ons are as follows: I propose to send Clery and
Headquarters 2nd division to Natal to command. With him will go
the first three brigade Headquarters except Guards that arrive.
These three brigades will be composed of the first line
battalions that arrive. Headquarters 1st division will land at
Cape Town, and Lord Methuen will command advance on Kimberley
with Guards' brigade and one other. Headquarters 3rd division
will land at Cape Town or East London, as circumstances require,
and will be completed with a new brigade, under Fetherstonhaugh,
formed of three extra regiments and one from line of
communications, or else colonial regiment.

"I propose to take charge of advance on Ladysmith. If under
Providence we are successful there and at Kimberley, I think
collapse of opposition possible. These proposals are subject to
High Commissioner's views of state of Cape Colony, and to what
may happen meantime anywhere else.

"Preparation of extra division seems desirable, but I do not yet
see need for its despatch from England. I shall speak with more
confidence when I see French, who is, I hope, en route here from
Ladysmith."

[Sidenote: More hopeful views.]

On the 5th November Sir Redvers telegraphed further to the War Office
that 40 days' supplies for the force under orders for Natal should be
shipped direct from England to Durban. The more hopeful view the
General Commanding-in-Chief was already taking may be judged from the
fact that on the following day, the 6th of November, he requested the
War Office to read "January" instead of "March" in the last sentence
of his above quoted cypher of November 2nd. Five days later, in reply
to a telegram from Lord Lansdowne, stating that another infantry
division was being mobilised, and asking by what date it would be
required, General Buller reported:

"The defence of Ladysmith seems to have so thoroughly checked
advance of enemy, that I have some grounds for hoping the
successful relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith may end opposition.
On the other hand, reliable Dutch here predict guerilla warfare
as a certainty. I think, therefore, that I ought to have another
division as soon as possible. My great want at present is mounted
men. I am raising as many as I can, and should like, as soon as
possible, a few good special service officers."

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