years British troops have been concentrating
on the borders of the Transvaal in order to compel it by terrorism to
comply with British claims. The crafty plans of those with whom love of
gold is the motive are now being realised. While acknowledging the
honour of thousands of Englishmen who abhor deeds of robbery and
violence, the Orange Free State execrates the wrongful deeds of a
British statesman."

After expressing confidence that the Almighty would help and aid them,
and counselling the Burghers to do nothing unworthy of Christians and
Burghers of the Free State, the President concluded with the following
words: "Burghers of the Free State, stand up as one man against the
oppressor and violator of right."

Meanwhile Sir George White, accompanied by Colonel Ian Hamilton
(Assistant Adjutant-General), Colonel Duff (Assistant Military
Secretary), Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Rawlinson, and Captains Brooke
and Lyon, aides-de-camp, was proceeding on his journey to Ladysmith. The
principal British camps were situated near Glencoe Junction and
Ladysmith, and around these some twelve or fifteen thousand Boers were
reported to be stationed between Sandspruit, Volksrust, and
Wakkerstroom, while on the western side the Natal border was threatened
by the Orange Free State's forces, which were posted in the
neighbourhood of Van Reenen's Pass.

A Proclamation, signed by Sir Alfred Milner and Mr. Schreiner, was
issued in Cape Town, warning British subjects of their duty to the
Queen, while at the same time the German Consul-General officially
ordered his countrymen to remain neutral. A similar warning was given by
the German Consul to Germans in Johannesburg. Preparations were made for
the immediate landing of a Naval Brigade from the British battleships in
Simon's Bay, and volunteers of all kinds hurried to tender their
services for special corps. In Pretoria a further manifesto was issued,
calling on Afrikanders to resist the British demands, and accusing Lord
Salisbury, Mr. Chamberlain, and Sir Alfred Milner of pursuing a
"criminal policy." It also declared that it was perfectly clear that the
desire and object of Great Britain was to deprive the Transvaal Republic
of its independence on account of the gold-mining industry on the Rand.

The manifesto went on to say that Great Britain had offered two
alternatives--a five years' franchise or war. It pointed out that the
difference between the two Governments of two years in