Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 May 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1901. THE BOER WAR.

The news from South, Africa is of a complicating character. To-day our telegrams tell us that though there are 250,000 British troops there and April's war bill of Boer mounts up to 2,500, the unequal strife continues. Of course there is no such thing as war, It is a mere banditti—but a banditti well acquainted with the country, and apparently determined to resist to the bitter end. Another sweeping process has begun and there is no doubt but that Kitchener is slowly but surely grinding the Boers down. Every effort is directed to stamping re3istence out ere spring sets in. If the burgher can hold outtill then, it is more than probable that they can keep up resistance for another year. We constantly hear'of the capture of large quantities of stock, but in a country like South Africa these captures represent but a small percentage of the whole. The bitter, stern hunt must be continued, for so long as there are Bothas and De Wets abroad, British trains will be wrecked and isolated stations attacked and destroyed. And the task is no easy one. Supposing the long lines of communication are made impregnable —a physical impossibility—there will remain cattle on the mountain ranges and grass on the veldt, and with his ponies in fair condition and an occasional supply of " biltong " the Boer can continue to play the game indefinitely. And certainly the Transvaalers do not make any sign of surrender; on the contrary, their men on command appear to increase. To-day our telegrams tell us of the invasion of Cape Colony by a force of 800 Boers bent upon rendering assistance to Fouche who finds himself in a tight corner at Aliwal North. When we find such occurrences taking place, we cannot with much hope expect the close of the struggle by September.