The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-22
THE OUTLOOK IN soUIH AFRICA.

The anxiety In England over the situation In
South Africa will not be lessened by the report
that Gen. Butler has found II necessary 10
withdraw from his advanced Position Ut
Chievsey to Frere because. 1t IL SAID. OF boer
patrolllng parties from across the Iugea
threatening his communications. -Four
days also have now passed without
news from Gen. Methnen at the MOI
der River camp. which points conclu-
sively to the complete interruption OF
his communications both by rail and telegraph
while the Beers are believed to he again estap.
fishing themselves in the neghborhood OF
Belmont In the positions from when they were
driven on Nov. 30 Gen. French. acting In
sympathy with the policy OF retreat imposed
by the untoward issue OF events elsewhere. mas
fallen back nearer TO Nnauw Poort. and Gen.
Gatacre appears for the present at least to
be tied 10 Sterkstroom by the I'M
settled condition of the surrounding country.
Meanwhile the Beers. now fully alive to the
strategic value Of Stormberg. the key OF tho
railway communications to the west and
north, are collecting large force there to op-
pose tho British advance up the limo OF rail-
from Sterkstroom. while they have provided Tor
an lnterceptinR movement to the south from
the Dordrecht district. which Is In direct com
munication with Allwal North. and at the
by the main road. In case OF being Obliged to
fall back before British movement from
Queenstown or Sterkstroom.
Colonel Plummer reports having pushed his
way with n strong accommodating force
from Fort Tuli. In Rhodesla, to within about
ffty miles OF Petersburg, the terminus OF the
railway running north from Pretoria. but was
compelled to return, the country having the
appearance OF being completely abandoned
and the intense drought making 1t dangerous
70 penetrate further with their horses losing
strength for want OF sufficient feed.
Such Ia the general situation as II appears
from the latest reports. and It cannot be said
to be encouraging at any point. The question
whether Ladysmith or Kimberley should re-
ceive the first attention. seems TO be settled
by an article in the London Times In which
the relief OF Iadysmlth is spoken OF de-
spondingly. and the opinion expressed
! that the best that can be now hoped Il
| that Gen. White may be able TO cut
| his>way south across the Tugela at some poin,
| and Join Gen. Butler His being able TO do sc
| successfully depends upon the lowness OF the
| water ut the fords on the road he may select
| and whether the Beers happen to have theii
attention drawn In another direction. Tn,
| recent attacks on the Boer positions at LON
| bard's Rop. Pepworth Hill, and the Isambul
| wana Mountain to destroy the guns mounted or
| them and dlslodGe the Beers In occupation. ar,
| indications that Gen. White had In Wow tn,
| uncovering OF the roads leading to the drifts o
| fords on the Tucela TO the eastward Of Coenso
| either In anticipation OF a successful passag,
| OF the Tugela at Colcnso by Gen. Butler. or o
| his being himself obliged 10 try sortic at IN,
| last moment as an alternative to capituation
II the Times article. therefore. Is n correct in
| dcation OF the policy to be pursued. then 4
becomes evident that the first object OF tn
| next forward movement on the part OF tn,
| British In the relief OF Kimberley, and tn,
| sending OF strong reanforcements and suprlle
| TO Gen. Methuen to avert his being forced bacl
TO the Orange River. and all the grounC
| over which he has fought his way to hi
| present position having TO be recovered
perhaps With severer losses than on tn
fret advance. This means that the polItca
| situation in Englanl and the interest OF tn
| Royal South African Chartered COMPANY
| dominate every other consideration. At th'
| same time. the military position Ia somewha
| changed TO what II was week or tel
| days ago when II was only the kimbcr
ley garrison that had to be relieved. i
and Gen. Methuen's division. numerically
are more important from every point OF view
| now than Gen. Whites. and. for future opera
| tions. the possession Of Kimberley is more i'm
mediately important than that OF Ladysmth
as. In the event OF Kimberley being shorti
| relieved. and strong British force pushe,
| forward through the Free State toward Johhn
| nesburg. the evacuation OF Natal by Gen. Juu
| bert's army would follow as matter OF course