CHAPTER 28.

The halt at Pretoria.

Lord Roberts had now been six weeks in the capital, and British troops had overrun the greater part of the south and west of the Transvaal, but in spite of this there was continued Boer resistance, which flared suddenly up in places which had been nominally pacified and disarmed.  It was found, as has often been shown in history, that it is easier to defeat a republican army than to conquer it.  From Klerksdorp, from Ventersdorp, from Rustenburg, came news of risings against the newly imposed British authority.  The concealed Mauser and the bandolier were dug up once more from the trampled corner of the cattle kraal, and the farmer was a warrior once again.  Vague news of the exploits of De Wet stimulated the fighting burghers and shamed those who had submitted.  A letter was intercepted from the guerilla chief to Cronje’s son, who had surrendered near Rustenburg.  De Wet stated that he had gained two great victories and had fifteen hundred captured rifles with which to replace those which the burghers had given up.  Not only were the outlying districts in a state of revolt, but even round Pretoria the Boers were inclined to take the offensive, while both that town and Johannesburg were filled with malcontents who were ready to fly to their arms once more.

Already at the end of June there were signs that the Boers realised how helpless Lord Roberts was until his remounts should arrive.  The mosquitoes buzzed round the crippled lion.  On June 29th there was an attack upon Springs near Johannesburg, which was easily beaten off by the Canadians.  Early in July some of the cavalry and mounted infantry patrols were snapped up in the neighbourhood of the capital.  Lord Roberts gave orders accordingly that Hutton and Mahon should sweep the Boers back upon his right, and push them as far as Bronkhorst Spruit.  This was done on July 6th and 7th, the British advance meeting with considerable resistance from artillery as well as rifles.  By this movement the pressure upon the right was relieved, which might have created a dangerous unrest in Johannesburg, and it was done at the moderate cost of thirty-four killed and wounded, half of whom belonged to the Imperial Light Horse.  This famous corps, which had come across with Mahon from the relief of Mafeking, had, a few days before, ridden with mixed feelings through the streets of Johannesburg and past, in many instances, the deserted houses which had once been their homes.  Many weary months were to pass before the survivors might occupy them.  On July 9th the Boers again attacked, but were again pushed back to the eastward.