THE BOER WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12621, 2 October 1901, Page 4

THE BOER WAR.

In .the absence of news , from South Africa we cannot, judge how, far Lord Kitchener's new policy is proving effective. The Commander-in-Chief discourages the publication of general information concerning the petition, -and the -wide area over which hostilities are being carried on mulcts anything like a comprehensive account of the operations cannot, even be certain that. General French is-making good progress, with his '.charing " operations in Cape Colony. ■ Seven hundred Boers are in the Clanwilliam district, north of Cape Town, aaid ;th*. coll^

try immediately south of Basutoland is overrun by raiding parties. These commandos are. for the most part recruiting among the Dutch colonists. In the Transvaal and Orange River Colony the position, has undoubtedly improved. By withdrawing garrisons from unimportant posts, ■ranotc from the railway line, Lord Kitchener has increased 'the number of men available for tihe . mottle columns, and has rendered unnecessary the frequent detachment of troops to escort convoys. But the difficulty 'of obtaining exact and' authoritative information concerning the situation has frequently been the subject of adverse comment. The Wan* Office adopts the practice of withholding official reports from the public for at least three months, and: even after that period many important despatches are riot published. The latest official information available was issued as a Parliamentary paper on August 10. It contains Lord Kitchener's despatches dated March 8, and covers the period of De Wet's invasion of Cape Colony. De Wet's force, it will be remembered, was dispersed ,in. January, but assembled .again near Winburg, with remlounts and fresh supplies, for the second incursion. ' Although the British were informed of the raiders 1 plans, they were unable to frustrate them entirely, because on the approach of General Knox and General Bruoa Hamilton, De Wet broke laager and raced the British southwards. An engagement was fought with his rearguard, and at all times he was so hotly pressed that nothing like an effective invasion could be anade. Lord Kitchener, after describing the engagements by which the raiders were driven back, adds that the Boers obtained few recruits, but were everywhere furnished with supplies and guides. Small of Boers remained in Cape Colony, for the purpose of gathering sympathisers, and at intervals since March, as we know, smaller raids have been made from the Orange River Colony. ' The Boer plan of campaign included a combined attack upon Cape Town by Hertzog and De Wet, and simultaneously a movement into Natal by Botha, with a picked force of five thousand men. The idea of invading Natal has been revived during the past few weeks, but Lord' Kitchener again had timely notice of the design, and on this toccasicn seems to have made no mistake in frustrating it. The Boers have probably realised by this time that concerted action en the paxt cif- the various commandos is impossible. Their sole object seems to be to inflict as much damage as possible upon the lives and property of surrenderors and of British sympathisers, and the great British Army is now, to 'all appearances, doing little more than police duty' on a magnificent scale. We cannot hope for the end of thewar, therefore, for many, months to come, for it will probably be necessary to chase and suppress each separate commando. The long task of the" Americans in the Philippines is mot yet ended, in spite of Aguinaldo's • capture and the establishment of civil government in the group, and l ' our own experience in South Africa is likely to bf> similar. We hope, by the way, that Christchuroh will follow ih.3 example of Wellington in the despatch of Christmas comforts for the Contingents. We can hardly look for the return of our troopers this year, but* we trust that the authorities will consent to their return ,as soon" as-the state of affairs in South Africa warrants a reduction in the strength of the j Army..