As the result of this meeting a deputation was
sent to the Commandant of the Boer invading-force, Olivier,
who was at Barkly East, desiring him not to come to
Dordrecht. On November 27th another meeting was held (also
addressed by Mr. Sauer) and a second deputation of the
inhabitants waited upon Olivier. The sequel is revealed in
the telegram despatched the following day (November 28th) by
the Boer Commandant to the Secretary, the War Commission,
Bloemfontein: "... To-day already I received the second
deputation from Dordrecht not to come to Dordrecht. This is
asked officially, but privately they say that this is also a
blind, and that we must come at once...." On December 2nd
Olivier was received with open arms at Dordrecht. It was in a
district where, in the Boer Commandant's words, "the
Afrikanders were rejoicing, and joining the commandos was
universal."--Cd. 420, p. 108 and p. 96; Cd. 43, p. 221; and
Cd. 261, p. 126.]

This is how it struck a distinguished man of science, and one who was
qualified, moreover, by a residence at the Cape which dated back to
the days of the Zulu War, to understand the full significance of what
was going on around him.

In July and August, President Krueger was winning all along the line.
The Home Government was kept harmless and inactive by the Franchise
Bill; the Cape Government tied the hands of the High Commissioner;
supplies of arms and ammunition were pouring in, the temper of the
burghers in both republics was rising, foreign military officers and
M. Leon of the Creuzot Works had arrived; in short, the military
preparations of four years were consummated without let or hindrance.
September was less exclusively favourable to the republican cause. On
September 8th, as we have seen, the Salisbury Cabinet determined to
send out the defensive forces for which Lord Milner had asked three
months before. Sir William Butler had been recalled; and General
Forestier-Walker did all in his power to carry out the measures urged,
and in most cases actually devised, by Lord Milner for the effective
employment of the few thousand Imperial troops at his disposal. On the
18th and 19th the Lancashire regiment was sent up-country from
Capetown--half to garrison Kimberley, and half to hold the bridge that
carried the main trunk line over the Orange River on