"28. The order to mobilise an additional brigade of cavalry
(the 4th cavalry brigade) was issued on 26th December.
Mobilisation began on 28th December, and was completed on 2nd
January, 1900.

"The embarkation of this brigade was held back pending the
arrival of Lord Roberts in South Africa, and the receipt of a
communication from him.

"Embarkation began on 8th February, and was completed on 17th
February.

"29. Orders were issued for the mobilisation of the 8th
infantry division on 19th January, 1900. Mobilisation began
on 20th January. Embarkation began on 12th March, and the
last unit embarked on 18th April, 1900.

"30. With the despatch of the 8th division, the last
organised and mobilised regular formation left this country,
and the work of the Mobilisation sub-division, in connection
with the despatch of reinforcements to South Africa, came to
an end."

The executive work of organising, equipping, and despatching
drafts of Militia, Volunteers, and Imperial Yeomanry was
carried out entirely by the Adjutant-General,
Quartermaster-General, and Director-General of Ordnance.]

[Sidenote: Smooth working.]

[Sidenote: Inadequate reserve.]

The machinery of the Mobilisation sub-division was equal to the task
and continued to work smoothly, while the Adjutant-General's
department was enabled, with little difficulty, to find men to
complete units on mobilisation.[8] All these units were brought up to
their establishment from their own regimental reserves. In order to
keep them up to their strength it was estimated that it would be
necessary to send out a series of drafts, calculated on a basis of 10
per cent. for every three months.[9] This was the system which was put
into operation from the first, and subsequently adhered to as far as
possible, drafts being detailed from regimental reserves. It was,
however, soon found necessary to introduce modifications in accordance
with the wastage which varied in the different arms, as well as in the
different units.[10] In addition to the regular stream of drafts,
special drafts had occasionally to be sent out to make good instances
of abnormal loss. Especially was this the case with infantry
battalions.[11] Consequently, the regimental reserves of some units
were exhausted