The evening times., 1899-12-07
sortfes and Surmises.

What We are able to hear from South
Africa today does not tend to show much
improvement in the general situation from
the British point Of view. The story OF
Scott-Turner's brilliant sortie from Kim
berley, in which that gallant officer unfor-
tunately lost his life, Is strongly indicative
that the Beers have men and guns enough
to contain Kekewich and his garrison, and
still meet Methuen with superior force.
re-enforeed from the east, and seems to
have the better of the situation as far as
one can judge from the dispatches.
strong force of Beers is said to be laagered
at Jacobsdal on the British right, and
Lord Methuen of course must count with
that enemy in venturing another frontal
attack 1t is apparently believed in Lon
don that a part of Cronje's fresh forces
have come over from Natal, a theory
which hardly looks reasonable in view OF
the strength and extent of Buffers DEM
orstration on the Tugela River line. In
any event, the Beers are reported as out
numbering Methuen's flying column by
several thousand men.
The latter now has about ninety-five
hundred troops all told, and there are
perhaps an equal number scattered along
the line of communication from Steyns-
berry and Middieburg to De Aar. and up
to the Orange River. French and Cat
acre are having all they can do to hold
that territory intact, and their opponents
10 ha nf-
fensive, which argues the control of more
fighting men by the Beers in Northern
Cape Colony, than earlier statements have
indicated.
Methuen's task looks like an ugly one
in the light of these developments. Cron-
lie appears to have prepared for at least
two pitched battles between Modder Riv-
er and Kimberley. While his position at
Metgr is said to be strongly entrenched.
he is also preparing the heights and
pass at Spytfontein for desperate resist
arce in case he should be dislodged from
the former. If statements regarding his
force are to be relied on. as we have sug-
gested, the ability of the Kimberley gar
rison to break out and help the reliev-
ing column must De cOnsiueTeu dS dt least
doubtful; and there is still the Jacobs
dal Boer contingent, presumably ready to
strike the British right flank. 1t looks
as if Methuen would have to be re-en-
forced beyond present possibility to riake
it safe for him to continue his advance.
On Monday, as we are told, General
ordered an assault on Lady
smith, which was preceded by blistering
of the position. The assault
failed; but may have been repeated. The
Beers have Ladysmith well under their
guns and their artillery and mortar prac-
tice seems to have much improved. They
are probably inflicting more death and
damage than outsiders can know.
On the Tugela River line. our latest re-
ports do not show any material change
Sir Francis Clery has taken personal
at Frere, suggesting that point as
the centre of the advance. AS Hildyard
is too efficient to be kept in the position
Of a lieutenant, he has probably been de- |
tached. We shall likely hear Of him flank |
ing to the east or west. With so much |
sober preparation for business 1t ought to |
be extremely serious when Sir Redvers |
Butler at length shall get good and ready |
to move.