TOPIC:

1900 - Mafeking siege day 182 (83%). Wepener siege day 4 (24%)
1901 - Expiration of the Cape Indemnity Act.
 
In Mafeking:
 
This morning the big gun has disappeared and is supposed to be in McMullin's laager. She has not fired, and with the exception of the five-pounder we have had a quiet day.
Several wagons with escorts have trekked from the laager and they are apparently busily engaged in packing up others.

A pigeon left Colonel Plumer yesterday at noon arriving here in forty minutes, and runners in this morning brought Her Majesty's message to Colonel Baden-Powell and news of Lieutenant Smitheman's safe arrival at Colonel Plumer's camp.

Captain McLaren is, I am glad to say, better, and in the hands of a skilful German surgeon who thinks he will do all right.

The rains have begun again which is fortunate for us. Had it not been for the exceptionally rainy season I do not know what the cattle would have done or how we could have held out.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Thursday, 12 April

Everybody this morning mooching round asking the one question, "Have they found the big gun?’’, only to receive the reply, "No she cannot be spotted yet.” Conjectures by the dozens. Nothing worth repeating.

Expect she will go off from some unseen quarter presently, and some one will be caught.

Message received today from Her Majesty saying she is "anxiously watching us”. If she would only send us some bread she need not be so anxious.

Message also received from Lord Roberts saying the relief column is coming on as quick as possible.

We hear that Lord Methuen, on the road to relieve us, has met with a reverse at Fourteen Streams, only native rumour, so we do not know yet quite what to believe. If he is still the other side of the Vaal, what price us poor devils? Mafeking, the first besieged and absolutely the last to receive help, although the smallest-garrisoned and worst-armed place of the lot.

This is B.P.’s latest effusion as a poet.

What is the gun

That makes them run When they hear the warning bell,

You may bet your boots Its the gun that shoots The high velocity shell.

From the diary of Lance Corporal Luke Gormley, 1st Royal Scots, at Wepener

Apr 12th, 1900

We are still in the trenches and no sign of a relief. Our losses continue daily and another of our company was wounded today. The Cape Mounted Rifles are losing very heavily. The Boers have found the range of our trenches and their shells keep bursting over our heads. Strange to say, though, they are not doing much damage except to our horses and bullocks and the smell of rotting carcasses is dreadful. They are lying in heaps round the valley. Our guns help us as well as they can but they have not much ammunition and are saving it as much as possible.