THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 65, 14 September 1900, Page 4

THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Paul Kruger goes to Europe, so that it seems we rated his quality of heroic endurance too high. It is officially stated that the ex-President has been granted six months' leave of absence to promote intervention. This sounds false, for the hope of intervention was long- since shattered, and Mr. Kruger knows quite, well that if ho goes to Europe he can never return to the Transvaal save by the consent of the British Government. The plain fact seems to be that he realises that his cause is hopelessly lost, and that he has elected to take refuge in Europe, taking with him the archives of the llepublic. That he will plead his cause in some of tho Courts of Europe is quite likely, but it will only be to learn that which he should know, already, that his personal representations cannot pogsibly influence the current of international affairs. Britain has conquered and annexed the South African States, and to recede from her present position would be to strike directly at the mana of the Empire. ' Mr. Kruger will not return, and his departure will remove from South Africa the greatest obstacle to peace and pacification. A few days ago Mr. A. B. Paterson (•'Banjo"), tho special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Argus, recently returned from the Transvaal, made public, for the first time, the cause of the break-down of the field hospitals at the front. The urgent needs of the forces in the fighting line induced the general officers of the Staff to direct the transport and stores of the medical department to the front. It was a dreadful necessity, but it was considered, the - price of victory. How far the situation warranted such dreadful sacrifice can only be known when the history of the war comes to be written, but it is true apparently that the poor fellows who died for luck of medical comforts laid down their lives for their country's cause as completely as though shot in the fighting line. The statement of Mr. Paterson is iorday borne out by the testimony pf Lord Roberts before the Hospitals Commission at Pretoria. As we write there comes word that French is heavily engaged in the vicinity of Nooitgedacht, and that Hutton is reinforcing. The Boer force thus engaged we tako, to be the garrison of Barberton, that has moved out to anticipate the attack of French. Carcw's Australian division is advancing on, Nelspruit (reported evacuated) which is situated on tho Delagoa- line, 32 miles east of Nooitgodacht. Tho burghers would thus seem to have concentrated all the local forces to check advanoe of French. If they succeed and arc alert enough they may countei-maroh upon Carew.

The monthly meeting of the Wellington Camera Club was heid last night. Kumbcis of promises of pictures for the approaching exhibition were received, and ib is expected that a splendid collection of photographs will grace the walls — enlargements, carbon, and oozotype prints. The club has arranged for its first field day to take place at the Lower Hutt to-morrow should the weather prove favourable, members leaving by the 1 p.m. train. Particulars are advertised.