The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-16
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.

We are now Ave full days without trust
worthy news OF what is passing at Ladysmth'
and the British War ONCE Is silent. humors.
however. are plentiful. and though some nave
been satisfactory from the British point OF
view others have been decidedly unfavorable:
in neither case has there been any confrma-
ton OF the successes or disasters reported.
The firing reported to have been heard az
Ladysmith on several days appears TO nave
been entirely from the Boer side. which would
argue that the British were economizinR their
ammunition against an anticipated assault. or
were feiening exhaustion Of 1t In order to draw
the Beers on. They. on their side. appear to
have exercised great. perhaps excessive.
caution, and at the date OF the latest
reports no direct assault had been at
tempted. and It Is hardly to be expected. ex-
cept conditions are such as to promise success
with the minimum OF loss TO the assailants. the
mum bers OF the Beers not permitting lavish
expenditure OF life. 1t s for this reason that
they adopt block aiding. instead OF close invest
ment. with regular siege operations. In such
cases as that OF Kimberley and MafekinR.
Tho report said to have been received at
Pretoria regarding the demonstration made by
the Beers before Ladysmith. is incomplete. but
It appears to have been intended to feel the
British position and test the feasibility OF an
velop his resistance. All outside reports must
now. however. be received with a certain
amount OF reserve. there being no channel by
which cipher correspondence can come from
South Africa other than that Of the British
authorities. and open messages are 80 CEN
sored as to be innocuous and misinforminR.
The news from Mafeking apparently comes
down to Nov. 4. but contains little beyond siege
gossip. The passage reading. We are well
aupplied with provisions, but very tired OF
dodginR the enemys shells" seems susceptible
OF a double meaning. and the real sense OF It
will only be known to the recipients. 1t was
evidently written with an eye TO the possibility
OF it's falling into the enemy's hands.
In the fighting on the Rhodesian border the
British seem to have sustained some loss.
while that OF the Beers is unknown. In any
case what may happen on that side can have
little influence on the ultimate result. as even
II the British were to send mounted force
from Beira. on the Portuguese Mozambique
coast. by rail to Umtali. and from there to
Buawayo by road. they could hardly arrive In
time to affect In any way the fate OF Lady
smith. on which the result OF the cam paign In
Natal depends.
According to a statement that has appeared
in the London papers the Beers have been
making provision for the contingency OF tho
| capture OF Pretoria, and are preparing for a
transfer OF the seat OF government from there
| to the Businesses OF the ZoutpansberE. the
massive range Of mountains In the northeast
OF the Transvaal. Large quantities OF provis-
| ions and stores OF ammunition are said TO have
been already collected there. sufficient to last
for over year. and forming. as It would. kind
Of South African Switzerland. the Beers believe
they could there maintain their independence
against the heaviest odds. This statement. II
true. affords clue to the reasons for the cam
paign last year against the troublesome Nc
| Pef; md his Magatos OF the Zoutpansberg
I'D their expulsion from the Transvaal terri
tory into Rhodes.a