It was sad to think that such men were prisoners, and were lost to us so long as the war continued.

We had become rather accustomed to such experiences, but what made this so hard to bear was that treachery had a hand in it--when the English took the Government and President Steyn's bodyguard prisoners, they had had a Free State burgher as their guide.
The vacant posts in the Government had now to be filled up, and the President appointed the following persons:--In the place of A.P.

Cronje, General C.H.Olivier, as Member of the Executive Council; and in place of Mr.T.Brain, Mr.W.C.J.

Brebner, as Government Secretary.

Mr.
Johannes Theron he appointed Secretary to the Executive Council, instead of Mr.Rocco De Villiers; and Mr.B.J.Du Plessis Private Secretary to himself in place of Mr.Gordon Fraser.
The President also decided to have, in future, only thirty burghers as his bodyguard, and appointed Captain Niekerk as their Commandant..