d had not yet its communications secured. How much more was this
true when {p.307} a great further advance of 250 miles was intended.
In short, before moving forward, it was necessary to insure that the
connection behind was established, and the provision for transport
ahead adequately developed. This involved not only an immense
accumulation of animals, to allow for a waste always extreme, but also
large reinforcements of troops; for every step forward in an enemy's
country requires a detachment left behind to secure it.

"At each remove the lengthening chain" demands its group of guards,
and these wisely disposed for quick mutual assistance; for with any
enemy, and especially with one so mobile, it is impossible to be
everywhere in sufficient force, superior to an unexpected attack.
Communications are ever on the defensive, the most embarrassing of
military attitudes. To the scattered units of such a system, all that
can be provided is power to hold out until succoured. Moreover, there
must be not merely a steady stream of supply from some far distant
source, but the establishment of intermediate reservoirs--secondary
depots--well stored with the manifold requirements of {p.308} an army
in campaign; advanced bases, capable by themselves of supporting for
an appreciable time the existence and activity of forces dependent
upon them alone. The importance of these to the army make them ever an
object of attack to the enemy. Provision against accident or
interruption, casual or hostile, has therefore to be elaborate in
framework and solid in joint. "Lord Roberts had 45,000 men when he
arrived at Bloemfontein, and he increased that number to 75,000 by
April 30." Six thousand horses, besides mules, were at the same time
sent up. To supply men and animals with daily food, and to accumulate
on the spot twenty-five days' provisions and supplies of military
stores for the further advance to the Vaal, there had to be brought
daily to Bloemfontein, besides the reinforcements of men, 1020 tons by
a single-track railroad on which many bridges had been destroyed.[41]
And Bloemfontein was 750 miles from Cape Town, and 250 from De Aar,
the nearest secondary base so far established.

[Footnote 41: These figures are taken from a speech
made by the Under Secretary of War in Parliament,
June 29, 1900.]

The {p.309} good effect of Roberts's advance upon the general fortune
of the w