SCENES OF MILITARY ACTIVITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 217, 24 September 1901, Page 4

SCENES OF MILITARY ACTIVITY.

To some extent the fighting in South Africa at the present time is tending to break in on new ground. The scenes of greatest activity are the South-Eastern Transvaal and east and southern districts of Orange River Colony. It is in the former that the trend of operations makes it seem probable that fighting will be carried into a district which, though on the borders of strife, has itself hitherto escaped. When the Boers crossed De Jager's Drift, east of Dundee, in October, now nearly two years ago, they passed close to the northern border of Zululand, which is to-day stated to be threatened by Louis Botha. If the intentions of the Boer commander-in-chief are read aright in our cables, from the scene of his success near Utrecht, he is moving east with the object in view of crossing the Blood Kiver into Xgntu, the most northern division of Zululand. 15y doing this and marching some thirty miles south he could cross the Buffalo River into Natal, possibly by Koike's Drift, close to [sandhlwana of ill-omened memory. This course would bring him into Natal colony from the east, south of the Biggarsberg, which, in a descent direct from the north, would be an awkward barrier to pass. General Lyttelton,who has had very extended experience of fighting in Natal, had, when an invasion of the colony was threatened, only one thousand regulars available. But with the railway in working order it was only a matter of a few days to concentrate ample reinforcements in any district of Natal. We may rest, assured that the large British force, which is spoken of as near the swoollen Buffalo Kiver (probably between j Dundee and Newcastle) is sufficient for the task which Botha's projected descent on the colony, if persevered in. will entail. A few words about the other district where special activity is noticeable may not be out of place. It has, ever since the enemy were driven on to their own territory, been a favourite area with the Boer commandoes. We refer to the country between Thabanchii and Ladybrand, and stretching south along the Basutoland Border, past De Wets Dorp, through The Wepener, Caledon Ri^er, and Roiixville disticts to Orange River. Here in the Wepener district our own Sixth Contingent would appear to be operating. It was in this locality, ea?;t pi Bloemfontein, and under twenty miles • south of Thabanchu that what is known as the Vlakfontein disaster occurred. There are numerous Vlakfonteins on the map, and it was the better known cue south of Johannesburg 'that it was at first thought was indicated. The Boer force which was successful in bringing- off this unpleasant surprise for us made south towards De Wets Dorp, the scene of so many of De Wet's earlier exploits. Seventy miles away iv a south-easterly direction, and on the Orange lliver, Kritzinger made his attack on Lovait's scouts after failing in an attempt to cross into Cape Colony. The one minor success which we have to place against these two unplea.sant episodes, and which was practically just outside, the borders of the area we have indicated, is General \VUliams' capture of 55 of the enemy, west of Edenburg, on the uiain trunk railway.

The next few days should witness considerable and important developments both in this southern portion of Orange River Colony, east of <he dividing line of railway, and in the south-east corner of the Transvaal en the Natal and Zululand borders.