Laihg's Nek from a Military Point of View.

Manawatu Herald, 14 October 1899, Page 3

Laihg's Nek from a Military Point of View.

A captain in the service of the British South Africa Chartered Company, now on furlough in Victoria, wag recently at Laing's Nelr, which he describes for the Argus a« follows :

M In is an ideal country for fighting for light artillery and mounted infantry. I can picture to myse'f the camp, having spent some* time in thoroughly examining the Nek. Ii must be situated about 12 miles from the mouth of the railway tunnel that pieroes the Nek on the Natal aide. The site I have in mind was surveyed just before my visit. There is an excellent water supply icom springs and spruits (small streams), and the essential point is it is not commanded by any overhanging hifls. This camp will ba perfectly impregnable, and will be a splendid base for offensive operation?. The Boers cannot possibly cross the Nek by the old road. This is utterly impossible, in my opinion, neither can they enter Natal by a detour to the east, as to do so they would have to force narrow mountain passes every one of which can be defended with eomparaiiveiy few men. For two years past military survey parties have been hard at work, evidently in anticipation of trouble. The plan9 I have seen are perfect, bnt of course are inaccessible to any bub military officers."