At that period Methuen and his men were still faced by Cronje and his entrenched forces, who, in spite of occasional bombardments, held their position between Kimberley and the relieving army.

French, having handed over the operations at Colesberg to Clements, had gone down to Cape Town to confer with Roberts and Kitchener.

Thence they all three made their way to the Modder River, which was evidently about to be the base of a more largely conceived series of operations than any which had yet been undertaken.
In order to draw the Boer attention away from the thunderbolt which was about to fall upon their left flank, a strong demonstration ending in a brisk action was made early in February upon the extreme right of Cronje's position.

The force, consisting of the Highland Brigade, two squadrons of the 9th Lancers, No.

7 Co.