John Fredrick Parker
Donor
Um, the British were mobilizing against the Boers as part of an ultimatum to give political rights to the Utilanders; the idea of the republics staying on the defensive means they focus on thwarting these mobilized armies when they try to make good on that threat, instead of going on the offensive as they did OTL. My point was that, given how well the Boers did in these offensives OTL, they would likely do well against said forces in a more defensive capacity as well; and that it would be far harder for the British to send reinforcements for said army just to make good on Chamberlains ultimatum on the Utilander question, as opposed to come to the defense of the Cape Colony et el, as they did OTL.Well if they are doing that to the point of not giving the British reason to mobilise against them then they are not winning the war as there is not one as such - at least not as far as the British are concerned anyway!
On the more mundane side - would a largely averted Second Boer War mean that anti-imperialist parties in the Cape Colony (the liberal South African Party, and the Afrikan Bond) do better earlier than OTL? Meaning Merriman, not Jameson, succeeds Sprigg as PM?