- Deelreeks
- March 1900
Part of Louis De Souza
Correspondents include: State Presidents; State Secretary: Generals Breijtenbach, Celliers, Andries Cronje, De la Rey, Kolbe, Meyer, Prinsloo, Snyman; Assistant Generals Philip Botha, P. Cronje, Du Toit, Erasmus, Ferreira, Grobler, Pieterse, Smuts, Chief Commandants C. de Wet, Lemmer, Lombard, Oberholtser, Prinsloo, Schulte, Van Aswegen, Van Dam, Weber, Commandants Cruisrand, De Beer, Du Plessis, Du Preez, Eloff, Fick, Luckhoff, Oberholtzer, Potgieter, Spruyt, Steijn, Swart and Weilbach; Adjutant Commandant Abram Malan, Captains De Villiers and Danie Theron; Veldcornets P. Brink, Dercksen and Van Tonder; Landdrosts Aliwal North, Bethal, Bethulie, Burghersdorp, Christiana, Hoopstad, Lichtenburg, Middelburg, Potchefstroom, Vryheid, Winburg and Wolmaranstad; Begg (L.M.), DR. Dunlop, A. Fischer, Lynch (George) Ortlepp, P. Potgieter (Pretoria Burghermaster), D.S. Steijtler and Budget, Reuter (Cape Town), Standard and Volkstem.
Main events were the formal entry into Ladysmith by General Buller on March 3rd. In actual theories of war, Kitchener was sent to deal with Cape rebels at Prieska and French and Roberts marched on Bloemfontein, which they entered on 14th. In the Cape Jamestown was occupied March 11th, Bethulie Bridge on 15th and on the following day British force linked up with Roberts at Springfontein. On 17th March Norvalspont secured and bridge repairs started. From Bloemfontein an expedition set off to Thaba NChu but found the Boers still very active. At Kimberley Lord Methuen went on to occupy Boshof in early March. At Mafeking food was very scarce, particularly for the Kaffirs. Plumer was outside the town but not strong enough to relieve it.
Subjects in the telegrams:
1st No definite news as to whether Cronje surrendered.
Baden Powell says he will use armed natives if Boers dont stop using them.
Grobler says men at Glencoe ready for battle.
Cronje says General Cronje has surrendered.
2nd-Red Cross Society are tending Boer wounded at Jacobsdal.
Boers not strong enough to take Barkly West.
Joubert asked to occupy De Beers and Biggersnek Passes.
Cronje has surrendered.
27th February v is to go to Cape Town.
English have entered Ladysmith.
3rd-Theron appointed Captain reconnoitring corps to help Botha.
Snyman gives his reply to English charge that Boers use armed natives by saying English used them first.
query as to whether Boer women and cattle should be brought to safety.
letter from Louis Botha to his wife about his position.
Buller has entered Ladysmith with his whole might.
4th-Transvaal burghers go home for replenishment because Free Staters wont help them.
Colonel Plumer has sent a messenger to Commandant Du Plessis, Derdepoort, offering honourable terms if they surrender.
report on Boer position at Colesburg.
5th published text of correspondence between Lord Salisbury and Boer government re independence.
Commandant General at Glencoe asks Presidents to sue for peace.
Rustenburg district is in danger.
Commandant General has taken Biggersneck as his position.
police in Johannesburg asked to stop salaries of police deserters.
6th-refugees come from Modder River with no possessions.
Mining Engineer, Johannesburg, suggests blowing up coalmines at Dundee.
English at Lobatsi.
7th-missing ambulance is at Jacobsdal helping Boer wounded.
Theron reports capture of cattle and horses in a daring raid.
8th-reported that British occupy Barkly West and will push on.
English reported at Zeerust; Commandant, Marico, asks reinforcements.
burghers concerned about their families at Klipdam.
horses scarce so mules being used.
appeal for petrol to go to Rorkes Drift as enemy at Pomeroy.
9th-rumour English will attack Helpmekaar.
English at Gopanie, Commandant General complains about difficulties caused by foreign volunteers such as Irish, German, French etc.
enemy reported at Rensburg Siding and Bethulies Bridge and Tierhoek.
burgers at Dordrecht must retreat before very strong enemy force.
intercepted letter from British Consul Ross to Begg (spy of Ross and correspondent of The Friend, Bloemfontein) that English and Rhodesian forces have joined at Mafeking; skirmishing at Pomeroy.
position serious at Mafeking: Joubert to his wife that he is on his way to Volksrust.
fighting at Helpmekaar.
10th-Snyman is on way to meet English at Pitsani.
provisions badly needed at Derdepoort.
Responded Cronje will go to St. Helena.
De la Rey says his position cannot be held.
Meyer to his wife that position is static.
burghers deserting their commandos.
11th-De Wet tells of Boer defeat at Barberton.
details given of Boer wounded in Jacobsdal Red Cross Hospital.
Snyman at Ramathlabama because enemy at Pitsani.
position critical at Abrahams Kraal.
Steyn needs help urgently.
British complain about Boer misuse of flag and dumdum bullets.
Commandant General complains that burghers have been given leave.
12th-German corps sent help to.
Ferreira at Helpmekaar.
fighting at Bethulie Bridge.
enemy coming out of Kimberley in great numbers.
position dangerous at Bloemfontein.
report of battle at Abrahams Kraal when General Cilliers distinguished himself.
State President Bloemfontein refutes Roberts charge of abusing the white flag.
Long Tom gun + ammunition to go to Klerksdorp and then Pretoria.
13th-fight at Bethulie Bridge went well; attack on Bloemfontein expected hourly.
State President is at Kroonstad.
burghers who ran away should be punished and sent back.
14th-report form Mafeking that armed Kaffirs have taken cattle.
State Mining Engineer at Glencoe asks for more Kaffirs to take burghers positions.
Joubert to his wife that he goes to Sinaldeel from Kroonstad to see if he can meet President Steyn.
Du Toit is by the Vaal River in a better position.
President Steyn says Afrikaners must fight on.
burghers complain about censorship of private letters.
16th-families of Natal burghers must be protected.
enemy camp at Elandslaagte said to be strong.
fighting at Orsmondspont and Warrenton is in English hands.
English troops said to be on their way to relieve Mafeking via Kuruman.
17th-small fight at Fourteen streams, where enemy retreated.
great English might has come out of Ladysmith and is at Elandslaagte.
Irish corps assure Boers of their loyalty.
report that Warren and 6000 men have left Natal for Cape.
complaint that ammunition not yet sent to Prieska.
Roberts writes to President to say that Basutos were used as scouts and not as fighters.
attack on Boers at Rustenburg by Linchwes people is Boers own fault for devastating his land.
rumour denied that Rustenburg is in English hands.
artillery fight at Fourteen Streams.
18th-bombardment by enemy at Fourteen Streams.
Grobler and Lemmer near Dewetsdorp.
Chief Medical Officer O.F.S asks British to direct German ambulance to town north of British lines.
proclamation by President Steyn to Burghers of Orange Free State to be printed as fast as possible and 10, 000 copies to be made.
Eloff says situation better in North.
19th-B.L. Bantjies seeks advice what to do with Dunn, a traitor.
all civil servants to be called up and offices closed.
another proclamation by President Steyn to be printed, to the effect that O.V.S still stands.
Italian government offers to mediate.
20th-Cronje thinks enemy move towards Bloemhof: landdrosts told to beware of British proclamation.
reported that vanguard of Mafeking relief force has reached Warrenton.
Snyman denies false report of enemy at Ramathlabama.
Swazis quiet.
reported that Commandant Lubbe fought enemy between Springfontein and Jagersfontein and took 18 cannon, of which 12 were carried off.
enemy reported at Driefontein.
Commandant General on the way to Pretoria.
landdrost of Christiana asks where P.O.W.s to go as jail is full.
22nd-Du Toit asks for medical help.
news of enemy movements from Captain Therons spies.
Eloff has gone to Mafeking.
Buller complains some British P.O.W.s in Pretoria not being well treated and are in a common jail.
De Wet asks for speed in sending wagons if dont want repeat of Paadeberg.
reported Prieska occupied and that Rouxville and Thaba Nchu have surrendered.
France and Germany protest to Kruger about the possible blowing up of mines in Johannesburg.
reported that Baden-Powell cant hold out in Mafeking after mid-May.
reinforcements are on their way to help Du Toit at Fourteen Streams.
23rd-rumours that 10, 000 English are on way to Bloemhof are false.
Du Toit says he is sick; requests come in for more horses.
enemy reported at Smaldeel.
Snyman regrets he cannot spare men to help Steenekamp at Rustenburg; burghers are reluctant to return from leave.
24th-Botha says enemy are in strength at Sunday River, busy putting coalmines in order complaint that Boer property destroyed by British patrols.
Thaba Nchu in hand of the enemy.
small English force at Neuberg could be held by a small commando - no more big commandos!
25th-De la Rey asked to move his men to Brandfort, where it is expected that the enemy will fight.
rumoured that enemy will go to Mafeking, then by road to Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Smuts says there is enough ammunition but not the means of transport.
Snyman asks patrol to be sent to Moratzani to deal with armed Kaffirs.
Joubert seriously ill.
26th-President in Pretoria chides Grobler for asking for leave when situation is so critical and that he must join De la Rey, enemy camp at Elandslaagte is very strong.
De la Rey sick in bed.
State President encourages all generals with story of David.
President Steyn asks Lord Roberts if it is true that Boer P.OW.s in St. Helena.
enemy have left Newberry in direction of Ladybrand.
merchants at Bethel complain that government does not pay full price for goods.
German Scouts ask permission to take Thaba Nchu and ask why Grobler didnt attack at Newberry.
Weilbach is asked why his men are in revolt.
Justice of the Peace, Vereeniging, asks how he is to stop burghers going on leave.
Ladybrand reports that there are no troops available to turn the English.
David, Irish M.P. expected Pretoria.
26th- De Villiers appointed head of the European Legion this news is to be made known to the European Corps.
27th-Buller asks what happened to Cullum, taken P.O.W at De Beers Pass, as it has been rumoured that he was shot; bombardment at Mafeking.
fighting at Molopo and Fourteen Streams.
Joubert very ill and no hope of recovery.
28th-Joubert dead.
Villebors-Mareuil asks if Warren is in enemy hands.
Botha is on his way to the funeral.
enemy bombing from Mafeking heavy.
29th-Potgieter, Fourteen Streams reports enemy fled after bombardment.
De la Rey better; fighting at Karee Siding with Botha and Smuts engaged.
30th- news of enemy at Tafeltop and Brandfort.
English trying to cut them off from grain district.
31st- Report from Grobler who is on his way to Thaba Nchu, giving news of English position and that Roberts is on his way to Mafeking.
burgers have been given leave to get fresh horses.
condolences from Roberts on Jouberts death.
(45) English cavalry approach Mafeking; report from Snyman that English fly, pursued by Boers.
Fighting 4 miles from Mafeking.