 
Footnotes 1. No reference was made to the lance in the 1904 Regulations, because that weapon had been discarded as practically useless, owing to the introduction of breech-loading rifles. Now, unfortunately, the lance has been reintroduced—a retrograde movement. The lance is a positive impediment to dismounted action, as it adds greatly to the difficulty of led horses being moved forward when the men advance. In other words, it ties the men to the horses. 2. When the 9th Lancers were ordered to join my column on Field Service in Kuram in 1879, carbines had to be served out to them, and the men had to be put through a hurried course of musketry. 3. Of KÖniggrÄtz it would probably be more accurate to say that the Austrian Cavalry neutralized the Prussian Cavalry. It was the formidable row of Austrian guns that saved the Austrian army. 4. Eight years have elapsed since Henderson wrote these words. When they were penned the records of the South African War were not at his disposal, and the Manchurian War had still to be fought. The histories of these two campaigns only confirm his views, for during four years of war it is impossible to find more than a few instances, and these all trivial, of the successful use of the arme blanche. 5. I do not mean to reflect in any way on those in authority before the South African War for not having anticipated the power conferred by the magazine rifle and smokeless powder. But I submit that in “Cavalry Training” (1904) the lesson had been learnt, and the Manchurian War has surely confirmed the decision reached in 1904. 6. Bernhardi, p. 60. Mr. Goldman’s translation, second edition, of General von Bernhardi’s “Cavalry in Future Wars.” 7. I may point out here that General von Bernhardi agrees with this. On page 176 (Mr. Goldman’s translation) he says: “The sword should therefore be attached to the saddle, the carbine to the man, as is, in fact, the practice of all races of born horsemen.” 8. Unfortunately, the expenses connected with life in our Cavalry regiments are so heavy that only officers who have considerate means of their own can afford to belong to them, and but few of such go into the army as a profession. The only remedy is to make service in the Cavalry more attractive to those who are not well off by increasing the pay, and thus making it a prize for the Cadets at Sandhurst to struggle for as they now struggle for the Indian army. 9. Colonel Denison’s “History of Cavalry” gives an excellent account of Cavalry work in this war and others of the same period. 10. “Science of War,” chap. iii., “Tactical Employment of Cavalry” (undated). 11. “Cavalry soldiers must of course learn to be expert rifle shots, but the attainment of this desirable object will be brought no nearer by ignoring the horse, the sword, or the lance” (Introduction to Bernhardi’s “Cavalry in Future Wars,” p. 22). 12. “Cavalry Training,” p. 129. 13. “Cavalry in Future Wars,” pp. 221–2 and 234 (4). 14. “Cavalry Training,” p. 194. 15. “Cavalry in the Russo-Japanese War,” p. 55. 16. “Cavalry in Future Wars,” p. 10, and elsewhere. 17. “With French in South Africa,” p. 426. 18. Unless the last Boer rush was of this character. The “Official History” (vol. i., p. 169) says that fifty Boers “charged boldly uphill” to within twenty yards of the crest held by the Gordons and the Imperial Light Horse, and then used their rifles. Whether they charged mounted is not stated. 19. “With French in South Africa,” p. 421. 20. Mr. Goldman complains that, although open, the country contained ridges, which provided successive lines of resistance to a retreating enemy. He does not see what ridicule he throws on Cavalry by such a line of argument. 21. I have tried, as usual, to follow the figures of the “Official History,” although for this period they are inadequate. Sometimes the considered estimate of the historian is given, sometimes the Intelligence estimate on the spot, with or without a warning that it was exaggerated, while in the case of particular operations the estimate is occasionally altogether omitted. It is not stated how much allowance is made for men detached on non-combatant duties, and for that leakage from particular commandos of burghers “on leave” which was such a grave source of weakness for the enemy. On January 10, when Roberts landed, the historian’s estimate of “total effective strength of Boers in the field” (vol. i., p. 409) is 46,500, thus disposed:
On February 16 (four days after Roberts began his move) an Intelligence estimate (“somewhat exaggerated”) is given to this effect:
The Natal estimate is omitted, but by reference to the chapters on Natal at the same period the total Boer strength there cannot have been more than 12,000. Add, therefore, 12,000 + the forces of Snyman and H. Botha on January 10, i.e., 3,500, and we get
22. These figures are certainly wrong. Andries Cronje’s force should be included in the 12,000 credited to Cronje. 23. These and the subsequent figures are taken from Roberts’s despatch of February 16. No figures of strength (only of units) are given either in the text or appendices of the “Official History.” 24. The Times History describes Broadwood’s brigade as galloping after Gordon’s, half a mile behind. The German critic, who appears to have been an eyewitness, speaks of 6,000 horsemen charging as though in one body. I base my account on our own “Official History.” 25. German Official Account of the South African War, vol. i., p. 147. 26. “With French in South Africa,” pp. 83, 84, and Appendix A., p. 411. 27. Vol. ii., p. 36. 28. See Henderson’s “Science of War,” pp. 53, 54. 29. Times History gives “150–200”; “Official History,” “200”; German History, “100.” 30. I follow the account of French’s motives given by the “Official History.” Both the Times History and Mr. Goldman represent him as having decided from the first against interception, and regard the next move, to Middelpunt Ridge, as the first stage in an indirect or semi-direct pursuit. The point is not material. It was either irresolute interception or indirect pursuit. 31. Broadwood’s request, and the delay, are not expressly noted in the “Official History.” In fairness to Broadwood, I take them from the Times History. But it is quite clear from the official narrative that there must have been a considerable delay. 32. See p. 201, line 22, where the Cavalry narrative, broken off at p. 197, is resumed (8 or 8.30 a.m.) “On the left” (i.e., on the south of the Modder) “disaster was only warded off by the gallantry of small groups of the bolder burghers,” etc., down to p. 203. 33. “Cavalry in the Russo-Japanese War,” Eng. Translation, p. 32. 34. “Official History,” vol. ii., p. 235; Times History, vol. iii, p. 588. There was no question of using the arme blanche. 35. South African Light Horse, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, Bethune’s Mounted Infantry, Imperial Light Horse (1 squadron), Natal Carbineers (1 squadron), a few Natal Mounted Police. 36. “Official History,” vol. ii., chaps. xx-xxii.; Times History, vol. iii, chaps. ix. and x. 37. It is just possible, no doubt, to take a different view of the affair. The German critic, who is always indifferent to mounted questions, thinks the whole turning movement was a mistake, and that, therefore, the question of supporting Dundonald was not of much consequence. The facts of the wretched friction between Warren and Dundonald are set forth exhaustively in our own “Official History” (pp. 362, 363, and Appendix 9 [c]), and a reader can form his own opinion. The comment affords an example of that criticism by innuendo which so often mars the careful and conscientious narrative of facts, and which generally defeats its own object—that of avoiding direct censure on individuals. The result frequently is to censure the wrong individual. In this case, reading between the lines, one is led to infer that Dundonald was wholly to blame in not sending sufficiently explicit messages to Warren. This interpretation of what happened leaves out of account all the larger aspects of the case, and the chapters are so written as to obscure these larger aspects. Buller’s original orders to Warren (p. 347) “embodied,” we are told, a “broad and bold conception.” So they undoubtedly did. Here is outspoken praise, well deserved. Whence came the failure, then? No one could guess from comments in the text, although, by exercising common sense on a study of the facts, two explanations stand out plainly: (1) That Buller, having framed his plan in outline, divested himself of responsibility for its execution, and remained a passive, though not an uncritical, spectator of events. (2) That speed in the turning movement was the essence of the plan, but that Warren never realized this, and was too slow, his mind perpetually fixed on his heavy transport and oblivious to the offensive possibilities of his advance. Ignoring these broad considerations, which have an obvious and direct bearing on the Dundonald-Warren friction, the Official Historian takes care to investigate and print every message bearing on that topic, and to justify, at any rate by implication, Warren’s caution. Could there be a worse moral, above all, for mounted troops? Overcurt as Dundonald’s messages were, they struck a note which would have elicited the right response from a mind tuned to the right key. One must make some allowance, too, for human nature. Imagine the feelings of a leader of horse who, at such a time and with such an opening before him, had been compelled at the outset to send back a regiment of regular Cavalry “to prevent the grazing oxen being swept away” from the main body! (Appendix 9 [c]). 38. This, nevertheless, is precisely what Mr. Goldman does in a passage of his book, “With French in South Africa,” p. 422. His proposition, sufficiently bold in itself, is that the regular Cavalry were not given sufficient chances in South Africa, and he instances particularly Buller’s failure to use his Cavalry in pursuit at this period. By the use of the vague word “Cavalry” to cover all Buller’s mounted troops, the majority of whom were irregular mounted riflemen, Mr. Goldman introduces into a correct statement of fact the unwarrantable suggestion that the steel weapon, the distinguishing feature of Cavalry, was deprived of a chance of inflicting a “crushing defeat” on the enemy. It must be understood that Mr. Goldman, in the essay I am referring to, is engaged in an express effort to prove the superiority of Cavalry over mounted riflemen. 39. War Commission Evidence, vol. ii., pp. 182, 183. 40. “Official History,” vol. ii., chaps. xxvi. and xxvii.; Times History, chap. xvi. 41. Vol. ii., p. 270. 42. See “With French in South Africa,” pp. 420–423, and 426, 427. 43. Two Australian detachments were included in one of the brigades. 44. Hamilton had begun his fighting on April 30, at Houtnek, where he dislodged Philip Botha from a strong position, though without inflicting any appreciable loss. 45. I am reckoning French’s three brigades at the figure of 3,600 given in the Appendix to the “Official History.” In the text they are said to have numbered 4,500 “sabres,” plus Artillery. This would make the total nearly 14,000. 46. “Official History,” vol. iii., p. 72. 47. Bernhardi utters a wholesome warning on this subject in his “Cavalry in Future Wars” (p. 54), and advocates direct fire-action. “Cavalry Training,” if it could reach the point of regarding mounted riflemen as “Cavalry,” would, of course, do the same, and thereby refute the theory of the inevitable “shock duel” between opposing Cavalries. 48. No complete figures exist. The “Official History” ignores the subject. I take these figures from the Times historian, who quotes from calculations made by one of Roberts’s staff (see vol. iv., p. 162). 49. I have no space for details, but I ask the reader to study either the Times or the Official narratives; and I suggest that it was not worth while to make so great a circuit in order to turn out 500 Boers from distant flank posts. If French, leaving a small containing force, had advanced direct upon Lakenvlei by the road the Infantry took, he would have been in a position to act upon the Boer rear at an early hour. 50. “Official History,” vol. iii., pp. 485–488; Times History, vol. v., pp. 15–20. 51. I am not theorizing. This was the experience both of the Japanese and the Russians, as in South Africa and in the American Civil War. See “Reports of Military Observers (United States) attached to the Armies in Manchuria” (Part V.). Also Chapter XIV., infra. 52. Times History, vol. v., pp. 281–284. 53. Vide supra, p. 41. 54. This is probably the explanation of what happened. See Times History, vol. v., pp. 339–340. 55. Times History, vol. v., pp. 360–376. 56. This was our own Intelligence estimate. General Botha, in a recent visit to London, informed me that to the best of his recollection he brought no more than 250. 57. Times History, vol. v., pp. 423–427. 58. Ibid., pp. 455–458. 59. Times History, vol. v., pp. 383–384. 60. Times History, vol. v.: Yzer Spruit, pp. 498–500; Tweebosch, pp. 501–508; Boschbult, pp. 520–522. 61. An hour and a half later a general pursuit was begun by all three divisions. It went on for eighteen miles, and resulted in the capture of three guns and thirty burghers. 62. Between May, 1901, and April, 1902, nine principal charging actions cost us 2,500 casualties and prisoners and 18 guns. The war cost about 5½ millions a month. 63. Times History, vol. v., p. 173. 64. Times History, vol. v., p. 226, Wildfontein; p. 475, Roodekraal. 65. “With French in South Africa,” p. 423. Vide infra, p. 285. 66. I am quite aware that under present arrangements our Mounted Infantry are allotted the duties of Divisional Cavalry, but this circumstance does not affect the general principles laid down for their action, which remain the same, and postulate the inferiority of mounted troops without steel weapons. The contradiction in terms exhibited by the nomenclature only serves to emphasize the confusion of thought involved. 67. “With French in South Africa,” p. 422. 68. On the subject of horses see Times History, vol. vi., part ii., chapter vi. The total number provided for the British army was 518,794 (mules 150,781). The net wastage accounted for was in horses 347,007 (mules 53,339). The Boers took the field with 50,000 to 60,000 horses, which were renewed several times. Their net wastage is estimated conjecturally at 100,000. 69. I ought, perhaps, to allude to another argument which appears in Mr. Goldman’s Preface to Bernhardi, though it is expressed in very vague terms, and the meaning is beyond me: “The Cavalry, after the first few weeks of 1900, as an effective force had practically ceased to exist.” Figures of strength and disposition will be found in my previous chapters. 70. This, as I shall show in the next chapter, is precisely the conclusion reached unconsciously by Bernhardi, and consciously by Wrangel. Their only tactical rÔle with the steel is in the “collision of Cavalry masses”—i.e., between masses of Cavalry who both believe in the steel and engage on that understanding. 71. See Bernhardi’s warning, “Cavalry in Future Wars,” pp. 169, 170. 72. “Cavalry in Future Wars,” p. 51. Non-frontal pursuits, especially “strategical” pursuits, are to be by fire-action. 73. Mr. Goldman’s estimate. The Times Historian speaks of a “party,” the Official History a “commando.” The total force detached by Botha against the division was certainly very small. 74. “The War in South Africa” (March to September, 1900), (translated by Colonel Du Cane), p. 288. 75. Revue des deux Mondes, August, 1908. 76. Vide supra, p. 286. 77. Times, September 2, 16, etc., 1909. 78. Times, September 16, 1909. 79. The recorded case (referred to later) was at Telissu. Colonel McClernand, the U.S. Official Cavalry observer, quotes the Colonel of the Japanese Cavalry of the Guard as having referred to a few steel combats between patrols in the early months of the war. 80. “Cavalry in the Russo-Japanese War,” pp. 8–11. 81. "Mit Kosaken durch die Mandschurei." 82. Times History, vol. v., pp. 302–319, 388, 394. 83. Both on horses and on horse-mastership opinions differ (see “British Officers’ Reports,” vol. ii., and the U.S. Reports). The figures of wastage seem to show good management. 84. Our Official Historians (Part ii., p. 32), referring to the same incident, speak of a charge in “open order” over fifty yards of ground, and of lances being used with “great effect.” The losses on both sides were evidently small. 85. See p. 318. BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD
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The references are to the page and line in the original. References to errors in the index also include the column (1 or 2). Words that were hyphenated on a line break retain the hyphen if the preponderance of other instances of the word support that. Otherwise, hyphenation follows the text. The word ‘Carbineers’ is spelled once as ‘Carabineers’, which is an alternative form, and is left as printed. In the Index, a reference to the Mounted Infantry Training Manual of 1898 directs the reader to the text on p. 273, which mentions the Manual of 1899. It is assumed that the text is correct.
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