, until Methuen's return;" and on the
following day he telegraphed instructions to reinforce General Gatacre
by one, or, if possible, by two battalions, "and any mounted men that
can be spared." Barkly East was reported to be in open rebellion,
although Sir H. Elliott's action in defending the passes leading south
to Griqualand East continued to be effective.[191] The "annexation" of
Dordrecht to the Free State, proclaimed officially on its occupation
by the enemy, further complicated the situation. General Gatacre
accordingly telegraphed direct to the General Commanding-in-Chief:--

[Footnote 191: Chapter XI.]

"Military situation here requires dealing with extreme
carefulness. Boers have occupied Dordrecht and enemy is advancing
in a southerly direction, evidently pointing for Queenstown. I
have two British regiments only, and I am 33 miles to the north
of Queenstown--I am holding Bushman's Hoek range to endeavour to
prevent descent into Queenstown district, which would mean
general state of rebellion of Dutch. Force will be strengthened
at Queenstown by next British regiment which should arrive at
Queenstown 5th December, but Queenstown is indefensible position.
Are there any orders especially as regards my movements?"

Sir Redvers replied the same day (2nd December) from Maritzburg:--

"Your No. A 514. We have to make the best of the situation, and
if the enemy is advancing by Dordrecht, the importance of
Bushman's Hoek is diminished. You have a force which altogether
is considerably stronger than the enemy can now bring against
you. Cannot you close with him, or else occupy a defensible
position which will obstruct his advance? You have an absolutely
free hand to do what you think best."

[Sidenote: Gatacre seizes Molteno and Penhoek, Nov. 29th.]

Meanwhile, on the 29th November, a raid by train had been made from
Putterskraal on Molteno, and a large amount of corn removed from a
mill which it was feared might fall into the enemy's hands. An officer
and 50 men of the Cape Police were left in observation at Molteno, and
detachments of Cape Mounted Rifles and of the newly-raised corps,
Brabant's Horse, of a total strength of 400 men, was pushed out to
Penhoek, a pass through the hills ten miles east of Sterkstroom.

[Sidenote: Dec. 7th Gatacre tells C.O.s of intended night march.]

By the 6th December, Sir W. Gatacre