JOTTINGS ON THE WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 111548, 6 February 1900, Page 2

JOTTINGS ON THE WAR.

[By Colonel Morris.]

No definite news from Natal. The Ladysmith garrison heliographs that the enomv are massing near the town, on Surprise Hill, and that they are quite ready if attacked. Definite statements are made at Durban that General Duller has crossed the Tugela. Some say he has gone toward Acton Homes, and some to the east of Zwartskop. I have frequently pointed out that General Driller's aim has been all along to drive the Doers towards Ladysmith. It was with this object that their position on the Spion Kop was attacked ; and now, from the Ladysmith message, it would appear that the enemy arc massing near Surprise Hill, close to Ladysmith. Of course, at this stage we will not be told General Duller's plan of attack : but that he has already made a. move is certain. The direction in which he has gone only is uncertain. As I said yesterday, I lie British position has considerably altered for the better. Formerly, taking Ladysmith as tbs centre towards which they were working, the British were outside the circle, whilst the Doers wore inside. They were thus able to mass their forces rapidly to oppose our troops advancing from* any diroctuni. Now the British position may be represented by a triangle, with a base extending from Zwartskop in the west to Colenso on the cast, and with its apex north of the northernmost bend of the Tugela. Its apex is therefore to the north of the Doer position, both on the Spion Kop and at Onderhroek and Groblers Kloof, and to mass their forces before our advance they will have to move them from the two sides'of the triangle we oppose to them. They have thus, if massing before Ladysmith, probably once more left the Spion" Kop, and deserted Groblers Kloof. General Duller, when he advances, will thus meet the enemv and attack with his whole force, whilst, being so near, the garrison of Ladysmith will be able, with the 10,000 men they have, to create a- diversion in the rear of the enemy. The Doers will, in fact, be between two fire's. There can be no doubt that a great and decisive battle is imminent. Whether General Duller has gone towards Acton Homes or cast of the Zwartskop, the object is the same—to get the Boers massed near Ladysmith, and then to fall on them with the assistance of the considerable force in that garrison. Air Churchill states all will be staked on this battle, ami adds that the spirits of the men were never higher. I flunk every soldier in our ranks feels that the honor a.nd prestige of our country is depending on this battle, and will fight accordingly. Hitherto we have done nothing bnt try and drive the enemy from strongly-entrenched positions, which they were defending ; now, although no doubt their position has been prepared beforehand, and is therefore also strongly entrenched, still wo can approach them from all sides—front, both sides, and behind. The enemy have fallen back into their last position, and we arc bound to defeat them, or perish in the attempt. The ‘.Daily News’ states that Doer reinforcements are being detrained before Ladysmith. 1 fail to see where these reinforcements are coming from. They will certainly not deplete Cronje's force at Magcrsfontein, or the force before Colesberg. H here, then, can they get reinforcements '! The occupation of every available Doer in assisting to oppose General. Duller will give the flying column of scouts just the opportunity they w ant, and it is quite possible they mav succeed in getting north of Ladysmith and cutting the vail, and thus closing the retreat of Hie Boers, should General Duller defeat them.

From the Cape frontier wo hear that General French has enclosed 7.000 Boers in the hills round Colesbcrg, but that the want of powerful guns is felt. I ha.ve no doubt that this was the cause of General French's visit to Lord Roberts at Cape Town, reported yesterday, and probably some' arrangement has been concluded about, the guns required. If it is true that 7.000 Boers are absolutely surrounded by our troops at Coleaberg, then we may be sure wc’shall keep them there until the guns to shell them arrive, and it is only a question of time now before they will have to surrender. If once fairly enclosed, their superior mobility will he of no avail.

The cable informs ns that there are 20,000 Boers at Magersfontcin now, and, as a short time ago the number was represented as 30,000. we may suppose that a reinforcement of 10,000 men was sent to General Joubert. This, however, must have been some .time ago, and certainly no more will be spared from the Modder force. Near Dordrecht we arc told there are 2,200 Boers, 800 of

whom arc East Barkly rebels, who do not count for much. Dordrecht being to the extreme east is almost out of our line of advance to Orange Free State. There are 1,000 more at Jamestown, midway between Dordrecht and Aliwal North, and also well to the east of our operations; and only 500 at Stormberg, which does lie exactly in General Gutacrc’s advance. From this one would judge that the active operations of General French at Colesbere had drawn most of the enemy in north Cape Colony to that part, and if it is true that lie has succeeded in enclosing them, he can annihilate any resistance they can make to our entry into Free State from the south. The account of the disaster to the Suffolk Regiment, as described by the special correspondent of the ‘ Argus,’ is bad reading. However, I do not place much confidence in this correspondent, as he is carried away by the desire to be sensational. According to him, the Boers, so far from being caught napping, were ready for the attack, having been already warned. They would seem to have taken a hint from the Old Testament account of Gideon and his lamps and pitchers, for suddenly they “ flashed a row of lighted lanterns in the faces of the attackers, and at the same time the Boers poured hi a murderous fire, and our men fled down the hill, throwing away their rifles. Ido not bolieye a word of it; in fact, a second account in yesterday’s issue of the same event gives a very different story. According to this account, it is admitted that Colonel Watson, so far from catching the Boers asleep, as he expected, found them very much aweks. They poured in a heavy tire, which killed or wounded most of the -officers, including the colonel. “ Someone, said to be a Boer, shouted 1 Retire, retire,’ whereupon the remaining two companies retreated down the hill, in the darkness tumbling over the rocks, and several thus losinp their arms. Confusion reigned supreme, and apparently a panic ensued.” A third account states that before making the attack Colonel Vyatson directed the men to empty the magazmes of (heir rifles,! and to advance with fixed bayonets only. He was afraid that some nervous private might give the alarm by pulling his trigger too soon, and to prevent this the men advanced to the attack with bare feet and unarmed, except for the bayonet! The Boors were not asleep, as Colonel Watson expected, and small wonder is it that a body of men, practically disarmed and fired upon at short range from magazine rifles, should fail into a”panic! Colonel Watson, who gave the order, is now beyond censure, and we need not question bis conduct further than is necessary to vindicate the behaviour of the men of the Suffolk Regiment, which the ‘Argus’s’ correspondent calls in question.

■ , Later. A cable states that the Boers at Vryheid have captured Ngtu in Zululand, with a magistrate.' eleven white, and thirty-four colored police, etc. I presume this is a ’party of Boers sent to intercept the flying column of scouts mentioned in yesterday's issue. '

jlhe only other news received is to the effect that General Buller has proinred an immense convoy of stores for the use of Ladysmith. We can hardly unde- stand why, if the town is relieved iuid the Boers defeated, it would require this amount of stores. Tbe one thing of interest lo us that is shown by the cable k that General Buller is fully confident of hie success in relieving Ladysmith.

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[Spicoial to the Stab.]

t WELLINGTON, February (5. The total receipts for the Patriotic Fund amount to £5,8-22, and the More Men Fund re £2,023

When Captain Morison yesterday tendered *ds cheque for £I,OOO to the Dnder-Sscretary of Defence the latter stated that the Defence Department could not undertake the catering and the supply of forage to the camp, and the Committee must do as all other centres had done nad attend to details. Mr iSeddoa states that the Government wished to make .no difference between the Contingents of rough riders from Wellington and those of Wanganui, Christchurch, and Napier. The Government simply placed an equipment at the disposal of the various committees, with the services of the officers. Toe Government did not feel justified in attending to the providoring and other details, tlolnncl Newall hadbeeu appointed to the charge of the camp, but the Government never contemplated relieving the Committee of everything except financial details. The stipulation of men with horses £SO, and without horses £75, only applied after men and horses had hot a pu - aboard the ship by the Committee. The Government would pay the men directly they got aboard the steamer. This morning a largo number of men who had passed the preliminary examination assembled outside Ciplain Morison’s office seeking information. The mayor directed them to proceed to the camp immediately, teats having been pitched in readiness and arrangements made by the Committee for the supply of rations, Wanketa, etc. The mon are now going out.' Your special intends visiting the camp this afternoon.

The choice of commander for the Third Contingent lies between Lieutenant-colonel Sommervilleand Major Jowscy. Lieutenantcolonel Summerville, having sent two sons with the Second Contingent, will probably remain to look after his family and properties.

Later. About fifty men ere in camp without blankets, food, or straw in the tents, the defence carts having take away the straw used by the Second Contingent. No one, npnarenlly, is in charge. ’ It is understood that if no arrangement is made with the Premier by the Committee, Colonel Newell will undertake the responsibility of sending out rations and blankets at four o’clock.

A meeting of the Executive Committee was held at noon to-day, the Mayor in the chair. The Mayor said that Colonel Newell had informed him that the contractors who supplied therations forthe Second Contingent would be ready to supply the present camp at twenty minutes’ notice. It was suggested that a deputation wait on the Premier. Mr Wilford, M.H.R., said that the Government expected the Committee to find everything except passages. Mr Duncan said the Government objected to the absurdity of putting 134 men in camp when only twenty-five were required. Mr Wilford : By to-morrow night fifty will be weeded out. Mr Hill thought that there was something behind the present position of affairs. The meeting resolved into a deputation to the Premier in order that they might come to a clear understanding. At this interview all points were discussed. It was decided that the Wellington detachment of Rough Riders should go with the Fourth Contingent from Port Chalmers, the Committee to manage its own commissariat. Lieutenant-colonel Collins will be asked to assume charge of the camp. The Government will be responsible for no expense until the men are aboard the transport vessel. The Premier was firm that the whole cost must be borne by the Committee, saying that if the cost were guaranteed the Government would lend officers to take charge of the camp. The Committee have agreed to this course, and the camp will bo formed at once. BACK FROM AFRICA. [Special to the Stab ] WELLINGTON. February 0. William Grant, a young New Zealander, returned by the lonic after a four years’ residence in the Transvaal, where he was the head of a large warehouse in Johannesburg. He arrived there shortly after the Jameson raid, and speaks in strong terms of the iudignity and oppression of the British by the Boers. The Boers had looted many of the stores at Johannesburg, and their women had taken possession of the dwelling-houses, whilst all the larger shops had been converted into Boer hospitals. He does not think that the enemy will make a stand at Pretoria, and predicts a tremendous mining boom when the Boers are conquered. He feels confident that the Boers will nob wreck the Johannesburg mines, because large French, German, and American interests are involved. He urges New Zealand to push its produce into South Africa in order to establish a permanent market.