The Troops for Rhodesia.

Manawatu Herald, 19 April 1900, Page 3

The Troops for Rhodesia.

Writing in the Otago Daily Times Major Kennedy says :— The mustering of a strong force in Rhodesia by sending troops through Portuguese territory from Beira to Umtali will be slow and expensive work, and would not be considered of much practical use if General Carrington's forces were destined for service in the country as far south as Pretoria or Mafeking, as the great distance the troops would hays to march after leaving the railway prevents them from being of much value when operating to the south away from tbeir base for long distances. Consequently, although tb)e cables have not mentioned anything that would lead us to suppose that the Kaffirs in Rhedesia were causing trouble, yet it is to be feared that the military authorities are in possession of information that has been sufficiently grave to warrant Jhe extraordinary move that the despatch of 5000 men by such an expensive and roundabout way implies. It- is safe to assume that 10,000 mules will be required for the transport service, in addition to the 5000 and odd horses necessary to to enable General Carrington to move his column from Umtali and advance on Pretoria or to the relief of Mafeking. There is no doubt but that the Eresence of General Carrington at the cad of 5000 mounted troops north of the Limpopo river would in a great measure deter President Kruger and the more determined of his followers from any attempt to trek north and continue to carry on a guerilla camEaign after the British have beaten his urghers out of Pretoria, but it would not be necessary to send troops via Beira to stop such a move by the remnant of the Boers who will be prepared to resist to the last. Long before that time comes British troops will have possession of the Cape and Buluwayo fine of railway, and it will be far easier to send troops over that line to the northern districts than to send them via Beira. It is clear that whatever is the object for sending troops to Rhodesia, their presence in that country is required at once, and that the British Government are in possession of information that for reasons of State is kept dark, .