In his telegram their line is described as extending four miles north and eleven miles south of the Modder, a length which evidently required a pretty large force to man it.

Its extremities, however, received no protection from natural obstacles of ground, and on the 7th of March French's Cavalry Division, passing south, turned their left flank.

The Boers then retreated without serious fighting, the British having only fifty casualties.

Three days later, at Driefontein, between forty and fifty miles from Bloemfontein, a stand was made which required a severe struggle to overcome.

"The enemy opposed us throughout yesterday's march," {p.305} Roberts telegraphed; "and from their intimate knowledge of the country gave us considerable trouble....