f its
flame just when our personal convenience chances to clamour for such
quenching. Indeed, the "flare and flicker" period sometimes proves,
where war is concerned, scarcely less prolonged, and much more
harassing, than the period of the full-fed flame. So Norman William
found after the battle of Hastings. So Cromwell proved when the fight
at Worcester was over. So the Americans discovered when they had
captured Manila. Our occupation of Bloemfontein by no means made us
instant masters of the whole Free State, and our presence in Pretoria
we had yet to learn was not at all the same thing as the undisputed
possession of the entire Transvaal. Indeed, the period that actually
interposed between the two, proved the longest "fortnight" ever
recorded.

[Sidenote: _Lord Milner's explanation._]

How that came about, however, is made quite clear by the following
extract from the High Commissioner's despatches:--

If it had been possible for us to screen those portions of the
conquered territory, which were fast returning to peaceful
pursuits, from the incursions of the enemy still in the field, a
great deal of what is now most deplorable in the condition of
South Africa would never have been experienced. The vast extent
of the country, the necessity of concentrating our forces for the
long advance, first to Pretoria and then to Koomati Poort,
resulted in the country already occupied being left open to
raids, constantly growing in audacity, and fed by small
successes, on the part of a few bold and skilful guerilla leaders
who had nailed their colours to the mast.

The reappearance of these disturbers of the peace, first in the
south-east of the Orange River Colony, then in the south-west of
the Transvaal, and finally in every portion of the conquered
territory, placed those of the inhabitants who wanted to settle
down in a position of great difficulty. Instead of being made
prisoners of war, they had been allowed to remain on their farms
on taking the oath of neutrality, and many of them were really
anxious to keep it. But they had not the strength of mind, nor
from want of education, a sufficient appreciation of the
sacredness of the obligation which they had undertaken, to resist
the pressure of their old companions in arms when these
reappeared among them appealing to their patriotism and to their
fea