The sun., 1901-01-03
BOER RAIDS SERIOUS.
Critical Situation of Affairs In Cape
Colony Now.
STRENGTH OF THE INVADERS
London Hears of "A Suspicious Move-
ment of Farmers In the Direc-
tion of One of the Boer
Columns.

London, Jan. 2.-Tbere are no details
of the British successes which are report
ell from the Transvaal and Orange River
Colony, and there is no means of judging
what Importance can be attached to
them. A majority of the newspapers
give the chief prominence to them in their
war columns, placing the details of the
invasion of Cape Colony second They
mostly persist in their optimism regard
Ing the situation. There are but few of
them that make any comment at all. I'm
partial observers are astonished at what
appears to be their absurd apathy.
The Cape Town correspondent OF The
Times in a dispatch dated Jan. / joins
The warning voices. He says that the
immediate aspect of affairs is scarcely
!ess gloomy than at the beginning of the
war. The number of invaders may be
.ess than they were a year ago, but they
have penetrated farther south. Their
presence near such centers of hostile
Dutch Feeling as Graaff Reinet consti-
tutes an element of danger which was not
present last January.
The proclamation calling for volunteers
to defend the lines Of communication
proves that the military authorities are at
last alive TO the critical nature of the stu
ntion, but the measure comes very late in
the day. The empire has surely given
evidence that it has been ready all along
to answer any calls that may be made
upon it, and it only asks to be taken as
far as possible into the confidence of
those intrusted with the task of bringing
the war to a successful conclusion. Ev-
cry one is aware of the difficulties the
work has imposed on the military. but
that is no reason why none of them
should prove himself equal to the occa-
sion.
Beers Have Fresh Horses.
The secret of why the Beers are invad-
ing Cape Colony and are able to evadr
pursuit is that they have secured fresh
horses. The proclamation of military
law directly the first commando crossed
the Orange river and the immediate com
Wandering Of all horses, carts and for
age would have rendered the Boer ad-
vance impossible. If military scruples
forbade the forcible seizure Of 20.OO0
horses, they might have been bought for
one-thrd Of what is reported to he the
cost of the war per week.
The colony regards with equanimity
the presence of Boer forces some hun
drcd miles within its horders and merely
asks the military authorities TO devise
schemes for the defense of the country
and the repulse and capture of the in
vadels and TO prevent the spread of re-
hellion. Whatever force is deemed nee.
essary for this purpose will be forthcom-
ing. provided those III authority act hon.
cstly hy the public and state accurately
the full gravity Of the situation.
The Daily Mail alone seems to take the
view which the reports force upon i'm
partial readers. In an editorial entitled
Half Way to Cape Town" il declares
that the position is most dangerous ana
the crisis is growing hourly gravcr. II
calls urgently for the sending Of re-on-
forcementS. lis Cape Town correspond
ent telegraphs that the invaders within
the colony now exceed 5000. Two fresh
commandos have crossed the Orange riy-
er. The western column has split into
two divisions, one of which is marching
by way Of Sutherland toward AIalmps
bury. while the other is concentrating
toward Beaufort West. There has uccn
suspicious movement Of farmers north
ward from MalmeSbury during the past
week. 1t is being closely watched.