The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-06
THE srrUA1roS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The news from Ladysnlth received at Durham
by pigeon post confirms the suspicion sx.
pressed yesterday that Sir George White would
break out from Ladysmith and strike sharp
blow at some point OF the Boer line OF invest
ment. This he did on Thursday with force
composed apparently OF cavalry. mounted In
fantry and field artillery The point attacked
was the camp VI the Free Skaters at Besters
Hill on the road to Van Reenens Pass.
Tho Beers were caught mapping. and after
brisk cannonade TO which they unsuccessfulIy
replied. the cavalry were let nose with the
result that the Bocr camp was captured and lite
defenders fed In confusion suffering great
loss
Other fighting has been going on since then
in different directions outside Of Ladysmith
up to yesterday. principally In tho southwest
but It seems to have been intended to occupy
the attention OF the enemy and pre-
vent his carrying out q combined at
tack at any point OF the British de-
fence. or detaohing forcss TO operate else
whore. The usual bonn bardment by the Beers
and replying by the British goes on intermlt-
tently. the Boers seeming to be well furnished
with heavy guns. The fact that news from
Ladysmith now comes by pigeon post confirms
the reports OF the interruption OF the railway
aud telegraph communication. and attests the
value OF pigeon service in the case OF an In
vested garrison.
The advance OF the Free State commandos
into the Cape Colony 10 the source OF grave
anxiety In England owing to the fear that
IL may lead to general rising OF the Afri-
kander population and the accession Of great
strength to the Boer cause. Even II the
rising were only partial the embarrassment to
the British military movements would be so
great that a largo proportion OF the whole
force intended to be employ cd would have to
be detailed to guard the railways. defles and
bridges. while the Bocrs would receive all the
help that could be afforded by men joining the
army. and by supplies Of provisions and infor-
nation. Tho first effect OF the invasion Of
Cape Colony has been the destruction. by the
British. OF tho bridge across tho Orange River
at Hopetown on the railway between Kimber-
ley and De Aar This at once breaks another
link. and a very important one. in the means OF
reaching Kimberley from that side. On their
part the Beers have destroyed the bridge on
the Colesberg River. twelve miles from the
town OF that name. and have torn up eighteen
miles OF the railway south Of Norvars Point. the
approaches to which have been mined. This
would indicate that the Beers propose to oper-
ate chiefly from Bethulic toward Burghsrsdorp
Junction on the East London Railway.an get
ting in the rear OF the British post at Aliwal
NOTtH cut tuo COEn WIN ohhuSOiuuu
from that side. The next few days will prob
ably be passed by the Free statsrs In doing
all the damage they can on the various
lines OF railway north Of tho range Of
mountains running parallel with the Orange
River. and II possible selling the pass between
Naauw Poort and hiddleburR on tho Port
Elizabeth Railway. and tho pass on the cross
line between Middleburg and Storm herg juno
ton to the eastward. The destruction Of the
Orange River bridge at Hopstown by the
British Ia slgnincant and would make II APP
pear that they renounce for the time being
operating along that road toward Kimberley.
Above Mafeking toward Rhodesia. the Beers
arc said to have occupied Gaberones twenty
i've miles south OF Mochudi. on the Notwani
branch OF the Iimpopo River. where Lieut..
Lewcllyr at last accounts was guarding the
railway to tho north In an armored train. The
Boer troops in tho northern part OF the Trans
wal are reported TO be moving south. but
where to is not stated. insignificant skirmishes
are said to have taken place between the Linn
popo and Fort Tuli in southern Rhodesia with
out results either way.
In Natal the action OF the Beers will be die
tated by the position at Ladysmith. Should
they succeed in capturing the place they would
probably push on large force to destroy as
much OF the railway to Pletsrmaritzburg as
possible. and hold the dsnlss In the m mountains
between Estcourt and Pietermartzburg by
which the British would have to ad-
vance. Their main line Of resistance
would. however. be the TuRela river.
from which It would bs very difficult to
drive them. except by turning movement
through Hululaud across the lower Tugela at
tho mouth OF which troops might be landed in
small dstachments. and also in St. Lucia Bay
short distance further north. The difnculty In
this latter case would be the mat er tran sport
for any considerable body OF troops The de-
struction OF the railway to Pietermaritzburg
would involve the same trouble In Natal proper.
But the future OF the campaign now depends
In great measure on the attitude OF the Cape
Colony Afrikandcrs. II they decide to throw
In their lot with the two republics. then the
situation assumes wholly different phase to
what 1t presents at present. and the military
operations will have to he regulated to meet
the altered circumstances.