Lord Methuen advanced Self_motion up the railway line in November 1899 with the objective Aiming of relieving the besieged city of Kimberley ( and the town of Mafeking , also under siege Besieging ) .

On 24 February 1902 , for example , they had mauled Hostile_encounter a British column at Yser Spruit and on 7 March had captured Conquering a British general ( Lord Methuen ) and six field guns at Tweebosch , after routing his command .

Lord Methuen failed Agree_or_refuse_to_act to perform adequate reconnaissance Patrolling in preparation for the impending battle Hostile_encounter , and was unaware that Boer `` Vecht-generaal '' ( Combat General ) De la Rey had entrenched his forces at the foot of the hills rather than the forward slopes as was the accepted practice .