MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11201, 23 October 1899, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Durban, October 20. The authorities here seized the steamer Rollo with a cargo of West Australian sleepers, consigned to the Orange Free, State. ' Capetown, October 20. A Russian officer, Colonel Stakhovitch, accompanies Major-General Hunter, Chief of the British Staff, to the front. No Russian military representative is sent to the Trans-vaal,-as the independence of the Republic is not recognised.. London, October 20. Mr. J. Powell Williams, Financial Secretary to the War Office, states that by' far the largest orders for meat - and forage for South Africa i have been placed in Australia.

NOTES ON THE WAR. Whether or not Great Britain has been ready for hostilities, it is obvious that the Boers have not been in the least degree caught unprepared. A statement came from South Africa some time since that the military rulers of the Transvaal had resolved to take the offensive, and to overrun the British colonies before the main body of the jrmy had arrived. Their object was to reuse the whole Dutch population of South Africa against British rule. They have carried out their plan so far as to make irruptions on the eastern frontier, threatening Mafeking and Kimberley. On the other side Natal runs up to a point into the Transvaal, rendering the country there peculiarly exposed to attack from two sides. From Volksrust, beyond Laing's Nek, which is at the extreme point of Natal, to Glencoe, the scene of the Boer attack, is about 100 I miles, and all this country appears to be in the hands of the enemy. There will, however, be no further withdrawal, Glencoe junction is on the main line of railway, 231 miles from Durban, and about 51 miles from Ladysmith. At the latter place , there is a considerable force. A few days ago we were told that General Sir George White, who commands the forces in Natal, made a strong reconnaissance from Ladysmith in the direction of Van Reenan's Pass, but had returned to Ladysmith. Glencoe, therefore, could be speedily reinforced in the i event of absolute danger. The Boers were, however, able temporarily to prevent reinforcements reaching 1 Glencoe,by capturing a goods train at Elandslaagte station, which is only about 15 miles 1 north of Ladysmith. It is evident that the Boers are in considerable force in the northern part of Natal, and as Ladysmith is nearly opposite Van Reenan's Pass (at a distance of 36;} miles), which gives an entrance through the Drakensberg range, with a railway from the Orange Free State, that place must be strongly guarded. The attack on Glencoe and the simultaneous cap- ; ture of the train, shows that the Boer forces are acting in unison and on a concerted plan. j The Boers were able to bring 9000 men to the attack on Glencoe, Some of that 1 force probably came from the Utrecht and ' Vryhcid districts, and tho remainder ' through Laing's Nek, where General Joubert 1 is reported to be. They had artillery and 1 shelled tho town. The British, how ever, did not confine themselves entirely to the i defensive, but, according to one statement, captured an almost inaccessible position, and drove out the Boers, who retired towards the Orange Free State border. Tho public feeling in England was strongly manifested on Saturday, on the occasion of tho sailing of five transports with troops. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught addressed the Scots Guards at Chelsea, conveying the good wishes of Her ; Majesty. In Parliament, the necessary supplies have been granted by 271 to 32. The minority were represented in the discussion by Mr. Labouchere, and, of course, some of the Irish members. Mr. W. Redmond was, indeed, sd violent that he had to be expelled. The attitude of the Homo Rule party is not likely to commend them to the assistance for any object they desire of any section of the English people. Our latest cable message contains a some-, what detailed account of the action at Glencoe, which' was evidently a very spirited affair, and well conducted. The attack on Glencoe was made by a force from Utrecht and Dejagersdrift. General Joubert's plan was that a simultaneous attack should be made by the Free State troops on Lady- i smith. The British artillery was splendidly ' served, and silenced the Boer guns. The ; storming of the hill held by the Boers was effected by the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, the Ist i King s Royal Rifles, and the Ist Leicesters, 1 and these troops behaved most gallantly. The Boer marksmen were well posted, and did considerable execution. But no sharp- i shooting could keep back our men, who ' drove the enemy before them. The Boers fled, and their guns were captured. The ■ retreat was made to the west towards the Buffalo River, We are told that a largo ■ proportion of officers were killed, as they would not take cover like the rank and file. Colonel Sir W. P. Symons, who was in command in Natal before the arrival of General Sir George White, is terribly wounded. The victory is ascribed to his skill, and Her Majesty has promptly recognised his gallantry by promotion. We are told that the artillery and rifle firing of the Boers was bad. Our loss in this engagement was 10 officers and 35 rank and file killed, and 30 officers and 150 rank and file wounded. The Boer loss is estimated at 600. The effect of this victory must be very great. Tho Boers evidently calculated on striking a severe blow before the main body of our forces came up, but have failed. The result of ;he battle will greatly inspirit our men, as it has proved that they can dislodge a body of Boers when posted in a convenient position for rifle shooting. Tho Boers are now armed with artillery, but they do not : seem able to make effective use of these weapons. In all probability we shall soon hear of a forward movement to drive the Boers out of Natal. There is no news from the Mafeking locality. BRITISH ARTILLERY TACTICS. An English artillery officer says of the new system of attack which is going to surprise Europe and paralyse the Boers, that the latter have talked so much about their rifle practice that the War Office has decided that in this campaign the rifle will be out of it. The advance will be under a paralysing shell fire from a line seven or eight miles and ahalf, which is perfect for artillery, .but impossible for rifle fire. The Boer lias never known what it is to lie quietly while his comrades are being smashed around him by the deadly hail of bullets. It will come as a revelation to find that bullets fall from the sky even into valleys and krantzes hundreds of yards behind him, killing his horses and picking off men lying like ant bears in their holes. The result would be panic. Mean- i while the cavalry will be stealing up, taking advantage of the cover, followed by the infantry. Under a fire of shell cavalry can advance to 100 yds of the point'of attack, which they flank. Then a terrible final ! volley of shrapnel is poured in, and the order to charge given, and before they know it 1 the Boers will be among the sabres and lances, with the bayonets of the infantry just behind. Half their horses will have ' been killed by the deadly fire, and the Boers will be piijked off by the cavalry as easily as : a crowd of rabbits in an enclosure. His artillery will be the first object of attack, and before it has been in action an hour half the guns will be disabled or deserted. With the number of troops at the disposal of the British, the Boers' will be surrounded, and ; forced into the open, where they will be cut to pieces. We may lose a thousand men, but what of that?