THE BOER GUN CAPTURED AT DRONFIELD.
RECEPTION IN CAPE TOWN OF THE NEWS OF THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY.
Orders to head Cronje.
Already a messenger had come in from the south-east to say that Cronje's force was moving swiftly along the Modder, had destroyed the field telegraph, and was engaged with the British infantry at Klip Drift. But no confirmation of the intelligence and no order from the British headquarters as yet reached General French, nor did he hear the sound of guns. He concluded therefore that the report was erroneous or at least premature; moreover, the state of his horses rendered another long ride back to Klip Drift all but impossible of immediate execution. He gave his staff leave to sleep late into the morning, after their four days of continuous hard work, and himself retired to sleep the sleep of the just, when an order of the highest importance from Lord Kitchener arrived. It stated that Cronje was in full retreat from Magersfontein, with all his waggons, baggage, and four guns, along the line of the Modder to Bloemfontein, that Lord Kitchener had already engaged him, and if General French, with every available horse and man, could head him and prevent his crossing the river at the Paardeberg Drifts, the infantry from Klip Drift would follow with all speed, overtake him, and surround him. Such a message admitted of no excuses or delays—not that General French was the man for either—and orders were at once issued for the only brigade available and three batteries to start with the dawn. But it is now time to turn from General French and his doings to the tale which the people of Kimberley had to tell him.
END OF VOLUME I.
⁂ For revised figures of losses, and some corrections, see [Preface].