renewed their proposals, and
further offers of assistance were received from Canada, New Zealand,
Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Hong Kong. The
majority of a squadron of the New South Wales Lancers, which had been
sent to England to undergo a special course of training at Aldershot,
also volunteered for South Africa. As regards Natal and Cape Colony,
it was assumed as a matter of course, both by the Colonial troops
themselves and by the Imperial and Colonial Governments, that they
would cheerfully do their duty if called out for local defence. The
whole of the Natal local forces were mobilised for active service on
29th September,[47] the day after President Kruger commandeered his
burghers. A portion of the Cape Volunteers were called out on 5th
October, and the remainder during the first month of the war.[48] On
the 3rd October the Secretary of State for the Colonies telegraphed to
various Colonial Governments a grateful acceptance by Her Majesty's
Government of the services of their contingents, indicating in each
case the units considered desirable. It was not found possible to take
advantage of the offers of some of the Crown Colonies, but from the
self-governing Colonies, troops numbering about 2,500 of all ranks
were accepted.[49] These proved but the advance guard to the total
force of nearly 30,000 men from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India
and Ceylon, who at various times represented Greater Britain in the
army of South Africa.

[Footnote 47: The corps mobilised were Natal Naval
Volunteers, Natal Field Artillery, Natal Royal Rifles, Durban
Light Infantry, Natal Mounted Rifles, Natal Carbineers,
Umvoti Mounted Rifles, Border Mounted Rifles.]

[Footnote 48: For the local forces called out in Cape Colony,
see Chapter II., p. 53.]

[Footnote 49: For arrivals of "Oversea Colonials," see
Appendix 9. The whole subject is treated more fully in Vol.
II. in a chapter on the Colonial Corps.]

CHAPTER II.

THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR.[50]

[Footnote 50: See general map of South Africa, Relief map No.
2, and map No. 3.]

[Sidenote: Defence plans of local authorities.]

[Sidenote: Genl. Goodenough.]

It has been convenient to carry the statement of the measures adopted
for preparation at home in certain matters beyond the actual date of
the declaration of war. It is now necessary to view