The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-24
STIRRING NEWS FROM soUIH AFRICA.

| The holiness and resource manifested by
! the Beers since they crossed the Tugela APP
I pear to have been attended with great success.
but 1t Il questionable whether by stretching
themselves so far to the south as they have.
they are not rather playing into Gen. Buffers
hands Tho best part OF the Boer army Is now
In position where II IL beyond Its power to
render any assistance to the combined Free
State and Transvaal force. which must shortly
come into contact with tho British troops all
vancing through Cape Colony to Klmberleyand
the southern front er ofthc Free State. 1t argues
very great confidence on the part Of Gen. Jou-
bert In the capacity OF the levles blockading
Ladysmith to hold their own against Sir George
Whites sortics. that he should detach so con-
siderable force "a he apparently has for tho
raids toward Pietcrmaritzburg. There is GER
tninly something requiring explanation in the
seeming inaction of Gen. Clery. but II will not
be forthconi' z until events have further de-
veloped. Should the preparations for the re-
lef OF the different blockadcd garrisons in Natal
continue in the present csurely fashion. II
wi be imros1ible to avoid the inference that
II Is done by design.
1t IL obviously to the advantage Of Gen.
Butler that Gen. Jouhor and his army should
be held in Natal as long as possible while he
is conducting the operations in the south and
southwest. We're Tadvsmith to fall. the force
now investing Il would be free to pass the
Drak usherE into the FREQ State. and turning
to tn" south re.enforce the commands oppos-
ing Gen. Gatncre's advance with Frenchs cav
airy. or II moro urgent cross the Free state to
threaten Grn. Mcthucn's advance in the west
by n flank attack.
Tho conilguration ~ the country renders II
unlikely that the Beers will attempt to hold
positions south OF the Moot River but they will
no doubt continue their raids ard patrolling rs
FAR south ms they can reach without coming
/ into conflict with superior forces One reason
for this Is that the country to the northeast OF
PIctermarit2burg il open and favorable TO
cavalry operations which would facilitate a
turning movement against the Bocr left flank
In the case Of their advancing across tho Moot
River
For the moment active interest In tho
! situation is transferred to the scene Of Con.
Methuen's column According to Il telegram
dated yesterday mornlng. sent by him to tho
, officer commanding at Cape Town. he attacked
the Bocr position near Belmont. which has
been the object OF several Reconnaissance
during the past fortnight After brisk fight
the Beers positions were carried with the loss
OF - officers and lS3 men killed and wounded
and lSmen missing, Forty prisoners were taken
by the British and somc Beers left deal on
the field were buried. the main Boer force
apparently retiring unmolcsted with the re-
maindcr 81 their wounded BY this success
the first obstacle In the way Of the Kimberley
relief column has been removed. Tho next
fighting may be expected to take place at the
Modder River. unless the British force defects
its march to the eastward toward Jacobsdal
In the Free state. from where the rest 81
the advance should be com parntivey easy. The
news from this column will now be awaited
with very great interest. "a its success will In