The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-26

holding out Colonel Plumer. with his re-
lieving force from Rhodesia. WAS at Croco-
die Pools. only sixty miles north. and
working his way down the railway line
with probabilities OF young Colonel Baden
Powell before the end of the week. There
have been reports which seem to justify
an impression that some OF the Boer
force operating against Mafeling had been
sent over into Natal. by way of Pretoria.
The relief of Mafeking would release not
large but splendidly effective force for a
movement south toward Kimberly. which
is two hundred miles away; but the dis
lance could be covered in short time by
repairing the railway en- route.
Lord Methuen. with perhaps sixteen
thousand men. is in front of Magarsfon-
tein with the Moddcr River at his back
He is environed by Boer line. in the
shape of a semi-line. extending from
Jacobsdal on his right 10 the river bank
on his left--probably to point almost OPP
posite Bosch Pan. His communications TO
Cape Town are open by way of De Aar.
From that place TO the Modder there is
flying column. mostly composed of colonial
and irregular troops. General French is
at or near Colesberg holding the Beers
severely in check. Ii correctly reported,
he dominates one Of the bridges over the
Orange River. and. supported by the Or
erations Of General Gatacre in the Storm
berg district has been able TO keep the
strategic railway triangle of Northern
Cape Colony intact Gatacre has been
keeping the Colony Beers and their helpers
from the Free State on the move. All the
conditions therefore. exist for "A forward
British movement Of some kind. supposing
the necessary men. horses. and guns TO
be within reach
This brings us to the consideration of
forces. In all South africa, and count
ing regulars, colonials. and all classes
and arms of the service, there cannot
be less than one hundred and ten thousand
British troops, without including the
beleagured garrisons in Ladysmith kim
berley. and Mafeking. At an outside esti-
mate Butler may he allowed total of
sixty Thousand in Natal-which We think
excessive Methuen has sixteen. or say,
eighteen thousand on the Modder. French
has perhaps eight thousand, Gataere six
thousand, and Pitcher, behind Methuen,
probably four thousand This would leave
twenty-four thousand troops unaccounted
for. to which should be added six bat
talions pf the Seventh Division, which must
all have arrived al the Cape by this time.
Allowing for details. Lord Kitchener. who
is somewhere up in the North Cape coun-
TRY, silent but working, should have not
far from twenty thousand effective men to
re-enforcc The column of French or of Cat
acre. for a movement across the Orange
River into the Free State, If that should |
seem wise TO him.
Our knowledge OF the conditions is too /
vague 10 warrant definite predictions: but |
il may be taken for granted that Kitchener /
is not going TO be long idle. The moment |
there is decisive success in Natal we 1
shall expect 20 see vigorous opening of |
the campaign from the Orange River to
the Modder. Already there are reports
that the Boer commands south Of the
border are preparing TO fall back and this
may indicate that French or Gatacre, or
both. have been materially re-enforced.
What the nature of the forward British
may be We will not undertake TO
guess; but a study of the war map will
suggest that a demonstration from Coles
berg against Bloemfontein would be apt
to relieve the pressure on Lord Methuen
At Magersfonteln. and perhaps enable that
general To cut his way to Kimberley by a
flank attack on either the Boer left or
right. On the other hand. it might suit
titchener's book TO move up in Methuens
rear and do the thanking himself from
Honey Nest Kloof in the direction OF
Iacobsdal, or, alternatively. in that of
Bosch Pan. Readers who are following
he war geographically will do well to
leep weather eye on the western field
rom now on. The victor of omdurman
will be quite false TO his reputation If he
loes not proceed 10 business within the
text week or ten days-that is, barring
he accidents of war In Natal.