Early in November the situation at Kimberley began to cause some uneasiness in South Africa. The town was one of considerable size; the food supplies in it were not large in proportion to its population; its fighting resources and garrison were limited; and it lay in an extremely exposed position. The fall of Kimberley would have a most unfavourable effect upon the disloyal Dutch of Cape Colony, and would place vast financial resources, in the shape of the diamond mines, in the hands of the Boers. But if a British relief force succeeded in fighting its way to Kimberley, and if it could protect the seventy-seven miles of railway communication to Orange River Station in its rear, it would be excellently placed for an invasion of either the Free State or the Transvaal. [Illustration: MAP SHOWING LORD METHUEN'S ADVANCE FOR THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY. The spots marked ⚔, are the scenes of battles; the dotted line is the boundary of the Orange Free State.] [Sidenote: Lord Methuen takes charge of the Western Campaign.] On November 10, Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen, the Commander of the First Division, landed at Capetown and received instructions to organise a flying column for the relief of the diamond city. Lord Methuen was an officer of distinguished service, though this was the first time that he had held an independent command with a large body of troops. He had fought in the Ashantee and Egyptian Wars, and in 1884-5 had raised a body of horse when the Bechuanaland dispute seemed likely to cause trouble. He was a man of energy and intense self-confidence, fond of sententious maxims, reputed a good tactician. In appearance he was tall and big-framed, with a slight stoop. In action he displayed all the bravery and coolness of the typical British officer. [Sidenote: NOV. 10, 1899] _The British Base at De Aar._] The base for his column had been, before his arrival, established at De Aar, where thousands upon thousands of tons of biscuit, meal, forage and ammunition had been accumulated in readiness for his advance. Mules by the thousand and ox waggons by the score followed the stores. There was a time when General Buller himself was expected to take charge of the western field of war, and at De Aar a superb tent, an iron bathroom, and a sumptuous kitchen with a fine battery of culinary accessories were prepared for him. But the needs of Natal distracted him and he never came. [Illustration: BLUEJACKETS, IN KHAKI, AT SIMONSTOWN, STARTING FOR THE FRONT. These are some of the men who fought so valiantly at Graspan. Seamen strongly object to the khaki jackets, which fit closely around the neck; a very disagreeable change from the loose-fitting naval jackets.]