CHAPTER XVI

.--THE GRAND ARMY RELIEVES KIMBERLEY. Feb. 10-16, 1900.

Lord Roberts addresses the officers--Cavalry leaders--Advance to Ramdam--French at Waterval Drift--De Kiel's Drift secured--Sunset on the veldt--Cronje's optimism--The cavalry push forward--Heat and thirst--Veldt on fire--Rondeval and Klip Drifts seized--Advance of the infantry--Halt at the Modder--Cavalry opposed--Lancers clear a nek--In touch with Kimberley--Capture of Alexandersfontein--Entry into Kimberley--Bivouac in a Boer camp--C.I.V.s' baptism of fire--Seizure of Jacobsdal--Convoy attacked by De Wet--Waggons abandoned--Cronje's retreat--The Boers carry off their big gun--Orders to head Cronje 346-364

[Illustration: SOUTH AFRICA]

[Illustration: WITH THE FLAG TO PRETORIA.

"He is out on active service, Wiping something off a slate."--KIPLING.]

[Illustration:

_From a photograph by Bassano._

FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS OF KANDAHAR, K. P., V. C., &c.

Born at Cawnpore, India, 1832; son of General Sir Abraham Roberts, G.C.B.; educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and Addiscombe; Second Lieutenant (Bengal Artillery), 1851; Lieutenant, 1857; Captain, 1860; Brev. Major, 1860; Brev. Lieut.-Colonel, 1868; Brev. Colonel, 1875; Major-General, 1878; Lieut.-General, 1883; General, 1890; raised to the peerage, 1892; Field-Marshal, 1895. D.A.Q.M.G. throughout the Indian Mutiny; served in Abyssinia, 1867-8; commanded the Kuram Field Force, 1879, Kabul Field Force, 1879-80, Kabul-Kandahar Field Force, 1880; in Afghanistan, 1880; in Burma, 1886. Commander-in-Chief (Madras), 1881; Commander-in-Chief in India, 1885-93; Commander of the Forces in Ireland, 1895, and in South Africa, December, 1899.]

[Illustration: PRETORIA.]

WITH THE FLAG TO PRETORIA

##