SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11937, 10 January 1901, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) LADYSMITH, December 7, 1900. ' Ladysmith still continues to be a centre of attraction for sightseers, as it deserves to be ; there being more, points of interest in its vicinity in connection with this war than at any other centre. Have we not Spion Kop, Pieter's Hill, Colenso, Vrere, Tugela, Elands laagte, and many others? Even New Zealand has had a representative. Mr I. W. Raymond, of Southland, paid this place a visit some time back, and traversed some of the battlefields. Mr Raymond, I understand, is in'your part once more, and will, I have no doubt, have gathered much useful and accurate information about South Africa, and the war. Accurate information is a thing much to be sought after in this age of cheap and distorted accounts of things. Many Americans have sought out Ladysmith for scene.; fresh and,new; while we have had English aristocracy with us ever since the relief.

The other day a whisper went round that Lord Kitchener was coming. Doors and windows were lined for a sight of the. iron man. Away up the street appeared a. group of horsemen, Tiding in loose order, and as they passed us at a walk we had a good view of him who is noted as the man for the Boers. Yes, lie looked it—those steel eyes spoke no) of forgiveness; that strong iron jaw spoke of a determination which nothing could break down; that large, strong frame of a constitution fitted to back up the ability and energy w;liich was stamped on his every lineament. He passed us in silence. People said they shivered. One thing is certain—had it been any other general of renown they would have cheered him; but not this iron man—howdared they! Look at those eyes, and cheer if you can. Lord Kitchener visited Spion Kop, viewed the Fceno of another's reverse, returned, and left for the Orange River Colony. It is not known what his movements are at present.

Refugees from the Transvaal are now heinp permitted to return to their adopted home.' in very limited numbers. A few go through every day, their names being; published in the local papers. Lucky is ho who obtains the coveted permit to return to the Golden City— at 1 least, so think his friends here. But ho goes to no picnic. Hard living and military despotism are his lot. So eager are people to return to the Rand that one does not wonder at the device of an artful refugee who wrote to the military authorities complaininc of the loss of his permit and nEking for ii duplicate to be issued to him, which, on hit obtaining, he sold to a friend, and then proceeded to Johannesburg on the original permit, his friend on the duplicate. The trick, it now appears, has been successfully pprformed more than once, and as much as £20 has beer obtained for a duplicate permit. It is to be hoped that this thing will bo put a stop to. The general consensus of opinion is that although Lord Roberts may be a 'genera! fitted to lead large armies, he is not the man for the present Boer situation. People are anxiously waiting to hear of Kitchener's taking command; in fact, they openly say now that Lord Roberts would have hold more laurels if he had retired after entering Pretoria. In all hie dealings with the Boers Lord Roberts is too lenient, too unsuspecting, and too >apt to treat them on the same basis that he would have were he dealing with Continental foes. Harsh measures are necessary for the subjugation of those irreconpilables who now roam about committing murders under the cloak of war. He is a queer creature thr Boer, and mistakes leniency for weakness; kindness he accepts as a. sign, of fear. It'is true that in many places where our men hJlve been ambushed, kc, the farmhouses of the neutrals whence the enemy got his cover have been burnt. It is true also that small batches of the enemy are being capturer , every few days, but the main point for defeating him—that of depriving him of obtaining food and horses, which he daily does from thr so-called neutral Boers around him—seems to have been passed over as unnecessary by those who have control of our forces here. Until measures are taken which will effectually prevent these freebooters obtaining their commissariat and remounts on their line of brigandage, they will not think of surrendering, many of them being rebel Cape and Natal Boers.

Many authorities advocate Great Britain al this period confiscating all property belonging to those of the enemy now. under arms against \is. If such measures were threatened there is no doubt that it would have a salutary effect on those Boers now under armr who have any property to lose. These measures would be quite justifiable, as there is not the faintest hope in the breast- of any Boer that his cause will yet be successful; in fact, the majority felt their cause was doomed 10 months ago on the relief of Kimberley and attendant defeats. [ Lord Roberts is at present staying in Lady smith, and has been visiting all the principal battlefields in the vicinity. He afterward? proceeds to Colenso, to visit his son's wave. and thence goes to Marifehure, Durban, and the Cape. bein<r due at the Cape on the 12th, inst. His bodyguard-.consists of a .mounted company of colonials and n company of -Grenadier Guards.: Great interest is evinced in England's greatest soldier's every movement. Crowds \of enthusiastic civilian admirers gather to watch his comings and goings. Miss Roberts accompanies her father in all these trips. ■ l