LETTER FROM THE FRONT

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 313, 14 January 1902, Page 3

LETTER FROM THE FRONT

SPEEDY TERMINATION OF WAR ANTICIPATED. (Special to Times.) Writing from Potchefstroom under date of November 28th, Mr A. J. Cox Times special correspondent writes : of late the reduction of the enemy's strength has proceeded steadily, and taking the facts as they are it is apparent if the work of attrition is maintained, the Boers cannot remain very much longer an active fighting force capable of harm. Lord Cranborne, apparently on good authority, estimates the number of the enemy still in the field at ten thousand. In the Cape Colony there are about ten hundred, in Bechuanaland and Griqualand West about S(JU, in the O. R. C. about 3,500, and the remaining 5000 are within reach of Botha in the Transvaal. The enemy’s. strength has

been reduced by over 18,000 since the beginning of this year. If the monthly average of prisoners, surrenders, and killed be placed at even 1500 and this is maintained, as we feel sure it will be, by the end of March there will be mighty few Boers left in the field to keep the country in a state of distraction. There are also big losses to the enemy in horses and cattle. The work of the troops has been in every degree satisfactory. Great difficulties have been surmounted, and the labor entailed 'in the unappreciated task of conducting clearing up operations cannot be estimated. Fresh energy is to instilled into the army, and the troops who have become stale in the natural course of things will be relieved by fresh units. The Government has decided to send two cavalry regiments from India for .South Africa, and this supplementary force will enable ■ Lord Kitchener to strike an immediate blow at the guerilla tactics. A later cable slates tiiat reinforcements will be despatched at the rate of 0000 per month

for the next three months. 'l’he Bloemfontein Post says : —“ A corps of Canadians, New Zealanders, or Australians, would render a good account of themselves in the field at

the present time, as there is no more experienced tactician capable of dealing with the manoeuvres of the enemy than the average colonist. We have to overwhelm the implacable irreconcilables amongst the burghers, and to show the iron heel to the rebels. We have dealt with these people according to the highest dictates of humanity ; we have cherished their women and children and aged, and in many instances the response has been to bite the hand that fed them. The Government will continue in the same course towards those already under its protection, but the noblest magnanimity cannot extend beyond certain limits. We have practically speaking, 30,000 prisoners, and we are supporting 150,000 people in the refuge camps at an enormous expense. It is an impossible situation, and the way to end it and mend it is to follow the course mapped out. It is evident from the growing impatience at the long continuance of the war that a decision will soon be taken to deny the Boers the rights of belligerents. It 'is being felt that the enemy have taken an unwarrantable advantage of our magnanimity and of our efforts to maintain their wives and families in comfort. The Cape Colony invasion will probably attract the most attention at the opening of what we earnestly hope will be the last stage of the campaign. General French will be given an adequate force to completely oust the rebels and a large sweeping northward movement should effectively clear the country. Once they are overwhelmed it is pretty certain the leaders will not remain to perish in the ruins but will find a way out of the country. The rebels as it is are pretty tired of wandering. The details of the attack on Colonel Benson’s column in the Bethel district have been published, and though the affair unfortunately led to the loss of a gallant leader and a number of officers and men, still the endurance shown by the small force against overwhelming odds is a bright incident in the story. The Boers in this engagement lost between three and four hundred. Botha has apparently been compelled to continue lighting and he decided to assume the aggressive. It is earnestly to be desired he will continue this course as it will tend to materially shorten operations.