The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-16
GREAT AcTIVITY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The trst lodgment on Boer territory Is said
70 have been made on the 9Th. when a small
British force from the Orange River Bridge
camp occupied n position on the north side ~
the river at Houtpan's Drift. u short distance
inside the Free State border. What the imlne.
date object of this may DO 10 not very clear.
II not being a point toward which any
movement on the part Of the Beers Is 10 be- ex.
pected. their attention being called In quite
different directions. more particularly toward
the scene OF Gen. French's operations between
Colesbcrg and the Orange River. The &C.
counts Of Gen. French's doings. however, are
so dtslolnted that no very clear idea can
be formed respecting them, some speaking
OF his occupying points to the north
OF the town, while others on the same
day describe a large body OF Beers as camped
six miles south OF Colesberg. and his efforts to
turn the Boer flank having failed. But for the
moment the operations at this point are OF
minor importance In view OF the greater events
In progress or impending elsewhere,
A week ago Con. Methuen sent rsoonnoi-
tring parties into the Orange Free State from
different points on the railway between the
Modder and the Orange rivers. toward Blosm-
fontein and Jacobsdal. Only near the latter
place we're any signs OF the Beers seen. the
country within twenty miles OF the border hs-
ing apparently clear Of Beers.
On tn" oh tho kimberley garrison made q
sortie toward kamfersdam. due north OF the
town and near the waterworks. which are
occupied by tho Beers. but returned to
Kimberley after a brisk exchange OF artillery
fire without result. On the 9TH. the RhodesIan
force TINT Is moving to the relief OF Mafeking
made u reconnaissance four miles south OF
Gaberones. and found The railway bridge over
the river there In ruins. As that place ia 100
miles north Of Maieking, and the Beers are
actively bombarding the latter. while the
natives are leaving 1t for want OF food. there
is a belief that 1t will be compelled to surrender
before assistance can arrive.
The reports from Natal and Cape Town re-
garding affairs on the Tugela and round Lady
smith are SO entirely speculative that. In the
absence Of official information. one way or the
other. they must be received with reserve.
There Is no doubt that a movement for the re-
lief OF Ladysmith Is in progress. If It has not
already accomplished its object or failed.
The fact, however. that there ia no Official
report by the British War ONCE OF the
| success OF the movement is fair proof that 1t
has failed or is still in progress. Tho limit Of
time given a short time ago by Natal CORE.
spondent within which Ladysmith must be- re-
lleved or capituNte was reached yesterday.
and the reports telczraphed from Natal that
large quantities OF provisions were being got
ready to go forward show that re-
lief Is urgently called for. The reports Of
the Boer movements are obscure. but tend
to show tina, they were preparing for a possible
retreat, and a Lorenzo Marques despatch goes
so far as to say that a body OF 5000 Free
Staters had been detached from Gen. Joubertis
command TO reinforce the burghers opposing
Gems. Gatacre and French. The crisis on the
Tugela is evidently 50 close that definite news
may arrive at any hour.