Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1899. The War.

Manawatu Herald, 5 December 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1899. The War.

» The news from the seat of war is \ satisfactory, for though we do not heab of any very striking victory yet it will be noticed the British troops are moving on. It will be remembered that the Boers struck the first blow, I because in spite of their professions of desiring an amicable settlement of the \ disputes, they had been preparing for i the past two or three years for war, and thus were ready to move directly i they chose to declare war. Great Britain on the contrary had been so hopeful of a peaceful solution of the difficulties that she was not strongly represented by troops in South Africa, and she had to fall back before the advance of the Boers upon certain strategical points, which had to be held until reinforcements arrived. The news up to date record that these points, Ladysmith, De Aar, Kimberley, and Mafeking, have withstood all the power and might the Boers have been able to bring against them, and hqw the tables will soon be turned. It is good news to learn that the Boers who had begun to overrun the north of Cape Colony have been driven towards their borders, and that General Gatacre with a. force near Maauwpoort has Secured the railway connection with the branch to Stormberg, which will facilitate his attack on the enemy in that portion, besides giving him "rail connection with Port Elizabeth, which will be of the utmost value for supplies when the march into the Orange Free State is undertaken. De Aar, the military depot, is not only safe but is also in rail communication with Naauwpoort, and not only that but the railway and telegraph line is in working order right from De Aar up to the Kimberley relieving columns position on the Modder river. Lord Methuen is within twenty-four miles of Kimberley and is able to communicate with the defenders, and to oppose Lord Methuen's march the Boers, so we have been told, brought a portion of the. beseiging force irom the North of Kimberley to the south of it. Just beyond the Modder river is a place called Spytfontein where it is probable the Boers are massed at their i full strength in this portion of the scene of war, and from here we may I expect most important news very shortly. We notice that Lord Methuen has sent for further reinforcements so the Boers would appear to be in a tight place, as they have no easy road home into the Orange Free State, and they lie between the two British forces, one on tho Modder, and the other at Kimberley, who are fortunately placed as to be able to communicate with one another and act in conjunction. The reinforcements appear to be required to cut the Boers from getting away and if the British arrangements prove satisfactory it is probable that the engagement at Spytfontein will be the last they will have an opportunity of taking part in. If this should be so the relief of Mafeking will be but a but a trifle, and the large column having got there will probably proceed straight to Johannesburg. On the Natal battle gtound we have the defenders of Ladysmith "quite cheery " with General Buller at Fere with 18,000 men, and the Boers near Colenso, but a short way off. ApI parently some Boers have been left unmolested at Estcourt, and the British column are pushing round the Boer's besieging force around Ladysmith, so that it may get in a position between the Boers and the passes through the mountains into the Orange Free State. If they succeed in doing this before the Boers retreat the Boers will be placed in a very awkward position here, as they will have 18,000 men between them and home, and the 10,000 men at Ladysmith who can attack them at any point, besides there being a. large number of men

who can be sent up from Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The Boers will soon have to make up their minds which way tliey will try to get home, and intimation will be given of such retreat by the most southern troops being called back, and then the British troops will form a half-circle and drive •them upon the British force which has got to the boundary first* A glance at the map will show the present position of the Boers to be untenable for much longer, both from the distance from food and ammunition Supplies. We have always looked upon Ladysmith as having been used as a jar of honey is for beesj to attract a force around it, and keeping them interested whilst the British troops took up their positions, and this is now clearly what it has been used for. It is most satisfactory to know that General Buller has demanded a free hand and has been granted it, as it will not be long before a great outcry will be raised that the war has gone far enough. It appears that General Buller demands it shaU be a fight to the finish, and it is best that it should be so. We pointed out some time ago that Great Britain feared that some European Power or Powers would try and hamper her dealings with this war, and we pointed to France, Some papers who have not a grasp of the political situation . on the continent suggested that these were mere aiarmist and most unfounded suggestions) but subsequent proceedings' have shown them to be otherwise. France is the culprit and were She a little more powerful Would gladly enter into W&r. Anyone could have understood this to be the case when it was announced that the powerful Mediterranean fleet had been reinforced by the Channel fleet, and to help to make matters-even more emphatic we have the "cable news that the "particular service " squadron^ recently mobilised, had been ordered to Gibraltar. The latest news is that the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain* addressing a meeting at LieCester. scathingly denounced the recent attacks made in French newspapers on the Queen, and hinted that the consequences would be serious if these attacks were persisted ill-

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