[Photo by Murison.
Parade of the New South Wales Lancers on untrained horses at the Remount Depot, Stellenbosch.
[Dec. 6-7, 1899.
Thus to attack the Boers with success three things were wanted: a good and numerous artillery; an infantry force sufficient to storm the Boer positions after the artillery preparation; and cavalry or mounted infantry in abundance to follow up success and convert it into victory. Yet, as we have seen, the proportion of artillery sent to South Africa with our army was absurdly low, and the cavalry and mounted infantry were enormously below the generals' requirements. Again and again in the course of the despatches we find our officers complaining that their hard-won little victories were barren of results owing to the insufficiency of these two arms. These facts are of the utmost importance, because they prove that our failure in South Africa, far from being due to "inevitable" causes, was the result of the complete disregard of the rules of military science, and, indeed, of common sense. In the words of Napier's history of the Peninsular War, "it is fitting first to expose the previous preparations and plans of the Cabinet, lest the reader, not being fully awakened to the difficulties cast in the way of the English generals by the incapacity of the Government, should, with hasty censure or niggard praise, do the former injustice."
All through these days of early December, General Gatacre was urged and pressed by the British loyalists in Eastern Cape Colony to push forward, stop the enemy plundering their farms, and prevent disloyal Colonists from joining the hostile standard. The pressure upon him grew constantly till he was unable to resist it. Against his own will—against his better judgment—he determined to attempt a perilous enterprise in a region which is difficult and mountainous, of which there were no correct maps, and where every inch of the ground was, through the help of the rebels, known to the enemy.
[Photo by Cribb, Southsea.
On the table are several specimens of shrapnel shells, cut in section to show their construction. Over the fire-place is a series of diagrams illustrating the various kinds of fuses.
Gatacre moves upon Stormberg.
On December 7 he decided to convey 2,500 men and six guns northward by train to Molteno on the next day, and marching thence by night to attack the enemy's laager at Stormberg at dawn on the morning of the 9th. Unfortunately, on the 8th he was unable to start, and had to postpone his effort to the next day. Thus there is reason to think that the Boers, through this delay, had full warning of his intentions.