After a decent interval1 let the curtain rise on a new act. The scene and most of the characters are different, but it is the same play. The town--a town of brick and tin--stands at the apparent edge of a vast plain of withered2 grass, from whose inhospitable aspect it turns and nestles, as if for protection, round the scrub-covered hills to northward3. From among the crowd of one-storied dwelling-houses, more imposing4 structures, the seats of Government and commerce, rise prominently to catch the eye and impress the mind with the pleasing prospect5 of wealthier civilisation6. Here and there are towers and pinnacles7, and, especially remarkable8, a handsome building surrounded in the classic style by tall white pillars, and, surmounted9 by a lofty dome10, looks like a Parliament House, but for the Red Cross flag which flies from the summit and proclaims that, whatever may have been its former purposes, the spacious11 hall within is at last devoted12 to the benefit of mankind. The dark hills--their uncertain outline marked at one point by the symmetrical silhouette13 of a fort--form the background of the picture: Bloemfontein, April, 1900.
It is five o'clock in the afternoon. The Market-square is crowded with officers and soldiers listening to the band of the Buffs. Every regiment14 in the service, every Colony in the Empire is represented; all clad in uniform khaki, but distinguished15 by an extraordinary variety of badges.
Each group is a miniature system of Imperial Federation16. The City Volunteer talks to a Queensland Mounted Infantryman, who hands his matchbox to a private of the Line. A Bushman from New Zealand, a Cambridge undergraduate, and a tea-planter from Ceylon stroll up and make the conversation general. On every side all kinds of men are intermingled, united by the sympathy of a common purpose and soldered19 together in the fire of war. And this will be of great consequence later on.
The inhabitants--bearded Burghers who have made their peace, townsfolk who never desired to make a quarrel--stand round and watch complacently20. After all, there are worse things than to be defeated. Demand is keen, the army is wealthy, and prices are high. Trade has followed hard on the flag which waves from every building; and, whether it be for merchandise or farm produce, the market is buoyant.
The officers congregate21 about the pretentious22 building of the club, and here I find acquaintances gathered together from all the sentry23 beats of the Empire, for the regular army usually works like a kaleidoscope, and, new combinations continually forming, scatter24 old friends in every direction. But here all are collected once more, and the man we met on the frontier, the man we met 'up the river,' the man we met at manoeuvres with the comrade of Sandhurst, the friend or enemy of Harrow days, and the rival of a Meerut tournament, stand in a row together. Merry military music, laughing faces, bright, dainty little caps, a moving throng25, and the consciousness that this means a victorious26 British Army in the capital of the Free State, drive away all shadows from the mind.
One cannot see any gaps in the crowd; it is so full of animation27 that the spaces where Death has put his hand are not to be seen. The strong surges of life have swept across them as a sunny sea closes over the foundered28 ship. Yet they are not quite forgotten.
'Hullo, my dear old boy, I am glad to see you. When did you get up here? Have you brought ---- with you? Oh, I am sorry. It must have been a fever-stricken hole that Ladysmith. Poor chap! Do you remember how he .... Charlie has gone home. He can never play polo again--expanding bullet smashed his arm all to bits. Bad luck, wasn't it? Now we've got to find a new back .... and ---- was killed at Paardeberg .... spoiled the whole team.' The band struck into a lively tune29. 'How long is it going to last?'
'With luck it ought to be over by October, just a year from start to finish.'
'I thought you said something about Pretoria the third week in March.'
'Ah, I must have meant May, or, perhaps, June.'
'Or August.'
'Who can tell? But I think this is the half-way house.'
The conversation stops abruptly30. Everyone looks round. Strolling across the middle of the square, quite alone, was a very small grey-haired gentleman, with extremely broad shoulders and a most unbending back. He wore a staff cap with a broad red band and a heavy gold-laced peak, brown riding boots, a tightly-fastened belt, and no medals, orders, or insignia of any kind. But no one doubted his identity for an instant, and I knew that I was looking at the Queen's greatest subject, the commander who had in the brief space of a month revolutionised the fortunes of the war, had turned disaster into victory, and something like despair into almost inordinate31 triumph.
Other soldiers of career and quality mingle18 with the diversified32 throng. Macdonald sits on a bay pony33 near the club verandah talking to Martyr34 of the Mounted Infantry17 and of Central African repute. Pole-Carew, who came to the Cape35 as Sir Redvers Buller's camp commandant, and passed at a bound to brigadier-general, and by another still greater leap to the command of the Eleventh Division, canters across the square. General French and his staff have just ridden up. But the central figure holds all eyes, and everyone knows that it is on him, and him alone, that the public fortunes depend.
Such was the scene on the afternoon of my arrival in Bloemfontein. What of the situation? The first thing to be done after the occupation of the town was to re-open the railway. The presence of a large army in their rear and the swift advance of Gatacre and Clements compelled the invaders36 to withdraw from Cape Colony, so that Norval's Pont and Bethulie bridges were once more in British hands. Both were, however, destroyed or partially37 destroyed. Besides these, various other smaller bridges and culverts had been blown up. All these were forthwith repaired by the engineers, and through communication by rail was established between the advanced Field Army in the Free State and the sea bases at East London, Port Elizabeth, and Capetown.
In the meantime the Army at Bloemfontein lived on the reserve of rations38 it had carried from Modder River. When the railway was opened the line from Modder River was dropped. A broad-gauge railway, even though it be only a single line, is usually capable of supplying an army of at least 50,000 men with considerable ease, and the reader may remember how the Natal39 Government Railway was able to support 30,000 men through January and February, to transport reinforcements and sick, and to run all its ordinary traffic in addition. But the repaired or provisional bridges on the Bloemfontein line caused so much delay that the carrying power of the railway was seriously diminished. When a permanent bridge has been blown up two alternatives present themselves to the engineers: a high level or a low level substitute. The high level bridge, such as was thrown across the Tugela after the relief of Ladysmith, takes much longer to build, but, when built, trains are run straight over it with very little diminution40 of speed. It is, moreover, secure against floods.
The low level bridge must be approached by zigzag41 ramps42, which impose frequent shuntings, and cause great delay; and it is, of course, only to be trusted when there are no floods. But it has this inestimable advantage in military operations: speed in construction. The Army must be fed immediately. So the low level bridges were chosen; hence an early but reduced supply. When this was further minimised by the passage of reinforcements the commissariat dep?ts could scarcely make headway, but must be content to feed the Army from day to day and accumulate at the rate, perhaps, of only one day in three, or even one in four. It was, therefore, evident that no offensive movement to the northward could be made for several weeks.
See how the stomach governs the world. By the rapid invasion of their territories, by the staggering blows which they had been dealt at Kimberley, Paardeburg, Poplar Grove43, and Dreifontein, and by the bad news from Natal, the Boers in the Free State were demoralised. If we could have pressed them unceasingly the whole country would have been conquered to the Vaal River. Encouraged by Lord Roberts's Proclamation, and believing that all resistance in the Southern Republic was at an end, great numbers of Free Staters returned to their homes, took the oath of neutrality, and prepared to accept the inevitable44.
But while the Army waited, as it was absolutely forced to wait, to get supplies, to get horses--to get thousands of horses--to give the Infantry new boots, and all arms a little breathing space, the Boers recovered from their panic, pulled themselves together, and, for the moment, boldly seized the offensive.
Great, though perhaps temporary, were the advantages which they gained. The belief that the war in the Free State was at an end, which had led so many of the Burghers to return to their farms, was shared to some extent by the British commander, and loudly proclaimed by his colonial advisers45. To protect the farmers who had made their peace the Imperial forces were widely extended. A line was drawn46 across the Free State from Fourteen Streams, through Boshof, Bloemfontein, and Thabanchu, south of which it was assumed that the country was pacified47 and conquered.
Meanwhile Olivier and the southern commando, recalled from their operations in the Cape Colony, were making a hurried, and, as it seemed, a desperate march to rejoin the main Boer forces. They expected the attack of the same terrible Army which had already devoured48 Cronje; nor was it until they reached Ladybrand and found only Pilcher with a few hundred men snapping at their heels that they realised that the bulk of the British troops were for the moment practically immobile at Bloemfontein. Then they turned.
Pilcher fled warily49 before them, and fell back on Broadwood's Brigade, near Thabanchu. With renewed courage and strong reinforcements from their friends north of the line of occupation they pressed on. Broadwood was compelled to fall back on the Ninth Division, which was camped west of the waterworks. He made a twenty-mile march at night and laagered in the small hours of the morning, thinking, as most people would think, that pursuit was for the time being shaken off. Morning broke, and with it a Boer cannonade.
I do not intend to be drawn into a detailed50 description of the action that followed. For many reasons it deserves separate and detailed consideration, chiefly because it shows the Boer at his very best: crafty51 in war and, above all things, deadly cool. In a word, what happened was this: The shells crashed into the laager. Everyone said, 'Take the blasted waggons52 out of the shell fire. We will cover their retreat'; which they did most beautifully: Broadwood displaying all the skill which had enabled him to disentangle the reconnaissance of the 5th of April near the Atbara from the clutches of the Dervishes. The said waggons hurried out of the shell fire only to fall into the frying-pan of an ambuscade. Guns, prisoners, and much material fell into the hands of the Boers. The Ninth Division retreated suddenly--too suddenly, say the Army, with other remarks which it is not my business to transcribe--on Bloemfontein, and the force of the storm fell on Gatacre.
Gatacre had a post at Dewetsdorp: three companies of the Royal Irish Rifles, two of Mounted Infantry. So soon as he heard of the retirement53 of the Ninth Division he sent orders by many routes for his post to fall back too. They fell back accordingly; but at Reddersburg the net closed round them. Let us judge no man harshly or in ignorance. Fighting followed. With a loss of eight killed and thirty-one wounded, the retreating troops surrendered when relief was scarcely five miles away. Everything curled back on to Bloemfontein and the railway line, which it was vital to hold. Reinforcements were thrust to the front to meet the emergency: Rundle, with the Eighth Division, was diverted from Kimberley to Springfontein; Hunter, with the Tenth Division (our old friends the Irish and Fusilier Brigades), started from Natal, thus condemning54 Buller to the strict defensive55, and the Boers swept southward.
Now, in accordance with the terms of Lord Roberts's Proclamation, many farmers of the Free State, fighting men of the Boer Army--that is to say, who had thought that all was up: deserters, in other words--had come into the British posts, made their submission56, taken the oath, and returned to their farms. The Boers were very angry with these people. What protection could we give them? Some, it is said--it may be a lie--were shot by the enemy. Most of them, from fear or inclination57, rejoined their commandos.
The whole of the right-hand bottom corner of the Free State was overrun. Southward still hastened the Boer forces. Brabant was the next to feel the tempest. His garrison58 in Wepener was assailed59, surrounded, fought well--perhaps is now fighting desperately60. Other Boers approached the rebel districts of Cape Colony. The lately penitent61 rebels stirred, are stirring.
Mark, by the way, this sedition62 is not the result of misplaced generosity63 but of military misfortunes. No one expects beaten men to be grateful; but, under certain conditions, they will be loyal. An enemy at their throats is not one of those conditions. Southward still sweep the commandos with empty carts, for this is the most fertile of all the Republican territories; and, in the meanwhile, what are we doing? Divisions and brigades are being moved by a strong yet deliberate hand. The hope--general and special idea in one--is to catch these bold fellows who have thrust their heads thus far into the lion's mouth and enjoyed until now such immunity64. Wepeper making a brave defence; Brabant marching through Rouxville to bar their advance; Rundle, Chermside, and Brabazon striking east from Edenburg to shut the door behind them with two Infantry divisions, twenty-four guns, and 2,000 Yeomanry; and, further north, the great Bloemfontein Army--four Infantry divisions, Hamilton's 10,000 mounted men, French's four Cavalry65 brigades, and many guns--is almost ready to move. Assuredly these Boers are in a dangerous place. Will they escape? Will they, perhaps, carry some part of the intercepting66 lines with them as a trophy67 of victory? 'Qui vivra verra,' and, if these letters continue, 'who runs may read,' for I purpose to journey via Edenburg to Reddersburg to-morrow, and thence on to the point of collision, which must mark the climax68 of this extremely interesting event henceforward to be called 'The Operations in the Right-hand Bottom Corner of the Free State.'
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1
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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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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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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federation
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| n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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19
soldered
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| v.（使）焊接，焊合( solder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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congregate
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| v.(使)集合，聚集 | |
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pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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foundered
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| v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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inordinate
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| adj.无节制的；过度的 | |
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diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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natal
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| adj.出生的，先天的 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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ramps
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| resources allocation and multiproject scheduling 资源分配和多项目的行程安排 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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46
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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47
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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48
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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50
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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51
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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52
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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55
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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56
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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57
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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58
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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62
sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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63
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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64
immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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65
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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66
intercepting
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| 截取（技术），截接 | |
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67
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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