1899 - Kimberley siege day 61 (49%). Ladysmith siege day 43 (36%). Mafeking siege day 63 (29%).
1900 - De Wet and Steyn escape through Springhaan's Nek.
1901 - New Zealand offers 1,000 more men.
1903 - Anti-Chinese meeting at Johannesburg broken up.
In Kimberley:
The organisation necessary in connection with the sending away of inhabitants is proceeding satisfactorily. It is confidential, but of course it is very difficult to keep it so, with so many interests concerned – all want to know why this is necessary, and with details of proposed military movements, which information I cannot of course furnish them with.
The relief column balloon went up about 8 am and remained up for half an hour.
Major Fraser reports that he calculates the number of enemy shewing on wimbledon ridge as 250.
The stocks of supplies kept up by the inhabitants seem larger than was anticipated. This is very satisfactory, and I shall be able this evening to send message as to bread stuffs meat and forage remaining.
The cold storage is ready. There appears to be nothing that Mr Labram, engineer to De Beers cannot turn out. He really deserves the greatest credit and praise for his excellent work.
I sent the following message by search light this evening.
“From Kekewich. To General Metheun. Dec 14th No 26. Many individuals have made such ample provisions for siege have ascertained our supplies bread and meat and forage will last civil and military in Kimberley 35 days from to-day. Stop. Early instructions requested if reductions nations necessary, in order supplies may last till end of January. Dennison writes four hundred Dutch mostly rebels attacked Karumen Novemeber 13th after six days siege they left hurriedly admitting defeat. Karumen lost one man and nine horses killed seven horses wounded Stop. Dutch loss estimated thirty killed and wounded.”
I do not as a rule refer to despatch rider messages in this diary, but the following message was sent by this means this evening:
“From Chamber Commerce, To High commissioner, Cape Town. Rumoured here that military authorities have received instructions for forcible removal of population from Kimberley to South immediately upon Railway communication being restored. Chamber most strongly protest against such a drastic measure being enforced which means ruin to thousands who have loyally supported Empire in present crisis.”
I received 8 messages in all by search light this evening. The following are important ones and replies sent:
“From Intelligence Modder; To Intelligence Kimberley. Dec 13th No 1. Your 38 of Dec 11th. Engineers report Mud River bridge four spans badly damaged one slightly damaged, three in tact. Most girders can be repaired but if four new spans available it would save time to replace the damaged by new girders eight new girders required also cross girders.”
“From Director Supplies, Cape Town; To Kekewich. Telegrams from Capt Gorle ASC requesting merchants Kimberley being referred here. Stop. are such telegrams sent with your sanction.”
“From Kekewich, to Director of Supplies. Dec 14th No 27. Wires from Capt Gorle ASC referring supplies belonging Kimberley merchants trucked since beginning siege should have been from me to you. Supplies in question refer to those required for civil population.”
2 fire balloons were sent up by the enemy during the evening at about midnight a rocket was sent up in direction of Kenilworth, evidently a signal to the enemy from the town. I wish I could catch one of these offenders, but notwithstanding careful arrangements to do so, I have failed so far.
In Ladysmith:
After the high hopes of the last few days we seem to be falling back, and to get no nearer to the end. Very little firing was heard from Colenso. The Bulwan gun gave us his morning salute of ten big shells in various parts of the town. They made some troublesome pits in the roads, and one destroyed a house, but nobody was killed.
The howitzers and the Telegraph Hill Gun pounded away at each other without much effect. Sickness is now our worst enemy. Next to sickness comes want of forage for the horses. The sick still average thirty a day, and there were 320 cases of enteric at Intombi Camp last night. Mr. Steevens has it, and his friends were busy all morning, moving him to better quarters. Major Henderson is about again. The Röntgen Rays did not discover the bicycle shot in his leg, and the doctors have decided to leave it there.
It was disappointing to hear that the Kaffir runner I sent with an account of the night attack on Surprise Hill had been captured by the Boers and robbed of his papers. I had hopes of that boy; he wore no trousers. But it is perhaps unsafe to judge character from dress alone. This runner business is heart-breaking. I tried to make up by getting another short heliogram through, but the sun was uncertain, and the receivers on the distant mountain sulky and wayward. They showed one faint glimmer of intelligence, and then all was dark again.
In the heat of the day a four-wheeled hooded cart drove from the Boer lines under a white flag bringing a letter for the General. The envoy was a Dutchman from Holland. He was met outside our lines by Lieutenant Fanshawe, of the 19th Hussars, who conversed with him for about two hours, till the answer returned. Seated under the shade of the cart, he enjoyed the enemy's hospitality in brandy and soda, biltong, and Boer biscuit. "But for that white rag," said the Dutchman, "we two would be trying to kill each other. Very absurd!" He went on to repeat how much the Boers admired the exploits of the night attacks. "If you had gone for the other guns that first night, you would have got them all." He said the gunners on Gun Hill were all condemned to death. He examined the horse and its accoutrements, thinking them all very pretty, but maintaining the day for cavalry was gone. He was perfectly intimate with the names and character of all the battalions here. Of the Boer army he said it contained all nationalities down to Turks and Jews. He had no doubt of their ultimate success, and looked forward to Christmas dinner in Ladysmith. What we regard as our victories, he spoke of as our defeats. Even Elands Laagte he thought unsuccessful. Finally, after all compliments, he drove away, bearing a private letter from Mr. Fanshawe to be posted through Delagoa Bay and Amsterdam.
