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Read Ebook: With Botha in the Field by Ritchie Eric Moore
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Ebook has 257 lines and 18456 words, and 6 pages
Towards Windhuk. The first troops in Waldau
The first South African Engineer Corps Staff at Windhuk
Towards Windhuk. A quick railway repair after the Germans' usual practice of blowing up railway bridges
Towards Windhuk. The first train to Windhuk. The South African Engineer Corps Construction Party aboard
At Windhuk. How we treat the German women. Ten minutes after occupation
At Windhuk. The Commander-in-Chief addresses his massed troops from the Rathaus
At the Gate of Windhuk. Headquarters Staff Motors awaiting entry
At the Gate of Windhuk. General Botha discusses matters with the Governor of Windhuk
At the Gate of Windhuk. The Interpreter
At the Gate of Windhuk. General Botha emphasises
The great Wireless Station at Windhuk
Conference at Omaruru. General Staff lunching
The Last Phase. The BE2 tuning up in shed before flight over German positions
At the Provost Marshal's office at Windhuk--all in Law and order
The Union Jack just hoisted at the Governor's office, Windhuk
The Great Military Barracks at Windhuk
Panorama of Windhuk
Picturesque Windhuk
Windhuk. Basking in the sun: from the great Wireless Station
How the Germans started to try trading with us ten minutes after we entered the Capital. Note the spelling
The Last Phase. Difficulties with General Botha's car through the thick sand
The Last Phase. The Germans had a hobby of blowing up bridges. Here is a fine specimen
General Frank's house, Windhuk. Photo of the two first men there taken under the flag hauled down by us
Windhuk. The first British station-master and one of his staff
The Fork that Caught the Germans
The Last Phase. Opposite the very spot where surrender was made. A vast ant-hill at 500 Kilometres
South-West Africa. Position of enemy before surrender
The Last Phase. The German white flag train just arriving
The Last Phase. General Botha meets Von Franke at 500 Kilometres
The Last Phase. Troops entraining to return home
The Last Phase. The famous Rhodesian Regiment that did so much in the final brilliant movement
The Last Phase. Isumeh. British prisoners released
The German Staff before surrender
General Botha and his brilliant Chief of Staff, Colonel J.F. Collier, meet Von Franke at 500 Kilometres
The Last Phase. The Commander-in-Chief, General Botha, receives an ovation from his Bodyguard after disbanding them
Generals Botha and Smuts, the Great South Africans, receive a tremendous ovation from the crowd at the Capital on the successful conclusion of the Rebellion and the Campaign
The Great Man and the Chips of the Old Block returning to the Union after Conquest
WITH BOTHA IN THE FIELD
PART I
CHASING THE REBELS
SECTION I
KEMP AND BEYERS
Six weeks after the war-cloud smashed over Europe a man called on me. He was an old friend; but the point about him is that at that particular time I fancied him on his farm at least a thousand miles away.
"Hello!" I said in surprise. "Why this sudden appearance?"
"This is going to be a big thing, my boy. I am off 'Home.' They will need us all."
It impressed me. He was a person calm and methodical minded, and, like so many good men, he has been dead now many months. His words, which have proved true, were the first to turn my mind definitely to war-thoughts. Besides, the man whose trade is writing has always, when events are stirring, the itch to go, look and note.
In the branch of the Union Service to which I belong--the South African Police--none but Reservists could then proceed to Europe; but when General Botha announced that he himself would take command of the Expeditionary Force to German South-West Africa, a Bodyguard from the South African Police was decided upon, volunteers came forward, and on this unit I had the honour to serve.
The intention of the Union Authorities was to push forward with the German West Campaign as quickly as possible. The Rebellion delayed operations roughly some three months--a period during which some exceedingly severe marchings and stiff rifle actions took place. I mention this deliberately, for in the stir of well-won applause following the victorious end of the Campaign proper, the preliminary canter of the Rebellion is perhaps somewhat forgotten.
It does not seem, in the light of later information, strictly true to say that the Rebellion of 1914 broke upon the Union of South Africa in a manner wholly unexpected. But its ultimate development and extent did cause both surprise and great uneasiness. The details of its various activities over the country are by this time stale history. Leaving comment of a political nature alone, I confine myself briefly to the movements which, performed by General Botha and the loyalist troops, were so swift and accurate in their workings that they broke the back of the main risings before more than local disorganisation and the least possible amount of bloodshed had been achieved.
On the 12th of October the Bodyguard for the German South-West Campaign assembled for field practices, etc., at Pretoria. On the 20th we heard that we should be leaving at an hour's notice, presumably for the South-West. The following day wild and disquieting rumours began to circulate from early morning. Maritz had gone into rebellion. Motor-cars sped all forenoon between General Botha's house close to us and the Union Defence Headquarters. Our camp was full of alarms. The police of Pretoria became suddenly twice as many about the streets. Towards evening it was positively stated that plots were afoot aiming at nothing less than the life of General Botha; and the Main Guard, which had been mounted at the General's house from the day of the Bodyguard's formation, was doubled. Not a soul was allowed within or around the modest grounds of the house without challenge at the point of the bayonet and presentment of the countersign. It will be long before memory loses the picture of those evenings, when through the lighted windows of the left wing of the house the Main Guard first and second reliefs got a view of a familiar ample figure in anxious consultations at a table upon which the electric light cast a mellow glow.
The next day, the 22nd of October, rumour gave way to fact. Rebellion had definitely broken out in the Transvaal and the Free State; Beyers, the ex-Commandant General, Kemp and others were leading in the Transvaal; the names of De Wet and Wessel Wessels were coupled with the Free State. For the second time within a year unhappy South Africa heard rumours of imminent Martial Law proclamations.
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