d the 5-inch gun with friendly
concern, and having relieved the General of his tobacco-pouch and a box
of cigars, and offering their assistance when not busy with their
neighbours, returned to their kraals.

The mounted troops were sent on ahead the same day to Pokwani town,
where it was supposed the Boers had collected a quantity of cattle. No
trace, however, of either Boers or cattle was found there.

The columns comprising the drive southward were in constant
communication with each other by signalling. Plumer's column was
immediately on Kitchener's right, holding the line of the Oliphant's
River, thus preventing the Boers, who were scattered in small groups in
the bush veldt, from escaping in the direction of Pietersburg, whilst
Park's column was operating on Kitchener's left, thus preventing the
Boers breaking back towards Waterval and the Steenkampsberg mountains.

Gradually Kitchener's column moved southward, driving the Boers off the
high ground and picking them up with their cattle and families in the
low or bush veldt. To do this with greater effect the column was
divided, one portion consisting of the battalion, one gun, the I.L.H.
and Australians under Colonel Davies proceeding in a north-westerly
direction to stop the Boers breaking back into the bush veldt in rear,
whilst General Kitchener with the remainder of the column marched over
the high ground overlooking the bush veldt, and on the direct road to
the south. On the 22nd Davies' column reached Enkeldedoorn, whilst
General Kitchener with the Rifle Brigade occupied Vaal Kop on the
morning of the 23rd. On the first day out the mounted troops of Davies'
force, scouring the bush in their advance, captured 23 prisoners, 8
wagons, 450 head of cattle, and 4000 sheep. They also brought in a
number of families, some of whom had been hiding for months in kloofs
and dongas in great fear of the Kaffirs. One woman with her children was
seen weeping by the side of the track, and on being asked the reason,
she implored that she also might be taken into the railway and not left
behind. She was comforted by an assurance that the column would return
and that she would be taken in.

Stores were now running short, and the biscuit and sugar rations were
reduced to half.

In order to keep connection between the two portions of General
Kitchener's column, two companies were left at Enkeldedoorn under the
command of Captain Bartlett. These also formed a "stop" to prevent