FOOTNOTES: 

[11] To those interested enough to pursue the subject further, I commend With French and his Cavalry in South Africa, by C.S.  Goldman. (Macmillan & Co.)

CHAPTER VII

THE DASH TO KIMBERLEY

    French’s Pledge—­The Task—­The First Shell—­“Hemmed in”—­“We
    must break through”—­The Lancers’ Charge—­In and Out of
    Kimberley—­The Surrender of Cronje.

By the end of the year French had saved the situation in Cape Colony.  Realizing this, Roberts summoned him to Cape Town on more important business.  Into French’s hands he placed the task which Methuen had failed to accomplish through adverse circumstances—­the Relief of Kimberley.  When Lord Roberts, with customary precision, had stated exactly what he wanted, he was surprised to receive a dramatic pledge from his General.  “I promise faithfully,” said French, “to relieve Kimberley at 6 o’clock on the evening of the 15th, if I am alive.”

It may be asked why the case of Kimberley was considered so urgent by Lord Roberts.  There are those who have suggested that the presence of the millionaire, Cecil Rhodes, in the beleaguered city was responsible for the authorities’ energy in the matter.  The mere suggestion, however, refutes itself.  For Rhodes was the one man who did more than any other to have the defences of the city brought into a state of some sort of efficiency.  The fact is that there was discontent among the civil population and a constant peril of surrender.  For this the great hundred pound shells which hurtled destruction across the town’s streets from the neighbouring heights were chiefly responsible.

On the face of it, French’s promise might then have been taken for a piece of reckless bravado.  The camp on the Modder River in which he gathered his forces together was over a hundred miles from Kimberley.  The commander-in-chief had promised him a full cavalry division of eight thousand five hundred men.  But on February 11, French had barely four thousand eight hundred men, with seven batteries of Horse Artillery at his disposal.  Between his camp and the mining city lay Cronje with a mobile force as large as French’s own.  Add to this that the ground to be covered consisted largely of arid and well-less veldt, affording neither food nor drink for man or beast.  The time too was the African summer, with all the difficulties of handling partly raw English troops to be faced.  The task before French and his men was certainly such as might have appalled a less courageous leader.

[Page Heading:  DECEIVING CRONJE]

Guile as well as daring had much to do with the success of the enterprise.  The vast concentration camp, with its flapping seas of canvas, was in itself a huge blind.  Through its bustle and publicity French meant Cronje to conclude that he was about to force the Pass of Magersfontein, and thence to relieve Ladysmith.  For this Cronje prepared himself with customary care.  Meantime, French proceeded, as ever, to belie the very justifiable expectations he had aroused.