RAILWAY CUTTING AT STORMBERG: BRINGING UP TROOPS IN AN ARMOURED TRAIN.
Nov. 21-Dec. 1, 1899.] Gatacre's Reinforcements Diverted.
Sir William Gatacre had the reputation of being an excellent though somewhat too daring general. He had great experience in savage warfare; in Chitral he had commanded a brigade and won golden opinions; in Egypt he had served under Lord Kitchener, that exact disciplinarian and stern judge of men, and had commanded the British brigade at the Atbara, where he led in person the impetuous assault upon the Dervish zeriba. At Omdurman he had charge of the British division. He was a man of the most intense energy—"Back-acher" was his nickname among his soldiers—sparing others not more than himself. On Sunday, the 19th, he addressed his men at Church Parade and told them the news of the repulse of the Boer attack by the Ladysmith garrison. On the 21st he reconnoitred Bushman's Hoek, an important point on the railway between Queenstown and Stormberg, where the road and line climb to a great height over a shoulder of the Stormberg range, and where he placed a small detachment of Colonial troops. Halting at Sterkstroom, he reviewed and congratulated upon their appearance the Kaffrarian Rifles—a local force. Next day he moved his little force, composed of the Irish Rifles, Berkshire Mounted Infantry, and a few Cape Mounted Rifles, forward to Putter's Kraal. He had with him six screw mountain guns and six Maxims of the Cape Mounted Police. Here he halted some days and waited for reinforcements. The want of men in Natal for the relief of Ladysmith and the protection of the Colony being pressing, his troops were for the most part diverted and he was sacrificed.
Advance of the Boers.
Now, at last, the enemy moved. On November 26 a commando of about 1,500 Boers advanced from Burghersdorp and seized Stormberg Junction, thus cutting off all communication between General Gatacre on the one side and the British forces at De Aar on the other. At the same time there were reports that 3,000 Transvaalers were moving to Burghersdorp, but as a matter of fact the majority of them appear to have gone to Colesberg. Some, however, with a heavy 40-pounder and at least one field gun did join the Stormberg commando.
WAPENSCHOUWING AT BARKLY EAST.
Much of the Boer accuracy of marksmanship may be attributed to their periodical Wapenschouwings. These are Bisley contests in miniature. From far and near the Boers (in times of peace) assemble at the farm of the Landdrost, or principal man of the district, and for three or four days engage in rifle shooting contests for prizes in money and kind. The occasion is made use of for various Boer festivities, in which dancing always forms a prominent part. No regular targets are used, but bottles or empty paraffin tins are suspended at various distances, and accuracy of aim is encouraged by continual shifting of the objects to be fired at, so that the sighting has to be guessed by the marksman.