the part of the mounted troops forming
the two enveloping wings on both sides of the railway line.

It was therefore necessary that the transport for their supplies should
not fail during their advance. It had been arranged that General French's
cavalry, with Hutton's mounted riflemen, should advance to the westward
of the railway, and that he wanted me to take charge of their combined
transport and supply columns. I told Grierson that I was doubtful whether
I had enough experience for that sort of work. Didn't he think that
someone better fitted should be selected? Grierson told me that Lord
Roberts had suggested my name, and that he thought that was quite enough.
There was nothing more to be said.

I asked for instructions. He said "Go and see Ward and you will get
them." I went across to Colonel Ward, at the D.A.Q.M.G.'s quarters, and
saw him. He told me that the troops were advancing early next morning,
that General French's supply column was last heard of as about to leave
Welgelegen, and he had no intimation of any kind as to Hutton's supply
column.

The situation, then, was shortly this. The two mounted brigades were
leaving early in the morning of the 22nd, and expected to advance during
the day somewhere between twenty and thirty miles. One of the two supply
columns was timed to reach Kroonstad, the starting point of the two
troops, on the evening of the day of the departure of the brigades, and
required a rest, and there was no information available as to the
whereabouts of the second supply column. The outlook was not cheerful.
Having gathered a small staff I dispatched a party to hunt up Hutton's
column, with orders that they were to be hustled up to Kroonstad without
delay.

I spent the rest of the day making the necessary arrangements for the
provision of escorts for the columns, which, owing to the existing
circumstances, would be unable to move on together. It was quite evident
that French's column would have to leave Kroonstad before Hutton's, and
that owing to the rapid advance of the troops in front it would be
impossible for the two supply columns to join up en route. The only
practical solution that came to my mind was to hurry on French's column,
feed Hutton from it, and trust to be able to push forward Hutton's
column, when I got hold of it, in time to make up French's deficiencies
before he actually fell short.

Knowing that the supplies of a commanding officer in the field are always
look