These men, a ragged and starving battalion, emerged at Ladysmith, having made their way through Van Reenen's Pass.
It is a singular fact that no parole appears on these and similar occasions to have been exacted by the Boers.
Lord Roberts, having remounted a large part of his cavalry, was ready now to advance eastward and give Botha battle.

The first town of any consequence along the Delagoa Railway is Middelburg, some seventy miles from the capital.

This became the British objective, and the forces of Mahon and Hamilton on the north, of Pole-Carew in the centre, and of French and Hutton to the south, all converged upon it.

There was no serious resistance, though the weather was abominable, and on July 27th the town was in the hands of the invaders.

From that date until the final advance to the eastward French held this advanced post, while Pole-Carew guarded the railway line.