WHAT MAFEKING'S RESISTANCE MEANT.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 28

WHAT MAFEKING' S RESISTANCE MEANT.

A_ contemporary points out what was involved in the resistance, of Mafeking. It says: — The following is a resume of the points gained by the Rhodesian Frontier Force from October, 1899, to May, 1900, at Mafeking : —

1. A force of 8000 Boers with 10 guns surrounding the town on the first outbreak of war was prevented from combining with the Tuli column and invading Rhodesia, or joibing the force sent against Kimberley. and Cronje's commando ' was held here" for a month. -

2. Two or three thousand Boers with eight guns, including a 94-pounder, were ket>t employed around Mafeking for over six months. 3. The enemy expended considerably over 100 tons of ammunition, and lost over 1000 men killed and 'wounded, while three of their guns are*eaid to have been disabled.

4. Large stores of food, forage, and general stocks were prevented from falling into the enemy's hands.

5. Valuable railway plant, locomotives, rolling stock, shops, and coal were saved. 6. Refuge was given to a la?ge number of British from the Transvaal.

7. Most of the local tribes and all of the Protectorate of South Matabcleland remained loyal, which they would not have done had Maf eking fallen, for in that case they would have been .it the mercy of" the Boers. 8. The loss of prestige by Cronje's force, who apparently expected to lake the position on their first arrival, and had a proclamation ready printed of the annexation of the districts to the South African Republic. With regard to the achievements of the Rhodesian column, further, it must be pointed out that during the same period the northern portion of the force under Colonel Plumer, in spite of thesmallness of its numbers, the exceptional difficulty of the country, and the trying nature of the climate in which they were operating, succeeded — (a) in holding and sending back the enemy, who were attempting to invade Rhodesia via Tuli ; (b)' in holding the Bulawayo railway for 200 miles south of the Rhodesian border ; (c) in giving direct support and protection to the natives of Khama's and Linchwe's Dominion, Bathoen's country, and the nrolectorate generally when threatened by the enemy ; (d) in putting down a repair railway in face of (lie enemy to within 40 miles of Mafeking. A pilot column and a small column organised by Captain Nicholson, with an armoured train, hold Mangwe. Palapye, and Mochudi on the railway tmtil Colonel Plurner's force was available for this duty.

_ The whole_ of Colonel Baden-Powell's- frontier force, including the north and south columns combined, numbered under 1700, while the Boers in the early part of the campaign numbered between 9000 and 10,000. On the northern and north- western border, the country in which operations were being conducted between Maf eking and Tuli was over 450 miles in length.