The War.

Manawatu Herald, 9 January 1900, Page 2

The War.

♦-■ ■ The news that has trickled through lately shows what a lot we must have missed as by but chance remarks in the last cable news the position of the British is very much better than they have been represented. Though General Clery is i with Sir Redvers Buller, if the cables can be believed, there is a large army under somebody's command to the eastward of Colenso, as when the reverse was met with at the Tugela river, Sir Redvers Buller was said to have had 12,000 men under him. His whole force at that period was stated to be over 80,000 so that some of these were employed, as then stated, in clearing the Boers away from Willow Grange, Weenan, and elsewhere. Also it will be noted thaf -even after further reinforcements have reached Sir Redvers Buller his forces are not estimated at more than 80,000 men. We have only just been told in an indireot manner that Estoourt had been cleared of the Boers, and is now the base of supplies for the British army. We have been told that the British troops evacuated Estcourt and that the Boers occupied it, and that one fine day the Boers walked out and a j small force of the British walked in and found a large supply of ammunition, but for some reason the British left and the Boers're^occupied the position. That certainly was the cableorammer's statement. It is very satisfactory to find matters are otherwise, and shows that the Boers have had to clear back and they must be held in some serious check in the neighbourhood of Ladysmith. The transport arrangements have been very much improved, as we hear of traction engines doing their work very satisfactorily- Sir Redvers , Buller with his siege train will be able to clear out the Boers obstructing his crossing the Tugela, as the | guns are heavier than the guns of the ordinary field batteries, and throw Lyddite shells over obstructions and can be timed to explode when most j effective. The war is and will be an artillery war, and we believe the British have the best guns, as they certainly have the best gunners, on their side. The same change for the better is seen in the district around Oolesberg, where the town is now occupied by the British, the Boers having fled mU fttOOUberg w&y. From, thta

direction word will soon be heard from General Gatacre, and then the Boers will hasten for the Orange Free State. At the time Lord Methuen was cheoked beyond the Modder river we were told that the railway had been cut between him and the South, but it has not worried him much as it is open now and he gets his supplies regularly. We evidently get the stories of reverses sent out promptly, but when these are repaired and a step forward is. made our cableorammer forgets to wire.