With the whole of South Africa in revolt, our position of “splendid isolation” in Europe might well have induced Continental complications.  The foreign Press, indeed, was almost unanimous in its jubilations over this series of disasters.  The German papers in particular, filled their pages with the most atrocious insults and jibes.  Such was the situation in “Black Week.”  There was much ominous talk on the Continent about “the flowing tide.”  Only one obstacle prevented these dire prophecies from coming true.  French and his little force possibly stayed the tide of a world conflict, through checking the rebel torrent between Naauwpoort and Colesberg.

[Page Heading:  A TIGHT CORNER]

It is typical of his perfect sang froid, that in this excessively tight corner, French found time to send a cheering Christmas greeting to friends at home.  “We shall drink your health on Christmas Day,” he wired on behalf of himself and his staff, “and we hope you are well, and having as good a time as we are.”

French’s use of Arundel was masterly.  For him to attack was impossible; about this time he was outnumbered by something like five to one.  His one aim, therefore, was to keep the Boers from the railway line.  The moment that his scouts discovered the Boers throwing out detachments to defend a kopje, French would have an elaborate attack, or a reconnaissance in force to drive the enemy in.  At this time scarcely a day passed without its “affair” of one sort or another.  If it was not a night attack, then it was a miniature siege, or a flanking movement—­or a piece of bluff!  His men were in the saddle night and day.  One of those present has related how he practically lived on his horse for two months.

Did Schoeman attempt to force a pitched battle, then French, by a series of simultaneous flank and rear movements, would harass him out of the possibility of a general action.  It is doubtful, indeed, whether during this lively period of his life the Boer commander ever really had time to meet either his fellow commanders or his lieutenants and discuss a concerted plan of action.  No sooner was a general movement visible in the Boer camps, than French and his men swept out, or threatened to sweep out, on some dangerous design.  Every morning the General himself made a personal reconnaissance in the neighbourhood.

[Page Heading:  A BRILLIANT EXPLOIT]

During his reconnaissance on December 31, French came to the conclusion that an offensive movement was at last possible.  Colesberg lies in a little plateau, ringed round by a quadrangle of kopjes, all of which were strongly held by the enemy.  Just beyond this quadrangle, however, one or two kopjes projected from its western face.  French determined to seize one of these, from which he could push forward along the enemy’s flank, jeopardising his line of retreat.