Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-12
SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
British Government Is Very Anxious For a
Farley.

The strategical object Of the Boer in
vasion of Cape Colony and the advance
toward Cape Town is gradually devel-
oping, and so far as the news received
enables a judgment to be formed, 1t Is
succeeding. Over and above the rein
forcements which the invaders are re-
ceiving in men and horses from among
the Dutch Afrikanders, they have
Lord Kitchener's plan Of campaign In
the north into confusion, and have
drawn off much Of the pressure that
was being put upon the commanders
operating north and south Of the Vaal
river.
There is now only one line Of commu-
nication, that from Durham in Natal,
which is not liable to interruption at
any moment and by which the supplies
and remounts of which the British are
so greatly in need can be transported In
comparative safety. But even that is
now menaced, for the disaster to a
British detachment near Lindley re-
ported by Lord Kitchener on Monday,
and other indications Of Boer force in
the Drakensburg mountains west Of
Ladysmith, point to danger in that d.
rection.
North of Pretoria the Beers are re-
ported to be again in control Of the
railway for a good part of the distance
between there and Petersburg: and
west and southwest Of Pretoria the
British occupation does not extend be-
yond rifleshot from their outposts and
camps, The former Orange Free State
has been so devastated, that the incon-
venience of it is seriously felt by the
British columns when moving in pur-
suit of the Boer commanders, and the
general result is that the British troops
are obliged to hug the railway lines,
and, with the exception Of diminishing
mounted forces, to remain impassive
while the skilfully led and mobile
Boer commanders roam the country at
will.
see that Lord Kitchener cannot make
any large concentration Of troops for
any purpose without leaving so many
points exposed at which the Beers
might strike, that his whole position
might be compromised; it is therefore
not difficult to understand the reports
of his having proposed to enter into ne
gotiations with the Boer leaders. Three
or four weeks time gained just now
would be of inestimable value. The
fact that negotiations were going on
would enable the reinforcements Of
men and horses now on their way to
South Africa to be landed by the time
they had failed, as they probably
would; and they would also be a rea-
son for causing the Colonial Dutch to
hesitate about joining the invaders long
enough to render the invasion abortive.
Whether the Boer leaders are alive to
the situation remains to be seen; they
probably are and will not lay down
their arms until they have such guar
antees as will secure them part of their
independence of which Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain have both
said not a shred shall be left them.
If the British government is genu
inely willing to forego it's past demands
for unconditional surrender and to treat
with the Beers for terms, there must
be something in the general political
situation to have brought about this
change of mind. In 1854, when the Or
ange Free State had been completely
occupied and conquered, Great Britain