The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1900. A BRIGHT OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1900. A BRIGHT OUTLOOK.

For tho cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that uoods resistance, For the futuro in tho distance, And the good that we can do.

Not since President Kruger saw fit to issue his arrogant and absurd ultimatum has the state of affairs in South Africa presented as favourable an aspect as it does to-day. Difficulties remain to be surmounted, the proportions of which will not allow of their classification as mole-hills, bur the tide has turned so markedly that the most sceptical cannot reasonably deny the fact. Khnbei'ley relieved and the railway reopened, Boer forces driven into the Free State and drawn from Cape Colony to meet an invasion of their own country, the enemy's main body under Cronje surrounded, and the army of invasion in Natal dislodged from some of their important strongholds, form surely a sum total of success affording- grounds for congratulation. Although lacking the hall-mark of War Office confirmation, there are no reasons to doubt the news that General French's mounted division of 10,000 has headed off the army retreating from the occupation of Mngersfontein trenches and the siege of Kimberley. Cronje could hardly hope, burdened as he is by heavy guns and an immensity of war material, to keep ahead of the pursuing British squadrons. In so promptly initiating his retreat he probably' anticipated receiving a great start of the cavalry of Lord Roberts' army, the great bulk of which was employed in the relief of Kimberley. That French would immediately return and join in the pursuit Cronje may not have expected. Once up with the retreating Boer army a very short detour would put n mounted division in a position to oppose its advance. The fact that French has attained such a position does not come as a surprise. On the other hand, even should the points that General French has occupied effectively bar further retreat, Cronje has gained no small advantage by his expeditious flight. He has given the reinforcements which ; are hurrying from all quarters ,of the | arena a chance to arrive in time. De la Key, with ten thousand mounted men from the north of Cape Colony, is already on the British flank and presumably in touch with Cronje. Large reinforcements of Free Staters from , Natal :«re now about due. and it is said that a number of leading generals, with their commands, are hurrying trom the Tvsnsvaai. The indications are that within the1 next few days wo may i-ecdro intelligence of ft bati-le eucli as ha-s not taken

place duriiifj" ilio prcsccatt caitipaign. It is hiu'd to sr« r-cr.v fm ?noniy will Iw «ib;e to uvo.d «tfi encounter on a pevtitior! -*- )jic-i> thuy have s-cit had ilm? to o<;env.at*ly j.irapare (or •.'lef»1? >f'i. GonerjU Cron'j w*s eaic l t-t Aare ?0,000 troop.3. C^nmaxJant De t* T>y is crwliU-cl v.h.li oeiiiy U*.e h«ari of 10,000, f r»<S »""H'for^air *»w fwm KataJ publicsl! t\;vxy «-S Cj>\i f*« ojt;T>>?:' '<iC',OOO. 'iV Stwi«bl». »^uws*i«»/(3 uiuUt FilKi 'JCarsbal l^-kJ P^bprt* era

jvoiiijfJ)t..i?jfi*bi^.*j*CJ w>>, »V v*if oi«t* Rido, toW ,"inwi W/rb^ Tt1 a ■pitctcf' bntl'.-. M frui^^ foz fe*:*!»* will not mitb.ftsrir-al.'y i'..ip>vj>»i-«flon* ; ti,;

Cronje nwv appears to be, should be decisive. Further, it would be a distinct departure from anything in jthe annals of the. .present war. That the British, in such an encounter would rout their opponents not. even the most adverse critics o.l! our army would be inclined to suggest. We believe that Cronje will not fight a pitched battle if he can avoid it, "but if his line of retreat is cut off, as is stated, the Boer general is not the man to quietly surrender, and ho must therefore adopt one of the few alternatives left. There are really but three chances. One is to capitulate; the second is to break up into small bands and escape with as much of the paraphernalia as possible; and the third is to hurriedly prepare to give battle. If. he is not hopelessly outnumbered the last named is the alternative that we may expect General Cronje to adopt.

The movement in opposition to Lord Roberts, weakening as it is to the Boer lines, both in Cape Colony and in Natal, should prove the opportunity of the British in those quarters. In fact, it is said that, in Natal it is already beginning- to tell, and Buller, we may rest assured, will press his advantage to the. utmost. In Cape Colony also a British success is reported from Dordrecht. British reinforcements are still daily arriving in Cape Colony, and these hurried forward to strengthen General Clements at Arundel, and General Gatacre, south of Stormberg, will quickly put a different complexion on affairs.

The invasion of the Free State has had the effect of drawing the enemy from all quarters to protect their homes, as was predicted, and in this way has vastly improved the British positions at points where affairs were progressing none too satisfactorily. Should Cronje's army meet with the Irretrievable disaster that threatens it we will find ourselves within measurable distance of the termination of hostilities.