GENERAL ITEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS,

The situation in South Africa continues most disquieting. It is believed in London that the military authorities are urging Sir R. Buller forward despite his inadequate preparations, because one victory is greatly needed to cheer the British public, and for political reasons. Buller's army is said to have positions at three points on the Tugela, but Sir Redvers Buller's own report shows the difficulty oi holding the

ground gained and the impossibility of advancing. Speculation is rffe in London, and tho general tenor of opinion appears not to be optimistic. Operations on the Stock Exchanges in London and Berlin are probably responsible for many of the wild rumours in circulation. Military critics in England and Europe declare that General Buller has undertaken' a task quite as severe as the one first at* tempted in the attack at Colenso. The Boetf" forces offer such strong resistance that itf may take days, if not weeks, to cover _ the 20 miles now stretching between the British' army and Ladysmith. The Boers have many advantages, and General Buller appears to' be using great caution. He now knows thef' enemy's peculiar methods of warfare better than at first.

The correspondent of The Times at Lo* renzo Maiqucz says that the wholesale expulsion of all British subjects remaining in the Transvaal is expected next week. The French liner Gironda arrived here crowded with mili-tary-looking foreigners bound for the TransAaal. These included 50 Russian ambulance men. with Germans, Italians, Frenchmen, and Greeks. The Transvaal Commandantgeneral here arranged for their conveyance to Pretoria by special train.