3^7 CHAPTER XV. OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL (continued)* AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, IQOO. Fatigue followed closely upon the disappointment of the troops at the escape of De Wet in the face of their utmost exertions. Energy and supplies were for the moment alike exhausted, and a pause in the chase was necessary to replenish them. The pursued were in similar case ; and De Wet, whose salvation had lately depended on rapid motion, now saw that his command could only be saved from destruction by a halt. Sending General Liebenberg with 500 men to block Magato Nek, and placing a rearguard at Olifants Nek, he crossed close to the pass with theAngloBoerWar.commain body, turned south-east, and laagered at the foot of the Magaliesberg, where pasture was good. Of the pursuing British forces Lord Methuen's mounted troops were at Doomlaagte on August 15th, Douglas being under orders to join him with the infantry the same evening ; Lord Kitchener with the 2nd and 3rd cavalry brigades, Ridley's M.L, Colonial division and Smith-Dorrien's two battalions, was at Syferwater ; Hart's brigade at Groenfontein, some five miles behind. Ian Hamilton's force had moved to Vlakfontein, nearly twenty miles from the pass with a bad road in front of him. At Commando Nek, Baden-Powell had 1,480 of all ranks, not including the infantry battalion holding the Nek. Close to Pretoria lay Hickman's force, with half of Paget's column at Home's Nek, the other half near Onderstepoort. Lord Methuen was eager to pursue on August i6th ; but Hamilton, still a day's march from the Nek, could not attack before the 17th. Thus De Wet's main force remained unmolested for three days, while * See map No. 38. 35S THE WAR iN SOUTH AFRICA. Mr. Steyn, who had left him for Mr. Kruger's Headquarter^, was given a long start. Meantime, on the 13th the troops were consoled by the surprising news that Hore's detachment on the Elands river was holding out, and its relief became at once as momentous as the pursuit of De Wet. The The garrison of Elands River—Imperial Bushmen from Eirnds^Rher. Australia and Tasmania, Volunteers from Rhodesia, and a few British South Africa Police—totalled 300 fighting men, with a Maxim and an old 7-pr. screw gun. Their camp was on a slight rise which commanded the only water supply—a creek half a mile away. This rise was in its turn overlooked by high hills to the north, east and south at an average range of 2,500 to 3,000 yards. Daily, since August 4th, the camp had been shelled by the enemy, who numbered about 500 men with four guns, three Vickers-Maxims and a machine gun. The first day's casualties among the defenders were six men killed and twenty-five wounded, with a loss in addition of 475 animals belonging to the convoy of eighty mule and ox wagons, for which it was impossible to provide shelter, as every hollow was searched by the enemy's fire.AngloBoerWar.comNext day the garrison learnt that Sir F. Carrington's attempt at relief had failed. A heavy bombardment followed, which killed and wounded twelve men and about fifty horses and mules during an hour before dark. The arrival of De la Rey with reinforcements brought the investing force to some 2,000 men and seven guns from the commandos of Fourie, D. Botha, Theunissen, De Beer, Lemmer and Steenkamp. De- termined night attacks then began, with the object of cutting off the water supply of the garrison. These were repulsed by a party of Southern Rhodesia Volunteers, and a small detachment of Australian Bushmen, posted on kopjes near the creek, always with losses to the defence. Judging that the garrison had been reduced in numbers and spirit by five days' bombardment, De la Rey, on August 9th, demanded a surrender, which was refused. The shelling was renewed, but with less vigour ; and shortly afterwards a large portion of the investing force was withdrawn in order to occupy Rustenburg and Olifants Nek, the last a movement . OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL. 359 of which the importance has been seen. By the evening of the loth, the cordon was so far relaxed that a runner was able to get through on the 13th to Sir F. Carrington. Lord Roberts at once took steps to succour the post. Sir F. Carrington, whose force had been refitting at Mafeking, and had been in- creased by drafts from the north, was ordered to re-occupy Zeerust, and co-operate in the relief of Elands River. Lord Methuen's division, the nearest force, was also ordered to move thither with all speed. Lord Kitchener had, however, started before this order arrived. Taking with him the 2nd and 3rd cavalry brigades, Ridley's mounted infantry and Smith-Dorrien's battalions, he left at 2 a.m. on August 15th, and, after a rapid Aug 5th, 1900. thirty-five miles, rode into Elands River early march of camp on Relief of the following morning, Broadwood's cavalry having reported Elands River, by 4.30 p.m. on the 14th that the road was clear. Hart's force was to follow. Hore's casualties amounted to twelve killed and thirty-seven wounded, irrespective of natives ; he also lost 1,329 animals. Meanwhile Sir F. Carrington had reached Otto's Hoop on August 15th with 2,914 men.* AngloBoerWar.com* 1st Brigade (Earl of Erroll). Staff 13 Imperial Yeomanry Scouts . 45 Paget's Horse 341 South Australian Bushmen ... 81 New South Wales Bushmen 140 Tasmanian Bushmen 105 Victorian Imperial Bushmen Kimberley Mounted Corps ... 108 Bechuanaland Rifles 43 2nd Brigade (Colonel Grey). 4th New Zealand regiment 423 5th New Zealand regiment ... 243 6th regiment New South Wales Imperial Bushmen 647 4th Bedfordshire regiment ... 267 Cameron's Scouts 25 Signallers Artillery. 1st battery Rhodesian Field Force Artillery 118 88th battery R.F.A 105 Vickers-Maxim battery ... ... 64 Colt gun detachment 7 Four Maxims ... 31 2,914 36o THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. Next morning he found the enemy under Commandants Botha, Schwartz, and Snyman occupying a position above Lemmer's Farm near Buffelshoek. After a preliminary shelling and clearing of the flanks by Lord Erroll's brigade, the 4th New Zealand regiment attacked and carried two lines of kopjes in succession, losing one officer and two men killed, and three officers and nine men wounded. The enemy gave way when the attack was within fifty yards of them, leaving six dead on the ground. Next day the commandos were seen riding over the hills about twelve miles to the west. News of Hore's relief was received, and Sir F. Carrington was ordered to await Lord Methuen's arrival. Aug. i6th, Whilst Lord Kitchener was engaged at Elands River, Lord iS^Methuen Methuen, as the senior officer in the Magaliesberg, decided to con- resumes the tinue the pursuit of De Wet. He arranged to move himself ^ ° ^ Wet. against Magato Nek on August i6th, and for Ian Hamilton to force Olifants Nek from Middelfontein early the following morning. Accordingly the advance guard of the colonial troops with the 1st division seized a commanding hill on the left of the mouth of Magato Nek, and the artillery coming into action, six gunsAngloBoerWar.comon the left and the remainder in the centre, shelled the posi- tion. The Boers hurriedly abandoned it, and Lord Methuen's column, having lost one man killed and five wounded, crossed the Nek and encamped at Rietvlei. It had been reported to Ian Hamilton that Olifants Nek was held by 4,000 to 5,000 men under the personal command of De Wet and De la Rey. He therefore prepared for a heavy en- gagement ; but the Imperial Light Horse and supporting infantry soon found that they had only a weak rearguard before them. The pass was easily forced with only two casualties, two Krupp guns and three wagons being captured. Mahon's cavalry took up the pursuit, but the Boer rearguard, faUing back towards Rustenburg, lured them off the real direction of the main body. The remainder of Hamilton's column halted at Waterkloof, four miles north of Olifants Nek, and followed the cavalry to Waterval on the Rustenburg road. De Wet's main body re- mained as before, resting south-east of the pass. OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL. 361 By this time Lord Methuen had received orders to proceed to Elands River, preparatory to clearing the country thence towards Mafeking. Lord Kitchener was directed to return to Pretoria by way of Rustenburg and Commando Nek, sending Ridley's mounted infantry to join Ian Hamilton's force. Hart's column, having reached Tweefontein in the Zwart Ruggens by strenuous marching, was to proceed to Krugersdorp, whither also the 2nd cavalry brigade was ordered to return, en route to Pretoria. The fortunes of De Wet and the commandos which he had carried to the foot of the Magaliesberg must now be followed. The Free State leader had now three objects in view. First, Movements of De Wet. President Steyn was to be escorted to Machadodorp, President Kruger's Headquarters, to inspire with his unabated enthusiasm the councils of the leaders of the two Republics. De Wet him- self, having no wish to be involved in the inhospitable country to the north, intended to break back with a small band to keep alight the fires of resistance in the Free State. Finally he must leave in the Transvaal a leaven of his own Free Staters so as to encourage the AngloBoerWar.comlocal burghers and show them that they were not deserted by their allies.