With Botha in the Field

With Botha in the Field

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Ritchie
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Title: With Botha in the Field
Author: Eric Moore Ritchie
Release Date: May 9, 2005 [eBook #15802]
Language: English
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BOTHA IN THE FIELD***
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WITH BOTHA IN THE FIELD
by
MOORE RITCHIE
With Five Diagrams and Eighty-two Illustrations mostly by the Author
Longmans, Green and Co. 39 Paternoster Row, London Fourth Avenue
and 30th Street, New York Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras

1915

[Illustration: The Author]

J.B.
LIEUTENANT, HIS MAJESTY'S IMPERIAL FORCES,
IF THIS SHOULD CATCH THE EYE OF:
CHER AMI,--TO YOU:
IN MEMORY OF DAYS.
YOURS,
M.R.

[Illustration: The only photo of the meeting of General Botha and
General Smuts in the field just before Windhuk was taken]

FOREWORD
The ungentle reader (upon whom a malediction) will discover that this
little book is not by any means exhaustive. But the gentle reader may
find it to be what I hope it is. For him I wrote it.
Europe at the present time is lacerated in the greatest war of which man
has knowledge. Compared with the doings in the Eastern and Western
Fronts, in the Austro-Italian Theatre, or in the Dardanelles, the
campaign of South Africa must take a modest place.
My idea is simply to make clear to the public (for example, all names I
mention will be easily found on my diagrams, drawn from a German
fully detailed map, the best of the South-West African Protectorate in
existence) of gentle and patriotic readers something of the latter-day
work of a gentleman and a patriot, justly famed amongst peoples with
whom integrity and honour are still esteemed sovereign virtues.
"The Nonggai," Pretoria, S. Africa, August 1915.

[Illustration: General Botha's Bodyguard leaving for the Front]

CONTENTS

PART I
CHASING THE REBELS
I KEMP AND BEYERS II DE WET III KEMP'S ESCAPE IV
FOURIE


PART II
THE CAMPAIGN OF SOUTH-WEST AFRICA
I THE PRELIMINARY CANTER II THE FIRST TREK INTO THE
NAMIB DESERT III THE RECORD TREK TO WINDHUK IV THE
LAST PHASE
APPENDIX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Author
The only photo of the meeting of General Botha and General Smuts in
the field just before Windhuk was taken
General Botha's Bodyguard leaving for the Front
Diagram of Campaign
Group of Rebel Leaders
Rebels rounded up after the capture of De Wet
The last pursuit of Kemp. Flying column crossing the Orange River
after him
Troops returning to Pretoria after Nooitgedacht. December 16, 1914
Diagram of Nooitgedacht
General Botha's train leaves the Orange Free State after the crushing of
the Rebellion
Exhausted Troops after defeating De Wet in the Orange Free State

Leaving Pretoria. General Botha's Bodyguard departing
Kits aboard. The Troops departing for the Front
Camp of the Bodyguard at Groote Schuur
Brothers in Arms. The British Navy and Botha's Bodyguard fraternised
aboard. Many of the latter are, of course, pure South African
Boxing aboard. En route to German South-West Africa
Awaiting landing from the Transport
Trekking over the terrible Sand Dunes near the Coast, German
South-West Africa
Some of the first Burghers to land at Walvis
Before the Advance. General Botha photographed with the Red Cross
Sisters
General Botha and Staff alighting for an Inspection. (The famous
Brigadier-General Brits, who trekked to Namutoni, is the fourth figure
from the right.)
Awaiting the Advance. The Commander-in-Chief at tea with the Red
Cross Sisters
Awaiting the Advance. Garrison Sports at Swakopmund. Start for 100
yards race
Awaiting the Advance. Garrison Sports. Winner
Swakopmund from the Lighthouse: Extreme Right
Swakopmund: Centre
Swakopmund: Extreme Left
Man and Beast in the Desert: both absolutely spent
Looking for Water in the River Bed
A Halt in a River Bed: General Botha has lunch
Main Guard aboard--en route to hunt the Huns
On the Great Trek--the Chief of the Staff has a hair-cut
Action at Riet
An unique picture of General Botha, the Commander-in-Chief and his
Staff reconnoitring
After Riet water in blessed profusion
A Typical Parade of the Germans in South-West Africa
Typical captured German Infantry
The Great Trek. Otjimbingwe: its Palms and Wells
The Great Trek. Otjimbingwe: the Commander-in-Chief at the old
German capital

The Great Trek. Getting Milk from a Goat. Milk