Homeward bound!  General Botha and Staff returning on the Ebari

The Great Man and the Chips of the Old Block returning to the Union after Conquest

[Illustration:  Diagram of Campaign]

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.