 Caught between the conflicting pressures in English-Canada and French-Canada, Laurier announced on 14 October that Canada would raise and equip an all-volunteer force to South Africa that once it arrived would operate under British command and be paid for by Britain.Laurier did not summon Parliament for a vote as he knew that the Liberal caucus would split between the English-Canadian MPs and French-Canadian MPs, and instead his decision was announced as an order-in-council.On 30 October, a hastily raised force of 1, 061 volunteers left Quebec City abroad the SS "Sardinian" (called "the Sardine" by its passengers for cramped conditions) for Cape Town under the command of Colonel William Otter.