With Botha in the Field | Page 2

was priced beyond
Silver
The Great Trek. An extempore bath towards the end of the Trek
A Beauty Spot passed during the last Trek
The Last Phase. Conference at Omaruru. German Staff lunching
The General receives his Bodyguard at a Garden Party after return
German prisoners of war, imprisoned at Karibib
Karibib
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
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