The evening times., 1900-01-02

New Year Day brought the people of
Great Britain the first ray Of South Afri-
can comfort they have been allowed 10 en-
Joy for a long time. in the shape of news
that Major General French had driven the
Beers out CT Colesberg by a clever flank
ing movement The incidental engage
ment was unimportant considered as 4
fight, but the adventure as a whole reflects
great credit upon French. and viii settle
the point in the British mind. official or
unofficial. that there is but one way to
conduct the war in South African and that
is to render the British army al least as
mobile as its Antagonist
For weeks French has been maneuvring
from his base at Naauw poort with a small
column Of troops which f6%tunately in
c}udes some regular cavalry. and. what is
even better. a considerable number Of ir-
regular horse. the most efficient soldiers
in the theatre of war today BY keeping
constantly on the move thanking. threaten
ing. retiring. and never allowing the Boers
TO know where he would turn up next he
has prevented thgn from concentrating
iheir forces on Nsglmtn rear and line Of
communications ana al length has sue
cr,ded in turning tsa important strategic
position OF Cse-berg and taxing il.
Ireuca i- the one British general in the
field Who has not been defeated He has
had Jla a3yantage Of mobile column
and has made the most Of it, BUT it would
De injustice ID him 10 assume that The
single lae, mentioned has been the solc
cause of his success. Whatever may be
said o. his colleagues. French has shown
strategic ability wherever be has been
stationed. from The beginning of ho~tli-
ties This was demonstrated first at the
battle Ct ElandslaagJs. where his tactics
resulted i'm doubling ug the Ruor left. 50
far he stands out in brilliant contrast with
the other Gtld commanders VINO. how
ever. ar, not 10 be criticised TOO severely
because wg have no means of knowing
what they would or could have done. if de-
feat had not been blTnderingIv planned for
jhem in the London War Office in advance
Ii French has or can quickly secure the
force necessary TO hold Coesbure its Gim
possession should exert marked infu-
encc on The fortunes OF war in the central
field. The town is near the Orange River
on the direct line TO Rloemiontein. The
bridge al NorvaIs Pont. reported intact
at latest accounts, is within easy distance
Of Colesberg. and if il could be seized and
protected would be of much advantage 20 /
The British Il is as yet doubtful whether I
the Beers on their retreat crossed over il /
into the Free State. Even if they did, il I
may be doubted that they would destroy it. I
as that would hamper their own operations +.
against Northern Cape Colony. and prob 4
ably would appear unnecessary while +
French is confined to the south side CT the /
river by the necessity Of guarding The stra-
1egic triangle and of keeping an open door /
behind Nothuen. So, it is possible that /
he NAV yet have a chance to save the |
bridge by again outwitting his opponent
and jumping it at the proper time.
Nothing Of prime Importance is az hand
from ether points. The arrival Of an ocean
liner at Durham with two thousand fresh
troops increases Sir Redvers Buffers force
10 thirty thousand or more men. and be is
now stated 10 have sixty guns including
some Of the howitzers from the second
siege train. The opinion continues tnat
he is about TO move and that he is booked
for a desperate fight. wherever he may
'lect to attempt the passage OF the Tugeia
River