The Boers opened proceedings on the western frontier by advancing on October 11 under Commandant Cronje from Zeerust to Mafeking, while they broke the railway both to the north and south. On the 13th the siege began. On the night of the 12-13th an armoured train, bringing up two 7-pounder guns and ammunition, which had been sent forward from Capetown, was derailed at Kraaipan, a station forty miles south of Mafeking, and its contents and the party in charge were captured. The engine-driver and one man succeeded in escaping to the south. This was the first example which showed the utter uselessness of armoured trains operating without any support. A rail removed or thrown out of gauge, and they were at the enemy's mercy.
NATIVE VILLAGE, MAFEKING.
The Boers seem to have anticipated an easy and an early success at Mafeking. The resources of the place were small; the garrison all told did not exceed 1,200 men, and was ill provided with artillery. But there was a large accumulation of stores and ammunition, which would at least enable the defenders to hold out for some months. Cronje had under him 4,000 or 5,000 men with good artillery, and had all the resources of the Pretoria arsenals and magazines behind him. He could draw guns of the heaviest calibre if he wanted them.
BOER COMMANDO CROSSING ALIWAL BRIDGE.
Attempts to capture Mafeking.
Oct. 17-31, 1899.
On the 14th the enemy were engaged by the garrison, with an armoured train supporting, and were driven back with some loss. On the 17th the Boers began to shell the town with small field guns, but caused no loss. A few houses were slightly damaged, a dog was killed, and that was all. On the night of this day, as the Boers were pushing their trenches dangerously near the British lines, a sortie was brilliantly executed by Captain Fitzclarence with sixty men. He stormed the enemy's position at the point of the bayonet, and did great execution amongst the Boers, who were taken wholly by surprise. Various little sorties took place during the next few days, and Cronje gave courteous notice that he intended to bombard. At the same time he cut off the British water-supply.
