By this time, the Government, having realized the necessity of appointing an officer in supreme command of all the forces in Zululand and Natal, with the object of ensuring effective combination over the large areas occupied and traversed by the enemy, decided to appoint McKenzie to the position. The appointment took effect on the 30th May. Nor was it too soon that the step was taken. Although Leuchars had done his best to co-operate, notably on the day of the general converging movement on the grave (17th), his efforts, through his not having received earlier notice, were not as effective as they might have been. There were instances of lack of combination in other directions. As regards Mackay, the Commandant of Militia had intended he should remain at Helpmakaar, to keep in check the large tribes of that part known to be disaffected. Owing to misunderstanding, however, arising out of communicating through the telephone over a long distance, Mackay had moved to operate down the left bank of the Buffalo in Zululand,[204] that being the side on which, from his recent experience, he considered his efforts would prove most useful--not so much to engage the enemy, as to force him to concentrate at Nkandhla. Whether this view was right or not, the fact of Mackay's leaving the position assigned him, revealed weakness in the arrangements, which, it was considered, would be best remedied by investing an officer in the field with power to immediately control the actions of every column. Having already begun to deal with the problem at Nkandhla, McKenzie decided to remain where he was and personally direct the operations at that place. Leuchars, who had hitherto so ably conducted them in Natal, was accordingly requested to continue as he had been doing, until McKenzie, having accomplished what was necessary at Nkandhla, was free to undertake immediate supervision elsewhere. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 189: This mountain, which has a forest on its western, steep and rocky face, was soon to become one of the rebels' principal rallying-points.] [Footnote 190: Foully murdered later, as will be seen, because of his loyalty.] [Footnote 191: His force included a levy of about 450 loyal Natives, called out by the C.N.A.] [Footnote 192: This particular spur is famous in Zulu history as being that down which Tshaka led his army about 1823, when pursued by his most formidable rival Zwide. In going down Gcongco, however, Tshaka was merely _pretending_ to flee, and, the spur being abnormally steep, made it appear all the more probable that his retirement was genuine flight, instead of a stroke of genius by a master in tactics. After continuing to fly for some distance, he suddenly rounded on his pursuers, and, taking them at a great disadvantage, practically annihilated them.]