Vryburg was immediately occupied by the Boers, and British Bechuanaland was formally annexed to the South African Republic.
This policy of the instant annexation of all territories invaded was habitually carried out by the enemy, with the idea that British subjects who joined them would in this way be shielded from the consequences of treason.

Meanwhile several thousand Freestaters and Transvaalers with artillery had assembled round Kimberley, and all news of the town was cut off.

Its relief was one of the first tasks which presented itself to the inpouring army corps.

The obvious base of such a movement must be Orange River, and there and at De Aar the stores for the advance began to be accumulated.

At the latter place especially, which is the chief railway junction in the north of the colony, enormous masses of provisions, ammunition, and fodder were collected, with thousands of mules which the long arm of the British Government had rounded up from many parts of the world.