[319] Of the Carbineers, one of the newspapers reported: "They were the first to get orders ... and in an incredibly short time were on their way to Zululand. The regiment is to be congratulated on being referred to in a despatch by the Prime Minister to the Governor as having performed 'one of, if not the quickest mobilizations on record.'" Receiving orders to mobilize on the 30th November, the Headquarters squadrons entrained at 5.15 p.m. on the 2nd, and reached Gingindhlovu at 5.35 a.m. on the 3rd December.
[320] Cd. 3,888, p. 182.
[XXI.]
DINUZULU EXPEDITION.—SURRENDER OF DINUZULU.—CALLING IN OF FIREARMS.—SEARCHING FOR OUTSTANDING REBELS.
The Government's decision to arrest Dinuzulu was communicated at once to the Commandant. This officer had already been put in command of the Natal Police Reserve, under Dimmick, at Nongoma. On the 24th November, 100 Natal Police, under Inspector W.F. Lyttle, left Pietermaritzburg; fifty of these proceeded to Melmoth, whilst the balance reinforced Dimmick.
Dimmick got orders to make it known that the additional men were considered necessary to effectually patrol the district, then in a disturbed state in consequence of the recent murders. Lyttle was instructed to pay a visit by himself to Emtonjaneni heights, and there select a site for a camp a mile from Emtonjaneni store, and along the road to Nkandhla. He was, at the same time, advised that he would be ordered to move his camp there at an early date. The object was, in this and other ways, to create the impression that the next movement of troops would be to Nkandhla for the purpose of arresting murderers, and certain unpardoned rebels known to be still in hiding in that district. A detachment of N.P. that was at Mahlabatini joined Lyttle at Melmoth.
On the Militia being called out to arrest Dinuzulu, a plan of campaign was drawn up by the Commandant and submitted for the consideration of Government. The troops were thereupon ordered to mobilize and concentrate at Gingindhlovu, the idea being to march from there viâ Emtonjaneni to Usutu.
Sir Duncan McKenzie left Pietermaritzburg on the 3rd for Gingindhlovu. On reaching Durban, however, he received a wire from the Prime Minister embodying the message from Dinuzulu anticipating arrest, and was told that the Magistrate, Nongoma, had been instructed to advise Dinuzulu to surrender at once at Nongoma, where he would be taken charge of by the Chief Commissioner of Police. This arrangement, of course, completely altered the aspect of affairs. After consulting Sir Charles Saunders, the Commandant decided that there was then no object in marching the troops, by that time already at Gingindhlovu, from that station to Nongoma, when they could be taken by rail to Somkele, and thus considerably shorten the march.