The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-26
THE sI1UATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The salient feature OF the military situation
in Natal at last accounts is tho report that
In consequence OF the Boer advance in
superior force, the British troops have
been concentrated in and around Lady
smith. OF the reasons that led to the evac-
uatlon OF Dundee and the retreat by
way OF Both on the Helpmakaar road to
Ladysmith no statement has yet been made.
but the probability 10 that II was necessitated
by the presence OF the Beers In the neighbor-
hood OF Rorke's Drift threatening TO cut the
only line OF com munication that was still left
open to the British garrison to escape
from the increasing Boer forces In front.
The pressure exercised on Sir George
White at Ladysmith by the Free State
forces no doubt also contributed to the
recall OF the troops under Gen Yule from
position rendered untenab!e by the destruction
OF the railway bridge across the Waachhank.
and the adjacent country boinR In the hands OF
Gen. Joubert's command.
The retcence OF the British authorities in
London. and the evident rigor OF the censor
ship exercised over the unofficial dispatches
on the spot. however. leave it in doubt
whether the situation is not very much worse
than 1t is admitted to be. No reliable news
has yet been received made pub
lie OF the junction CT Gen Yule's
command with the force at Ladysmith; nor. as
y
by tho route 1t IL reported to have taken cam
not be much less than seventy miles. is it
likoly to have yet taken place. unless 1t
was moving in very light order entirely
unencumbered with baggage or commits
| sariat train. In the meantime the Beers
OF the Free State have been closing In on Lady
| smith from tho west and northwest. The out
posts Of the force that came through the
| Tintva Pass have appeared at Dewdrop.
-lal-= A.
! southwest. and tho encounter that took
| place on Monday to the north OF that
| place on the Newcastle road proves the
| Beers to be numerous and active in that
| direction. Assuming however. that the con-
| centraton Of the whole OF Sir George Whites
| force has taken place. the position Ia by no
| means free from danger. for while the Boer
| forces west and north OF him require him to
| show firm front. there is tho possibility that
| a raiding party might succeed in interruptng
| his communications with PietermaritzburS.
| The one chance therefore left is to de-
| liver a successful attack on one OF the wings Of
the Bocr advance before they can effect juno
| ton. and so save the situation until the
arrival Of reenforcemsnts. All now appears
| to depend what effect the results OF
| the first fighting have had on the spirit
OF the Beers: and that romans to be
| seen. There has been good deal to dis
| courage them. but they are well aware OF
| the futility OF surrender at this hour OF the
day that nothing less than n total defeat
followed by the occupation OF tho two republics
would appear likely TO bring them to terms. 1t
| is. therefore. almost certain that the fighting
will go on. and that the reports OF President
| Kr0gers willingness to surrender at discretion
are without foundation The necessities OF
the Boer position require that II they can pos
sibly accomplish it. they should be in possess
sion OF the line OF the Tugela before the recn-
forccments now on their way out from Eng
land arrive. and ali their efforts are being
directed to that end.
| In the political domain tho Boer leaders seem
to be acting along a predetermined line Of
policy Tho proclamations OF tho Free State
| President annexng Griqualand West taken
| from the Free State al the time of the dis
| covery OF diamonds at Kimberley. and OF
| President KrGger annexing Bechuana-
land. almost grotesque though they ap-
| pear. have q worry definite purpose. The
attempt OF the Bechunnaland burghers to Gre
ate the Republic OF Stellaand was put down
by Sir Charles Warren in 1884. and the pres
ent action of President Kruger is no doubt the
outcome Of q persistent determination to un-
do the work Of the British Government
| at that time on the first oppor-
tunity. These acts in themselves are
an indication OF the improbabilty of the
rumors. put about possibly with purpose.
that the Beers are weak ening In their resist
ance. and /, the change is accepted by the
population OF the annexed territories. it raises
new difficulties for the final settlement in case
OF tho Bosr defeat. 1t Is TO be noted that the
extension OF the Boer torrItor by the annexa-
| ton OF Bschuanalnnd brings their frontIcr up to
| that OF German Namauua and Damara Land.
As regards Kimberley and NIafeking. all that
| is definitely known is that they still hold out ;
but OF the Boer movements TO bring about
| their aurrender all Is surmise or rumor.