if there is dynamite laid down round the -town, to which the natives generally reply, "Plenty!" They seem to be -having a much better time in Kimberley than we are here, as the natives -say we live here like mere cats, whilst they have apparently no big gun -to annoy them down there. - -2nd. They began shelling later here to-day, so one's morning's ride was -uninterrupted, but they are, however, now in full swing again. Sergeant -Francis, B.S.A.P., died of wounds received at Cannon Kopje. Our usual -shelling. - -3rd. We sent off runners north and south. In the morning the enemy -devoted his attention to the town. But in the afternoon our -seven-pounder and Nordenfeldt, east of Cannon Kopje, commenced firing on -the enemy, who were constructing a new trench, considerably in advance -of the old position of the big gun on the S.E. heights. Consequently -Creaky vigorously assailed them in turn, and the Krupp gun and the -one-pound Maxim galloped from McMullen's farm to her assistance. The -big gun made very good shooting, but fortunately only one man was hit, -and he by a sand-bag hurled up by a shell aimed at the Nordenfeldt. The -Nordenfeldt gun detachment consists of two men, Privates Lowe and -Mulholland, both of the Railway Volunteers, and these two men have -served this gun for months daily, often under a heavy fire directed -entirely at them. At the same time our beloved relic of Lord Nelson was -engaged on the western front in bombarding the new fort in front of Fort -Ayr, being answered on that front and assisted by musketry and rifle -fire. The week, as usual, culminated in the customary Saturday evening -flare-up all round. The big gun was cleaned and oiled for Sunday, and -we thought it was all over till Monday morning. This, however, was not -the case. The Boers were unusually jumpy. They treated us to -incendiary shells till late, and kept up a heavy musketry fire at fitful -intervals during the night. They commenced constructing a new trench in -the Brickfields, and can plainly be heard working at it. - -4th, Sunday. The usual quiet day. At Fort Ayr, while cleaning the -Maxim, it was accidentally discharged, and the Boers promptly answered, -so Mr. Greenfield, in charge of the post, strolled out to explain -matters, and was met half way by the Boer representatives, who talked to -him for a bit, gave him the latest news (presumably untrue), exchanged -little harmless chaff, and agreed to swap newspapers for whisky. The -newspapers, needless to say, contained flaming accounts of universal -Boer victories, which, here, one finds it somewhat hard to credit, and -they agreed to furnish similar papers next Sunday. It is curious to see -in the advertisement sheets advertisements from manufacturers, stating -themselves to be manufacturers to Her Majesty the Queen, to read the -London letter, and a column of society chit-chat in a paper published in -the capital of our enemy. However, it is an odd world. - -5th. Two lots of runners came in from the north this morning. -Personally, I received my first communication from home since the siege -began, only a wire though. Quite a number of letters came in, but were -very unequally distributed. One receiving a dozen, the vast majority -none, Hanbury Tracey was exceptionally fortunate, as he received a -money-lender's circular and a bill, re-addressed in red ink, from his -orderly room at home, and that was his sole communication. They shelled -us as usual, and kept it up late. A wet night, but that did not seem to -deter them. Their incendiary shells were, as usual, a failure. - -6th. Shelling all day, and firing at night. Two natives were killed and -Colonel Hore, commanding Protectorate Regiment, had a narrow escape -whilst returning from the Court of Summary Jurisdiction. - -7th. They commenced shelling early this morning, so far with little -damage. There seem regular streaks of luck in this shell fire, and -sometimes we strike a very bad one, but it is really marvellous how -these huge shells have done comparatively little injury to life here. -From what we can gather from other places, it will be about the worst -knocked about town in South Africa. The remains of some buildings have -been removed and the majority will require re-building. Yesterday, a -shell went clean through the smoke box and boiler of a locomotive, and -did not explode until striking the ground beyond. One also pitched on -the top of an unfortunate native in an engine ash-pit and destroyed him. -The price of food has naturally risen enormously and will probably rise -more. The humble Kaffir, if he possesses a hen which lays regularly, -can maintain himself and another. An egg fetches sixpence, and a -Kaffir's ration of mealie meal only comes to threepence sterling, -consequently the henless Kaffir sponges upon his more wealthy brother. - -This afternoon I rode up to Cannon Kopje and arrived simultaneously with -a ninety-four pound shell from the contrary direction. We did not, -however, hurt each other, and I dismounted and tethered my horse under -the best cover available, and to ground with me like a rabbit. They -fired one or two more shells at the kopje, doing no harm, and we then -strolled up to the look-out post to have a look at our persecutor. It -was a lovely evening, and as she was then pointed on the town, one could -view her proceedings with the utmost equanimity, speculating mildly as -to whether she would pitch her shell on one's own bomb proof or not. -The shell, however, burst prematurely, just clear of the muzzle of the -gun, and we continued watching the town and the rest of the defences, -all of which lie like a panorama from the Cannon Kopje look-out. Creaky -was then re-loaded, and with her nose cocked high in the air, was -apparently aimed in the direction of the planet Venus. As a matter of -fact, however, she was aimed at Fort Ayr, and after the discharge one -imagined one could trace the projectile in its flight by the hurtling -sound it made; but when by sound it seemed as far as Fort Miller, one -could see the strike close by Fort Ayr (which is about four miles from -the gun), and yet the noise of the projectile through the air continued -for some seconds longer, producing a very curious effect. She re-loaded -and was again pointed on the town when slowly she swung her nose round -and was pointed on us, a roar of look out from the man on duty, and the -crowd of languid spectators was transformed into a body of active men, -heading straight for their accustomed shelters, which having attained, -they peered carefully at the gun, waiting for the smoke from the muzzle, -which would be the signal for their final disappearance. We waited and -waited, but she came not, so, deciding that it was the good-night gun, I -walked back, accompanied by one of the garrison of the kopje, and ate my -dinner at the hotel with the comforting assurance that I had last seen -her directed a good mile from the dining-room. - -This morning Corporal Currie and his men killed and wounded a few Boers, -coming at dawn to their trenches. The Boers consequently gave us a -quiet day, as their obsequies and attendant ceremonies seemed to fill in -all their time; but at dark they commenced a heavy fire of small arms, -shell, and vituperation, upon our advanced post, about two hundred and -fifty yards from their main trench. They assure the garrison of this -post that they intend to make it particularly warm for them, and it is -about as warm a corner as one could well select. I rode out in the -afternoon to Captain Marsh's post on the western edge of the stadt, we -have there driven the Boers out of and occupied Fort Cronje, a mile from -the western edge, and seven hundred yards from the nearest Boer fort. -This Fort Cronje commands the whole of the valley on the other side of -the ridge, under cover of which the Boers used to remove their reliefs -and reinforcements to and from Cronje's laager and the western laager. -Its capture has largely extended our field for grazing. We had proposed -to walk out there, but on consultation we decided not to, as one is -under a pretty heavy fire in the open the last part of the journey, and -one would see it better and under more favourable circumstances on the -Sunday, during the truce. Riding back, I tried a short cut, at a good -pace; the Boers, however, were not quite asleep, and began sniping with -marvellous ill-success, as I was about to get under cover again. To-day -we were informed that we must be prepared to hold out for another four -months, which we are quite ready to do. The garrison and inhabitants -received the intelligence with the utmost equanimity felt no earthly -doubt as to the result, merely expressing extreme boredom at the -prospect of four months more of such monotonous existence. - -9th. A runner from the south arrived, informing us of Buller's crossing -the Tugela. Comparing this news with the Boer accounts of British -defeats with heavy losses on the 24th, south of Tugela, one can only -conclude that they must indeed be in a bad plight when they can invent -such amazingly circumstantial and appalling lies. However, I hope we are -nearing the end of the last act, and "God Save the Queen." They have -been quiet to-day, and as far as we know, no funerals to occupy them so -hope and trust that they are digesting some bad news; the Kaffir who -brought the messages states that the Free Staters have had enough of it, -but that Cronje will not allow them to surrender, as they had everything -to lose and absolutely nothing to gain; we can well believe it. The -Kimberley correspondence is of a chatty description, refers to the -weather and papers (which have not arrived), but the gist of the whole -is cheerful and consequently welcome, though we should prefer news. -Their food supply seems good, which is consoling. But this much is -certain, that if we have to hold out another four months, the means of -our doing so, in the supply line, is due to the presence of Mr. B. Weil. -I wonder whether it is appreciated, even yet at home, what a stupendous -and monumental liar the Boer is. The Kaffir says what he thinks you -will like. The Boer, however, says what he knows he likes himself. I -hope some day to read a British account of the war. The Boer account -would pain me if I believed it. - -10th. The enemy remained quiet, at least as regards their big gun, -yesterday evening, though the now nightly fusillade began about 8 -o'clock. This morning they commenced shelling late, and apparently -directed their projectiles at the Mill, which works every night, -protected by a traverse, at the south-eastern corner of the town. They -only fired two projectiles, one of which struck Mr. J. Dall, Town -Councillor, and commander of one of the Town Guard posts, full, blowing -him to pieces. His wife, poor woman, who was in the women's laager, -where the intelligence was abruptly conveyed by a panic stricken Kaffir -woman servant, came up semi-distracted, under the escort of the Rev. W. -H. Weekes. It was, of course, impossible that she should see him, and -the scene was a very painful one for her friends in their endeavours to -be of some comfort to her. Musketry and the discharge of field pieces -continued all the afternoon, during which we had an exceedingly heavy -thunderstorm which flooded some of the uncompleted and advanced -trenches, compelling the evacuation of the one within two hundred yards -of the Boer main trench, during which operation one of our men was -wounded. The others remained there, and sought the best cover from fire -they could in its immediate propinquity. Firing continued all round the -outposts, at intervals all night and well into the dawn on Sunday -morning. Since we have been warned to be ready for four months more -siege, the question of food supplies for natives has become very -serious. Two of these unfortunate fugitives were shot last night in -their endeavours to elude the vigilance of the cordon all round us. It -is not the question of meat so much as the question of grain, which is -our difficulty. - -11th, Sunday. I was aroused about dawn by musketry fire, and as I heard -no more, supposed I had been dreaming, but when starting for my early -ride, was told there had been heavy firing to the east. I went to Fort -Ayr, from whence the Boer fort seemed ridiculously close, and so on to -the Cape Police fort, and from there the Boer sniping station looked -within six hundred yards. I was, however, informed that it was a good -sixteen hundred yards off. It was a perfectly lovely morning, and had -one's horse only felt as fresh as the morning, the ride would have been -indeed enjoyable, but the stress of the siege in the way of shortness of -provisions has fallen far more severely on the horses than the human -beings. From this fort I rode to the B. Squadron horse lines. The -horses are not at present a pleasing spectacle, but, owing to our -extended grazing ground, I dare say they could still do some work. -Sundry of them are killed and turned into billtong for the Kaffirs. -Thence along the picturesque bank of the Molopo, through the centre of -the stadt to breakfast at Captain Marsh's. This officer, whose squadron -has held the stadt since the commencement of the siege, has, from his -West Coast experiences, a wonderful knack of dealing with natives, and -in a great measure the absolute confidence of the Baralongs in the white -garrison may be ascribed to him, they have accordingly constituted him a -sort of universal referee in all their local troubles. After breakfast -we walked out from the edge of the stadt to the two forts occupied by -Sergeant Abrahams and his detachment of natives, within six hundred -yards of which are situated the Boer forts, also garrisoned by natives. -Between the opposing forts both sides rambled at their own sweet will. -We then went on to Fort Cronje, originally in the occupation of the -Boers, and having attained our utmost limits we sat and smoked and -looked at the stadt (distant about a mile), and appreciated how Mafeking -looked to the Boers from their western outposts. Personally, the -northern end of the stadt reminds me of nothing so much as the Curragh -Camp when viewed from the Newbridge Road, and, indeed, the veldt all -round looked fresh, green, and undulating enough for the Curragh itself. -Fort Cronje is enfiladed by the blockhouse north of the Molopo. -Eastward from Sergeant Abrahams' fort, and in a circular direction -across the railway line towards Cannon Kopje, extend forts occupied by -McKenzie's contingent. We thus now have a large and secure grazing -ground, the area of which I had not previously appreciated. We strolled -back to the stadt and rode back to shop and church. During the morning -and afternoon occurred some of those interchanges of courtesy between -ourselves and our opponents, which generally do take place on Sunday. -Corporal Currie, who during the week spends all his time in endeavouring -to slay and not be slain by the Boers, was called over by them to -translate a note they had received. They offered him tobacco and small -civilities, and patted him on the back saying he was a "freundlish -kerel." They also said they were sick of it, and what a waste of time -it was not to be ploughing. A somewhat similar conversation was carried -on by Mr. Greenfield on the other side. The Dutch, in addition, said -they thought it would all be over in a month, that they hadn't got any -papers, but would give them to us at the first opportunity, which we -understood to mean, when their romancing journalists had sufficiently -seasoned the dish of Dutch defeats for Mafeking consumption. The bicycle -sports had to be postponed owing to the condition of the track, but -there was a cricket match in the morning between Fitzclarence's squadron -and the town of Mafeking, which the latter won by nineteen runs, and in -the afternoon a concert, where our commanding officer, as usual, -distinguished himself by his comic songs and humourous sketches. This -talent is well known to his friends, but is certainly not so well known -to the British public, who only have had the advantage of viewing him -from a serious side; however, we appreciated him quite as much in his -lighter capacity, and the concert was a great success. The Beleagured -Batchelors' Ball, given by the batchelors of Mafeking, had in -consequence of Mr. Call's death been postponed till to-night. It -commenced merrily enough, and had been going on for about an hour when -history and the Duchess of Richmond's ball repeated itself. The staff -officer arrived warning all officers to fall in. Heavy firing commenced -all round, and an attack was anticipated. The galloping Maxim raced -across the veldt in the dark from the western outposts to the town, at -no time a pleasant journey, and now with the innumerable pitfalls all -round it, it was lucky to get there without a smash. The Bechuanaland -Rifles and a squadron of the Protectorate Regiment were pushed forwards -towards the brickfields, taking the place of the Cape Police who had -reinforced the extreme eastern advanced posts. The Boers had put three -hundred more men into their advance trench and kept up a heavy fire at -intervals all night, as indeed they did at all points. Our men did not -fire much. - -[Illustration: BOERS' ATTACK ON A R.S.A.P. FORT.] - -12th. At dawn this morning I went to Ellis's corner, as heavy firing -was going on in that direction. The five-pounder was firing at Currie's -post and the Cape Police, from the Boer main trench at under two hundred -yards. Their quick firer and one-pound Maxim were also doing so. The -big gun seemed anxious to participate, and was elevated several times, -but owing to the Boer trench being immediately in the line of fire did -not venture to. Things slackened somewhat at half-past six, and I went -for a ride round the western side where a few odd shots were being -fired, but nothing was going on. About half-past eight the big gun -commenced firing at Cannon Kopje, and after half a dozen shots -transferred her attentions to the town, mainly bursting in fairly close -proximity to this dug-out, but so far no damage to my knowledge. This -afternoon I take up my residence at Cannon Kopje for a bit. - -[Illustration: IN THE TRENCHES.] - -12th. When I had finished the last paragraph I left my dug-out and went -to lunch, and as I walked to the hotel, heard a single shot, of which I -naturally took no notice. An hour afterwards I heard that it had -claimed its victim in Captain R. Girdwood, late 3rd Battalion Royal -Irish Rifles, assistant commisariat officer here, who was mortally -wounded. To the garrison and all who knew him the blow was severe. -Throughout the whole siege he was always laughing and joking, and -nothing ever subdued his never-failing cheerfulness: to meet him was a -regular tonic if liver or temper were at fault. The duty he did in -assisting Captain Ryan to regulate the supplies of food and stores was -invaluable, and Colonel Baden-Powell in his general order literally -expressed the great regret and sympathy felt for his wife. In the -evening I went up to the kopje, and am for a time attached to the -B.S.A.P. Prior to my departure they gave us a good doing in the town, -both musketry and shell fire. - -13th. To sleep in the open and live on the heights in fine weather is -undoubtedly an improvement on the town, at any rate for a short time; -though one is away from headquarters and the latest garrison gossip, -one's view of proceedings is universal and uninterrupted, unless one -happens to be the recipient of Boer favours. The bomb proof gives ample -cover and a dining-room, for the rest one lives in the open which, in -this perfect weather, unless the sun be unduly hot, is charming, and -though washing arrangements be scanty, the air is better and the view -far less circumscribed than in the town some two thousand yards away. -Last night wild musketry fire went on all night, and incendiary Boer -shells provided the kopje contingent with fireworks gratis, and only -succeeded in setting one house on fire, which was quickly extinguished. -Poor Girdwood died this afternoon and was buried this evening. - -14th, Valentine's Day. I rode into the town and having transacted my -business, and had a pleasant ride round the western outposts, returned -just in time to elude their first shells. They are messing about their -works as usual, but what they are doing we cannot quite make out. They -have, however, withdrawn their marquees from their gun at McMullan's -farm. The homely Dutch families generally play about the gun (the Asp -on the Cocktrice's den--N.B. the Cocktrice's business end directed on -us), and when family life is most in evidence in the gun's vicinity they -generally fire on the town, as it does not amuse the dear things to fire -at a small mark where they may possibly do no damage, whilst they think -they cannot well miss everybody in the town. The fair ladies frequently -fire the gun themselves and dandle their babies on high to look on at -the prospective slaughter of English women and children. Charming race! -I think even Sheridan could scarcely find a Dutch woman "an excuse for a -glass," or, indeed, an excuse for anything else. However, if their -menkind had as much pluck as they possess venom, Mafeking would not now -be flying the Union Jack, but the Vierkleur of bilious hue. This is -plentiful in the vicinity, but has not, and will not, desecrate the -township, and I trust the new issue may serve as a model for the ribbon -of our Transvaal medal. Sundown: Creaky dismantled. Are they sick of -it at last? - -15th. As dawn broke a crowd of us went up to the lookout post, to look -for our dear departed, and when we failed to find her we accepted our -loss with due philosophy. I rode over to Fort Ayr to see Mr. -Greenfield, who is isolated for a month in this post. He must, when not -engaged in rallies with the Boers, find it very dull, for he accepted -with avidity the offer of my diary of the siege to read. He had, -however, found Creaky in front of his position and about five miles due -west of the town; what she proposes to do here time will show, but our -end is pretty safe from her. Later I received a telephone message to say -how pleased he was with the account of the fight of November 31st. This -blunder, in my diary, is a legacy from my late typewriter. His last -batch of copy (which was the last straw that gave the correspondent the -"hump ") dated the 12th, though irritating, was rather amusing, I have -now transferred my favours elsewhere. The gun has commenced bombarding -the stadt and women's laager. - -16th. I rode up to Major Godley's and had the "31st of November" cast -in my teeth once more (since corrected). The big gun fired twenty-eight -shots at the stadt and women's laager. From Cannon Kopje there is -twenty-three-and-a-half seconds between the smoke from her muzzle and -the report, which makes her a matter of nine thousand yards away, and -about the same from the centre of the town which she cannot now properly -reach, and to strike which at all, she is elevated apparently at right -angles. She devoted several shells to McKenzie's western shelter -trenches, doing no harm, however. Her change of position must have been -another deliberate atrocity on the part of the Boers, for which I trust -their Commander will be strictly called to account. There can be no -immediate effect expected on the defences or ultimate resistance of -Mafeking by the deliberate bombardment of women and children, black or -white. And he who sows the storm may reap the whirlwind, for the blacks -neither forget nor forgive, and this is one more, and by no means the -least, tally in a long score. Now, as regards the position of the -Baralongs and our other native residents. - -At the outbreak of the war, the Boers flooded the town with all the -refugee Kaffirs from Johannesburg and other parts of the Transvaal, who -happened to be in our vicinity, hoping either on the capture of the -town, which they confidently anticipated, to secure a good labour -market, or, in the event of an unexpectedly protracted resistance, to -exercise through these additional mouths, a severe pressure on our food -supplies, and thus indirectly on our length of defence. They carefully, -however, first robbed them of all their money. Now, picking a Kaffir's -pocket, or wherever he may carry his money, ranks about as high in the -code of honour, as stealing coppers from a blind man's plate. I am not -sure whether it is a transgression of the Law of Nations, but as by the -time this diary is read the Boer will not be, as he certainly never -ought to have been, a nation, it is of small moment, but the act of -robbery distinctly took place. The Baralongs were assured by both sides -that the war was between two white races, and that they had no cause to -interfere. We went even further, and refused to allow them to assist -us. However, when the Baralong had seen his cattle raided, his kraals -burnt, and himself bombarded, he, somewhat of a rhetorician, but lacking -perhaps in the logical capacity for distinguishing between "a military -operation" and "an act of war," decided that the Boers' application of -the former to his property was good enough excuse for him to indulge in -the latter to prevent a further application, he accordingly, in his -childlike manner, invited the Boers to enter his stadt, and shot several -of them when they tried to. Recently, too, the Boers made overtures to -secure the Baralong assistance, and the Chief, Wessels, said he must -think it over; after long deliberation he declined. It was probably in -order to punish them for this lack of readiness to support them, that -the Boers so slated the stadt. However this may be, the Baralongs and -other natives have loyally and consistently supported us, and deserve -ample compensation for the hardships, privations, and losses which they -have sustained. All day the Boers have been making feeble attempts on -McKenzie's outpost; and at night, seated at the kopje, one could see a -circle of fire running all round the outposts. On the eastern side, our -Maxim in the brickfields, our seven-pounder and their five-pounder and -many rifles were flashing in the darkness; in the distance Fort Ayr was -warmly engaged, while to support McKenzie in our immediate proximity, -the armoured train was creaking and groaning up the grass-grown line. -And nothing perhaps brings home our isolation so much, as to see the -rails overgrown with grass, and reflect that this is a main line to -England. Owing to the custom of the Boer of elevating the muzzle of his -rifle over the parapet and firing in the air, bullets were whistling and -falling all round us on the kopje all night, which, as we were a mile -from, and two hundred feet higher than, the trench they were firing at, -argued poor marksmanship on their part. However, we were all fairly -safe, and the Boer presumably quite so, and as he made plenty of noise I -suppose everybody was satisfied. - -17th. Very little firing till the evening, and then usual performance. - -18th, Sunday. Our usual quiet day. The bank now opens for business on -Sundays. As the Kaffirs, in common with other natives, persist in -burying their specie, it is very literally locked up, and to restore the -circulation of silver we have a paper issue for small sums. Indeed, we -are now a very self-contained community, we have our bank, our ordnance -factory, our police, and flourish under a beneficent and remote -autocracy. As regards the ordnance, the factory was started for the -manufacture of shells for our seven-pounders, for shot, brass and iron, -for our antique cannon, and for the adaptation of five-pounder shells -(left here by Dr. Jameson) to our seven-pounders by the addition of -enlarged driving bands; these have all proved a complete success, and -too much praise cannot be given to Connely and Cloughlan of the -Locomotive Department, who have organized and run the aforesaid factory. -As great a triumph has been the manufacture of powder, and invention of -fuses by Lieutenant Daniel, B.S.A.P., and Glamorgan Artillery Militia, -and thus we are rendered secure against our ammunition running short; a -gun is also being manufactured, and will shortly be used. This factory -is of long standing, but prior to this the authorities have not allowed -us to allude to its existence. - -19th. Went out to try and shoot plover, which form an acceptable -addition to our rations, as we have now come down to horse-flesh and six -ounces of bread per day. Fairly quiet day. Strolling down to town in -the evening, I assumed that their snipers were too much occupied with -our people in the brickfields to bother about me. They were not, -however, and were unpleasantly attentive. - -20th. Re-transferred my residence to the town, the firing is heavier -down here through the day, and also, indeed, the night, but here we are -under cover. - -21st. Gun did not fire more than two or three shots, but at night there -was very heavy firing along the brickfield front, they shot some of the -working party, and also headed some of the natives going towards Kanya. -The Boers made a half-hearted sort of attempt to turn our men out of the -advanced trench, but utterly failed. The question of feeding the -natives has been solved by the establishment of a soup kitchen, the -component parts of the stock may be varied, but the result is eminently -nutritious. - -Gun changed back near to old position east of town, they elevated and -depressed her several times, but did not fire. As the bells rung, -however, the moral effect was exactly the same, possibly also the -physical. Sergeant-Major Looney, A.S.C., was reduced to the ranks and -five years penal servitude awarded to him for selling Government stores. -Private Miller, Protectorate Regiment, tampering with a loaded -ninety-four-pound shell, was blown to pieces. This form of lunacy is -apparently ineradicable. We anticipate an attack to-morrow, as it is the -Orange Free State Independence Day. I wonder if the Free State still -exists: the following letter _apropos_ of this from the leader of the -opposition in the Free State before the war is, I think, interesting:-- - - -(_Copy._) - -BLOMFONTEIN, -_September_ 4th, 1899. - -CHARLES METTAM, ESQ., - Box 23. - Krugersdorp. - -DEAR MR. METTAM, - -Your letter of the 30th inst. is to hand, and affords a by no means -solitary instance of the one sided and high-handed treatment former Free -State Burghers have to undergo at the hands of our so-called brethren in -the South African Republic, yet in spite of all this the political union -or alliance was put through our Raad, and should hostilities break out, -we shall have to be belligerants and be involved in all the horrors of -war and have to lose our independence, and for what? As a just reward -for the folly of allowing a spurious sentiment to override common sense. -So it is, however--and under the circumstances, as you have lost your -Free State burgher rights you could not claim protection here. The only -way I see for you--as you hold to your birthright staters--is to bring -your position to the notice of the British resident, and ask him to -advise you how you are to act. With kindest regards to Mrs. Mettam and -yourself. - -Yours faithfully, - J. G. FRASER. - -P.S.--I think a great many of our people are being educated by this -crisis to the accuracy of the policy which I placed before them at the -last election, and have since always advocated. - -J.G.F. - - -HER MAJESTY'S AGENCY, - PRETORIA, -_September_ 11th, 1899. - -SIR, - -I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and enclosure (herewith -returned) of the 7th instant, and regret that it is not in my power to -discuss the matter to which you refer by letter. I should, however, -recommend you, if you should be in Johannesburg, to see the British -Vice-Consul there, who will no doubt give you such advice as may be -possible under the circumstances. - -I am, Sir, - Your obedient servant, - CONYNGHAM GREENE. - -MR. C. METTAM, - P. O. Box 23, - Krugersdorp. - -Certified true copy. - E. H. CECIL MAJ, - C. S. O. - - -23rd. They commenced shelling cattle and northern end of the town. As -the inhabitants have not been shelled severely for ten days, they seem -more concerned in running to see where the shell pitches, than in taking -cover as they have been strictly warned to do. Steady rain has -commenced, depressing the big gun and the Boers. - -24th. Rain continuing, gun and owners still depressed. No news -received for ten days and great universal anxiety felt for anticipated -decisive intelligence. - -25th, Sunday. No heavy shelling yesterday, but firing all night and -this morning. Cape Boys in advanced trenches, and Boers, engaged in an -argument as to their respective mothers and other female relatives' -merits and demerits. The arguments for and against having rapidly -degenerated to assertions, shooting began, but as it was merely a -personal quarrel no one else interfered, and, indeed, white flags from -both sides met within a quarter of a mile of the firing, which continued -all day. Our Sunday concert was a great success, and the day being fine -was most enjoyable. It is curious what different people buy at the -stores, the Europeans buying mainly the necessities of life, while the -Kaffir, who has plenty of money, but is only allowed to purchase a -limited amount of meal, browses off Pâte de Foie Gras, and other similar -comestibles. In the afternoon I went to inspect our new gun. She -reflects the greatest credit on her builders, the finish and turn-out -being quite dandy. She's a smooth bore 5.5, and carries a round shell; -we ought to have good fun from her. - -26th. Runners in this morning, news very meagre. Her Majesty's -telegram received, which gave intense satisfaction, but we have been -anxiously anticipating decisive intelligence. The Kaffirs report that -the Boers are few round here, but will not abandon the prosecution of -the siege; on our side we cannot afford a serious sortie, as a reverse -_might_ mean the fall of Mafeking, which is not desirable or in the -least probable. The Boers began shell-fire at dawn this morning, and -continued it at intervals all day. This was the most rapid fire we have -had, and the continuous clanging of bells might have induced a stranger -to suppose that we were indulging in some popular celebration. They -particularly favoured our end of the town. In the evening we tried our -new gun on Game Tree fort at about 2300 yards, she was a great success, -and her range was apparently only limited by eyesight. - -27th. Being Majuba Day we expected an attack, so I went up to Cannon -Kopje before dawn. What attacking there was was in the brickfields and -was done by us, but after a fitful splutter of musketry for an hour -things quieted down. I went up to Fort Ayr but nothing was doing, and -with the exception of musketry fire and a few small shells, it was a -quiet day. The Boers blew up the line about two miles north of the -town. - -28th. We have got our news at last, and though the shell fire is very -much heavier than usual the population is wandering about with a bland -smile on its face and a comfortable contempt for the Boer nation at -large, only tempered by the fear that the military success over Boer -armies in the field may be discounted greatly if the British people -allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the most unscrupulous, -self-interested politicians who ever led a country to its ruin, but who -have unfortunately sown seeds which may sprout again and to which there -is only one successful treatment, that of _force majeure_, followed by -_pax Brittanica_, to be upheld again whenever necessary by the aforesaid -_force majeure_, which is the only argument that South Africa, black or -white, in its present condition can understand. Generosity would be -wasted, kindness treated with ill-concealed contempt, and blood and -treasure cast away, whilst race hatred would again be rampant, were the -Dutch to be once more in a position to struggle for supreme control. It -is a strong man armed who keeps South Africa, let that man be British. - -The Boers are determined to keep us amused, and do not approve of the -Free Press; they have just now blown the newspaper office, by our -dug-out, to pieces, and are trying to silence our mild manifestations of -joy by particularly heavy shell fire. This afternoon we tried our new -gun again on the veldt, with bursting charges in the shells, and the -results were eminently satisfactory; they afforded a certain amount of -interest to the garrison of Game Tree fort, who, as the gun was pointed -almost at right angles to them, bobbed somewhat unnecessarily to each -discharge. The explosion of the shell might well have puzzled them for -it was exactly like the discharge of another gun. It is a shame to be -cooped up here in such weather, "where all around is beautiful and only -Boers are vile," and if they had any sense of decency or humour they -would give us one good fight to finish, as it is we hang on in trenches -into which they cannot possibly come, they hang on in opposing trenches -into which we cannot afford to go, exchanges of shots go on all day, -varied by shell fire on their part, which is becoming monotonous, and -the dullest, deadest level of warfare has been effectually attained. -To-day we had our little joke; a dummy truck was placed on the line -about two miles south of the town, some snipers fired a few shots from -it and then abandoned it, they were, however, successful in drawing the -fire from the quick-firer Krupp and one-pound Maxim at Jackal Tree with -occasional shots from the big gun; they made execrable shooting, but -killed some cattle and a horse or two in a remote portion of the veldt, -and unfortunately killed the Sergeant-Major of the Black Watch, a fine -Zulu over six feet four inches: a one-pound Maxim hit him clean in the -head. Yesterday, too, Trooper Elkington, a particularly smart, -good-looking fellow in the Cape Police, was struck in the face by a -five-pound shell, and his nose and eyes destroyed; he still lives, poor -fellow. _Apropos_ of Zulus, there is a mad Zulu in the town who, when -the frenzy seizes him, strips, and indulges in a war dance in front of -the Boers; how many thousand rounds of ammunition they have fired at him -it would be hard to say, but one day for certain they fired a five -nine-pounder Krupp at him, the only result being that he assegaied the -spot were each shell fell. My own personal experience of him was -aggravating. One day having selected a secluded spot with good cover -from which to snipe, and thinking myself exceedingly well concealed, I -was much annoyed by the inordinate amount of bullets which came my way, -and whilst waiting till they stopped a bit, happened to look round and -discovered that my friend, stark naked, was dancing about a hundred -yards in rear of me, when he had finished he put on his clothes and went -home. He is still alive, and dancing when inclined. Mr. Whales, who -has edited _The Mafeking Mail_ and brought out daily editions throughout -the siege, had an extraordinary escape yesterday. A 94 lb. shell came -into his office and exploded whilst he was talking to two other men, -wrecking the place, but providentially only slightly scratching one man. -As he emerged from the _debris_ much shaken, his first remark was, "That -the slip would not be issued to-night." This is the second shell -through the office, and though the setting up operations are carried on -in a bomb proof, he has consistently carried on his editorial avocations -regardless of the heaviest fire. This practice I am glad to say he -proposes to discontinue in a measure, and work more or less underground, -for, as he truly says, "The third shell may hit me." Really this does -look as if it were the beginning of the end, and as if this somewhat -isolated outpost of the Empire were going to get its communications with -civilization restored. It has been an experience, and though certainly -not a very pleasant one, I do not think the survivors can but have -profited by it. I rather fancy, however, that it will take a singularly -astute foeman ever to involve any of them in a siege again; it is, -however, Colonel Vyvyan's second experience in South Africa, as he was -once before shut up in Etchowe. - -March 1st. Yesterday a large party of women and children, who do not -belong to this district, were sent away; the Boers turned them back, and -when they were retiring deliberately opened a heavy fire on them, -killing and wounding many. This is not the first deliberate outrage on -the native women and children, and in addition they have flogged and -turned back women trying to escape. Colonel Baden-Powell has addressed -several remonstrances to General Snyman on the subject, and pointed out -that he cannot expect the native chiefs in the vicinity to restrain -their tribesmen, if the Boers persist in murdering their friends and -relations, and that he, Colonel Baden-Powell, cannot be answerable for -any subsequent occurrences in the way of reprisals on the part of the -natives, to which General Snyman has answered as a rule more or less -civilly (generally less) that we and the natives may do our worst. -To-day is the usual sort of day, heavy sniping at intervals and a fair -amount of shelling. Certainly the amount of damage done to Mafeking in -life and property has been wholly disproportionate to the amount of -shell fire sustained, the reason of course being the soft mud bricks of -which the houses are constructed; and to-day we had two very fine object -lessons of the extensive damage these shells would have done among more -solidly constructed edifices. Mr. Whitely, the mayor's, house, which is -built of stronger materials than any other house in Mafeking, was struck -by a shell, and the damage done was far greater than was usually the -case. Round the house of Mr. Bell, the magistrate, there is a loose -stone wall, the shell struck and exploded at the base of it, the -fragments of shell did but little harm, but one boulder about twice the -size of a man's body was hurled about twenty-five yards, and two rocks -about twice the size of a man's head were projected through the house -some twenty-five yards away, while stones of various sizes were hurled -great distances and in every direction. So, though thanks to its flimsy -construction, Mafeking has escaped better than many a more important -town would, it does seem rather like breaking a butterfly to use modern -siege guns against a place of this sort. However, it is still a fairly -lively butterfly in spite of twelve thousand pounds of metal from one -gun alone. We have developed a new trench N.E. of the town to enfilade -the enemies' sniping trenches, which, though it does not silence them, -seems to annoy them passably. - -2nd. Shell fire. Our new gun was tried on the sniping trenches, more -for ranging purposes and to learn her extent and powers than anything -else. The Boer trenches showed great curiosity as to what she was and -why she did it, for her shells burst with a most delightful report and -seemed to spread very nicely. A new toy like this is a god-send to us -in our present dull condition. - -The Boers during the experiment, however, kept themselves and their -curiosity underground. The Boer big gun was removed at sunset and the -usual crop of surmises, bets as to destination, cause of removal, &c., -sprang rapidly into existence, and at any rate gave us something to talk -about; it takes very little to interest us here. - -3rd. The Boers tried dynamiting our trenches last night, but failed, -our advanced parties are within forty yards of each other. At dawn the -big gun, which had shifted back to the south-east heights from where she -flanks our brickfield advance, commenced heavy fire, sending thirty-six -or thirty-eight shells before breakfast, and mortally wounding -Sergeant-Major Taylor of the Cape Boys; we also had four or five others -wounded more or less severely. They, however, stuck to their ground in -shallow trenches which were hardly any protection, and that we suffered -no greater loss is a matter of astonishment to everybody. - -Our seven-pounders then commenced on their trenches, and the firing was -heavy all round the whole morning. The Boers contemplated renewing -their entertainment in the afternoon, but our snipers had crept up to -within about eight hundred yards of the big gun and commenced picking -off the gunners. Trooper Webb, C.P., fortunately shot their Artillery -Officer whilst laying the gun, at a fairly early stage in the -performance, and this seemed to damp their enthusiasm. They commenced -running about like a lot of disturbed ants, messengers were dispatched -to the laager, their doctor arrived on horseback, and they then -proceeded to hoist three Red Cross flags on the work. They carried a -stretcher under a guard towards the laager and met a carriage, but he -was apparently too bad to be put in that, and the carriage returned to -the laager, when some mounted men rode forth, and, meeting the -stretcher, dismounted and followed behind. Altogether they seemed very -depressed whilst we were correspondingly the reverse, and in the -confusion the big gun forgot to go off, and was removed before dark. -With the exception of musketry the rest of the day was quiet. Our saps -have now crossed each other. - -Sunday. This morning at daybreak the Boers were still working, so we -gave them a volley at forty yards and are believed to have shot four. -Sniping continued all day, and later on we killed another. From this -quarter the Boers, who were evidently very cross, sniped viciously all -day. I walked up with Captain Williams, whose turn it is now for duty -in the brickfields, and personally I consider it a most undesirable -place of residence. The big gun has disappeared. We are all glad to -hear that our old friend Cronje is in a tight place; from all accounts -he will trouble us no more. - -5th. The big gun is back at the old place east of the town; her -immediate _entourage_ evidently prefer gun practice at a safe range, for -we have shot a good many gunners. Their efforts to get the gun off under -musketry fire always cause amusement. They rush to the gun, and then -disappear, this goes on sometimes quite a long time before the gun gets -fired. Sergeant Major Taylor died last night; he was a splendid fellow -and a good representative of the Cape Boys, who are a most gallant race -of men and good shots. In times of peace he was one of the leading -members of the Church in the location. There is heavy firing in the -direction of the brickfields, so I must see what is going on. - -6th. Yesterday our seven-pounders made very good shooting on the Boer -brickfield trenches, and after Mr. Feltham, Protectorate Regiment, had -thrown dynamite at them for some time, the Cape Boys went to poke them -out of their sap with the bayonet, but the wily Boer was gone; they had -closed their sap. In this fight of "sit down" (as the Zulus say), I for -one had worn out much patience and several pairs of trousers, and we -seem to be borrowing more and more hints in the way of mortars, hand -grenades, &c., from our forefathers. The Boers seemed much annoyed -yesterday afternoon, and heavy firing went on last night and is going on -this morning. The big gun did not fire yesterday though she was -elevated and pointed several times, nor has she fired this morning. -There are strong rumours that the Boers intend to trek, and are -preparing for it; that the gun we see is a dummy; and that the real one -has been withdrawn to defend a position on the frontier. We sincerely -hope it is true. - -6th. The gun proved herself to be the "old original" by letting us have -two or three shots in the evening. - -7th. Heavy firing all night in the brickfields; only two shells. The -Boers have commenced to trek. Trooper McDonald, Cape Police, died. His -was an adventurous career; he joined the Argyle and Sutherland -Highlanders in '47, served in the Crimea (French and Sardinian Medal, -two clasps), served in the Indian Mutiny, was kidnapped when embarking -home by Americans, fought for the North against the South, deserted the -North and fought for the South, afterwards went to Australia, thence to -New Zealand, and served in the Maori War where he was taken prisoner. -Later he came to South Africa, served in the Basuto War, Sir Charles -Warren's expedition, Carrington's Horse, the B.B.P., and transferred to -the Cape Police, in which corps he has died of hardships and old age, -fighting the Boers. He is not the only Crimean veteran we have here, -both the Navy and Army are represented. Mr. Ellis joined the Royal Navy -in 1854, served in the Baltic and the Black Sea, came to Africa and -served in the Galika War. Mr. Brasier served in the Crimea and Mutiny, -and there are others of whose extent of service I am not so certain. -The contrast between them and the Cadet Corps, who are utilised for -orderly work, &c., is remarkable, and if the Boers have their greybeards -and boys fighting, why so have we. It seems very curious at first, but -one soon gets used to it, as indeed one does to the underground -residences, all business, as far as possible, being carried on in -dug-outs; dining-rooms, offices, stores, barracks, even the bank where -Mr. Urry, who with Captain Greener runs our paper coinage, sits in -charge of a vast amount of paper, but very little hard cash, for the -Kaffirs have buried all specie obtainable, are below ground. In our -dug-out we have some siege mice, born since its construction, of a -friendly and confiding disposition, who come and feed on the table, and -play about and have a good time generally; other animals are therefore -not admitted. - -8th. Good news arrived of Cronje's defeat and surrender, and the wiping -out of Majuba Day. Soldiers were proud, the population at large -delighted, but most of all the South African Englishman. For the last -twenty years he has been taunted by the Dutch with Majuba; he can now -hold up his head again, and nothing could conduce more to a permanent -pacification of South Africa than the wiping out of the day. Henning -Pretorius, one of the leading Transvaal burghers, when he heard of -Majuba, said, "Now it is finished. They will never stop till they have -wiped us out." This he maintained till his death, which occurred -recently, and he always urged that the Boers should make friends with us -and become one nation. Usual heavy firing at night, only one shell. - -9th. Heavy firing all night, commencing early with heavy volleys on the -north and north-west fronts. I rode round the western outposts; it is a -very pleasant ride and the Boers were pretty quiet, at least as -concerned me, for they took no notice at all. - -10th. Heavy firing this morning in the brickfields, the gun is elevated -and pointed on the town, in which position she has remained for the past -two or three days with very occasional shells. The Boers are daily -treking by degrees. I propose to go down to the brickfields this -morning as that is about the liveliest spot in Mafeking, though I fancy -very little of it will go a long way. - -Trooper Webb of the Cape Police was shot through the head in the -brickfield trenches last night; a fine specimen of a splendid corps. He -was shot through the ankle in a sortie at the commencement of the siege, -and when able to hobble he came out for duty as look-out man and orderly -at headquarters; yesterday, as he was not so lame, at his earnest -request he was allowed to go on duty in the advanced trenches, and -during his first tour of sentry-go, was mortally wounded by a chance -bullet in the dark. He is greatly regretted by the townspeople and all -ranks, and Her Majesty loses a fine soldier, a first-class policeman, -and a good all-round man. - -I went down to the brickfields this morning and met Captain Fitzclarence -and Captain Williams; things were pretty quiet down there in the -morning, though they livened up again shortly afterwards. I went round -the trenches with them. One's mode of progression is distinctly -uncomfortable, bent double, with a certain amount of water in the -trenches, which are shallow as yet between the various works, but being -deepened daily. The various works and trenches all have their names, -Regent's Circus, Oxford Street, &c., whilst our most advanced work is -called the New Cut, and the Boers' trench forty yards away Houndsditch. -The sound of the Mauser at this short range has a very different effect -to its sound at the longer ranges, and the crack of the bullets when -they strike is like the explosion of a young shell. The Boers at these -ranges are very quick and good shots; they shoot at your hat if visible, -or at the sound of your voice, and as the loopholes have to be kept -closed, the only way of looking out is by means of a pair of Zeiss -glasses which project over the edge of the parapet while one's head is -in safety some inches below, even so they put a bullet through one of -the lenses this morning (which, as they were mine, did not please me) -and through the hat of the look-out man, but with them you can see right -into the Boer loopholes with comparative safety, though bullets -frequently, owing to the tremendous penetration of the Mauser, come -clean through the upper part of the parapet, and the sand bags on the -top are cut to ribbons. The advance post is occupied by the Cape Boys, -who under Lieutenants Feltham and Currie (who has recently been -promoted) take it day and day about; one was shot this morning. This -post which we now occupy was sapped up to and occupied from the other -side by the Boers, but was retaken by the Cape Boys under Currie, with -Captain Fitzclarence and some of the white garrison; they had to emerge -in single file from a narrow opening which was commanded by the Boer -loop-holes, and run round the edge of the excavation of the brickfield -up to the loop-holes occupied by the Boers, a distance of some twenty -yards; the latter fled on their approach. We have now occupied it from -our side and strengthened the work. The trenches approaching the -advance works are exposed to fire from the front and right flanks, but -are being strengthened daily. On our return from the advance work we -made our way to the river bed where Currie's post is established, and it -was there that poor Webb was killed. The garrison of the trenches are -now fairly housed and comparatively safe, though, of course, casualties -occur daily; still, if the Boers try a sortie they will meet a very warm -reception. - -Sunday. Last night heavy firing as usual, but to-day, contrary to our -late custom, peace has reigned in the brickfields, and both sides sat on -their parapets and asked after various friends on the other side. The -Boers have lately, as the natives express it, become much more tame, and -have allowed Kaffir women to gather wood, pumpkins, and Kaffir corn -without molestation. Our Sunday was absolutely peaceful and quiet, and -as we are not able now to indulge in mounted sports, &c., owing to the -condition of the horses, we have fallen back on cricket as our Sunday -relaxation. - -12th. The natives went out last night, and McKenzie's boys got into -Jackal Tree which they found empty. The Baralongs attacked Fort Snyman -from the rear and had a lively engagement with the hundred odd Boers who -garrisoned it, and after finishing their ammunition, withdrew with a -loss of one killed and two wounded. We know of one Boer dead for -certain, for Trooper Webb of the C.P. blew his head off at the entrance -to the work, and we fancy that at the short range our volleys must have -accounted for several more. General Snyman has returned and notified his -arrival by an unusually heavy dose of shell fire. I rode round the -western outposts this morning with Captain Wilson; the natives seemed -quite pleased with themselves, more particularly as they had secured -some thirty head of fat cattle in a raid two days ago. We then -inspected the soup kitchens which he is managing, and which are a great -improvement on those first started; the food provided is very popular -with the natives, who come in their hundreds for it. - -13th. Our runners brought us in good news of the relief of Ladysmith -and the heavy Boer losses. Everybody is consequently jubilant, and our -only regret is that we can't drive these Boers over the frontier and -clear British territory; however, Colonel Plumer is at Lobatsi, and as -there cannot be any considerable body of Boers between this and -Kimberley, we ought soon to have the line open both ways. They began -shelling early and kept on with their home-made shrapnel all day, -killing two and wounding several. One shell burst in a pigeon-house and -killed sixteen valuable carrier pigeons; the shot is somewhat large for -pigeon shooting, but apparently effective. The base of another shell -went through the head-quarter office, making a hideous mess, but hurting -no one; in fact, they were shooting offices all round, and the -ordinarily neatly-kept official papers were in two or three cases much -upset and covered with the _debris_ of their various abodes. This new -shrapnel is essentially a man-killing shell, for which reason I suppose -the Boers have paid particular attention to the earthworks, _per contra_ -if they want to snipe cattle or slay men they generally employ common -shell. Last night a cattle raiding party came in with some horses, -saddles, rifles and bandoliers belonging to some deceased Boers. The -Boers had tracked this party of Baralongs, who, seeing them following on -their spoor, had doubled back on their own trail and ambushed them at -short range. They accounted for six or seven, and relieved their dead -of their arms, &c., as far as they could, before the Boers recovered -from their surprise, and drove them off with a loss to the raiders of -one killed and two wounded, the latter of whom they brought in. This -success has naturally much pleased the natives, and encouraged them -greatly for future raids, which is most useful, as the results feed us -and harass the Boers. The advanced trenches also got a couple by -moonlight as they were creeping up to our trench. - -14th. Shelling has begun again this morning, quite up to its best form. -The Boers in Snyman's absence take things much more easily, and if we -could only kill him here and Kruger in the south, as well as old Cronje, -it would save a vast amount of trouble, for it takes these leaders all -their time to keep their followers up to the scratch. They had a sort -of "indaba" this morning. I only trust it was bad news for them, they -get their news about a fortnight before we do. - -15th. Fairly quiet day, pretty heavy shelling. - -16th. Very little shelling. The Cape Boys in the advance trenches were -playing a concertina, and so chaffed the Boers, saying they were -dancing, and asking them to send some ladies, &c., that one of them, -either attracted by the music or bursting with repartee, popped up his -head, and was incontinently shot by a wily Cape Boy, to the intense -delight of the others. They have a distinct sense of humour, though -possibly a somewhat grim one. The advance trenches are now deepened and -strengthened, and are as safe as it is possible for them to be to walk -about in; from the advance trenches the Boers and ourselves throw bombs, -and they are also using explosive bullets; their bombs are made like old -hand-grenades, the bombs of both sides being charged with dynamite. -They throw theirs by hand, but ours, though of a cruder form (being -mainly jam tins) are propelled in a much more scientific manner. -Sergeant Page, of the Protectorate Regiment, has rigged up a bamboo as a -fishing-rod, and casts his bomb with great precision the short distance -to the Boer trenches. - -17th. Pretty quiet day. Last night McKenzie's boys raided Jackal Tree -fort, killed one Boer and a Kaffir, and secured three horses and rifles. -The dug-outs are all so close to various residences that it was amusing -to see one card party, disturbed by the ringing of the bell, dive from -the mess to the dug-out, and actually be back picking up their cards -before the shell which had passed high in the air, had exploded. Vices -in time of peace become virtues in war time; the most expert Baralong -cattle thief, who under other circumstances would assuredly be in -durance vile, is now indeed a _persona grata_ and leader of men, and -whilst enjoying himself at the top of his bent is making the most of his -fleeting opportunity. - -18th, Sunday. I went down to the brickfields to the advanced trenches; -down there both parties had agreed not to shoot, and exchanged tobacco -for peach brandy, &c., asking after their various friends and relations. -I got three snap shots at the Boers in the advance trench, and we -studied each other with great curiosity, our clean shirts, collars, and -Sunday clothes apparently astonishing them as much as their remarkable -grime surprised us. On the way back there is a pleasant meadow, in -which we lay and smoked and tried to pretend it was England, though that -was somewhat a failure. Whilst down there I met an old warrior who had -drifted a long way from his last fight. A native of Bagdad, he was in -Sarif (?) Pasha's command at Plevna, which he said was a very different -siege to this; he says they fought only occasionally there, and then -killed thousands of men, but rested in between, whilst here we were -continually shooting. If we killed thousands here the siege would soon -come to an end. The old man is very fit and seems to enjoy his fighting -still. Runners came in from the south this morning who had seen the -relief of Kimberley, which impressed them very much. They said that the -man who wrote the Bible must have been referring to the English army, -when he spoke of the Tribes of Israel and the thousands which composed -them, and that the aforesaid army was big enough to eat up all the -Kaffirs; they reported, also, that the searchlights of the force -advancing up the line had been seen as far as Taungs, and that the Boers -were concentrating, but are pretty thick between here and the advancing -force. As regards this place the boot will soon be on the other leg, as -the Boers are now afraid to move about except in large bodies, and we -hope that our communication will soon be thoroughly restored. The -runners from Setlagoli reported that the raiding party I spoke of on the -13th, had killed and wounded some twenty Boers, including the man who -had shot one of our Baralongs in cold blood the day before. There was a -smoking concert to-night to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, largely -attended by Irishmen and others; the proceedings were harmonious -throughout. - -19th. A fair amount of shelling. A party of Boers and three guns have -returned from the north, where native rumour says they have had a -repulse, and in which direction musketry fire was faintly heard -yesterday morning. - -20th. We got runners in from the north; the Boers seem in a bad way all -round. - -21st. More runners in. To-day we were unlucky, and we had a few -casualties. - -22nd. More runners. Plumer's column twenty-four miles away. - -23rd. We shelled the brickfield trench, but did not succeed in drawing -fire from the big gun, which has been almost silent for the last few -days. In the garrison there are soldiers from all parts of the world, -one German veteran who served all through the Franco-German War in the -84th Regiment, Trooper Block by name, was through the Orleans campaign, -and has since served in all the South African wars; there are men who -served in the Chilian war, the Carlist, and in fact practically every -known war for the last fifty years. - -24th. Last night the Boers evacuated their brickfield trenches, which -we occupied with much cheering; they left several cases of dynamite -behind connected with a wire, with which they proposed to blow up our -men; the wire was, however, promptly disconnected. In Dutch newspapers -discovered in the trenches was found the account of the fall of -Bloemfontein, which was confirmed by runners from Plumer this morning. -The Boers have now withdrawn to a respectful distance all round the -town, which is, however, still invested, but the big gun so far is -quiet. This must be the beginning of the end, and we have nearly -completed our six months' siege. I fully expect the big gun to be -removed in a day or two; last night was the first time she has failed to -reply to our artillery fire. - -We have started a post-office here, with stamps, &c., and also a very -tastefully designed £1 note. I must finish off my entries as a go of -fever makes it difficult, almost impossible, to write at all. - -[Illustration: Mafeking Siege Note] - -24th. Last night Sub-Inspector Murray and Trooper Melahue, Cape Police, -went out, and having reconnoitred the rear of the enemy's trench, came -to the conclusion that it was unoccupied. Inspector Browne, of the Cape -Police, and the Cape Boys under Lieutenants Feltham and Currie, -proceeded to occupy it. The Boers had left a mine of 250 lbs. of -nitro-glycerine behind. Sergeant Page, Protectorate Regiment, -discovered and disconnected the wire. The men cheered themselves -hoarse, and rightly too, for this is the most decisive success we have -scored since the commencement of the campaign, as the town is now for -the first time free from musketry fire, and our guns are again within -striking distance of the Boer artillery. - -25th, Sunday. The Siege Exhibition took place to-day. A most -creditable exhibition from the ingenuity shown, and also considering its -peculiar surroundings. We shall hope to forward some of our exhibits -home. I went out and inspected the Boer trench. If it is "an ill bird -that fouls its own nest," a Boer is indeed ill. They are occupying a -trench about seven hundred yards away, from which they shoot with a -certain amount of precision, but with no result, upon their late happy -home. Personally, I particularly wished to inspect the brick kilns, at -which I had discharged some hundred rounds of ammunition. It is very -interesting, but still somewhat annoying to find that it is practically -bullet proof; however, on the other hand, the particular place of resort -from which I had fired the said ammunition was also fairly safe, so -perhaps I had no reason to grumble, and at any rate I had frequently -silenced them. - -26th, Monday. Exceptionally quiet to-day. Late at night I was in Mr. -Weil's dug-out when he received the news of the English troops' arrival -at Vryburg. Mafeking accordingly jubilant.[#] - - -[#] This eventually turned out to be untrue. - - -27th, Tuesday. The Boers commenced early and continued a heavy shell -fire all day, pouring more shells into the town than they had any two -days of the siege. It was very curious, but the news received the night -before caused the population to show more absolute disregard for the -shell fire than they had done on many days when the bombardment was -comparatively light. The Premier's message to the two Presidents was -published this evening, and now even the most pessimistic admit it is -possible that there may be a satisfactory solution of the war. We hope -we may be able to slightly assist in a less passive manner than -heretofore. - -28th, Wednesday. After our treat of yesterday, absolute quiet reigns -to-day. Really there is no understanding the Boers. Our locally -manufactured field-piece burst last night, but the shell managed to -reach the Boer laager. What they contemplate and what is their plan of -campaign leaves everybody wondering. No ulterior object can be obtained -by their desultory mode of conducting operations. Occasional casualties, -which is apparently their only object, is the sole result arrived at, -and these casualties are, we think, more heavy on their side than ours. - -29th, Thursday. A quiet day. The Boers gradually evacuating their -eastern trenches. - -30th, Friday. The guns are fairly quiet. We are gradually occupying the -evacuated trenches. - -31st, Saturday. In the morning a quiet day. In the afternoon a body of -four hundred or five hundred Boers and three guns hastily left their -eastern laager in a northerly direction. I took up a position in the -convent, and from there could see considerable confusion and excitement -amongst the Boers galloping backwards and forwards in the direction of -Signal Hill. The sound of guns too was distinctly audible to the north, -some six or seven miles away. The garrison livened up. The guns under -Major Panzera and Lieutenant Daniells commenced playing from every face. -A mounted squadron under Major Grodley demonstrated towards Game Tree -fort on the north. For an hour or so things were lively, but quieted -down. - -Our old "Lord Nelson" reached the laager, and the big gun was annoyed by -the Hotchkiss. It is a curious fact that all the pieces of ordnance with -which we are "blessed" are obsolete naval guns. Rumours as usual flying -around and we really had something to give scope for conjecture. - -April 1st, Sunday. The siege as affecting me pecuniarily is becoming -expensive. I lose bets at the end of each month as it interminably -prolongs. - -A quiet day and a flag of truce from the Boers asking us to fetch our -dead who were killed in the northern fight the day before. Accordingly -wagons under Lieutenant the Honourable Hanbury Tracy and Lieutenant -Singleton went north, where they met the Boers, who assisted them to -find and recover the bodies. Three men were brought in belonging to -Colonel Plumer's column, and Captain McLaren, Lieutenant Crewe, and -Troopers Murray and Robinson were reported wounded. It would seem to -have been a sharp skirmish between a strong patrol of Colonel Plumer's -and a considerably more numerous body of Boers, but as far as we can -ascertain Colonel Plumer's main column was not engaged. - -Our demonstration against Game Tree resulted in our killing two Boers, -and even by their own accounts, numerically our losses were evenly -balanced. Fourteen dead horses were seen on the field. - -2nd, Monday. Flags of truce from the enemy reporting the death of -Captain McLaren. Regret and sympathy barely express my own feelings, and -how many of us are there scattered about the world, who when they see -the next polo tournament, will think again of the best of players, the -nicest of fellows, whom Hurlingham and the scenes of his many triumphs -will see no more. - -There seems a chance of another fight this afternoon. The Boers are -very restless and galloping about in all directions. I do not suppose -they mean to attack us, and, as far as I can make out, are nervous and -seem to expect pressure from the east. - -Some men were interviewed yesterday who had returned from Natal. They -reported the death of Joubert and were far less confident than they have -shown themselves heretofore. - -3rd, Tuesday. I am heartily glad to say that Captain McLaren is not -dead, although severely wounded and a prisoner in the Boers' hands. - -A despatch was received from Colonel Plumer this morning stating that he -had had an engagement north of the town and that his losses were Captain -Crewe (who was buried here this morning), Lieutenant Milligan, killed; -Colonel Plumer, Major Weston Jarvis, and Captain Rolt, slightly wounded; -non-commissioned Officers and men killed, seven; wounded, twenty-six; -missing, eleven. Three missing are known to be dead and the others are -wounded in the Boers' hands. Captain McLaren has written from the Boer -camp, where he is, we are all glad to hear, going on well and being very -well treated by the Boers. - -Yesterday afternoon we had a successful brush with the enemy to -north-west, no casualties on our side. Their ambulances were seen very -busy. To-day everything is so far quiet. - -4th. Early this morning Lieutenant F. Smitheman, Rhodesian Regiment, -Colonel Plumer's intelligence officer, arrived through the Boer lines. -I met him as he was going to change. He said, "How do you do? I am ---- -to be in." I said, "How are you? I am very glad to see you, but I -should be ---- glad to be out." However, there is no satisfying -everybody. The country was infested by Boers and he had walked -twenty-two miles that night accompanied by two natives. He is as a -scout _facile princeps_, and thus eluded the hostile cordon -successfully, though he had one anxious moment when he fell into the -trench connecting Fort Ayr and the refugee laager, heard native voices, -and was for some time under the impression it was the Boer trench. He -was second in command of Colonel Plumer's scouts in 1896, and afterwards -disappeared into Central Africa for two years, going from Chinde to -Blantyre, to Lake Nyassa, then by Lake Bangueolo to the source of the -Congo, thence due south through the Mashakalumbwe country to Victoria -Falls, and through which country he was the first white man to pass, and -from the falls to Bulawayo, where he arrived in December, 1898. Though -his journeys then may have been long, arduous, and dangerous, they can -scarcely have been more exciting than the short twenty-two miles he -walked last night. - -A quiet day. Flags of truce pass daily informing us of the condition of -the wounded. - -5th, Thursday. This morning Smitheman went to the brickfields with the -Colonel and was shot at a bit. We all told him that we were afraid we -shouldn't be able to find him any entertainment as the Boers are very -quiet just now, and he said we needn't trouble. However, as the morning -wore on the enemy's sixteen-pounder commenced bombarding us from Game -Tree and Jackal Tree and kept on the whole morning, apparently directed -by a deserter, Private Hay, Protectorate Regiment, who selected his late -fort and the headquarters of the Protectorate Regiment, as his main -target. I shouldn't care to be Private Hay after the war as there is -£50 on his head, dead or alive, and the Boers are hard up. The -afternoon was pretty quiet, and the Boers have now retired all round to -extreme musketry range of all the town. They livened up in the evening -though, and fired a good deal, landing many bullets in the square. - -6th, Friday. The morning began very quietly, and we were afraid that -Smitheman would not get his introduction to "Creaky." However, in the -afternoon she began, and he had a full opportunity of learning the -meaning of the various sounds of the bell, the joys of the rush to the -"dug-out," and the philosophy with which you can see your friends in the -distance shelled, when she diverted a certain portion of her fire on -Cannon Kopje. - -Major Goold-Adams had just shifted into a new office after his former -one had been destroyed, and somewhat prematurely, for "Creaky" promptly -blew it up with the first shell; fortunately it was empty at the time. -They gave us a good doing and stopped for the night. - -7th, Saturday. We were awakened by the big gun, which kept on all day. -Smitheman was again lucky. He went up to lunch at the kopje, and then -they began shelling that, so he had had most of the pleasures of -Mafeking compressed into three days. They pall, however, after six -months. He seemed to think we were having a harder time than he -anticipated, and it is very interesting to have an outside opinion, -because we are so thoroughly used to it that we do not know whether it -is a bad time or not, being only convinced of two things--that the place -can't fall, and that we will not get hit by a big shell if we can help -it. Smitheman returned to Plumer to-night. - -8th, Sunday. A quiet day. A body of women, who, at Smitheman's -instigation, was endeavouring to escape towards Kanya, where food is -ready for them, was turned back by the Boers. To the south a similar -body was also stopped, and by direction of the Boer in charge each one -was stripped, shambokked, and driven back naked to Mafeking. Yesterday -there was a desperate fight between a party of our Fingoes engaged in -cattle raiding and the Boers; the former were cut off and surrounded in -a "pan," where they took what cover they could and defended their lives -to the last. Out of a party of some thirty odd, ten or eleven got away -when they repulsed the first attack of the Boers. The Boers returned, -however, with one hundred more men, and killed all but one man. They -had two Maxims and a one-pound Maxim-Nordenfelt. The fight lasted -twenty-five hours, and by the account of the wounded survivor, -corroborated by the women who returned to-day, the Boers must have -suffered severe loss. The survivor escaped by hiding in the reeds, and -is now in hospital with a wound in his stomach. The natives were vastly -outnumbered, and made a stubborn resistance with their obsolete arms -against all the Boers could bring against them. Unfortunate it is that -so few of many brave men escaped. - -Snyman is becoming remarkably civil in his intercourse, and had sent in -a letter saying he was astonished that natives had been employed cattle -raiding, as they were such barbarians. They were right gallant -barbarians, anyhow. Smitheman has a wonderful insight into native -character, and a marvellous grasp of the Baralong. It is curious to -note how the Englishman associated with the natives identifies himself -with his tribe and becomes a Zulu, Baralong, Fingoe or Basuto with a -firm belief that all other natives except his own particular tribe are -no good at all and that their methods of fighting are useless. Having -heard the point discussed by many of my friends and having witnessed -their implicit confidence in their own particular tribe and distrust of -the others, one can understand that the foreigner may see something to -laugh at in an Englishman's absolute and justified confidence in the -English. They call it insularity in Europe. I wonder what they would -call its offspring here. - -9th, Monday. Runners from the north arrived with the intelligence that -Smitheman had passed them well clear of the Boer line, so we hope he is -safe. The big gun has been shelling all the morning, and some of her -smaller brethren have taken it up this afternoon. Many conflicting -rumours, but a force of many men and guns went south on Friday night. -We hope this portends the approach of our expected relief. It would be -hard lines indeed, after all this dull work, not to finish the campaign -in the Transvaal. The natives say the Boers are going to give us -another severe doing to-morrow. The flags of truce exchange much chaff. -The Boers say, "Why don't you come out and fight in the open?" and the -answer is, "Come and drive us out." The other day the Boers said to our -orderly that it was very brutal sending men who had never been to sea to -St. Helena, besides what would they do there? Whether he expected us to -find picnic parties for them or not I do not know. I wish I were at St. -Helena, one would have a chance of getting somewhere else from there. -The orderly said there was plenty to do, but the Boer objected there -were no horses for them to ride, and when the orderly said, "Let them -ride the turtles," he was very wroth. Again, yesterday, the Boer -volunteered that they, the Dutch, were knocking us about in the Free -State. The orderly said, "The Free State, where is the Free State?" and -the Boer said, "North of the Orange River." On the orderly's answering, -"Ah! You mean New England," the Boer seemed hurt, but they are pretty -civil all the same and both sides continually ask after their various -friends and get answers. - -[Illustration: PEACEFUL TALK BETWEEN BOERS AND BRITISH.] - -10th, Tuesday. A fairly quiet day. The high velocity guns shelled our -outlying posts on the western border, with occasional shots at the camp, -while the big gun and the smaller ones shelled the town. Natives from -the south report that the country is at present unsafe for despatch -riders as, though there is no commando, there are a considerable number -of Boers roaming about the country between here and Vryburg seeking whom -and what they may devour and under no immediate control.[#] - - -[#] Later they themselves were devoured. - - -11th, Wednesday. We were awakened this morning by the big gun and had a -very heavy day's shelling. I went out for a ride and up to Fort Ayr. -They were shelling from every side in all directions and kept it up till -nearly noon, Mr. Greenfield is at present doing his month's detachment -duty at Fort Ayr. It is not an enlivening spot, being built -underground, and as you are continually sniped it is impossible to -emerge therefrom except at night or by means of a long rear trench -leading to the refugees' laager. It is garrisoned by thirty men, a -Maxim and a seven-pounder. On the western front the Boers made an attack -on two of our outlying posts. They advanced to within four hundred and -fifty yards, but after losing some ten or a dozen men they retired. -During the day they planted some thirty shells into the women's laager. -To all their heavy bombardment we answered not a shot, but in the -evening when they were dismantling the big gun the Hotchkiss opened on -her with good effect, apparently wounding or killing several of the -crowd round her. She immediately opened fire on the town and struck the -Dutch Church with great violence. After she had ceased firing the -Hotchkiss opened again and failed to get a further reply. -Score:--Hotchkiss four, big gun three. - -12th, Thursday. This morning the big gun has disappeared and is -supposed to be in McMullin's laager. She has not fired, and with the -exception of the five-pounder we have had a quiet day. - -Several wagons with escorts have trekked from the laager and they are -apparently busily engaged in packing up others. - -A pigeon left Colonel Plumer yesterday at noon arriving here in forty -minutes, and runners in this morning brought Her Majesty's message to -Colonel Baden-Powell and news of Lieutenant Smitheman's safe arrival at -Colonel Plumer's camp. - -Captain McLaren is, I am glad to say, better, and in the hands of a -skilful German surgeon who thinks he will do all right. - -The rains have begun again which is fortunate for us. Had it not been -for the exceptionally rainy season I do not know what the cattle would -have done or how we could have held out. - -13th, Friday. A quiet day. We were only shelled to-day with the -five-pounder and the one-pound Maxim and so we are quite quiet. Colonel -Baden-Powell has had an erection built on the top of the headquarter -house from whence he looks out and can control the Mafeking defences -like the captain of a ship, shouting his instructions down a speaking -tube to the headquarter bomb proof, which are thence telephoned on to -the parties whom it may concern, so that he can personally turn on the -tap of any portion of the defences he may think fit. - -14th, Saturday. This morning there was quite a lively amount of -shelling. One shell burst in Fort Ayr and killed two of its garrison. -Personally I started for a ride, but finding it rather livelier than I -cared for made it a pretty short one. One must get exercise, but there -is no particular object in getting shot unnecessarily. Last night -Colonel Plumer's column endeavoured to send us in some hundred head of -cattle which we want. It was a moonlight night and the Boers must have -been informed of their advent for they waylaid them very effectually, -killing and wounding many, as well as their native drivers, and -capturing the rest. This is a bore, but, however, we can get on without -them and we shall get them back shortly. In consequence of this -diversion they were firing pretty well all night. Easter Day to-morrow. -We can do very well without the Easter eggs the Boers send us, and as -our hens have ceased to lay we shall get none of our own. Our hot cross -buns were represented by a cross being stamped on our scanty bread -ration. I rather hope that this is the last feast of any sort that the -garrison of Mafeking will celebrate under siege conditions. - -[Illustration: A SHELL BURSTING IN THE NATIVE QUARTER.] - -Colonel Vyvyan was very lucky in securing a beautiful specimen of a -sixteen-pounder, Vicker's Maxim, which passed over his head and did not -explode. In the scurry for the shell he secured it, as he was mounted. -They are using a new sort of one-pound Maxim and not being quite able to -reach the women's laager with it they planted six shells in the -hospital. Yesterday one of Colonel Plumer's wounded died while -undergoing an operation in the Boer camp and they sent his body in last -night. - -I cannot understand the Boer, and have given it up as a bad job. He -appears to have no laws and few instincts, and to be totally -irresponsible. Sometimes he behaves exceedingly well, and at other -times remarkably ill, and you can never calculate what his conduct will -be under any given circumstances. General Snyman is sanctimonious and a -hypocrite, and seems to look upon truth as an unnecessary portion of his -field outfit. Commandant Botha is a good sportsman, and well liked on -their side of the border, and is a kindly dispositioned man. Snyman is a -strict disciplinarian as Boers go, whilst Botha seems an easier going -man. If Snyman has been away, on his return the more or less quiet -existence we have led, thanks to Botha, is immediately disturbed, and -heavy shell fire commences. Snyman is not popular in Mafeking, the -inhabitants of which look upon him as a combination of liar, fanatic and -woman killer, and, generally speaking, an infernal nuisance. The Dutch -say he is very venturesome; he will, I believe, venture a lot to obtain -cattle, but apparently less to obtain Mafeking. The Boers at the outset -could have captured Mafeking for about half the lives they have expended -in their various futile attacks. They can never capture it now, and the -one ardent desire of the garrison is that they may only endeavour to do -so. - -15th, Sunday, Easter-day. A quiet day and the big gun still -undiscoverable. The various churches were well attended at all the -services. In the afternoon we had sports, organized by Captain Cowan -and the officers of the Bechuanaland Rifles. They were a great success, -and the costume race, won by Mr. Daniel, B.S.A.P., dressed as a hospital -nurse, Mr. Dunlop Smith, A.V.D., as the "Geisha" second, Captain -Scholefield, B.S.A.P., as a bride third, was a great success, and one of -the most amusing contests we have had here. - -Yesterday it was indeed bad luck for the poor fellows of Fort Ayr -garrison who had remained under cover during shell fire and thought it -was all over, for when Troopers Molloy and Hassell came out to get their -coffee the last high velocity sixteen-pound shell struck the sand bags -overhead, killing Molloy dead and mortally wounding Hassell, breaking -both his legs. Mr. Greenfield tells me the way he bore his sufferings -was literally heroical, complaining not at all, and only asking for a -cigarette. - -I have not previously alluded to the "sowen" porridge, which is now a -part of the rations, and has for a long time done much to solve the -question of the food supply of Mafeking. It was first made by Private -Sims out of the husks of oats for the consumption of himself and sundry -of his comrades, but on this fact being ascertained by the indefatigable -Captain Ryan, Sims was put on to make it on a larger scale for the -natives. The European portion of the garrison and inhabitants gladly -bought it, and it is now, as I said before, an acceptable portion of the -daily rations. The natives, too, have had great windfalls lately in the -matter of locusts, which are really not bad eating, and at any rate much -appreciated by them. The feeding of the natives, indeed, at all times a -difficult question, is, I may say, practically solved, except in the -case of the Shangans. These unfortunate devils, who are equally -repulsive, morally and physically, as far as I have seen, are detested -by the other natives, and consequently it is very hard to look after -them properly. The Basutos, Zulus, &c., come to be fed naturally, -whereas the Shangan is like a wild beast, and only seems to crawl away -and die. So much is this so that on Mr. Vere Stent's ordering his -Basuto servant to make some soup for a starving Shangan he had picked -up, the Basuto indignantly protested that "the Shangans were bad men and -killed missionaries," however, the man in question was rescued in time -and is still living. They form luckily an insignificant proportion of -the native community. - -After the siege is over and the Queen has got her own again it is to be -hoped that the unswerving loyalty of the Baralongs will not be -over-looked. You hear on all sides that the Baralongs are not a -fighting race, and the Zulus and any other race you may mention would -wipe them out. Incidentally the Zulus tried to in their big trek north, -and the wily Baralong, fighting his usual fight, had considerably the -best of it. - -In more modern times he successfully withstood the Boers, not, however, -an attack on the present scale. After the first day's shelling the -mouthpiece of the Baralong tribe, Silas Molemo, came up to Mr. Bell, -Resident Magistrate, and said to him, "Never mind this we will stick to -you and see it through," which they certainly have done. They are not a -tribe who would make a dashing attack or to use the expression "be -bossed up" to do things they don't particularly want to, but given a -defensive position they will hang on to it for all they are worth as -they have proved many times during the war in their defence of their -stadt. They have had their cattle raided, their out-lying homesteads -destroyed, their crops for this year are _nil_, and all through a time -when the outlook to a native mind must have seemed most black they have -unswervingly and uncomplainingly stuck to us and never hesitated to do -anything they were called upon to do. - -I cannot do better than give an account of the unsuccessful attempt to -bring in cattle from Colonel Plumer. Mathakong, the leader of the -party, had forty men under his command. He and the Baralongs have so far -been very successful in getting in cattle; by profession a cattle thief, -but only on a large scale, there is nothing mean about Mathakong. -Colonel Plumer selected some hundred head of cattle in good condition -and it was these that the party endeavoured to bring in. When they were -some distance out it was reported to Mathakong that the Boers knew that -they were coming and were going to try to intercept them. However, as -he had been given to understand that it was desirable to get the cattle -in he determined to make the attempt, as at any rate they might get some -in, and if he stayed where he was the Boers would probably surround him. -The Boers got on both flanks of the cattle, assisted by the Rapulanas -(the Rietfontein rebel natives), and heavy firing began. The Baralongs -pushed forward with cattle falling all round them and behind the bodies -of the cattle kept up a running fight until all their ammunition was -gone. They stuck to them till only fifteen head were left, and then -when they left, the Boers came up cheering loudly. There were two -wounded men amongst the cattle and the Boers according to their custom -came up and interrogated them and then shot one and cut the other's -throat. The Baralongs then came into Mafeking dragging old Mathakong -with them as they could not otherwise persuade him to leave the live -cattle. He was much upset by the loss of the cattle, but the fight did -not worry him at all, and he said that had the cattle not been in such -good condition he would have rushed them along faster and got most of -them in. This, however, is only one of the many cases in which the -Baralongs have done, or have endeavoured to do good service. They lost -four killed and seven wounded and account for their small loss by the -protection afforded them by the herd amongst which they fought their -running fight. - -16th, Monday. Fairly quiet day. The Boers shelled the western outpost -and brickfields. I went down to the brickfields to see Captain Brown, -Cape Police, who is in charge and was in charge when he occupied the -Boer advanced trench. Since then he has been wounded, but is now back -at duty again. He told me that the idea of the Boers was apparently -that we should not enter the trench until the morning after they had -vacated it, but our doing so the night before and cutting the wire had -frustrated their amiable intention of blowing up our men and presumably -rushing the brickfields in the confusion. The other day, a Cape -policeman met a Transvaal policeman with a white flag (between these -forces in times of peace a very good feeling prevails) and chaffed him, -saying, "Why don't you blow your mine up." "Ah!" said the latter, "you -were too slim for us there." Houndsditch, the old Boer trench, has now -been converted into a strong fortification for ourselves, and the -brickfields generally are a far more desirable place for residence, the -several Boer trenches now being nine hundred to one thousand two hundred -yards away. They have some very good marksmen in their trenches -however, and make things very warm for our advanced trenches. A Cape -Boy exposed himself for a moment two or three days ago and was picked -off through the head by a Martini at once, and in the very few open -spaces which of course they have got accurately ranged they shoot -remarkably close. The brickfields are now garrisoned by the Cape Police -and Cape Boys under Captain Brown and Lieutenants Murray and Currie. - -The big gun is still conspicuous by its absence, and it is reported to -have gone to Pretoria. If that be so it is the greatest sign so far -that the Boers feel hopeless about taking the town and the point may be -fairly scored off against any point they may have scored against us yet. - -There was a wedding this morning between a private of the Bechuanaland -Rifles and a Dutch girl, he cannot talk Dutch nor she English. Let us -hope that it is a good omen of the future settlement of South Africa -with the British as "Boss." - -This morning, too, three ambulances were seen coming in from the North, -and an ambulance and five waggons went in that direction, so Plumer may -have had a successful "scrap," at any rate, we all hope so. - -These high velocity guns seem beautiful weapons, I must confess that in -common with the rest of the garrison I should dearly like to see them -tried on the Boer. It is all very well to be an expert in artillery, -but ours is not the most agreeable way of gaining the experience. - -17th, Tuesday. The question of firewood and indeed all fuel has of late -been a somewhat serious one to Mafeking, and as the cold season is -coming on or rather is beginning, increases in importance daily, -consequently Mafeking has had to sacrifice its scanty supply of trees. -Probably the residents in their vicinity wish, if they had to be cut -down, it had been done at the commencement of the siege, for it seems as -if the Boer artillery when having no mark in particular but the town in -general had mainly aimed at the trees, at any rate, when they were -merely idly shelling the majority of shells fell in their neighbourhood. -It will, I fear, put the general appearance of the town back for some -years. - -With the exception of perfunctory shelling in the brickfields, we have -had a quiet day and the big gun is still absent. Indeed, now so far -have our outlying trenches been pushed that except from the big gun and -quick-firers, we experience but little annoyance in the town itself. -During the last week our runners have been most successfully stopped, -but before this we have been fortunate enough to get London papers three -months old, and the Court House has been turned into a reading-room, -where the papers are daily eagerly devoured by all conditions of men and -women too. Everybody at home seems very pleased with Mafeking, and we -here feel really proud of the way our fellows are fighting in the South -and the way everybody is turning up to fight. It should be a fine -object-lesson to the Continentals. In many ways they must have had a -more amusing time than we have had and fighting on a much larger scale, -for this sort of fighting after the first two months is about the -dullest sort of entertainment you can well imagine: they so hopelessly -overwhelm us in artillery that we cannot get out to have a go at them. -Indeed, any sortie must resolve itself into storming one of their forts -which we are not strong enough to do, and so the forts on either side -face each other, fire at each other, but otherwise leave each other -severely alone; and outside their zone of fire their artillery takes up -whatever position it thinks fit and shells whatever portion of defences -or town it feels inclined to. One advantage in a long dragging -performance like this is that neither side seems in any particular hurry -and a very wet day generally means a certain immunity from fire. -Yesterday we had a heavy thunderstorm, and the first flash of lightening -exploded one of our mines in front of the brickfields simultaneously -with the thunderclap. I felt the ground shake and thought it was a -particularly heavy clap of thunder. The mine which was charged with ten -pounds of captured nitro-glycerine blew a tremendous hole in the ground, -and was, generally speaking, a great success, so what would have -happened had their carefully prepared two hundred and fifty pound mine -gone off, or what would have been left of Mafeking, I do not like to -think. The mine is now recharged and repaired, but I am afraid the -Boers have a nasty suspicious disposition which will prevent them from -sampling it. - -The Cadet Corps have been lately doing their messages mounted on donkeys -captured from the Boers. Like the other mounted corps, however, their -ranks are gradually being depleted for the soup kitchen. This corps is -formed of all the boys of Mafeking, ranging from nine years upwards. It -does all the foot orderly work, thereby sparing several more men for the -trenches, and is dressed in khaki with "smasher" hats and a yellow -puggarree. It is commanded by a youth, Sergeant-Major Goodyear, the son -of Captain Goodyear, who was wounded in the brickfields, and is directly -supervised by Lord Edward Cecil. It drills regularly, and the boys are -wonderfully smart. - -Our acetylene search lights on the principle of the duplex heliograph -repeat the signals from a central station to the stations all round the -outposts, and answer very well. These and all the signalling -arrangements are under the charge of Sergeant-Major Moffatt, late -Carbineers, who has been very successful on several occasions in tapping -the Boers' helio messages. He has also invented a new acetylene -signalling lamp, which he has patented, and which he claims can be -worked (instead of the helio) on a cloudy day as well as at night. From -what I have seen of the lamp I think his claims are well founded. - -18th, Wednesday. Desultory shelling. Last night eleven native women -tried to get out, nine were killed and two were wounded. This, in spite -of repeated protests of Colonel Baden-Powell, who has pointed out that -Snyman continually shells the native village, and that when the women -try to escape they are flogged by day and shot by night. Botha, on -hearing of the occurrence, expressed his great regret and promised to -look after the wounded. Last night, too, the Boers were blowing up the -line to the south, about five miles out. - -19th, Thursday. The Boers are continually blowing up the line -southward, and great activity prevails around all the laagers, more -particularly at McMullins's. Straws show which way the wind blows, and -we hope this renewed liveliness portends the approach of relief. A -quiet day. The recent heavy rains have caused a lot of fever here, but -in spite of that the health of the garrison is on the whole good. - -20th, Friday. Runners arrived with papers and a letter giving an -account of the murder of young Dennison at Vryburg. He, it appears, was -wounded, and the Boers shot him in cold blood. In the same papers we -read accounts of the excellent treatment received by Cronje and the -other Boer prisoners, and the infamous treatment accorded to Colonial -prisoners of war by the Boers. Having contravened every known law of -war, except perhaps poisoning wells, it would seem only reasonable that -they should be treated judicially, as they claim to be a civilized race, -and given a chance of explaining their breaches of the Geneva -Convention. Failing to do this they should be accorded the justice for -which they are always clamouring. It appears to me less important to -conciliate the rebel Dutch than to avoid stirring up the indignation -which is expressing itself very freely amongst the loyal Colonials at -the ridiculously lenient way in which the rebels are treated, and as the -Bond Attorney-General cannot see his way to proceed against them, it -would surely be possible to replace him by an official who was not an -avowed sympathiser of theirs. The rebels, so far, apparently have had -really a very good time of it. They have looted their loyal neighbours' -property, and harried their cattle and farms, murdering them, when so -inclined, to their hearts' content, and now are apparently neither going -to be asked to pay for their amusement or even disgorge their plunder. -You do not as a rule expect the conquered to be satisfied with the -victor's settlement of a war, but apparently in our case we are going to -pacify our enemies at the expense of our friends. However, I suppose -the matter will square itself, and the Colonial troops will not trouble -to take prisoners to undergo a farce of a trial. - -21st, Saturday. Lord Roberts's message was received yesterday, stating -that owing to unforeseen delays the relief column would not be able to -reach us by May 18th as originally promised, and asking us to husband -our provisions beyond that date. The news had no depressing effect on -the town or garrison, and everybody is resolved to undergo anything -sooner than surrender. As regards the healthy portion of the garrison -the task is a fairly easy one, but for the sick (which are daily -increasing in number), the women and children, and the native population -to subsist on gradually decreasing rations is indeed hard. Luxuries -are, of course, a thing of the past, and it is only with the utmost -economy of the necessities of life that our supplies will be equal to -the task. However, by the time you get this, the matter will be settled -one way or another, but as long as the Union Jack is still flying, any -privations will be cheerfully welcomed. The rations now are a -quarter-pound of bread, half-pound of meat, supplemented with horseflesh -and "sowen" porridge. It is due to the care of the authorities, and -mostly so to Captain Ryan, A.S.C., whose skilful, painstaking, and -unwearied manipulation of supplies in the way of calculation, storage, -development, and their issue, that we are able even now to live in -comparative comfort. He has organised his butcheries and bakeries most -admirably. I went round the stores the other day, and paid a visit to -his sieving-room, where he has constructed large sieves to sift the fine -oatmeal for bread purposes from the husks which are used for making -"sowen" porridge, (one hundred pounds of oats producing twenty pounds of -fine meal). There I found a dozen or so coal-black individuals under -the superintendence of an Englishman, sifting whilst grinning through -their covering of flour, and constituting an interesting and very -comical spectacle. There is nothing wasted. We eat the fine meal and -the "sowen" porridge, the horses eat the refuse from the "sowen" -porridge, while we again eat the horses. As a local poet remarks-- - - "Till the Queen shall have her own again, for the flag - we have always flown, - If we cannot live on the fat of the land, we'll fight on - the horse and 'sowen.'" - - -To-day Mrs. Winter and her little boy, aged six, walked to the edge of -the town, where recently it has been quiet, but the sight of a petticoat -in fancied security was too much for the Boers, for they immediately -sniped at her, fortunately, however, without effect. - -They were shelling the brickfields to-day, but were otherwise quiet. -They, however, nearly hit Colonel Baden-Powell with a shell when he was -in that quarter. - -22nd, Sunday. A quiet day. The concert in the afternoon was a great -success, and Colonel Baden-Powell as usual "brought down the house" in -his musical sketches. On reading some old papers I see the Boers have -the consummate impudence to protest against our conduct of the war. Now -I wish clearly to point out that I do not try to saddle the whole Boer -nation with the conduct of some of their worst characters, but the lower -class Boer is, in many cases, no better than a savage and sometimes, in -the case of educated Kaffirs, considerably worse. I am not trying to -pile up atrocities against them, but _à propos_ of the subject -generally, the following facts are somewhat interesting. George Umfazwi, -the head Fingoe, a Christian, is a leading member of the Rev. W. H. -Weekes's congregation in the native location. One night he went out -cattle-raiding, in charge of a mixed party of Fingoes and Baralongs. -These parties, as I have said before, go out on their own initiative, -and sell their plunder to the Government. Soon after starting they came -upon the body of a Baralong woman, who, when endeavouring to escape, had -had her throat cut. Naturally the Baralongs were more than annoyed, and -vowed to kill all the Dutch women they might come across. Umfazwi, -however, told them that if they persisted in their intentions he and the -Fingoes would have nothing more to do with them. In the course of their -raid they occupied a Dutch homestead, from which they were fired upon by -Dutchmen. In the house were three Dutch women, whom the natives did not -touch, only taking the cattle and returning to Mafeking. In the next -raid, Umfazwi and his Fingoes were surrounded, as I told you in a former -account, and, after a hard fight, were all killed--no quarter being -given. I was talking yesterday to Major Anderson, E.A.M.C., and he -said, in the course of the conversation, that he preferred a savage -warfare, for then you knew what to expect, and that if he had to go out -again, he would sooner not take a Red Cross flag, as on each occasion on -which he had done so, it had drawn the fire; whereas, when he went out -without, he only took his chance with the rest. - -23rd, Monday. To-day they shelled the town, doing no damage. They -employed a new sort of nine-pounder shell, which will make a nice lamp -stand. Two deaths from fever last night, and I fear there will be -another death to-day. These late rains have brought out a sort of -typhoid malaria. - -A most interesting account, from a private soldier's point of view, has -been contributed by Private G. Hyslop, Bechuanaland Rifles, to _The -Glasgow Weekly Herald_, and though his sources of accurate information -are naturally somewhat limited, it is a most fair and intelligent -account of the siege. - -24th, Tuesday. We received glorious news last night, but it seems -almost too good to be true, namely, that Lord Roberts had surrounded the -Boers at Kronstadt, and had given them twenty-four hours to surrender, -and that Lord Methuen had reached Klerksdorp. It is quite possible, but -still one does not like to believe it before it is verified, and it is -after all a rumour. On the face of it, it seems probable, and that it -is a continuation of his turning movement. If so, the Boers in these -parts are nicely out-manoeuvred, and we look for our Relief Column -following Methuen's tract as far as Border Siding, and then coming up -the line. Automatic relief, so glibly talked about in some papers, will -not be of much use to us, for what we most require is provisions. I saw -it stated in an article in _The Times_ that Kimberley and ourselves were -of no strategical importance in the campaign, but I totally disagree -with this idea. Had Mafeking and Kimberley fallen at first, or had -Cronje been able to disregard these two isolated places and swept down -south, the Colony, to a great extent, would have fallen into his hands. -The troops in the South would have had a far greater extent of country -to reconquer, and Mafeking at any rate must have eventually fallen. The -natives would have lost confidence, the Boers would have retained -possession of the line and the rolling stock from the Vaal River to the -north, Rhodesia would have been open to attack, and the whole conditions -of the war entirely changed, and not changed in our favour. I suppose -this also holds good of Ladysmith, but there, of course, the Boers would -have left a considerable force in their rear. I think it was the -half-heartedness of the Boers in only partially invading the Colony and -Natal and remaining to nibble at the tempting baits of apparently two -unprotected towns, which gave the troops coming out an advantage which -they never would have had had the Boers made one dash for Capetown. And -even now, though in a very much less degree, I consider this town of -strategical importance. We keep a large number of Boers in our -proximity, and the Boers in the neighbouring districts are more -concerned about preventing our relief than in opposing the force from -which the really imminent danger threatens. And if it be true that Lord -Methuen is at Klerksdorp, the Boers in these parts will have no earthly -weight in the decisive portion of the campaign. Why they should wish to -take Mafeking except to score one trick, as all other advantages they -have gained they have since lost, it is hard to say. Their chance of -invading Rhodesia is gone, the crossings of the Vaal River are in our -hands. There are no stores now in Mafeking and beyond the bare temporary -possession, they would gain nothing at all, added to which I should have -thought that by this time they might have learnt that they were not -going to have even a temporary possession. - -The verdict of the court martial which tried Lieutenant Murchison for -the murder of Mr. Parslow and sentenced him to death, has come back -confirmed by Lord Roberts, who, however, has commuted the sentence to -one of penal servitude for life. Murchison was at one time a major in -the Royal Artillery, and so far as I know him personally, I do not -consider him responsible for his actions. - -The Rhodesian postal authorities notified us to-day that press telegrams -(owing to the congestion of the lines) would be taken off the wires at -Umtali, sent by train to Beira, and then be re-telegraphed to London -_viâ_ Lorenzo Marques. The press has naturally protested strongly, as -their course of action will probably entail a delay of a week. The -postal arrangements throughout the campaign have been most infamous; -whether the fault lies at Cape Town or Bulawayo I know not, but in any -case some abominably careless official should be hauled over the coals. -We have consistently got letters out from here which have been received -at home, and it simply means total imbecility or inexcusable idleness on -the part of responsible authorities if we are unable to receive letters -in the same way. Most people here naturally say it is the fault of the -Bond Government, and though they have deserved hanging many times over, -I do not think this particular crime can be laid at their door, though -the absence of our guns certainly may. Mr. Schreiner has, I see, -protested against the Boers being sent to St. Helena. I am unaware if he -has protested against our being detained here. He also states that -people misjudge him and he seems annoyed. He has only been judged by his -actions, which here, as well as elsewhere, are deplored. However, this -savours of politics, and is therefore somewhat out of my province. - -[Illustration: TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAFEKING.] - -25th, Wednesday. Last night we received warning from native sources -that the Boers intended to make an attack on the town to-day, and that -it was to be a personally conducted tour by young Eloff, who had been -sent from Pretoria to take Mafeking or die in the attempt. He is, or -ought to be, very much alive, for his operations were conducted from a -safe distance and the town is much as usual. Of late we have been so -dull here, that a considerable amount of fictitious enthusiasm was -boiled up over this impending attack. Mr. Hamilton of _The Times_ -thought it was good enough to sleep in the advanced trench, but the more -wary and possibly less enthusiastic, amongst which I include myself, -considered a good bed was preferable to an indifferent one. However, I -looked out cartridges and laid out weapons when I went to bed, but -didn't wake any earlier next morning, and was roused by Ronny Moncreiffe -shouting out, "Get up, there is a battle going on." I vainly tried to -persuade him to allow me to remain in bed until the enemy were near -enough to be dangerous, but he insisted that I should get up and look -on. I decided there was no immediate necessity for weapons, and rode off -to the nearest telescope to find the enemy. At the B.S.A.P. fort I -found the officers of the Protectorate Regiment just coming off the -roof, yawning and looking very bored. They told me what had happened up -till my arrival, and I went and looked through the telescope for a bit -at our friends the enemy whom we could clearly see. They were firing -their guns and maintaining a heavy musketry fire, though in somewhat -purposeless manner about one thousand five hundred yards from our -advanced trench. A gentleman on horseback, presumably the dashing -Eloff, galloped out from the western laager, and with many -gesticulations and fruitless haranguing endeavoured to get them to -advance, but they were obdurate. They pitched one or two shells up by -the fort, which were promptly annexed by piccaninnies, as the majority -did not burst, and they killed a nigger, and a ricochet hit old -Whitfield in the stomach, but, owing to the width of his figure, the -bullet did not penetrate. I think what put them off most was our -absolute silence. We did not fire at all except some twenty rounds at -some Boers that had been ambushed in the culvert, which had the effect -of driving them into some bushes, where they hid for a couple of hours. -I really think the people surrounding us here have honestly had enough -of it, and it will take a better man than young Eloff to bring them up -to the scratch, though there are certainly more Boers about here than -there have been for some time. The object of this particular attack was -to draw our fire and make us disclose our positions on the western -front, and the result was a most conspicuous failure. We refused to be -drawn by the feint, and so the real attack, which was supposed to be -concealed elsewhere, was never able to develop. Apparently the plan was -good, like General Trochu's, but it has at any rate so tired them that -they have been unable to do anything since. - -26th, Thursday. Received my first letters since this abominable -isolation commenced. One from Weston-Jarvis and another from Smitheman. -Weston is very cheerful. Smitheman, extravagant as regards paper, and -rather sparing of words and ink; I also received some _Morning Posts_, -and see that I have successfully established communication, which is -satisfactory. - -27th, Friday. More runners, but thanks to the usual breakdown of the -Beira-Salisbury line, dates and news are so mixed, and the contending -forces seem so extraordinarily and intricately involved with each other, -that we have given up trying to understand how things really are going. -It doesn't very much matter, as the result is a foregone conclusion, and -at the worst can only be shortly delayed. One thing is amusing, and -that is to see the various reasons different countries give for not -offering to mediate. - -28th, Saturday. Nothing doing. Preparing for the tournament to-morrow. -My Kaffir wishes to go and join Plumer. He doesn't approve of the food -supply of Mafeking. I thought I should never get rid of him. Thank -goodness the brute has gone now. He has been a sort of "old man of the -sea" to me. I only kept him because he appeared generally in small -health, but when he flung his rations into the middle of the square -yesterday, I thought it was high time for him to be off. The last few -days the enemy has been more busy on the north-eastern front, and -established themselves in a sniping trench seven hundred yards from our -advanced trench, and made themselves rather a nuisance. We, however, -made it so warm for them that they are concluded to have withdrawn, but -everywhere else, since the 25th, they have been fairly quiet. - -29th, Sunday. A most successful tournament, and almost up to -Agricultural Hall form. Most regiments in the service represented, and -the sword mounted and bayonet dismounted both particularly good. It was -trying work judging on half rations, but well worth it to see such good -sport. - -What a funny little Frenchman that Prince Henri d'Orleans must be? His -compliments to a French comic paper on caricatures of the English would -almost entitle him to a prominent position on its staff, where, at any -rate, he would score a greater success than posing as an unemployed -patriot. By the bye, was he not once attached to the British Army, and -if so, whence this venom? But of tea-table tacticians and sofa -strategists you must, indeed, have more than enough. Reading the papers -from home one sees excellent persons with presumably nothing to do, -recommending people generally to turn the other cheek to the smiter; -personally, I and, indeed, most of my neighbours, think that the smiter -has had quite sufficient chances at our entire carcasses during the last -few months, and if they feel themselves so imbued with an overflowing -Christian spirit, I should suggest their taking a turn themselves. I do -not love the Boer, and I don't think I shall until the Boer loves me. -There is only one way to obtain his respect and even toleration, and -that is by proving yourself the better man. There will then be peace in -the country which, at the present moment, there is not. I do think, -too, that people at home should not be so free in their comments upon -intelligence from this part of the world. For many years I have read -Mr. Baillie Grohmann's letters on big game shooting with much interest. -I have also tried to shoot big game and Boers with about equally -moderate success. I do assert most emphatically that the Boers use -explosive bullets. I have seen the bullets, heard the bullets, and -picked up the base of bullets with fulminate caps in them. They were -not Mauser bullets, they were not expanding bullets, they were explosive -bullets pure and simple, and the Boers have confessed to their use. -Therefore, I think it would only have been fair had Mr. Baillie Grohmann -waited to know on what grounds people out here have made these -assertions, before writing a somewhat conclusive letter in which the -main point appeared to be that there was no such thing as an explosive -Mauser bullet. It is rather hard on some hundreds of thousands of -Englishmen who happen to be serving their country out here, that because -they are on that service they should be immediately considered to be -destitute of that sense of fair play with which the race generally is -credited, and I am sure that Mr. Baillie Grohmann himself, would be the -first to admit it. We don't expect much more from a Boer than a bullet, -and as far as we know have not particularly grumbled at their using -explosive ones, but it is hard lines to be told they didn't when we -mention the fact. I personally felt a sense of great disappointment that -I was not reading Mr. Baillie Grohmann's usual letters to _The Field_, -instead of this one in _The Morning Post_. - -We are threatened with another attack to-morrow. I hope it will be more -productive of bloodshed than the last, because we can then clear them -off a bit, and I hate feeling hungry, as do most of us. - -Colonel Baden-Powell has just received a missive from young Eloff, in -which he states that he sees in a _Bulawayo Chronicle_ that we have -concerts, balls, tournaments, and cricket matches on Sundays, and it -will be very agreeable to his men to come in and participate as they -find it dull outside. Colonel Baden-Powell has answered that he thinks -perhaps the return match should be postponed until we have finished the -present one and that as we are now two hundred not out, and Snyman, -Cronje, &c., have not been successful he would suggest a further change -of bowling. With such mild japes we pass the time away, but we shot a -Dutchman this morning all the same. A bad joke in these times is worth -more than a good pint of porridge, as the former will go round whereas -the latter will certainly not. It is very edifying work trying to get -fat on laughter and sleep, but hunger is not a very amusing form of -entertainment. They have recently manufactured brawn of horse hide. It -doesn't sound very appetising but the stock disappeared with marvellous -rapidity. One cannot help thinking that after all even though we be -hungry out here, yet we have the glamour of war over us, whereas at home -in the Metropolis one knows hundreds of men are worse off than -ourselves. It is to be hoped that our impotent sympathisers will feed -the people they can reach, who, after all, want it just as much as we -do. - -30th, Monday. Very tired and stiff after the tournament. I feel as if -all the competitors had been beating me with big sticks. Talking of -sticks and Doctor Leyds, which always seem associated in my mind, I -bought half a dozen very nice ones yesterday, I hope Dr. Leyds is having -a good time now. I fancy he will have a moderate one when the war is -over, as most people directly blame him for any discomforts they may -have undergone. It is only natural for a Dutchman to fight, but for the -man who pulls the strings and risks other people's skins with the utmost -heroism seven thousand miles off, you do not feel a great amount of -affection or respect, more particularly when he is living on the fat of -the land and you are rather hungry. Besides, the fellow is an infernal -thief; he has battened on these unfortunate peasants for many years, and -at the first pinch of fighting flies and leaves them. I have no use for -a creature like that. I was rather amused to hear Sergeant Cooke, of -the Bechuanaland Rifles, report having slain a Dutchman this morning. -He wasn't in the least elated, and in a shamefaced sort of way said he -was afraid it wasn't a sporting shot. He couldn't have been more upset -if he had shot a hen pheasant sitting, but to anyone else the episode -was distinctly amusing. - -1st May, Tuesday. We expect a mail to-day, and this dashing fellow -Eloff promised us another attack. He has made it. It was the usual -sort of performance, and they blazed away for two or three hours and -didn't hit anybody. I got up and looked on, because I felt I ought to, -but I was rather cross and very bored. If the fools want to fight, why -don't they do it? They are doing themselves no good, and not attaining -any object whatsoever. Colonel Baden-Powell told them some months ago -they would not take Mafeking "by sitting and looking at the place," but -even now, if they would sacrifice two or three thousand men, they might -get in, but I am afraid they will never try. They make me quite angry, -they are so stupid. Here they are, daily losing one or two men, and the -greatest success they can show is a few stolen cows, whereas if they -would come on and fight properly they wouldn't lose very many more men -than they have already, and we should have a chance of a show. -Seriously speaking though, it is their duty to take this place, and it -is very disheartening waiting for them to try to. We got our pigeon -mails to-day; unfortunately, no news whatsoever. We have not received -any decisive news or had any optimistic rumour confirmed for weeks, and -in fact our last good news is Cronje's mop up. Isn't there an old -figure in some square dance or other called the _chassez croissee_? It -seems to be fashionable out here. I don't like square dances or slow -generals. As I telegraphed to you this morning my general sensation is -that of an aching void. The only satisfaction I can derive therefrom is -the certainty that most of my friends and acquaintances will be much -amused at my being kept quiet anywhere on short commons. Tom Greenfield -is looking terribly hungry, but then with his length he naturally takes -more filling up than ordinary mortals. Godley, too, looks as if he could -do with a bit more, but he always is thin. We have got a very tall lot -of men here, Cecil, Tom Greenfield, Godley, Fitzclarence, Bentinck, all -make an ordinary six-foot individual feel small, and McKenna isn't -exactly short. If we have length represented we also have breadth, -which even our present rations are unable to reduce. I am certainly not -going to quote a nominal roll of these individuals, as they are fine -strong men and I can't get away. - -2nd, Wednesday. This morning firing is going on. I suppose another -attack. I will go out and see. One rather funny incident in connection -with the Boer attack took place yesterday. As a rule they knock off for -breakfast, but yesterday they kept it up till some time past 8 o'clock, -so at 8 o'clock punctually the natives left their trenches with their -tins to draw their porridge, absolutely disregarding the Boer fire which -was renewed at intervals all day. It is perfectly incredible how we -have pushed them back, for within the area where our advanced trenches -now are I recollect seeing a horse-battery of theirs in action during -the first few days of the siege. They take particular care not to play -those games now. I only wish they would. This sort of drivel relieves -one's feelings, even if one can't see relief. - -3rd, Thursday. Firing yesterday and to-day was not of any value; they -kept it up off and on all day. I sat on the roof with the officers of -the Bechuanaland Rifles, and looked on till we got bored. The operation -of getting on to and off the roof again was far more dangerous than the -ordinary Boer battle. This evening I rode round the guards with Major -Panzera. It would take a more enterprising Boer than we have run up -against to get in. Major Panzera has a theory that he can't be hit; I -haven't, however. Both our theories are good enough viewed from the -light of experience. - -The Germans participating in the defence of the town are going to be -photographed. I feel sorry for the German Emperor not being here. He -would enjoy this war thoroughly. - -I heard from Weston-Jarvis this morning. He wrote a very cheery letter. -At last they appear to be making some effort to relieve us. Why on earth -they didn't try before, Heaven only knows! It seems a perfectly simple -operation for any man of any ordinary sense, but really it doesn't much -matter in the long run whether it is a month or two sooner or later. I -also see the "Baron" is coming down to relieve us. I hope he won't fall -on his head and get stretched out as he usually persists in doing. We -are always meeting each other in some old ship or other, or in some out -of the way continent, but certainly I never expected to be relieved by -the "Baron" in the middle of Africa; however, the more pals that roll up -the better. - -4th, Friday. Absolute quiet. My last letters have fallen into the -Dutchmen's hands. They will be nice light reading for them, as they were -barely complimentary. I do not expect to be popular after this war. -When one is tired and bored out here, it is very refreshing to be able -to abuse all and sundry, and think that one need not settle up for -another two or three months. - -5th, Saturday. Life is short, but temper is shorter. Runners in but no -news. This morning a funeral party of the Bechuanaland Rifles marched -from the hospital to the cemetery to bury the remains, I say advisedly -remains, of Lance-Corporal Ironside, who, after having been wounded some -two months ago, had recently had his leg amputated, and had at last died -from sheer weakness. He bore his extreme sufferings with remarkable -fortitude, pluck, and cheeriness. He was a Scotchman, from Aberdeen, -and one of the best shots in the garrison. It is satisfactory to think -that he had already avenged his death before he was wounded. - -6th, Sunday. To-day the Boers most deliberately violated the tacit -Sunday truce which, at their own instigation and request, we have always -observed. The whole proceedings were very peculiar. It was a fine -morning, and the Sabbath calm pervading the town and the surrounding -forts was manifest in the way we were all strolling about the market -square. As regards myself, I had just purchased some bases of shells at -Platnauer's auction mart, where the weekly auction was proceeding. The -firing began, and nobody paid much attention except the officers and men -belonging to the quarter at which it was apparently directed. They, on -foot, horseback, and bicycle, dispersed headlong to their various posts. -One, Mr. McKenzie, on a bicycle, striking the railway line, reached his -post in four minutes and fifteen seconds, fifteen seconds too quick for -the Boer he was enabled to bag. The Boers, who on previous Sundays had -displayed an inclination to loot our cattle, had crept up to the dead -ground east of Cannon Kopje, and hastily shot one of our cattle guard -and stolen the horses and mules under his charge. It was the more -annoying that they should have been successful as we were well prepared -for them, and had rather anticipated this attack, having a Maxim in -ambush within one hundred and fifty yards, which unfortunately jammed, -and failed to polish off the lot, as it certainly ought to have done. -If we had had any luck it would have been a very different story. -Directly the Maxim began the Boers nipped off their horses and running -alongside of them for protection reached the cover in the fold of the -ground. Unfortunately they killed poor Francis of the B.S.A.P. (the -second brother who has fallen here since the fighting began) and took -all the horses. It was very annoying, but a smart bit of work and I -congratulate the Dutchmen, whoever they may be, who conducted it. Still -it was a breach of our Sunday truce, and if all is fair in love and war -the many irate spectators will have their pound of flesh to ask for -later on. It really was a curious sight: lines of men impotently -watching the raid and behind them the shouts of the unmoved auctioneer -of "Going at fifteen bob." "Last time." "Going." "Going." "Gone," and -gone they were undoubtedly, but they were our horses and he was -referring to some scrap iron. To cover this nefarious procedure they -opened a heavy fire on various outlying forts. We were lucky enough in -the interchange of courtesies to secure a Dutchman on the railway line, -and as they had practically violated the white flag our advanced posts -had great shooting all the afternoon at his friends who came to try to -pick him up. We buried Francis this evening. The concert was put off. -A certain amount of endurance has been shown by the inhabitants and a -certain amount of pluck by the defenders of the town, but prior to the -Boers starting fooling (successful fooling and neatly carried out), I -and several more were standing in the market square gossiping about -things we did know, and things we didn't, when we happened to notice a -very weak-looking child, apparently as near death as any living creature -could be. It transpired on inquiry that this infant was a Dutch one, -Graaf by name. His father, a refugee, died of fever; his brother was in -hospital, and he had been offered admission, which he refused, because -he said that he must look after his mother. Even then, though scarcely -able to cross the road, the kid was going to draw his rations. He was -taken to hospital, but I think that this is about the pluckiest -individual that has come under my notice, and nobody can take exception -to the child, though his mother is probably one of those amiable ladies -who eat our rations, betray our plans, and are always expressing a -whole-hearted wish for our extermination. - -15th, Tuesday. News has arrived that our troops are within striking -distance; "Sister Ann" performance has begun again. We are now -beginning to recover from our exciting Saturday. As I wired home, it -was the best day that I ever saw, and I must now try and describe it. - -Just before four o'clock in the morning we were roused by heavy firing. -The garrison turned out and manned the various works. We all turned up, -and I went to the headquarters. Everybody got their horses ready, armed -themselves as best they could, and awaited the real attack. Colonel -Baden-Powell said at once the real attack would be on the stadt. We -have had a good many attacks and don't attach much importance to them, -but we did not any one of us anticipate the day's work that was in store -for us. When I say anticipate, every possible preparation had been made. -Well, we hung about in the cold. After about an hour and a half the -firing on the eastern front began to slacken. Trooper Waterson of the -Blues, as usual, had coffee and cocoa ready at once, and we felt we -could last a bit. Jokes were freely bandied, and we kept saying, "When -are they going to begin?" Suddenly on the west a conflagration was -seen, and betting began as to how far out it was. I got on to the roof -of a house, and with Mr. Arnold, of Dixon's Hotel, saw a very -magnificent sight. Apparently the whole stadt was on fire, and with the -sunrise behind us and the stadt in flames in front, the combination of -effects was truly magnificent, if not exactly reassuring. However, -nobody seemed to mind much. Our guns, followed by the Bechuanaland -Rifles, hurried across the square, men laughing and joking and saying, -"we were going to have a good fight." Then came the news that the -B.S.A.P. fort, garrisoned by the Protectorate Regiment, had fallen into -the enemy's hands. Personally I did not believe it to be true, and -started with a carbine to assure myself of the fact. I got close up to -the fort, met a squadron running obliquely across its front, and though -the bullets were coming from that direction could not believe but that -they were our own men who were strolling about outside it. That is the -worst of being educated under black powder. I saw poor Hazelrigg, who -was a personal friend of mine, and whom I knew at home, shot, but did -not realise who he was. Both sides were inextricably mixed, but having -ridden about, and got the hang of things, I am certain that within -twenty minutes, order and confidence were absolutely restored on our -side. You saw bodies of men, individuals, everybody armed with what they -could get, guns of any sort, running towards the firing. A smile on -every man's face, and the usual remark was, "Now we've got the beggars." -The "beggars" in question were under the impression that they had got us -and no doubt had a certain amount of ground for their belief. The fight -then began. At least we began to fight, for up till then no return had -been made to the very heavy fusillade to which we had been subjected. I -have soldiered for some years and I have never seen anything smarter or -better than the way the Bechuanaland Rifles, our Artillery and the -Protectorate Regiment ran down and got between the Boers and their final -objective. The Boers then sent a message through the telephone to say -they had got Colonel Hore and his force prisoners and that we could not -touch them. Campbell, our operator, returned a few remarks of his own -not perhaps wholly complimentary and the telephone was disconnected and -re-connected with Major Godley. Our main telephone wire runs through the -B.S.A.P. fort. McLeod, the man in charge of the wires, commenced -careering about armed with a stick and a rifle, and followed by his -staff of black men with the idea of directly connecting Major Godley's -fort and the headquarters. I may mention McLeod is a sailor and conducts -his horse on the principle of a ship. He is perhaps the worst horseman -I have ever seen and it says much for the honour of the horse flesh of -Mafeking that he is still alive. However, be that as it may, his pawky -humour and absolute disregard of danger has made him one of the most -amusing features of the siege. You always hear him in broad Scotch and -remarkable places, but he is always where he is wanted. By this time we -were settling down a bit, so were they. They looted everything they -possibly could. A Frenchman got on to the roof of the fort with a -bottle of Burgundy belonging to the officers' mess to drink to -"Fashoda." He got hit in the stomach and his pals drank the bottle. -Our men were very funny. When the Frenchmen yelled "Fashoda," they said -"silly beggars, their geography is wrong." I was very pleased with the -whole day. I have never heard more or worse jokes made, and, no doubt, -had I been umpiring, I should have put some of us out of action or at -any rate given them a slight advantage. Every townsman otherwise -unoccupied, who had possibly never contemplated the prospect of a fight -to the finish, now turned out. Mr. Weil (and too much cannot be said -for his resource through every feature of the siege) broke open his -boxes, served out every species of firearms he could to every person who -wanted them. - -[Illustration: BOERS FIRING THE NATIVE STADT.] - -A very deaf old soldier, late of the 24th Regiment, Masters by name, -asked where they were, and then proceeded to investigate in a most -practical fashion. I went down to the jail which more or less commands -the B.S.A.P. fort and buildings, and had a look, and as we saw that no -attack was imminent or at any rate likely to prove successful, we -knocked off by parties and had our breakfast. We were beginning to kill -them very nicely. Jail prisoners had all been released. Murchison, who -shot Parslow, Lonie, the greatest criminal of the town, were both armed -and doing their duty. We were all shooting with the greatest -deliberation and effect whenever they showed themselves, and perhaps I -was better pleased with being an Englishman from a sightseer's point of -view than on any day since the Jubilee. The quaint part of the whole -thing was that we were shooting at our own people unwittingly. I had a -cousin there, and we laughed consumedly in the evening when we exchanged -notes and found that we had been shooting close to him amongst others. -I don't think that any man who was in that fight will ever think ill of -his neighbour from the highest to the lowest; from our General--or, at -least, he ought to be a General--to the ordinary civilian, everybody was -cheerful and confident of victory. We had had a long seven months' -wait, and at last we were having our decisive fight. After breakfast -(like giants refreshed) we began shooting again. I cannot tell you who -did well, but I can assure you that no man did badly. Besides the men -there were ladies. Mrs. Buchan and Miss Crawford worked most calmly and -bravely under fire. All the other ladies did their duty too. Whilst the -fight was developing, Mrs. Winter was running about getting us coffee. -Her small son, aged six, was extremely wroth with me because I ordered -him under shelter. Then commenced what you may call the next phase of -the fight. Captain Fitzclarence and his squadron, with Mr. Swinburne -and Mr. Bridges, came down through the town to join hands with Captain -Marsh's squadron, and then with Lord Charles Bentinck's squadron and the -Baralongs, the whole under Major Godley, were now going to commence to -capture the Boers. I must endeavour to describe the situation. Eloff's -attack was clever and determined. He had seven hundred men and had -advanced up the bed of the Molopo. Into Mafeking he had got, but like -many previous attacks had proved--it was easy to get in, but quite -another matter to get out. The Baralongs and our outlying forts had -allowed some three hundred men to enter, and had then commenced a heavy -fire upon their supports. This discomfited the supports, and they -incontinently fled. Silas Moleno and Lekoko, the Baralong leaders, had -decided that it was better to kraal them up like cattle. One Dutchman -was overheard to shout, "Mafeking is ours," when suddenly his friends -yelled, "My God, we are surrounded." This species of fighting -particularly appeals to the Baralong. He is better than the Boer at the -Boer's own game, and never will I hear a word against the Baralong. -However, Silas was then engaged in conjunction with our own men in -collecting them. He collected them where they had no water, and then -the question resolved itself into the Boer showing himself and getting -shot or gradually starving. If the Baralongs had been fighting the -fight and time had been no particular object, they would probably still -be shooting odd Boers, but it is obvious that those dilatory measures -could not be pursued by ourselves, and that we had to finish the fight -by nightfall. Our men were accordingly sent down to round them up; -there were thus in all three parties of Boers in the town, one, nearly -three hundred strong, in the B.S.A.P. fort, sundry in a kraal by Mr. -Minchin's house, others again in the kopje. The kraal was captured in -an exceedingly clever manner. Captain Fitzclarence and Captain Marsh -worked up to the walls, but knowing the pleasant nature of the Boer, -instead of storming the place or showing themselves, they bored -loopholes with their bayonets. The artillery under Lieutenant Daniels -also had come up to within forty yards. There was a slight hesitation -on the part of the Boers to surrender. The order was given to the gun -to commence fire. The lanyard broke, but before a fresh start could be -made the Boers hastily surrendered. Captain Marsh, known and respected -by the Baralongs, had great difficulty in restraining them from -finishing the fight their own way, and small blame to them for their -desire. They had had their stadt burned. Odd Boers had been bolting at -intervals, and had mostly been accounted for. The question next to be -settled was as to the possession of the B.S.A.P. fort. Our men who were -captive therein, and indeed the Boers and foreigners to whom I have -since talked describe our fire as extraordinarily accurate. Eloff had -great difficulty in keeping his men together, and as one man at least -was a deserter of ours, it can't altogether be wondered that they did -not wish to remain. Our firing, as we had more men to spare, became more -and more deadly, and at last now they decided to surrender. Some -hundred broke away and escaped from the fort, in spite of Eloff firing -on them, but their bodies have been coming in ever since and many will -never be accounted for, because the bodies of men with rifles may be -possibly put away by the Baralongs, who are always begging rifles we -have been unable to give them. Eloff accordingly surrendered to Colonel -Hore. The other party in the kopje had made several unsuccessful -attempts to break out, Bentinck and his squadron always successfully -heading them, but as it got dark, and our men had been fighting from -before four, it was decided to let them break out and just shoot what we -could. The Baralongs had some more shooting too. As each successive -batch of prisoners was marched into the town absolute silence was -maintained by the Britishers, except saluting brave men who had tried -and failed. They were brave men and I like them better now than I ever -did; the Kaffirs, however, hooted. As each batch marched up, their -arms, of which they had naturally been deprived, were handed over to the -Cadets, who had been under fire all day. These warriors range from nine -to fifteen years of age. They are the only smartly clad portion of the -garrison, for our victorious troops were the dirtiest and most vilely -robed lot of scarecrows I have ever seen, still it did one good to see -the escort to the prisoners, they were simply swelling like turkey cocks -and all round our long lines of defences we would hear cheers and "Rule -Britannia" and the "Anthem" being sung with the wildest enthusiasm. It -is impossible as I said before, to say who behaved best, but none -behaved badly. There was only one thing said afterwards, when all sorts -and conditions of men were shaking each other by the hand, and that was, -"This is a great day for England." Mafeking is still rather mad with -the Relief Column within shouting distance and it is likely to remain -so. - -[Illustration: CAPTURED BOER PRISONERS] - -We lost few men in our great success but I take it that no man -particularly wants to be lost. I really have seen brave men here, but -the man who says he wants to get shot is simply a liar. We know the -story of the Roman sentinel and the Highlander who fought in Athlone (or -was it Mullingar) against Hoche and many men that have died for their -country obstinately. Captain Singleton's servant, Trooper Muttershek, -may be added to their roll. He absolutely declined to surrender and -fought on till killed. It wasn't a case of dashing in and dashing out -and having your fun and a fight, it was a case of resolution to die -sooner than throw down your arms, the wisdom may be questionable, the -heroism undoubted. He wasn't taking any surrender. As far as I am -concerned, I have seen the British assert their superiority over -foreigners before now, but this man in my opinion, though I didn't see -him die, was the bravest man who fought on either side that day. It is -a good thing to be an Englishman. These foreigners start too quick and -finish quicker. They are good men, but we are better, and have proved -so for several hundred years. I had always wanted to see the Englishman -fight in a tight hole, and I know what he is worth now. He can outstay -the other chap. Well, you must be getting rather bored by the fighting, -and I will write more anon when I have collected some further -particulars. The Rev. W. H. Weekes, our parson, organized a thanksgiving -service on Sunday night. We were still rather mad, and it gave us a -pleasant feeling to sing nice fighting psalms and hymns, because which -ever way you look at it we are perfectly convinced out here that it is a -righteous war. He had rather a mixed congregation, which probably in -times of peace would be half the size, but he understands his -congregation and the congregation understand him. - -Poor Hazelrigg died that night. - -[Illustration: INTERVIEWING BOER PRISONERS ON MR. WEIL'S STOEP] - -I went over and saw the prisoners this afternoon. They were very civil, -and so were we. I like a Frenchman, and was chaffing them more or less -at having left "La Patrie." They didn't seem to mind being prisoners; -they apparently enjoyed their fight, but they objected to their food. I -did what I could for them, and I couldn't help feeling that they were -absolutely uninvited guests. It wasn't their quarrel, and why they -wanted to shove their nose into it we all fail to understand. There is -really a very charming man amongst them, who asked me to procure him a -grammar as he wished to improve his mind by learning Dutch and English. -Of course, I got him a grammar, while I couldn't help suggesting that it -might have been as well to remain in comfort in France without -travelling all this way to learn the language, also remarking Dutch -seemed rather out of date. He rather agreed with me, and asked me for a -collection of siege stamps as he said he thought his girl would like -them. The funny part of these fellows is that they seem to think that -we haven't got homes or girls or anything else, but are a sort of -automatic "Aunt Sally," put up here for irresponsible foreigners to have -a shy at. Nobody bears any malice about the fight, but the Frenchman -calls the Boer "canaille," the Boer doesn't seem to like the Frenchman -or, indeed, any other foreigner, regarding him as an impetuous fool who -would probably lead him (the Boer) into some nasty dangerous place, and -the Englishman laughs at the lot; however, as I said before, the poor -devils can't help being foreigners. I always like a Frenchman, a good -many have been kind to me and they are invariably amusing. Their -stomachs, however, are at present proud, and they cannot swallow -"sowen," or horse flesh, or any local luxuries. However, as we pointed -out, it was rather their fault that we had not any rations in here. Some -of these men had only been in the country a week. It seems a long way -to come to get put in "quod," and live on horse flesh and "sowens." One -told me he passed a battery of our relieving column in harbour at Beira. -I suppose he thought he had put in a smart day's work when he got ahead -of it. He has, but he isn't working now. I never liked Eloff much, not -that I knew him personally, but now I like him better for his -performances. He very nearly did a big thing, but both sides have -apparently an ineradicable mutual contempt for each other, which has led -to some very pretty fighting through the whole war. There is no mistake -about it, he did insult the Queen, and I am glad we have had the wiping -out of that score, but he is a gallant fellow all the same. When we -look back on our discomfiture of Cronje, and the mopping up of Eloff, it -gives a pleasant finish to the siege. It wanted just a finishing touch -to make it satisfactory. There should be another fight within a few -hours, but I reckon that it will be the relief Column's turn, and though -everything is ready for us to assist them I honestly don't think we -could go far and do much. The men were dog tired on Saturday, -absolutely dog tired. I always thought the Boer was a bad bird to get -up to the gun, but he came up that day. I don't think he will again. - -On Monday we saw the tail end of some Boer force arriving. We had hoped -it might be our own people, but they appear to be a few miles further -off. However, we know they are there or thereabouts now. Nobody minds -now, we know we are winning. - -To return again to my story of the fighting, the foreigners did try -their best to stop the Boers looting, but loot they did most thoroughly. -They stole everything they could lay their hands on. Not one officer, -whose kit happened to be in the fort has recovered anything. One -"clumpy" of Boers galloped forth laden with food and drink. The food -belonged to themselves, the drink belonged to us. They happened to fall -in with the galloping Maxim, a piece of bad luck because they all died -and our people took the food and drink. One fellow had taken a pair of -brown boots and a horse, he had a few bullets through the boots, the -horse was killed and so was he. - -Life had been very dull here, but that morning put everything all right. -We had never before seen a dead or wounded Boer or a prisoner, and it is -weary work to see your friends and neighbours shot and not see your own -bag too, but personally, except in the way of business, I hope I haven't -killed a Boer. In the fight in the morning, though everything had been -prepared for as far as we could tell, we had had to take up positions -which were absolutely enfiladed by the fresh development of affairs. -The trench occupied by the Bechuanaland Rifles, Protectorate Regiment, -and others on the spur of the moment, was directly enfiladed by the -enemy's quick-firer. Why we were not wiped out on that line I never -shall quite make out. They shot the jailor, Heale, who has done very -good work all through the siege, who I am afraid leaves a wife and -family. Then the prisoners took charge of themselves. Our gunner -prisoners ran down to the guns, one was shot, the others served the gun -all day. The others, armed with Martinis, commenced a heavy fire on the -enemy, or cautioned the Dutch prisoners, the suspects, as to their -behaviour, and put them down a hole. It was an exhilarating sight and -struck me as exceedingly quaint to see men who had committed every -crime, and were undergoing penal servitude, dismissing their past, -oblivious of anything except the fact that we were all of the same -crowd, and had got to keep the Dutchmen out. I hope Her Majesty will -exercise her clemency; they certainly deserve to regain their rights as -citizens. - -We have had rather a dull day for some reason or other. A general idea -pervaded the town that relief was at hand, and when towards evening a -cloud of dust and troops were seen to the south-west, we most of us got -on the roofs and looked at them with some interest. It transpired -subsequently, however, that they were the enemy retiring before Mahon. -They passed round the south of the town, and opposed him later. - -16th, Wednesday. A dull day, but towards evening our relief was really -seen. Everybody got on the roofs, and looked on at the Boers being -shelled; most refreshing, but as they were not apparently coming in, -people went to feed, and enthusiasm rather died away again, so much so -that when Major Karri Davis, and some eight men of the I.L.I. marched -in, he told one passer-by he was the advance guard relief force, the -other only murmured "Oh, yes, I heard you were knocking about," and went -to draw his rations, or whatever he was busily engaged in. However, -when it became generally known the crowd assembled and began to cheer, -and go mad again--so to bed. - -17th, Thursday. Roused out this morning at some ungodly hour to be told -they had arrived, and strolled down to the I.L.I. to see Captain Barnes -of my old regiment. It appeared that Mahon and Plumer had effected a -masterly junction the day before, and that the former, following the -only true policy of South African warfare had, as usual, said he was -going to do one thing, and done something else, viz., camped out, and -then suddenly inspanned and marched into the town. I can't quite convey -the feelings of the townspeople, they were wild with delight, and -pleased as they were their _bonne bouche_ was to come later. Edwardes -and Barnes breakfasted with me and then went back (personally I borrowed -a horse from the I.L.I.). About 9 o'clock the guns moved out to the -waterworks, and then the fun really began. The Boers had been going to -intercept Mahon's entry, but he was a bit too previous. All the morning -their silly old five-pounder (locally known as "Gentle Annie") had been -popping away, when suddenly the R.H.A. Canadian Artillery and pom-poms -began, ably led by our old popguns, who had the honour of beginning the -ball. I rode well out, as I wanted to see the other people have a -treat, but literally in half an hour all there was left of the laager, -which has vexed our eyes and souls so much for long months, was a cloud -of dust on the horizon, except food-stuffs, &c., which we looted. I got -a Dutch Bible, and from its tidiness I was pleased to see its late owner -was a proficient in the Sunday school. So, quietly back to the town, and -after the march past of the relief column the relieved troops began. -And now, I suppose, after being bottled up for some eight lunar months, -I may effervesce. As I have said before, I have seen many tributes to -her Majesty and joined in them all, but dirty men in shirt sleeves, and -dirtier men in rags on scarecrows of horses touched me up most of all. -We were dirty, we were ragged, but we were most unmistakably loyal, and -we came from all parts of the world--Canadians, South Africans, -Australians, Englishmen, Indians, and our Cape Boys and various other -Africans, and there was not one of us who did not respect the other, and -know we were for one job, the Queen and Empire, not one. - -[Illustration: MARCH PAST OF THE RELIEVING FORCE.] - -I wonder how the prisoners felt, poor devils; they must have wished they -were not against us. The Boers had certainly executed the smartest -movement I had seen for some time; I had not believed it possible that a -laager could break up and disperse so rapidly. We all went back to -lunch, having recovered Captain McLaren, who, I am glad to say, is doing -very well. Then after lunch an alarm was raised that we had rounded up -old Snyman, and everybody started off to help in the operation; but, -alas, Snyman knows too much. They said that he and four hundred Boers -were surrounded and refused to surrender, and we all wanted as much -surrender as we could get--or the other thing. I am glad to say he was -hit on the head in the morning with a bit of shrapnel, but not -dangerously wounded, unfortunately, at least so they report. He seems -equally execrated by Dutch and English--Psalm-singing, sanctimonious -murderer of women and children and his son takes after him. I may -contradict my previous statements, but his actions have also varied -frequently. Well, we had a great dinner; old friends from all parts of -the world foregathered, and at our head was Smitheman. Many dinners -then combined, and more old friends were met--so to bed, still pleased -with England. Men of all sorts and conditions, trades, professions and -ranks, relievers and relieved, slept that night in and about Mafeking, -with a restless sleep, thinking of what England would think, and we knew -and were sorry we couldn't hear what they said. - -The garrison in Mafeking hope to get some recognition or decoration, but -what they attach particular importance to is receiving the Queen's -chocolate. - -Immediately after the relief column marched in our Baralongs under -Montsoia Wessels, Silas and Sekoko and Josiah, marched off on their own -to settle up Abraham Ralinti at Rietfontein, and bring in our trusty -ally, Saani. He had been utterly looted, and taken away from his own -stadt, and kept a prisoner at Rietfontein, his great notion being that -we should have a conference with the Boers, and then lay down what he -called "plenty polomite," and blow them up when they came to confer. -You cannot get very far ahead of a Baralong. I suppose this is the -first occasion on which one black man surrendered under a white flag to -another. These Rietfontein rebels have always been against the -remainder of the Baralongs, and have invariably fought for the Boers -since the disturbed relations between Briton and Boer have existed. I -hope they will shoot Abraham, as his people's invariable cunning in -stopping our runners has caused us great inconvenience, not to mention -the numbers they have killed. - -18th, Friday. Did very little. Went round and helped our pals to shop, -get stamps, money, &c., &c. - -19th, Saturday. The garrison held its solemn Thanksgiving Service at -the cemetery, at the termination of which three volleys were fired over -our dead. We had been unable to do this before owing to the certainty -of drawing fire, not that that really much mattered, as they usually -fired on all our funeral parties, though there could be no mistaking -them. Still they had this excuse that the cemetery is fortified. After -the last post had sounded we reformed and sang the National Anthem. -Then, after Colonel Baden-Powell had spoken personally to each -detachment, we cheered him, and then with heartfelt cheers for Her -Majesty, the siege of Mafeking closed. - - GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. - -And now for sheer personalities. Mr. Stuart had arrived, and as I -considered he was much better qualified to represent the paper with the -force than myself, I determined to come south. Mr. B. Weil, whom as I -have previously said, I consider to be one of the principal factors in -the successful defence, certainly as regards the food supply, said he -was going south. I accordingly resolved to accompany him, and while -returning from the ceremony suggested it. Anyhow, to make a long story -short, I arrived as he was starting, and with a small bag, having -relinquished all my Mafeking impedimenta, climbed into his cart. He had -to turn out one of his boys, but I didn't mind that, and being the most -good-natured of men, he tried to look as if he didn't. So our caravan -started--Major Anderson, Major Davis (Surg. I.L.I.), Mr. Weil, and -myself, together with his servant Mitchell, a prototype of "Binjamin," -but absolutely reliable and hard-working, also Bradley, of Bradley's -Hotel, Inspector Marsh, the Rev. ---- Peart, and Ronny Moncrieffe (who -had secured a horse belonging to a Protectorate regiment, and proposed -to accompany us). He had done a lot of good work in the siege, and was -about as tired and unfit as a man could be. However, he was determined -to get through, and so he did. It was a quaint pilgrimage, as the -column, though it had swept the country, had not particularly cleared -it, and the Boer is here to-day, gone to-morrow, and back the next day. -Well, our commissariat was excellent. I contributed some eight biscuits -and three tins of bully, and that is all I have done except live on the -fat of the land--Lord, how fat it seemed after Mafeking--a land flowing -with fresh milk, butter and eggs, mutton and white bread, and above all, -the sense of freedom, I never knew what it felt like to be properly free -before, and I have been more or less of a wanderer most of my life. No -more sieges for me, except perhaps from the outside. Yet I was sorry to -leave Mafeking, and I may truly say as far as I know I didn't leave a -bad friend behind me, only all my kit. Towards dark, after an outspan -that was like a picnic, we reached Mr. Wright's farm, where the wounded -were--one had died the night before--and we found Mr. Hands, _Daily -Mail_, badly wounded in the thigh, but doing well; Captain Maxwell, -I.S.C., and others. Mr. Wright acts up to his name. Two of his sons -were in "tronk" at Zeerust for refusing to join the Boers, and what he -had was at our disposal. I wonder if people at home realize in what a -position our loyalists in Bechuanaland have been placed. If they didn't -come in their own countrymen regarded them as rebels,--if they did they -lost all they had. But by doing as they have done, that is by carrying -on their business while exposed to all the contumely and insult the -Boers could heap on them, with the possible loss of life as well as -property, they have served their country as well as those who have taken -up arms; because their houses have always been a safe place for runners -to go to, and news about the doings of the Boers could be obtained from -them. Besides, they know which of the Boers fought, and which didn't, -and this fact now terrifies the rebels and keeps many quiet, who might -not otherwise be so. Mr. Weil on arrival bought two hundred bags of -mealies and despatched them to his friends the Baralongs. Such a pretty -place his farm is, with plenty of water and lots of game. We slept -under the cart, and miserably cold it was. Mr. Weil (who is rather like -myself in that respect), could not sleep, and was determined nobody else -should do so. So we got up, and sat round the fire till sunrise. Our -cocoa that morning was indeed acceptable. The caravan, which was as I -say, quaint, marched as follows, preceded by mounted Kaffir -Scouts:--First came Keeley and his boy in a Cape cart drawn by mules, -followed by Weil, his servant, driver and myself in another Cape cart -with six mules, Bradley driving a pair of horses in another, then Ronny, -the Rev. ---- Peart and Inspector Marsh riding, the latter riding B.P.'s -brother's pony. We inspanned at sunrise on Monday and started for -Setloguli. Halted half way and had the pleasing intelligence that a -commando was raiding within six miles of us. I personally felt very -unhappy. I had always looked upon it as a two-to-one chance, and as we -had no weapons we could make no fight of it. Apart from the bore of -being a prisoner I knew I should be so awfully laughed at. However, -there we were--it was no use grumbling, but I did, as hard as ever I -could. Then we inspanned and drove to Setloguli, where our spirits were -considerably raised by an excellent lunch provided by Mrs. Fraser, who -is the best hostess I have ever met. The Frasers had a terrible rough -time of it, and now "the Queen had got her own again" were naturally -correspondingly cheerful. Later we were also further relieved to hear -that "the commando" was merely a small patrol of Boers, and that it had -withdrawn across the border. During the afternoon I went up and saw the -old fort--quite interesting, and anybody who wants to spend a quiet time -might do worse than to go to Setloguli. The worst of it is it takes -some time to get there. Lady Sarah Wilson's maid was there. She had -been there since Lady Sarah was brought in by the Boers to Mafeking. -Mr. Weil was showing various curios of the siege to Mrs. Fraser, -including a copy of Her Majesty's _Leaves from the Journal of our Life -in the Highlands_, which he had looted from the Boer laager. This -excited the good lady's unqualified wrath, "What sacrilege for them to -have it in their hands. Why it smells Boery," she said. On Tuesday -Keeley was returning to Mafeking with Lady Sarah's maid and his scouts, -so Weil engaged two scouts to accompany us to Jan Modebi, where we were -next going to stop. They didn't seem particularly pushing sort of -scouts, as they persistently rode in rear of the Cape cart. The road -too, was infamous, but it was impossible to lose the way as the column -had left an unmistakable track behind them, and this was fortunate, -because when we had been going about an hour and a half our intelligent -guide stated he didn't know the way. I wonder how Keeley felt all that -Tuesday. If he could have heard half we said he would have torn his two -days' beard out and wept. The other scout lost us altogether. Keeley -and Weil were arranging a series of despatch riders, so as long as we -got one of them to Jan Modebi's, it didn't much matter. We outspanned -first at a rebel's farm, and had an excellent lunch. I was still rather -fretful. The prospect of captivity made me so, and I only believe in -dead Dutchmen, till peace is proclaimed. - -One Sonnenberg, a brother of some Bond member or other, was there -trading, I suppose, like most Bondsmen, running with the hare and -hunting with the hounds. He looked well on it, and was very civil. We -inspanned and then came a long trek to Jan Modebi's. About half-way -there, we saw two horsemen with guns cruising about. One obviously was -not a soldier. I reckoned Pretoria was the ticket, however, they came -up and Weil went to interview them. They turned out to be one of the -Kimberley Light Horse and a civilian who was showing him the way, and he -said he had got a convoy of cattle. It felt like being near home again -then. We afterwards met the convoy--total, four white men and five -black. I still marvel at their colossal impudence, marching through a -rebel country within five miles of the enemy's border, escorting cattle -for which any Boer will peril his skin. He calmly assured me they were -going to pick up all they saw on the way; to use his own words, "All is -fish that comes to our net." I hope they got through all right. So to -Mr. Menson's, where we put up for the night, and he, like everyone else, -did all he could. He, too, had had a bad time. He didn't grumble, but -when the relief column had come through they had cut all his barbed wire -fences. Having a constitutional antipathy to barbed wire I sympathized -with the relief column, but naturally did not say so. I was amused to -see three prints of Sir Alfred Milner, Lord Roberts, and Oom Paul, the -inscription under the latter being, "The end is better than the -beginning, 14.10.99," also to hear his account of how when driving his -cattle to Vryburg at the outbreak of the war he had met a Dutchman who -told him that they had driven the English into the sea. His reply was, -"Oh, that's too far to go," and so he turned and drove his cattle back -again to his farm. Weil, as usual, bought up cattle, &c., also butter -and other luxuries, and despatched them to the hospital at Mafeking on -his own account. - -Wednesday. We started rather later than usual owing to the heavy rain, -and half way to Vryburg we crossed the fresh spoor of men, wagons, -cattle, &c., going towards the Transvaal. It afterwards transpired it -was the rebel Van Zyl and his following, bolting from Kuruman to the -Transvaal. Let off number two. We couldn't have been more than an hour -or two behind them, and they would certainly have scooped us had we met -them, so the rain was lucky. Well, we got into Vryburg from one side as -the troops got in from the other. An old acquaintance rushed me off to -the Club, and I then strolled up to see the Scotch Yeomanry and found -Charley Burn. I found also Kidd and several others I knew--then on to -see Reade, who had been Intelligence Officer at Mafeking before the war, -and was D.A.A.G. to General Barton, and arranged about getting on in the -first train. This was my first chance of seeing the infantry Tommy on -the war path to any great extent. He is no more beautiful or clean, in -fact, if anything less so than his cavalry brother, but by heaven he -looks a useful one! However, what matter the man as long as the flag is -clean. Met North of the Royal Fusiliers and dined with him, they all -asked after Fitzclarence, Godley, and the others. They and the Scots -Fusiliers had done quite an extraordinary march of forty-four miles in -thirty-four hours, and now our infantry were within striking distance of -Mafeking. The line should soon be repaired as they had begun from -Mafeking and the line as far as Maribogo was practically untouched, in -fact next morning, Thursday, they ran twelve miles north. Thursday we -began our preparations for departure. The garrison were preparing to -celebrate the Queen's Birthday, and the populace to display great -enthusiasm, and the women began to come into town. It was not a highly -polished parade, so far as I could see. Still, it was rather good to -have it there just then, where the Dutchmen had been in occupation -within ten days. Rifles were now coming in by the hundred, and the -rebel of a fortnight before became a British patriot. We drove to the -station, and there met the Scots Fusiliers. I was accosted by a warrior -in large blue goggles, who said I didn't remember him. I naturally -didn't in the goggles, but it turned out to be Scudamore. They did the -best they could for us, and then Dick of the Royal Irish Fusiliers -turned up, who had once been my sergeant-major. I was glad to see -him--the old regiment and squadron seems fairly dotted all over Africa. -Barnes was at Mafeking, three of us had been through the siege, and I -met one Lambart at Taungs, who had been a corporal with us, and was a -captain in the Kimberley Mounted Corps, curiously enough all belonging -to two squadrons, B and D. Well, we left Vryburg with a light engine -and a truck full of niggers. We were all sitting on the tank, in charge -of young Gregg, R.E., who is a good train master. He ran us down, after -dropping the niggers to repair a bridge, to Dry Hartz, where we had to -pull out for an up-coming train, and as we had half an hour to wait, and -it was just mid-day at twelve, we formed up and gave three cheers for -the Queen and drank her health. It was the smallest and dirtiest -Queen's Birthday parade I have ever attended; nine all told, but "mony a -little makes a muckle." We ran down to Taungs, where one way and -another we were detained some twelve hours. I didn't mind. The Royal -Welsh Fusiliers were there, and I found several old friends and -acquaintances--Gough Radcliffe, R.H., Cooper (Royal Fusiliers), Broke -Wright, R.E., the former railway staff officer. So into a cattle truck -we jumped with one of the Welsh Fusiliers and some men and arrived at -Kimberley 7 o'clock next morning, where I called on Sir C. Parsons, and -had fish for breakfast at the hotel. Thus my journey was practically -ended. It transpired that Vryburg was held by some half dozen of our -forces, and that the remainder of the garrison was only sixty loyalists -from the town population. It did not seem a large garrison, but -apparently it was good enough. There was rather a curious coincidence at -dinner at Orange River. I saw a man whose face I thought I knew, but I -was mistaken; it was his likeness to his brother which misled me. He -turned out to be Tom Greenfield's brother, who was down here sick, and -to whom I had wired to meet me at Fourteen Streams, so that I could give -him news of Tom. However, I struck him on the next river or so, so it -didn't much matter. - -It was sad to pass the Modder River and see our cemeteries--all English; -so we passed on to Cape Town. And how jolly it was to see old friends; -besides, we were able to tell our Mafeking people, womenfolk, good news -of their husbands. - -Three pleasant days there, and then everybody came to see us off by the -_Norman_, which we nearly missed. The voyage passed without much -incident. Everybody on board was more or less personally interested in -the war, and there were a good many Boers and pro-Boers on board. On -Saturday, short of Madeira, the _Briton_ signalled the news of the fall -of Pretoria. Tremendous rejoicings on board on the part of the British, -while the Dutch were correspondingly depressed and seemed rather sad; -some of them wept into the sea. - -The further I got from the seat of war the less animus I felt. So to -Madeira, where we arrived about midnight, and the news was confirmed -with particulars. We got many newspapers. On to Southampton--more -victories; many valuable officers killed. It is really sad to take up a -newspaper; one sees friends killed in every fight. Thus we arrived in -London at 9.15 on the 15th June, having left Mafeking 11 a.m. the 20th -May. - - -[Illustration: "LORD NELSON." By a curious coincidence the letters B.P. -were found cast on the breech of this piece when dug up.] - - - -[Illustration: Cavalryman] - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAFEKING: A DIARY OF A SIEGE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41511 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with - almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away - or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License - included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. -S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |