I had thus to abandon my idea of visiting General De la Rey; instead of this, I wrote him a letter requesting him to come to the President.

I also sent for Judge Hertzog.
De la Rey was the first to arrive, and, without waiting for Judge Hertzog, we at once proceeded to take into consideration the following letter from the Government of the South African Republic.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES, IN THE FIELD, District Ermelo, South African Republic, _May 10th, 1901_.
TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY, O.F.S.
SIR,-- I have the honour to report to you that to-day the following officers met the Government, namely, the Commandant-General, General B.Viljoen, General J.C.Smuts (Staats-Procureur), the last-named representing the western districts.

Our situation was seriously discussed, and, among others, the following facts were pointed out:-- 1.

That small parties of burghers are still continually laying down their arms, and that the danger arising from this is becoming every day more threatening, namely, that we are exposed to the risk of our campaign ending in disgrace, as the consequence of these surrenders may be that the Government and the officers will be left in the field without any burghers, and that, therefore, heavy responsibility rests upon the Government and War Officers, as they represent the nation and not themselves only.
2.

That our ammunition is so exhausted that no battle of any importance can be fought, and that this lack of ammunition will soon bring us to the necessity of flying helplessly before the enemy.