The
15, it was said, signified the 15th of August, the day of the
meeting. That would be the day which had been so long
expected--the day of liberation.
Van Rensburg was now the oracle. His prophecies with regard to
the great war had been signally fulfilled. Germany was at
grips with England, and her triumph was looked upon as
inevitable.
The day had arrived to strike a blow for their lost
independence. Van Rensburg assured his following that the
Union Government was "finished." Not a shot would be fired.
The revolution would be complete and bloodless.
Between the 10th and the 15th the plotters in Lichtenburg were
actively preparing for the day. There is evidence that German
secret agents were working in concert with them. When doubters
asked how they could be so certain that the 15 signified a day
of the month--and of the month of August in particular--they
were scornfully if illogically told that "in God's time a
month sooner or later made no difference."
Of course, General de la Rey was the storm centre. He had been mentioned
in the same vision with the number 15 and it was taken for granted that
he would play the chief role in the Treurfontein meeting.
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