Lobengula in his unknown grave to-day, and what fillibusters and
fortune-hunters are possessors of his country?

"Where are the native chiefs of Bechuanaland now, and who owns
their land?

"Read the history of South Africa, and ask yourselves: Has the
British Government been a blessing or a curse to this
sub-continent?

"Brother Afrikanders! I repeat, the day is at hand on which great
deeds are expected of us. WAR has broken out. What is it to be? A
wasted and enslaved South Africa, or--a Free, United South
Africa?

"Come, let us stand shoulder to shoulder and do our holy duty!
The Lord of Hosts will be our Leader.

"Be of good cheer.
"F. W. REITZ."

That Monday night, besides repeating the ultimatum to the Home
Government, Lord Milner telegraphed to warn the British authorities in
Natal, Rhodesia, Basutoland, and the frontier towns.

The ultimatum reached the Colonial Office at 6.45 a.m. on Tuesday. The
reply, which was cabled to Lord Milner at 10.45 p.m. on the same day,
was not unworthy of the occasion:

[Sidenote: The British reply.]

"Her Majesty's Government have received with great regret the
peremptory demands of the Government of the South African
Republic. You will inform the Government of the South African
Republic, in reply, that the conditions demanded by the South
African Republic are such as Her Majesty's Government deem it
impossible to discuss."[181]

[Footnote 181: C. 9,530.]

The High Commissioner was further desired to instruct Sir William
Greene, in delivering the British reply, to ask for his passports.

CHAPTER VII

THE FALL OF THE REPUBLICS

With the presentation of the Boer ultimatum the first and most
difficult part of Lord Milner's task was accomplished. The actual
pretensions of President Krueger and his republican confederates in the
Free State and the Cape Colony were declared in a manner that could
not fail to make them understood by the British people at home. The
nationalists were unmasked. To what assurance of victory their
military preparations had led them may be seen from the story of Mr.
Amery's meeting with Mr. Reitz, two days before October 2nd, the
Monday originally fixed for the delivery of the ultimatum. On the
afternoon of this day, September 30th, Mr. Amery was walking with the
State Secretary in Pretoria.