The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-27

We announced several days ago that We had re-
ccived news, rta. England, from the Cape Of Good
ever makes very little alteration in the condition Of
affairs in the Cape Colony since the last dates.
Sir Harry Smith, with about 7, 200 troops of all
sorts, was at King Williams Town Having been
apprised Of the intention Of the Ka6irs to assault
Fort Hare, with the intention Of rescuing the Hot
tentot prisoners, he anticipated their attack by
moving against them. Upwards Of 100 were killed,
many wounded, and large number Of cattle cap
few rank and file were killed and wounded.
Colonel Mackinnon's patrol from King Williams
Town had made raid on the kaffrs, destroyed
several Of their kr.a, and By the aid of the Fin
Sir Harry Smith, having, since the dcsertion of
the Capo Mounted Rifles, threatened to act only on
the defensive unless assisted BY the colonsts has at
length induced number Of the frontiers farmers to
join him. They, however, contend that, unless the
kafrs all along the frontier districts are exter-
minated, no security Tor Life or property can be ex-
pected.
In consequences of 46 armed Cape Mounted Rides
having connected themselves with the disafected
Hsttentots NJ Blinkwater, about one-half Of that
body have been disarmed, and 200 Of their horses
now appropriated to the use Of the levies fro
tho Western district. Three four of the desert
ers from the rife corps had been shot.
The Fingoes continue faithful, but the band Of
Hermanus. now led by his sou refuse to surrender
to General Somerset. They hang about Blinkwater,
and assisted the Kafirs in their abortive attempts
to rescue the Hottsntot prisoners.
SandiH with the prophet Umlangeni, was safe in
the Businesses Of the Amatolas.
Leyola, the T'Slambie chief, who took up strong
position on the Debe Neck, inteyuping communities
tions between King Williams Town and Graham's
Town, decamped on the appearance Of strong
patrol sent to expel him.
There has been no open demonstration at Cape
Town either favorable otherwise to the governor
general but the feeling Of the inhabitants is for the
adoption Of SEINE determined course to prevent the
protraction Of the war.
Goll Al l. rAl
suing campaign is taken from leading article in
the Times of Saturday" Sir Harry Smith had
not, at the period Of the last dispatches, COM
menced any offensive movement, his operations
having been confined to relieving and revietualling
his several garrisons, opening communications with
his colleagues, collecting reinfsrcements, and con-
centrating stores OF provisions His system Of pro-
ceeding deserves attention. The operations Of the
war were carried on from two bases, and on two
lines. One Of these was most conveniently sup
piled by the port Of East London, at the mouth Of
the Buffalo river, intersecting British Catfraria.
From East London to King Williams Town-Sir
Harrys head quarters-the distance is but IS miles,
and the communication is kept open by friendly
tribes, whose alliance in this respect has proved
Of great value. From King Williams Tewn
to Fort White is eighteen miles, and from Fort
White to Fort Cox only seven; so that this line Of
operation is but sixtyone miles long from point to
point, or, reckoning from the central quarters Of
the Governor at King Williams Town, thirty-six
miles only to the sea- and twenty to the outposts
above named. The nature Of the service, however,
will become disagrceably manifest when the reader
calls to his recollection that Fort White and Fort
Cox could only be relieved even from the contigu-
Gus headquarters Of King Williams Town, by an
expediEionary column Of 2,200 men, and we shall
illustrate the case still more clearly by stating that
Fort Hare, though less than twenty miles beyond
Fort White, cannot be reached at all from this di-
recton, but is connected with base Of its own by
circuitous line Of more than $50 miles This base
is Port Elizabeth, in Algoa Bay, and the communi-
cation is by Graham's Town and Fort Bcaufort-an
enormous detour, which is rendered necessary by
the enc my's possession Of the country. As soon as
Sir Harry is enabled by further successes to move
wagons in British Catiraria with small escorts, he
hopes to supply Fort Hare from East London, and
thus super;ede the long and expensive passage from
Algoa Bay; but in the meantime the provisions re-
qured for this service must be transported by hired
teamstcrs Mt least lo0 miles Of ground. In the
last this land carriage cost us AGO 900, but the
facilities Of the Buffalo river, the fortified posts, and
the assistance Of our L Slambie friends, ought
to curtail these liabilities considerably. On these
two lines OF operation there two forces, under
the immediate commands Of Colonel Mackinnon in
King Williams Town, and Colonel Somerset in
Fort Hare-the governor and his staff being at the
headquarters of the former. The total number OF
troops in the field is returned at $751; but Of these
1900 native evies, and $50 OF the colonial corps
leaving only $50 British infantry, WHO are sup
ported, however, by BIO artillcrymen and engineers
and l03 seamen and marines. The Iith regiment,
toe, now on its way out, will carry a seasonable
reinforcement Of 800 bay onets and with these
Sir Harry will commence the campaign. Ills plan
was to move on given day from King Williams
Town with Colonel Mackinnon's division, while Co
lionel Somerset's division advanced at the same
moment, by n concerted scheme, from Fort Hare.
These columns thus simultaneously moving were to
penetrate the Amatolas, and to sweep this kaiiir
stronghold from one point to the other"