At Glencoe--18th Hussars; Brigade Division, Royal Artillery;
1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and Mounted Infantry
Company; 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, and Mounted
Infantry Company; 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and
Mounted Infantry Company; 6th Veterinary Field Hospital.

There was also one Company 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle
Corps at Eshowe, and a detachment of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles
at Helpmakaar.

Meanwhile, at Pretoria, the Boers, protesting at the notice taken of the
"chimerical grievances of the so-called Uitlanders," made energetic
efforts to appoint General Viljeon, a rabid anti-Briton, in place of
General Joubert as Commander-in-Chief of the Transvaal forces.

The troops under Commandant Cronje, the hero of Potchefstroom, advanced
nearer to the border, in the direction of Mafeking, and in the
expectation of attack, this town was securely fortified, while all the
women and children were advised to leave. The fortification of Kimberley
was also commenced. The European exodus from all quarters continued,
defenceless men and women alike being subjected to insult and
ill-treatment by the Boers. Mr. Kruger's birthday was kept at Pretoria
with general rejoicing, and on the following day a telegram was sent by
President Kruger to the _New York World_ saying:--

"Through the _World_ I thank the people of the United States
most sincerely for their sympathy. Last Monday the Republic
gave Great Britain forty-eight hours' notice within which to
give the Republic an assurance that the present dispute would
be settled by arbitration or other peaceful means, and that the
troops would be removed from the borders. This expires at five
to-day. The British Agent has been recalled. War is certain.
The Republics are determined, if they must belong to Great
Britain, that a price will have to be paid which will stagger
humanity. They have, however, full faith. The sun of liberty
will arise in South Africa as it arose in North America."

From this letter it was patent that Mr. Kruger was either pursuing his
policy of bluff, or had made long and elaborate preparations for war
with the British. On the same date an announcement was published in the
town of Pretoria:--

"GOVERNMENT HOUSE, _October 11_.

"Her Majesty's Agent at Pretoria was to-day instructed to make