THE CAMPAIGN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 18 January 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE CAMPAIGN.

XEWS FIJOM THE GAPE.

LOUD KITCHENER'S YEAR

SrM.MAKY OF WORK

PRETORIA, November 21.

An it is drawing- near the end of Lord Kitchener's year of command, it is interesting to note the substantial progress which has been made towards ending- the resistance of the enemy.

Early -during the past year the lioers were still numerous, and practically, over-ran both the Transvaal and the Free State. Large sweeping movements were instituted bj- Lord Kitchener, which resulted in driving the enemy out of certain strongholds, while at the same time considerably reducing their strength. When this system had sufficiently answered the purpose, Lord Kitchener inaugurated a system of blockhouses for the protection of the line:

Last November the enemy interrupted the line thirty-two times; last, month, and up to the present date thi.s month, there had not been a single break. As soon as the railways were protected, the present system was adopted of enclosing large areas with blockhouses, and when portions enclosed were thoroughly cleared of the enemy, they were strictly patrolled by the Constabulary. The result has been eminently satisfactory, a large and increasing area having been thoroughly denuded of the enemy. Lately a small party of the

enemy entered one of these projected, areas, and within a few hours were captured. Consequently the area of the enemy's operations is gradually but surely being restricted.

The average captures during the last eight months have been 2000 monthly. All these Boers, whose desire to continue the war has weakened, have now been either captured or have surrendered. The remainder are desperate men. It is impossible by merely looking at the weekly summaries to form any idea of the real progress which has been effected.

Provision is being made on the railways for an equivalent to over ■MOO Cape trucks. It will be possible now not only to meet military demands, but also to cope with the large volume of civil traffic, which is being steadily increased by the military authorities month to month.

The civil administration has been firmly established. Already among the surrendered and captured burghers has been formed a strong proBritish party, which, recognising the hoplessness of their cause, has determined to do its utmost under the new Government to further the prosperity of the country. Over 1600 mile.-; 6f railway have now been thoroughly blockhoused. -Contrary to expectation, the men occupying the blockhouses like the work.

What remains now to be clone is simply to wear down the Boers who are still in • the field by constantly harassing them. In the opinion of those best able to judge, the end is ilisiinctly visible, but it is useless to expect the war to be finished by any sudden coup. Every Boer now taken fights hard before capture. It is, therefore, necessary to understand, when reading summaries' of captures, that they represent a number of little affairs, which are only brought to a successful issue by dint' of hard marching and harder fighting.

The enemy now in the field are determined to ' fight desperately; therefore, it is to be expected that we shall incur more casualties before finishing the Boer resistance, but the spirit of the Army is excellent. From my own personal experience, having followed the operations for two years, I can declare thai the Army has lost nothing of its keen determination. Although hard tried by long marches and bad weather, 'it remains quite cheerful, knowing that its work, although gradual, is still uniformly successful. As the numbers of the enemy are being decreased by the work of the columns, it is quite possible that our captures in the future may eorrefspond'ingily diecrease. Still, £he systema'. ; e way in which the. country is being denuded of the' enemy is having daily success, and the process, though necessarily slow, 5s none the less sure. Xone know it better than the enemy themselves.