NOTES ON THE CABLES

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 5

NOTES ON THE CABLES

The' British plan of campaign, now that sufficient troops have arrived to render its initiation possible, is in part becoming revealed. The main advance will in all likelihood be north through Orange Free State territory and from Kimberley. The troops under the Hon. G. H. Gough, mentioned once or twice in the despatches of the last fe.w days, are evidently the advance guard of the main body. The latter, which was concentrated at De Aar, has beeii entrusted to , General Lord Metheuu. The number of men. at his disposal should not be much short of 10,000. And this considerable larmy has now reached the Orange River, having, covered half the distance between De Aar and Kimberley. Thus far the force has had the benefit of railway transport, but the remaining half of the distance will have to be marched, and even should little opposition be encountered will take at least a week. While Lord Metheun is moving- direct on Kimberley and the. strong Boer force which under Cronje besieges it, another column (very probably given to General Gatacre) proceeds directly north through Free State territory, having Bloemfontein as its objective point. This movement should have as an immediate effect the retreat of tlie small Boer commandoes which have occupied Colesberg-, Alivval North, Stormberg. and Burghersdorp, in the Northern territory of Cape Colony. These scattered and small bodies or men cannot afford to allow a considerable force to getbetween them and ' their base, and therefore their retreat, even without being directly attacked, should be assured. v

In Natal the combined Transvaal and Free State armies are making a great effort to achieve some considerable success before they are forced to retreat by an army superior both numerically and in equipment. If the number of British at Estcourt is as was stated, 10,000, the enemy will be. unable to oppose anything like an equal army, and although a decisive engagement seems now to be inevitable, its issue can never be in doubt. As regards the Boer report of the blowing up of the bridge at Colenso, it does not seem likely that the commandant would intentionally increase the difficulties of communication with their base at Ladysmith. On the other hand, while doubtlessly well provided with rolling stock north of Ladysmith the Bdei. can have no large amount, of train facilities south of that town, and for this reason the loss of Tugela bridge would not tell so much against them.