Nov. 10, 1899] The British Base at De Aar.
The base for his column had been, before his arrival, established at De Aar, where thousands upon thousands of tons of biscuit, meal, forage and ammunition had been accumulated in readiness for his advance. Mules by the thousand and ox waggons by the score followed the stores. There was a time when General Buller himself was expected to take charge of the western field of war, and at De Aar a superb tent, an iron bathroom, and a sumptuous kitchen with a fine battery of culinary accessories were prepared for him. But the needs of Natal distracted him and he never came.
BLUEJACKETS, IN KHAKI, AT SIMONSTOWN, STARTING FOR THE FRONT.
These are some of the men who fought so valiantly at Graspan. Seamen strongly object to the khaki jackets, which fit closely around the neck; a very disagreeable change from the loose-fitting naval jackets.
In charge of the camp and the stores were 800 of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, an old muzzle-loading 9-pounder, a Hotchkiss 6-pounder, and 150 men of the Engineers and Army Service Corps. When the garrison was withdrawn from Naauwpoort, these were reinforced by nine 15-pounder field-guns of the Field Artillery and 400 of the Berkshire Regiment. The force at the Orange River bridge, sixty miles to the north, which was now in touch with the enemy, was also strengthened till it mustered about 2,500 men, composed of the 9th Lancers, Rimington's Guides—a regiment of horse raised in Cape Colony—the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal Munster Fusiliers, nine guns of the Field Artillery, and an armoured train.
THE DOCKS, CAPE TOWN, November 18, 1899.
Showing transports in the bay and harbour; so many large vessels had never before been seen in Table Bay. The covered jetty is known as "The South Arm," and is where all the troops disembarked. Trains ran alongside, and went direct from the docks to the front.
