A BOER "LONG TOM" AT PRETORIA STATION, EN ROUTE FOR THE SCENE OF WAR.
This powerful weapon, a Creusot gun of 5·9 inches calibre, has a range of 10,000 yards. It was christened "Long Tom" by our men at Ladysmith, where one of these guns was disabled in a night sortie. With equal aptness a Boer gun whose shells constantly fell short was nicknamed "Weary Willie."
[1877-1881
Sir Bartle Frere.
But though outwardly Mr. Gladstone's attitude was the attitude of a strong man, he took no precautions to meet Boer discontent. The warnings of Sir Bartle Frere, the British governor at the Cape, were unheeded. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach had thrown him over once because he had not been able to prevent the Zulu war; Mr. Gladstone now recalled him at the very time when a brave, loyal, far-sighted, single-hearted man, such as Bartle Frere undoubtedly was, was most needed in South Africa. Abandoned by both parties, betrayed, and treated with a contumelious contempt which his noble services had never deserved, he turned his face sadly towards England. Two months later the Transvaal rose in revolt.
FREE STATE ARTILLERY AT BLOEMFONTEIN.
The standing armies of both the Orange Free State and the Transvaal consist of a few hundred State Artillery, largely recruited and officered by Germans and Hollanders. This picture shows the Orange Free State Artillery in gala uniform on the way to parade. They are commanded by Major Albrecht, a German.