He himself, with the members of the Government, had gone to Bethlehem.

General Marthinus Prinsloo was there too; he had resigned his post of Commander-in-Chief of the commandos which guarded the Drakensberg.

Commandant Hattingh of Vrede had been chosen in his place, and he also was at Bethlehem.
A difficulty now arose as to Prinsloo's position.

The President declared that Prinsloo was nothing more than a private burgher; but Commandant Olivier was not satisfied with this, and asked that there might be an election of a Commander-in-Chief.

This request, however, the President refused to grant.
I did not wish the office of Commander-in-Chief to devolve upon myself, for I knew that I did not possess the confidence of the officers.