By Johanna Brandt

Mills & Boon Ltd, 49 Rupert Street, London.  1913

Contents

FOREWORD BY PATRICK DUNCAN, C.M.G., M.L.A.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER                      
I.          THE SCENE OF ACTION
II.         HOW THE MINES WERE SAVED
III.        THE SURRENDER OF THE GOLDEN CITY
IV.        MARTIAL LAW UNDER THE ENEMY
V.         ONLY A BIT OF RIBBON GAY!
VI.        PASSES AND PERMITS
VII.       POSTAGE BY STRATEGY
VIII.      OUTWITTING THE CENSOR
IX.        JAN CELLIERS, POET AND PATRIOT
X.         A LITTLE ADVENTURE WITH THE BRITISH SOLDIER
XI.        PRISONER OF WAR
XII.       THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS
XIII.      A CONSULAR VISIT TO IRENE CAMP
XIV.      NEW DEVELOPMENTS
XV.       THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL SCOUTS CORPS
XVI.      A CONSIGNMENT OF EXPLOSIVES
XVII.     THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH SPIES, INTRODUCING TWO HEROES
XVIII.    THE CASE OF SPOELSTRA
XIX.      DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND!
XX.       THANKSGIVING AND HUMILIATION
XXI.      FLIPPIE AND CO.
XXII.     THE SECRET RAILWAY TIME-TABLE
XXIII.    THE SYSTEM EMPLOYED BY THE SECRET COMMITTEE
XXIV.    THE DEATH OF ADOLPH KRAUSE
XXV.     THE SHOEMAKER AT WORK
XXVI.    BITTEN BY OUR OWN DOGS
XXVII.   THE BETRAYAL OF THE SECRET COMMITTEE. A MEMORABLE DAY OF TROUBLE
XXVIII.  HANSIE EARNING THE VOTE
XXIX.     A WAR-BABY AND A CURIOUS CHRISTENING
XXX.      FORMING A NEW COMMITTEE
XXXI.     "TEA FOR TWO"
XXXII.    KIDNAPPING MAUSER THE KITTEN
XXXIII.   THE FIRST SPIES AT HARMONY
XXXIV.   THE CAPTAIN'S VISIT
XXXV.    MEMORIES BITTER-SWEET
XXXVI.   A SILENT DEPARTURE. "FARE THEE WELL"
XXXVII.  BETRAYED
XXXVIII. THE RAID ON HARMONY
XXXIX.   THE WATCHWORD. OILING THE HINGES
XL.       PEACE, PEACE—AND THERE IS NO PEACE
CONCLUSION

Illustrations

The writer
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Mrs. Van Warmelo
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The surrender of the Golden City
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Letter from head of secret service to President
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Letter fragment
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Letter fragment
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The Six Willows, Harmony
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Captain Naudé
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W.J. Botha
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Gentleman Jim's Room
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Adolph Krause
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The Apiary, Harmony
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To

HANSIE'S MOTHER AS A PEACE-OFFERING FOR HAVING BROUGHT HER INTO PUBLICITY IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO HER WISHES

FOREWORD

In introducing the English version of this book I venture to bespeak a welcome for it, not only for the light which it throws on some little-known incidents of the South African war, but also because of the keen personal interest of the events recorded. It is more than a history. It is a dramatic picture of the hopes and fears, the devotion and bitterness with which some patriotic women in Pretoria watched and, as far as they could, took part in the war which was slowly drawing to its conclusion on the veld outside.

I do not associate myself with the opinions expressed by the writer as to the causes of the war or the methods adopted to bring it to an end, or as to the policy which led to the Concentration Camps, and the causes of the terrible mortality which prevailed during the first months of their existence. On these matters many readers will hold different opinions from the writer, or will prefer to let judgment be in suspense and to look to the historian of the future for a final verdict. We are still too near the events to be impartial. But this book does not challenge or invite controversy. Fortunately for South Africa, most of us on both sides can now discuss the events of the war without bitterness and understand and respect the feelings of those who were most sharply divided by these events from ourselves.

The greater part of the narrative comes from a diary kept during the war with unusual fullness and vividness. The difficulty experienced by the writer of the diary in communicating to friends outside Pretoria information about what was passing inside, and in unburdening herself of the feelings roused in her by the events of the war, made the diary more than usually intimate. To understand fully many of the narratives which have been transferred from it to this book, it must be remembered that one is reading, not something written from memory years after the event, but rather the record of a conversation at the time, in which the diarist is describing the events as if to a friend who shares to the full all her own feelings and to whom she can speak without reserve.

Much has happened in the ten years which have passed since the end of the war. The country which was distracted by the conflicting ideals and interests of its different Governments and peoples has become the Union of South Africa. It is now one State. It remains that it should call forth a spirit of patriotism and nationality which will unite and not divide its people.

PATRICK DUNCAN
JOHANNESBURG, 1912.