e corps of "The Imperial Yeomanry" was
given by Royal Warrant, dated 24th December, 1899. Under a
Special Army Order of 4th January, 1900, a committee of
Yeomanry officers was constituted to administer the force.
This committee was dissolved in May, 1900, the administration
being then taken over by the War Office. The first
contingent, which went out early in 1900, numbered about
10,000. A second contingent went in the spring of 1901,
numbering about 17,000; and a third contingent, of about
7,000, in the winter of 1901-1902.]

To this telegram Lord Roberts replied on the 12th January:

"As to reinforcements that may be required, I am a little
diffident about giving a definite opinion until matters still
further develop and the result is known of Buller's operations to
relieve Ladysmith. I trust that if White and Buller succeed,
without very heavy losses, in joining hands, it will not be
necessary to send the 8th division or another brigade of cavalry.
For the lines of communication I shall require eight Militia
battalions, in addition to the seven already detailed, but I
should prefer thirteen Militia battalions, and if Lord Cromer
agrees, the two Highland battalions which are now in Egypt, two
of the Militia battalions to be sent there, taking the places of
the latter. I hope, with the regular forces already under orders,
the 4,000 Imperial Yeomanry, and the volunteer battalion, and the
Colonial details referred to in your telegram, that the force in
South Africa will be sufficient, and am most reluctant to request
the despatch of more troops from home."

[Sidenote: Large numbers of mounted corps raised.]

Immediately on his arrival the Field Marshal strove to systematise and
support the efforts of the many South African colonists who were
pressing to be allowed to take up arms in self-defence. Their
embodiment had already been sanctioned by Sir R. Buller and approved
by the Home Government. Colonel Brabant's corps was expanded into two
regiments, and their leader appointed a brigadier-general to command a
Colonial division, composed of his own two regiments (Brabant's
Horse), the Cape Mounted Rifles, Kaffrarian Rifles, Border Horse, and
Queenstown Rifle Volunteers. Two new mounted corps, entitled Roberts'
Horse and Kitchener's Horse, were raised, besides n