N.N.V. Natal Naval Volunteers. N.S.W. New South Wales. N.S.W.L. New South Wales Lancers. N.Z. New Zealand. N.C.O. Non-commissioned officer. O.F.S. Orange Free State. pr. pounder. P.T.O. Principal Transport Officer. Q.F. Quick-firing. Q.M.G. Quartermaster-general. Regt. Regiment. R.M.L. Rifle-muzzle-loading. R.A.M.C. Royal Army Medical Corps. R.A. " Artillery. R.B. Rifle Brigade. Royal Commission. Royal Commission on the War in South Africa (1903). R.E. Royal Engineers. R.F.A. " Field Artillery. R.G.A. " Garrison " R.H.A. " Horse " R.M.A. " Marine " R.M.L.I. " " Light Infantry. R.N. " Navy. R. S. Fusiliers Royal Scots Fusiliers. Sec. Section. S.A. South Africa. S.A.R. South African Republic. Scots Greys 2nd Dragoons. Sqdn. or Squadn. Squadron. Tel. Telegram. T.B. Telegraph battalion. V.C. Victoria Cross. W.O. War Office. LIST OF ERRATA. Page 2, line 13 from top, omit "(Arabic)". " 14, " 2 " bottom, for "Sir H. Escombe" read "the Right Hon. H. Escombe." " 78, first marginal note, for "of" read "in." " 128, second marginal note, for "comma" read "full stop." " 144, line 3 from top, for "The troops a Ladysmith" read "The troops at Ladysmith." " 144, last marginal note, omit "full stop" and read on. " 160, bottom marginal note, for "full stop" read "comma." " 256, line 6 from bottom, for "Major T. Irvine" read "Captain T. Irvine." " 337, line 12 from bottom, for "semi-colon" read "comma." THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. CHAPTER I. PREPARATION FOR WAR. [Sidenote: Scope of history.]