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April 20th 12 years 7 months ago #2845

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1900 - Mafeking siege day 190 (87%). Wepener siege day 12 (71%). Rundle engaged near Dewetsdorp.

1900 - Mafeking - A diary of the siege by Major F D Baillie

Runners arrived with papers and a letter giving an account of the murder of young Dennison at Vryburg. He, it appears, was wounded, and the Boers-shot him in cold blood. In the same papers we read accounts of the excellent treatment received by Cronje and the other Boer prisoners, and the infamous treatment accorded to Colonial prisoners of war by the Boers. Having contravened every known law of war, except perhaps poisoning wells, it would seem only reasonable that they should be treated judicially, as they claim to be a civilized race, and given a chance of explaining their breaches of the Geneva Convention. Failing to do this they should be accorded the justice for which they are always clamouring. It appears to one less important to conciliate the rebel Dutch than to avoid stirring up the indignation which is expressing itself very freely amongst the loyal Colonials at the ridiculously lenient way in which the rebels are treated, and as the Bond Attorney-General cannot see his way to proceed against them, it would surely be possible to replace him by an official who was not an avowed sympathiser of theirs. The rebels, so far, apparently have had really a very good time of it. They have looted their loyal neighbours' property, and harried their cattle and farms, murdering them, when so inclined, to their hearts' content, and now are apparently neither going to be asked to pay for their amusement or even disgorge their plunder. You do not as a rule expect the conquered to be satisfied with the victor's settlement of a war, but apparently in our case we are going to pacify our enemies at the expense of our friends. However, I suppose the matter will square itself, and the Colonial troops will not trouble to take prisoners to undergo a farce of a trial.
Dr David Biggins
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April 20th 2 years 7 months ago #82781

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1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

20 April

Runners in but no news.
Dr David Biggins

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April 20th 2 years 7 months ago #82782

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Somewhat conflicting diary entries from Wepener in 1900

From the diary of 2nd Lieutenant Nigel K Charteris, Royal Scots, at Wepener

20th April

Bright sunshine. From our trench (through our loophole) we can see Boers riding backwards and forwards in the direction of Wepener.

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

Apr 20th

The rains continues and still no sign of relief. We are beginning to think they have given up hope of relieving us. We can't hold out much longer as our ammunition is getting done. The C.M.Rs had two more casualties today. One was shot through the head and the other through the stomach. I wonder how many more of us have got to go under. To add to our misery, it has rained constantly for three days and nights. Our trenches have six inches of water in them and our clothes have also been wet through for three days. It would not be so bad if you could move about, but we have to remain in a bent up position all day, shivering with the cold. If you straighten yourself up, the Boers fire a volley at you. It is now 13 days since we were hemmed in.
Dr David Biggins
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