A 5-INCH HOWITZER, AS USED BY THE BRITISH AT MAGERSFONTEIN.
Partly in section, showing the hydraulic buffers and the apparatus for raising and lowering the muzzle. This weapon can be fired at an elevation of forty-five degrees; it is intended to throw its shell high into the air so that it shall fall within the enemy's earthworks or other defences.
Difficulty of relieving Kimberley.
Dec. 6-9, 1899.] No Alternative to a Frontal Attack.
Lord Methuen had positive orders to relieve Kimberley, and the execution of these grew harder with each day's delay. The enemy's position was steadily strengthened; fresh works were pushed out; reinforcements were called up from all quarters, as the Boers laid enormous stress upon the capture of the diamond city with Mr. Rhodes inside it. There was no obvious way round; to march off to the west and endeavour to turn the Boer right would have led the column through a waterless country, and have left the enemy free to throw their whole force upon the British line of communications, thus fatally severing Lord Methuen from his base. To march to the east, in the direction of Jacobsdal, would have meant once more crossing the Modder in the face of a highly mobile enemy, who could move two miles to the British one—in other words, a repetition of the Modder River battle. There was only sufficient transport to carry five days' supplies, so that no wide detour was possible. The last course remained—a desperate course as it proved—to take the bull by the horns and assault the Boer position full in the front.
THE BARBED-WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS AT MAGERSFONTEIN.
These entanglements conduced greatly to the defeat of the Highland Brigade. The photograph was taken after the position had been abandoned by the Boers.
Skirmishing.