Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11642, 27 January 1900, Page 6

The news of the war which we have received during the past few days has been in various respects contradictory. In that circumstance there is nothing to occasion surprise. It would be idle to. expect a consistent, any more than a coherent, account of the operations at the front when we are dependent for our information upon fragments of news, filtered along the wires from many sources, of which the unofficial are rigidly restricted to the despatch daily of a few sentences only, these being subjected, moreover, to a censorship that, however necessary it must be recogaised to be, is nevertheless provoking. Amid all the contradictions, however, in our cables the salient .point is prominently clear that the British advance in Natal is being skilfully and vigorously pushed forward, and that it is being attended with success. On all hands the JBoer.s, generally the most alert of enemies, have been 'caught unawares. Tho plans for the advance which Sir Redvers Builer may have perfected during his wVL of enforced inactivity while he was awaiting the completion of his transport arrangements have evidently been laid with a great deal of shrewdness, and they are being executed with a boldness and swiftness that are disconcerting to the enemy, who have permitted themselves to be twice .surprised in the course of a week—a party of them on the 18th inst. by Colonel Lord Dimdonald near Acton Homes and a small garrison on the 23rd or 24th inst. by General Sir Charles Warren at Spion Kop. The capture of this latter hill was apparently a bloodless one. Although in the cables published by us yesterday we were informed, in proof of the importance of Spion Xvop, that from it the whole of the enemy's entrenchments can be commanded, our later information is that the night garrison which held the kop for tho Boers made no effort to maintain their position, but fled incontinently upon the approach of the attacking party! Rightly or wrongly, the'enemy cannot attach so much weight to the occupation of this hill as the British generals have attached to it. At any rate, they are still reported to possess, a position of great strength. That being so, the next few days will certainly produce some momentous events. A great battle, possibly a -clecisiva" one, cannot be long deferred. The British commanders hold positions which, if they do not dominate those occupied by the enemy, are .still undoubtedly strong, and by this time, although' we are in the dark respecting the number of Boers whom General Joubert has at his disposal, it is probable that the weight of

numbers is behind General Bnller. Until this battle is fought and won the feeliug of suspense which has been partially relieved by the intelligence of .the capture of tipion Kop, cannot bo completely allayed. The British, soldiera are, however, officially stated to be in. splendid.spirits, and, when the effect of a victory must almost unfailingly be to raise the siege of Ladysmith, it may be anticipated that they will enter the engagement with that determination to win

which in itself is half the battle. The 'positiori~in Natal at the present time is distinctly encouraging. All along the line there are reports of activity on the part of the British forces. Those under Generals French and Gatacre aro impatient for the fray, and on the Modeler River General Lord Methuen is allowing the enemy no rest. The immediate future is pregnant with pleasing possibilities.