By June 1901 lines of these small forts extended along all the railway lines and a start was made on cross-country lines which had a different purpose. They were to be barriers to the free movement of the Boer commandos who were now to be driven and cornered against them. The country was to be divided into fenced areas of manageable size within which the Boers could be dealt with piecemeal. More than 8000 blockhouses had been erected by the war’s end.