The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-02
A BRITISH SUCCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Gen. French appears to have achieved what
mayturn out TO be an important success. II he
can follow IL IN and seizs the Boer positions
between ColcsberR and Norval's Point. before
the force he 10 reported to have out
fanked and driven from the former
place has time to recover itself. II is
said that on their right flank being turned
the Beers abandoned Colesberg and moved Of
In disorder to the eastward. As usual. the
Beers seem to have neglected their outpost
and patrol work. and so were caught mapping.
Gen. French Ia now in dangerous proximity.
Tor the Beers, 10 the Orange River, their base
OF operations on the north side OF II being Mt
Donkers Poort a short distance from Norval's
Pont Q From this last place there Is a road go
lnR eastward TO Venterstad. not more than
twenty miles in a direct line from the railway
between Burghersdorp and Bethulie on
the road 10 Springfontein. the junction
In the Free State OF the railways
coming from Port Elizabeth and East London.
Should Gen. French be in a position to follow
up his reported success vigorously. drive the
Beers across the Orange River to Donkers
Poort and move a strong detachment to the
cas-, ward. while Gen. Gatacre was holding the
Beers under Gems. Swanepool aud Duploy from
sterkstroom and Dordrecht. they would find
themselves In a dangerous position. with
only one line Of retreat open to them. namely.
that through Aliwal North, The possible re.
suits Of this successful movement, which
seems 10 have been carried out without any
loss, the despatch making no mention o. casu.
alties. are highly important. ana the full de-
tails will be Of great interest.
The fighting going on in the neighborhood OF
Dordrecht becomes. in yisw Of Gen. French's
outmanGuvring OF the Beers at Colesberg. OF
considerable importance: and We shall proba.
bly, hear ot some forward movement OF Gen.
Gatacre toward Stormberg.
The re ports from the Modder River are sig.
nincant OF Gen. Methuen's anxiety for his COM
munications with the Orange River. Intrench.
ments and other ieiences have been thrown
up along the railway as far south o. Enslin or
Graspan. the rest OF the way being pIesuma-
tly under the care OF the Orange Rive; post
and De Aar. This is a strange position for
a relieving force to find itself in. and tears
out what has Teen said OF the iIl.cons.dered
haste with which Gen. Methren was 'aunched
on his march to Kimberley.
Turning TO Natal, It would seem that the de-
v%elopment OF the Boer dcfences on the TugoIa
and their refusal to allow themselves to be
'AoNh w INV VIZ y ~ ~ ~
ing the British commander with a certain de-
gree Of caution. a reconnaissance sent out to-
ward Colenso having returned to ChievcIey
after getting under tho Boer rifle fire
away from the help Of the naval
guns and undergoing a fatiGuing eH-
perience iloundering about in the rain
and mud. The Roer reports hat Gen. White
was destroying his naval guns preliminary 10
making an attcm pit to cut his way out coward
the Tugela are curious. aud suggest an e%xplana-
ton Of the reported destruction Of tho rail-
way bridges and line between L%adysmith and
Colenso. The object would be to cut
Gen. White of from the direct route
to CoIenso and force him, should he
be contemplating q final sortie. on to
a longer and more difficult route. either to
the westward or by one OF the roads toward
the Tugela below Coleuso. The rains having
set in nre likely to interfere with Gen. Buffers
intentions: but should the reports 81 the bal
condition OF things in Iadysmith be correct. he
may be forced 10 take notion regardless OF the
state OF the weather before the unhealthy
season FOR men and beasts is too far advanced.
The destruction OF the railway lire Just re-
ferred 10 would equally prevent an advance TO
Ladysmith by 1t in the event OF q successful
passage OF the Tugela at Colenso.