Baden-Powell of MafekingFletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
History
Baden-Powell of Mafeking
Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, Baron, 1857-1941; Generals -- Great Britain -- Biography
"I may tell you that Mafeking cannot be taken by sitting down and
looking at it, for we have ample supplies for several months. The
Staats Artillery has done very little damage, and we are now protected
both by troops and mines. Your presence here and elsewhere under
arms cannot stop the British advancing through your country. Your
leaders and newspapers are also trying to make you believe that some
foreign combination or Power is likely to intervene in your behalf
against England. It is not in keeping with their pretence that your
side is going to be victorious, nor in accordance with facts. The
Republic having declared war, and taken the offensive, cannot claim
intervention on their behalf. The German Emperor is at present in
England, and fully sympathizes with us. The American Government has
warned others of its intention to side with England should any Power
intervene. France has large interests in the goldfields, identical
with those of England. Italy is entirely in accord with us. Russia has
no cause to interfere. The war is of one Government against another,
and not of a people against another people.
"The duty assigned to my troops is to sit still here until the proper
time arrives, and then to fight and kill until you give in. You, on
the other hand, have other interests to think of, your families,
farms, and their safety. Your leaders have caused the destruction of
farms, and have fired on women and children. Our men are becoming hard
to restrain in consequence. They have also caused the invasion of
Kaffir territory, looting their cattle, and have thus induced them to
rise and invade your country and kill your burghers. As one white man
to another, I warned General Cronje, on November 14th, that this would
occur. Yesterday I heard that more Kaffirs were rising. I have warned
General Snyman accordingly. Great bloodshed and destruction of farms
threaten you on all sides.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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