Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1801. THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 February 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1801. THE BOER WAR.

From day to day wo receive and publish cable news dealing with the progress of the war, which latterly has degenerated into a mere Boer hunt, with an occasional trifling return and damage of property. If our cables are to be relied on, the struggle is being maintained through the obstancy of De Wet and Steyn, who, through driven from pass to pass and from one locality to another, return again and again to the charge. The unequal strife cannot be maintained much longer, for the determined and desperate Boer is beginning to feel the want of supplies—a want that brings submission to the stoutest hearts. It is, of course, somewhat difficult amidst conflicting statement to get at anything

like a correct estimate of the Boers now under arms. Mr. James Barnes, perhaps the most able of the many American correspondents at the front, has lately asked: “How many men are left to keep the war alive? ” and answers the question in this wise: During the whole war the Boers never had in the field more than 6?,000 men. Of these, Mr, Barnes estimates 6.000 have been counted out by death, 4.000 invalided or now unable to bear arms, and 16,000 deported. During the first week of October the Boers in the field are put at 14,000, leaving—if the figures be followed—2s,ooo to account for. Of these Mr. Barnes Computes 10,000 as in the protected towns, or actually as well as professedly, loyal, so that there still remains another scattered 15,000 to be reckoned with. It thus appears that the possible fighting men still in the late Republics number 29,000 men. This is considerably less than we have been led to believe by other authorities. Botha for instance claims to have 18.000 men with him in Eastern Transvaal, while De Wet forces are so split up as to be difficult to compute. It is the general belief that Kitchener is paying the same game to a great extent, that he did in Soudan. He is making all his preparations and waiting the arrival of the Colonial and Imperial mounted men. When these are available, he will place his men and have a re-lay ready to pick up the pursuit as soon as one lot are tired out. By such means De Wet, Steyn and their men will be allowed no rest, and must speedily surrender. Doubtless ere this is accomplished, there will yet bo a considerable sacrifice of life and treasure, but better that a hundred men should die in battle and secure a speedy settlement, than that a thousand should die of to disease in a long drawn out struggle.