Source: Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross
Wednesday, 1 November 1899
The enemy commenced this morning on their old tactics of shelling the women’s laager, [and] no less than thirteen 94-pounders have been sent by the enemy round about this place which they had promised to respect. The town had very few shells near it, but as the men say, if the enemy would only aim at the town and not at the women’s laager, they could stand it a good deal better. The effect of worry and anxiety on the men’s minds whilst the Boers are shelling the women’s laager is far more trying than anything we have yet gone through.
The Town Commandant1 has been round amongst the Town Guard today, asking for men who had any knowledge of artillery. I do not believe there are half a dozen men in the whole of our townspeople who could load and sight a seven-pounder; so that the military will have to teach a squad for this purpose.
It is again rumoured that our reinforcements are close to, and are expected here on Sunday next.
B.P. has again instructed the P.R. to hold itself in readiness to cross the border of the Transvaal on Tuesday next.
The townspeople believe that all these rumours are simply spread so as to keep up the courage of the paid men and the Town Guard.
