The start of the Boer Offensive The Anglo-Boer War began with British territory being invaded by the Boers at four points: in the east into Natal, in the north-west of the Transvaal towards Mafikeng, in the south-west towards Kimberley, and across the Orange river into the Eastern Cape. The invasion routes were directed at railway lines which would be used to bring British troops towards the Boer Republics. When war broke out there were not enough British troops in Southern Africa for an invasion to be expected immediately. A large part of the British army were still at sea, and other divisions were still to be sent to South Africa. Under these circumstances the British army leadership decided that those forces already near the Republics should adopt a defensive stance until reinforcements arrived. When superiority in numbers was achieved, an attack could immediately be launched. The war would then be ended successfully within a few months by subdividing the Boer Republics. In retrospect the best policy for the Boers would have been a blitzkrieg. Their only chance of winning the war was to destroy the relatively small British forces near the Republics. From there they should quickly have invaded the most important port cities in an effort to stop the British reinforcements from landing in South Africa. However, this they failed to do. The Boer forces became bogged down in laying siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafikeng and in so doing gave the British the opportunity to master superior numbers.