ed execution by more
than the two or three days elapsing between Roberts' arrival and the
start. At Cape Town he had had interviews with General French,
summoned there for that purpose. During January the constant arrival
of troops from all quarters at the Modder Camp gave the impression of
{p.268} a purpose to resume the frontal attack and to force the way to
Kimberley through Magersfontein; an impression which, produced on the
mind of the Boer leader, was itself part of the necessary preparation.
On the 3rd of February, General Hector MacDonald, with a brigade of
Highlanders, had moved north-west, towards Koodoosberg, where he
arrived on the 7th. The movement was in sufficient force to attract
the attention of the Boers, and appeared the more plausible because of
the disturbed condition of the district; which, although British, was
full of Boer partisans showing signs of restlessness. A similar
expedition, but less numerous, under Colonel Pilcher, had gone out
early in January, capturing forty rebels. While otherwise useful, it
seems probably that MacDonald's enterprise was intended chiefly to
fasten the enemy's attention in a false direction. On the 8th he was
recalled by Methuen, acting under orders from headquarters.

The great projected operation was to turn the eastern left flank of
Cronje's position, seizing important drifts, or fords, on the Riet
{p.269} and Modder Rivers by a secret and rapid circuit of cavalry,
which should hold them until they were secured by slower moving
infantry following on the track. When the last and chief of these,
Klip Drift on the Modder, some twenty miles east of Magersfontein, was
held by an infantry division, the cavalry's flank would be secured and
its advance would then be pressed to Kimberley. While the movement was
in progress, Methuen in his old lines on the Modder would hold the
enemy in his positions by a demonstration of force seemingly not
reduced. If the undertaking were successful, superior British numbers
would be planted across the line of Cronje's communications with
Bloemfontein, and the cavalry on his rear to intercept retreat in mass
to the north. To this turning operation were assigned three divisions
of infantry and one of cavalry; the latter was under General French,
called from the Naauwport district for this purpose. The infantry
divisions were the 6th, General Kelly-Kenny; the 7th, General Tucker;
and the 9th, General Colvile. The total force thus engaged i