I.

CHAP. The sergeant's horses on reaching Middleburg were knocked up, and he experienced difficulty and delay in replacing them, but eventually reached Lydenburg on the morning of the 27th-two days after the post-cart.

Additional troops asked for

from Natal.

It was not until the 25th November that the Administrator considered it necessary to represent, by telegraph, to Sir George Colley that, "Hostile attitude of the Boers has become more marked. Mass meeting takes place in January. I think it would be advisable that 58th should return to Transvaal." Sir George Colley replied the following day to the effect that he could ill spare the 58th Regiment, in view of an expected outbreak of Pondos on the Natal-Cape frontier, but was willing to send two companies to Newcastle, so as to relieve and render available the companies of the 94th Regiment there and at Wakkerstroom. On receipt of this answer, Sir Owen Lanyon reported further, by letter (six days' post), on the subject, and urged that more troops should be spared for service in the TransThe move vaal. As a result, later on, Sir George Colley detached four, instead of only two, companies of the 58th Regiment to Newcastle, with the intention that they should relieve Wakkerstroom and Standerton, thus setting free those companies of the 94th Regiment for the Pretoria garrison.1 The movement was, however, begun too late to gain this last object, and hostilities had broken out for some days before the

ment begun too late.

1 See Blue-book (c.—2783), January 1881, No. 14 and enclosures.

companies of the 58th and 94th Regiments were able CHAP. to reach Standerton.

Orders were sent out, during the first week in December, by the military authorities in Pretoria to the out-stations and detachments on the march, desiring that, in the existing disturbed state of the country, every possible precaution should be exercised against surprise or attack, and for the safety of the cattle both by day and night when grazing or kraaled.1

But even to so late a period as the 5th December, Sir Owen Lanyon does not appear to have thought

1 The following instructions, enjoining the utmost caution, were issued as early as the 24th November:

"Officer Commanding, Pretoria.

"1. It behoves us at the present time, when armed Boers are known to be moving about the country in opposition to the law, to exercise great caution, and guard against any possible sudden attack. There must be no chance afforded to an adventurous and desperate leader, with one or two hundred followers, of being able to inflict damage by carrying off arms, ammunition, &c.

"2. No body of men, other than of her Majesty's troops, should be allowed to approach the camp by day or by night without a sufficient alarm having been given to enable the troops to stand to arms.

"3. Special precautions will be taken to secure the safety of all Royal Artillery and other guns, as well as all reserve arms, ammunition, &c. It may be expected that these guns, &c., will be the special object of attack, surprises, or sudden rush, should hostilities ensue.

"4. Steps will be taken to remove the imperial and colonial ammunition and stores from the present outlying magazine to the central white building in the ordnance yard, the guard over the former being then withdrawn.

"5. The colonial guns will be placed in suitable position for the protection of the town and camp, and parties of infantry will be told off for working them.

"6. Should the garrison become reduced by departure of a flying column, or an attack be expected, the unarmed natives could be utilised as scouts, to give notice of any bodies of men approaching or being in the vicinity. W. BELLAIRS,

"PRETORIA, 24. 11. 80."

Colonel commanding Transvaal District.

I.

I.

CHAP. the situation in any way critical. On that day,while reporting to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the date for the assembly of the mass meeting had been advanced one month (to the 8th December), and with the full knowledge that none of the troops called up-as mentioned in this and the preceding note-could reach Pretoria in time,—he writes, "I still do not think there is much cause for anxiety." 1

Date for assembly of mass meeting advanced.

Indeed as the despatches given in the Blue-book show 2-the principal causes of anxiety at this period seem rather to have been, how best to reply to Mr C. K. White's criticism on "the existing form of government"; framing and carrying through a new law for the regulation of "the puny press of the Transvaal," as Mr White aptly termed it, consisting of only two struggling papers; and the prosecution of Mr Celliers, the editor and proprietor of the Volksstem'-the only Dutch organ.

As some of the later despatches sent from the Transvaal reached Downing Street only after it had become known, by telegraph, that the Boers had risen and invested all our garrisons, we cannot but think that they must have been found somewhat odd reading.

Mr Hudson was formally informed, the day following his interview with the Boer Committee, that

1 See Blue-book (c.-2783), February 1881, No. 12.

2 See Blue-book (c.-2740), January 1881, No. 68, besides other despatches.

3 See ante, p. 25.

4 Voice of the People.'

a general meeting of the people had been called for CHAP. the 8th December.1

I.

Boers un

Owing to the short notice given, Boers at a distance Number of were unable to arrive so early at the place appointed der arms. -Paarde Kraal-a farm about thirty-five miles from Pretoria, towards Potchefstroom; but, by the 13th, 4000 men were said to have met—a number probably increased a few days later. Altogether, by the 16th,

1 Letter from Mr KRUGER.
(Translation.)

"KAALFONTEIN, November 29, 1880. "SIR,-I beg to inform you herewith that I have submitted an account of our interview of this morning to the assembled people. "We have agreed upon holding a general meeting of the people on the 8th December next.

"I hope and trust, as I informed you and as you agreed to, that the Government will place no obstacle in the way by summonses, writs of execution, or any military movements.

"Should it happen, however, that movements are taken on your part, I must distinctly inform you I shall not be responsible for the consequences. I have, &c. S. J. P. KRUger.

"The Honourable G. HUDSON, Government Secretary."

Mr HUDSON's Answer to Mr KRUGER's Letter.

"POTCHEFSTROOM, November 30, 1880. "SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date received by me at 1.25 P.M. to-day.

"I clearly placed before the committee my contention that no Government worthy of the name would submit to be called upon to suspend the operation of the law. In the form in which you placed matters before me, you threw upon the Government the responsibility of what might arise from any precipitate action on its part. The Government is fully aware of, and prepared to accept, the responsibility of its course of action.

"Major Clarke has now been appointed Special Commissioner for the district of Potchefstroom, to whom further correspondence if necessary may be addressed.--I have, &c. GEORGE HUDSON, Colonial Secretary.

"S. J. PAUL KRUGER, Esq., Kaalfontein."

CHAP.
I.

Intended

place for

ing sur

veyed.

it was reported there were 7000 men under arms throughout the country.

Early in December, Lieutenant Littledale, of the their meet- Royal Engineers, accompanied by Mr Melvill, the Surveyor-General of the province, had been sent to sketch the approaches to Paarde Kraal, and gain information which might prove useful in a military point of view. The locality was found well chosen for the purposes intended. Situated on a plateau of a range of hills, offering a large field of observation, and at the foot of which the road from Pretoria to Potchefstroom passes, the position was naturally a strong one. The direct approaches from Pretoria were few, of a rocky precipitous nature, such as could easily have been defended by a determined foe; while, had the position been turned from the Heidelberg side, many serious obstacles presented themselves to an attacking force. The opportunity to avail ourselves of the knowledge thus gained did not, however, Projected arise; though, on the 17th,-before the Boer Governbring about ment's ultimatum had been received, and it became centration known that hostilities might be expected, with an

attempt to

greater con

of troops.

immediate descent on Pretoria and attempt to capture the town, should its garrison be weakened, it had been proposed and arranged by Colonel Bellairs-in the endeavour to improve the military position by eventual greater concentration-for a field column to leave the following morning for Potchefstroom, for the purpose of bringing away the guns, mounted infantry, and one company of infantry of the latter's garrison-the Administrator desiring that one com