The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
THE SITUATION Nv sourH AFRICA.

The attempt to cut the British communlca-
lions near the Victoria West station on the
railway between Cape Town and Kimberley.
seventy miles south OF De Aar. made on Thurs
day night is n serious matter. Unless the force
was com posed Of local Afrikanders. II is DIM
cult to understand how any considerable num-
Der OF northern Beers could have succeeded
IN escaping the notice OF the British patrols
between Naauw Poort and De Aar. The proba-
billy Is that II was tho local rebels who have
already been reported as gathering in that dis
trict who have begun operations, and more
news OF the same kind may now DO looked
for Such raids will. OF course. Increase the
already difficult duty OF guarding the commu-
nications. which will become greater as the
forces at the front dependent on them are aug
mented.
sortie was made from Mafeking on Christ
mas Day. in which. according to the Beer re-
port the British appear to have lost heavily
100 killed and wounded. the Boer loss being
only nine What the object OF these frequent
sorties may be is not very clear. rs there Is no
relieving force near enough to render assist
ance. even supposing the Beers were driven
of for a few days.
Natal reports Indicate what has already
been surmised. that preparations are going
forward for an early move toward Ladysmith.
That the Beers are expecting one. is con-
frmed by tho statement that they have COW
cred the approaches to Potgieter's Drift, near
Springfield. on the Little Tugela TO tho west OF
Colenso with intrenchments. which they are
said to have armed with some OF the guns cap
tured from the British at Colenso on the
18th. This Ia intended to guard against
q turning movement on the west which has
been looked for all along. Tho British will. on
the next occasion no doubt, make q moro
vigorous attempt than on the last to obtain
possession OF the Inhlawe Mountain. In order
to be able to enillade the Boer positions north
OF Colenso from the eastward. Should they
succeed In this. the situation would become
critical one for the Boers. and it might be
decisive OF the fate OF Ladysmith. In any
event. the next fighting on the Tugela Ia GER
tain to be OF q determined and sanguinary
character.
Mother from Gen Gatacre nor Gen French Is
there news OF importance: and that from the
Modder River camp makes IL appear that an
immediate advance or a renewed attack on the
Boer positions Is not expected. the coming and
going OF tho Bocr commands apparently
puzzling Gen. Methuen's stan.
An interesting contribution to tho discus
sions going on In England as to the RESPONSE
billty for tho untoward issue OF the campaign
In South Africa so far. 10 contained In n resume
published OF Sir W. +. Buffers dispatches
from Cape Town before his recall. He advised
the British Government to abandon Natal as
far as the north was concerned. and to place q
force OF 10000 men to guard the line OF the
Tugea, the scene OF the present fighting.
Meantime an army OF not less than 100000
men should DO sent out to advance through
the Orange Free State TO johannesburg and
Pretoria. His figures were. however. then re-
garded as ridiculously exaggerated now they