Battles of the nineteenth century . long therailway north of Stormbergbv Burghersdorp Junction,Bethulie Bridge on theOrange River, and Spring-fontein. Once Springfonteinwas occupied, a second lineof communications wouldbe opened by Colesberg and Norvals PontBridge. An army advancing on this linewould directly cover its communications, andonce the Orange River was crossed it mightbe expected that the threat against Bloemfon-tein might force Cronje to abandon thesiege of Kimberley. There are many well-qualified judges who still think that this wouldhave been the soundest plan of operations. Inth
Battles of the nineteenth century . long therailway north of Stormbergbv Burghersdorp Junction,Bethulie Bridge on theOrange River, and Spring-fontein. Once Springfonteinwas occupied, a second lineof communications wouldbe opened by Colesberg and Norvals PontBridge. An army advancing on this linewould directly cover its communications, andonce the Orange River was crossed it mightbe expected that the threat against Bloemfon-tein might force Cronje to abandon thesiege of Kimberley. There are many well-qualified judges who still think that this wouldhave been the soundest plan of operations. Inthe middle of January it looked as if LordRoberts meant to adopt it. Kelly-Kenny waspushing forward along the railway from RosmeadJunction, near Middelburg, to Stormberg. Hisadvance guard reached Thebus, the railway wasrepaired up to that point, and his mountedpatrols were in touch with those sent out fromGatacres camp at Sterkstroom. It was expectedthat a combined front and flank attack byGatacre and Kelly-Kenny would drive Olivierm. ;{Photo : Charles out of Stormberg. The seizure of the rivercrossing at Bethulie would follow, and De Wetand Delarey would have to abandon would clear the Colony of the enemy andopen the way for the march on Bloemfontein. But the third course (in favour of which thisplan was rejected), though it had some greatdrawbacks, offered also considerable advantages,and had in its favour a political—one mightalmost say a personal—reason of some im-portance. The British already held the rivercrossing and the great iron railwav bridge atOrange River station, and the carefully guardedrailway line beyond to the temporary bridgethat led to the extensive sidings at ModderRiver camp. This ofTered arailway base about fifty mileslong, from many points onwhich waggon tracks led intothe Free State ; and the openveldt between the railwayand Bloemfontein, thoughnot the level, featurelessplain which many supposeit to be, presents no for-
Size: 1425px × 1754px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1901
