We have left Headquarters busy with matters that as yet concern no one but themselves in the Mount Nelson Hotel at Cape1 Town—a most excellent and well-appointed establishment, which may be thoroughly2 appreciated after a sea voyage, and which, since many of the leading Uitlanders have taken up their abode3 there during the war, is nicknamed 'The Helot's Rest.' Last night I started by rail for East London, whence a small ship carries the weekly English mail to Natal4, and so by this circuitous5 route I hope to reach Ladysmith on Sunday morning. We have thus gained three days on our friends who proceed by the 'Dunottar Castle,' and who were mightily6 concerned when they heard—too late to follow—of our intentions. But though it is true in this case that the longest way round is the shortest way, there were possibilities of our journey being interrupted, because the line from De Aar Junction7 to Naauwpoort runs parallel to the southern frontier of the Free State, and though hostile enterprises have not yet been attempted against this section of the railways they must always be expected.
Railway travelling in South Africa is more expensive but just as comfortable as in India. Lying-down accommodation is provided for all, and meals can be obtained at convenient stopping places. The train, which is built on the corridor system, runs smoothly8 over the rails—so smoothly, indeed, that I found no difficulty in writing. The sun is warm, and the air keen and delicious. But the scenery would depress the most buoyant spirits. We climbed up the mountains during the night, and with the daylight the train was in the middle of the Great Karroo. Wherefore was this miserable9 land of stone and scrub created? Huge mounds10 of crumbling11 rock, fashioned by the rains into the most curious and unexpected shapes, rise from the gloomy desert of the plain. Yet, though the Karroo looks a hopeless wilderness12, flocks of sheep at distant intervals—one sheep requires six hundred acres of this scrappy pasture for nourishment—manage to subsist13; and in consequence, now and again the traveller sees some far-off farm.
We look about eagerly for signs of war. Little is as yet to be seen, and the Karroo remains14 unsympathetic. But all along the southern frontier of the Free State the expectation of early collision grows. The first sign after leaving Cape Town is the Proclamation against treason published by Sir Alfred Milner. The notice-boards of the railway stations are freely placarded with the full text in English and Dutch, beginning with 'Whereas a state of war exists between the Government of her Majesty15 and the Governments of the South African Republic and of the Orange Free State ...' continuing to enjoin16 good and loyal behaviour on all, detailing the pains and penalties for disobedience, and ending with 'God save the Queen.' Both races have recorded their opinions on their respective versions: the British by underlining the penalties, the Dutch by crossing out the first word of 'God Save the Queen.' It is signed 'A. Milner,' and below, in bitter irony17, 'W.P. Schreiner.'
Beyond Matjesfontein every bridge, and even every culvert, is watched by a Kaffir with a flag, so that the train runs no risk of coming on unexpected demolitions18. On the road to De Aar we passed the second half of the Brigade Division of Artillery19, which sailed so long ago from the Mersey in the notorious transports 'Zibengla' and 'Zayathla.' The gunners were hurrying to the front in three long trains, each taking half a battery complete with guns, horses, and men. All were light-hearted and confident, as soldiers going off to the wars always are, and in this case their, satisfaction at being on land after five weeks of uncomfortable voyage in antiquated20 ships was easily to be understood. But this is no time for reproaches.
At Beaufort West grave news awaited the mail, and we learned of the capitulation of twelve hundred soldiers near Ladysmith. It is generally believed that this will precipitate21 a rising of the Dutch throughout this part of the colony and an invasion by the commandos now gathered along the Orange River. The Dutch farmers talk loudly and confidently of 'our victories,' meaning those of the Boers, and the racial feeling runs high. But the British colonists22 have an implicit23 faith—marvellous when the past is remembered—in the resolve of the Imperial Government and of the nation never to abandon them again.
At De Aar the stage of our journey which may be said to have been uncertain began. Armoured trains patrol the line; small parties of armed police guard the bridges; infantry24 and artillery detachments occupy the towns. De Aar, Colesberg, and Stormberg are garrisoned25 as strongly as the present limited means allow, and all the forces, regulars and volunteers alike, are full of enthusiasm. But, on the other hand, the reports of Boer movements seem to indicate that a hostile advance is imminent27. The Colesberg bridge across the Orange River has been seized by the enemy, the line between Bethulie and Colesberg has just been cut, and each train from De Aar to Stormberg is expected to be the last to pass unassailed. We, however, slept peacefully through the night, and, passing Colesberg safely, arrived at Stormberg, beyond which all is again secure.
Stormberg Junction stands at the southern end of a wide expanse of rolling grass country, and though the numerous rocky hills, or kopjes as they are called, which rise inconveniently28 on all sides, make its defence by a small force difficult, a large force occupying an extended position would be secure. Here we found the confirmation29 of many rumours30. The news of a Boer advance on Burghersdorp, twenty-five miles away, is, it seems, well founded, and when our train arrived the evacuation of Stormberg by its garrison26, of a half-battalion of the Berkshire Regiment31, 350 men of the Naval32 Brigade, a company of mounted infantry, and a few guns, was busily proceeding33.
The sailors were already in their train, and only prevented from starting by the want of an engine. The infantry and artillery were to start in a few hours. It is rather an unsatisfactory business, though the arrival of more powerful forces will soon restore the situation. Stormberg is itself an important railway junction. For more than a week the troops have been working night and day to put it in a state of defence. Little redoubts have been built on the kopjes, entrenchments have been dug, and the few houses near the station are already strongly fortified34. I was shown one of these by the young officer in charge. The approaches were, cleared of everything except wire fences and entanglements35; the massive walls were loopholed, the windows barricaded36 with sandbags, and the rooms inside broken one into the other for convenience in moving about.
Its garrison of twenty-five men and its youthful commander surveyed the work with pride. They had laid in stores of all kinds for ten days, and none doubted that Fort Chabrol, as they called it, would stand a gallant37 siege. Then suddenly had come the message to evacuate38 and retreat. So it was with the others. The train with the naval detachment and its guns steamed off, and we gave it a feeble cheer. Another train awaited the Berkshires. The mounted infantry were already on the march. 'Mayn't we even blow up this lot?' said a soldier, pointing to the house he had helped to fortify39. But there was no such order, only this one which seemed to pervade40 the air: 'The enemy are coming. Retreat—retreat—retreat!' The stationmaster—one of the best types of Englishmen to be found on a long journey—was calm and cheerful.
'No more traffic north of this,' he said. 'Yours was the last train through from De Aar. I shall send away all my men by the special to-night. And that's the end as far as Stormberg goes.'
'And you?'
'Oh, I shall stay. I have lived here for twelve years, and am well known. Perhaps I may be able to protect the company's property.'
While we waited the armoured train returned from patrolling—an engine between two carriages cloaked from end to end with thick plates and slabs41 of blue-grey iron. It had seen nothing of the advancing Boers, but, like us and like the troops, it had to retire southwards. There were fifty Uitlanders from Johannesburg on the platform. They had been employed entrenching42; now they were bundled back again towards East London.
So we left Stormberg in much anger and some humiliation43, and jolted44 away towards the open sea, where British supremacy45 is not yet contested by the Boer. At Molteno we picked up a hundred volunteers—fine-looking fellows all eager to encounter the enemy, but much surprised at the turn events had taken. They, too, were ordered to fall back. The Boers were advancing, and to despondent46 minds even the rattle47 of the train seemed to urge 'Retreat, retreat, retreat.'
I do not desire to invest this wise and prudent48 though discouraging move with more than its proper importance. Anything is better than to leave small garrisons49 to be overwhelmed. Until the Army Corps50 comes, the situation will continue to be unsatisfactory, and the ground to be recovered afterwards will increase in extent. But with the arrival of powerful and well-equipped forces the tide of war will surely turn.
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1
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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natal
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| adj.出生的，先天的 | |
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circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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enjoin
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| v.命令；吩咐；禁止 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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demolitions
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| n.毁坏，破坏，拆毁( demolition的名词复数 ) | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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inconveniently
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| ad.不方便地 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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evacuate
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| v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便 | |
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fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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pervade
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| v.弥漫，遍及，充满，渗透，漫延 | |
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slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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entrenching
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| v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的现在分词 )；牢固地确立… | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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49
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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