s the reason for the reduction. This
could not be guessed at, and it gave rise to conjectures, the chief
being that Buller had again failed, and could not get through. His
shells had been seen bursting on the hills, and that had encouraged the
garrison; but the garrison had been encouraged before by the sight of
Buller's shells bursting on Thabba Nyama. Three days previously, owing
to the good news received from Buller, the garrison had been put on full
rations, but now, after further good news, the order was promulgated:--

"Highly satisfactory reports have been sent from General Buller as to
his advance, but the country is difficult and progress slow, therefore I
am obliged to reduce the ration, etc. etc."

This sudden cancelling of the increase of the ration, and its still
further reduction in the face of the news received and in the sight of
Buller's shells, was disappointing. Having ascertained that the garrison
could exist till April 15th and not longer, and that then there would
not be a horse, ox, or mule left, Sir George White, much against his
will, but to make things certain in case General Buller was again
checked, gave the orders for the reduction on the day before the relief.

During the day the big gun on Bulwana made an attempt to reach
Observation Hill Post, which were the furthest works from him in that
direction. His attempt succeeded, and he put many shells into the works.
His record for the siege was an attempt to reach Wagon Hill. He failed
in this, but his range, as measured on the map, was 11,560 yards, or 6
miles and 1000 yards.

February 28th, the last day of the siege, was very hot and oppressive;
everybody seemed depressed, trying to guess at some reason for the
ration reduction. At about 2 p.m., however, Major Riddel, brigade-major
to Colonel Knox, came up to the officers' mess smiling all over, and
said that excellent news, the very best, had come in, but that "_it is
confidential, and I am not allowed to say what it is_." He called for
volunteers who were willing and able to march seven miles and fight at
the end of it. The whole Regiment, officers and men, volunteered, but
after a medical examination had been made of the battalion, only one
hundred men were found to come up to requirements.

At about 3.30 p.m. the news was distributed that General Buller had
gained a complete victory over the Boers, who were in full retreat.
Hundreds of wagons were seen going off north towards Modder