THE PRESENT POSITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6647, 20 November 1899, Page 1

THE PRESENT POSITION.

OPINIONS OF AN EX-MILITARY OFFICER. ESTCOURT. (By RffAMABIDIKWI.) From the cablegrams published in Saturday's paper, dated Nov.. 17, from Durban, we learnt that on Nov. 15 a small British reconnoitring force met with a somewhat serious reverse. It had been pushed out in an armoured train from Estcourt, to proceed in the direction of Colenso, with the object of keeping the line open and a sharp look-out for signs' of the enemy. It was composed of a half-company each of the Dublin Fusiliers and Durban Light Infantry, ten .sailors, Mr Winstpne, Churchill (the "Morning's Post's " correspondent) and, probably, an enginedriver and stoker, which would mean a total of about one hundred and thirteen men. It passed Chievely, apparently, without discovering any appearance of Every engine wants constant attention and lubricating. The largest organ or engine of the body is the liver. Loasby's Wahoo keeps that going in a perfect manner. It is purely vegetable, and perfectly harmlees. " 3 Coughs and Colds are overcome. By Spencer Vincent's Benjamin Gum. The cold weather is approaching, and pre. cautions should be taken to ward off coughs and colds. This can be done with Spencer Vintent's Benjamin Gum, a sure preventive and turo of coughs and colds. Pnce 13 6d and to Gd i t • t Extensive experiments have conclusively proved that cinnamon is a specific for influenza. It reduces the temperature, and, apparently, acts by destroying the bacilli. Townend's Cinnamon Cure is the very best form in which it can be taken. 1

ii .— _u« wim i mum mum imrmrrii in mir"— 'ffrr'T-— — the enemy, and proceeded about twenty miles or more, and when on its return journey, opposite Chievely, two trucks, filled with troops, were suddenly derailed and turned oved by a- dynamite explosion, a party of Boers, who were in ambush at this place, having previously'' loosened the rails at an awkward curve. : The Boers were strongly posted on a • kopje covered with brushwood, and had a Maxim and. two ninepounders. Numerous sharpshooters were under cover, behind boulders around' t-bc foot of the position, and they immediately opened a withering fire, their shells shattering- tho protecting dome of the engine and the one naval seven-pounder at an early stage of the fight. The British were outnumbered, and at a terrible disadvantage, having to fight in the open. Nevertheless; thoy phickily pushed out a covering line of skirmishers while the wreckage was. being cleared by superhuman efforts. Deprived of the assistance of their one gun, yet "bravely they fought and well," and Mr Churchill, with gallant abandon, risked his life in carrying several wounded and two dead fusiliers to the train. It is a reverse to be regretted, but nothing to be ashamed of, as our small force must have fought grandly, and at any rate succeeded in securing the escape o! the armoured train, which steamed into- Estcourt, carrying thirteen wounded arid fifteen Durban infantry. Later on twenty-two more stragglers managed to get back to camp. This would account for fifty out of the original force, and, presuming my estimate of the total number correct, there would be about sixty-three missing. Another cable of the same date states that General Buller reports 100 men missing, and if this is the later of the two cablegrams, and the official report, there must have been more men on the train than was mentioned in the first report. The report that the force . now gathered at Estcourt is deficient, in artillery, is extremely disconcerting, as it may seriously impair its fighting strength. Immediately after the return of the armoured train, Dr Bristol ran out to the scene of the encounter in a Red Cross train to remove the wounded, but the Boers refused to allow them to be removed before General Joubert's consent was obtained. This, while being a needless piece of brutality, may also be taken as a contradiction of the report of the General's death. Possibly he may be wounded, as the cables are made to say there is indirect evidence to that effect. The latest report from Pretoria, however, states that ha has merely been ill, but is now better. „ A message received at 10.8 a.m. on Saturday, informed us that a force of Natal cavalry repulsed 300 Boers eight miles from Estcourt, killing several, and that General Buller, in addressing a few words to them, after the fight, took the opportunity of pay-, ing a graceful and well-deserved compliment to the colonial forces of Natal generally upon the work done in the encounters with the Boers. This force of defeated Boers was very probably the same that had attacked j the armoured train the day before. | The looting, of the small township of Pomeroy by the Transvaal Boers, assisted by the resident Boers of Natal, who afterwards swore allegiance to the Transvaal, is certainly disquieting, but it is only what we had every reason to' expect. By glancing at the war map, it will be seen that Pomeroy is about fifteen miles to the south-west of Ladysmith. As a slight set-off, it is encouraging to note that fanners loyal to the British, and, presumably, of Dutch nationality, propose to raise a guerilla troop, with a view to retaliating. This seems almost too good to be true, and, considering the Avily nature of the Dutch, it is not improbable that the authorities may deem it advisable not to accept the services of these Dutchmen or to arm them, as, when armed, they might treacherously turn round and join their confreres of the Transvaal. In regard to the small force of 300 Boers who ambushed the armoured British train, it struck me as being rather ominous and unusual on the part of the Boers that so small a force should be reconnoitring in so fearless a manner at such a distance from the base. It seemed to imply that there probably was a much stronger force of Boers close in the rear. That this idea is correct, is clearly shown by the latest news, which is to the effect that 2000 Boers, with six 7-pounders and two French guns, are at Ennersdale. The cable states that this place is south of Ladysmith, but the map will show that it is comparatively close to Estcourt, and lies to the north-west, apparently not more than twenty or twentyfive miles distant. It is added by the cable that these Boers will be reinforced by a large force from the vicinity of Ladysmith, and that the combined forces will operate against the column under Colonel Hilyard, which is being despatched to the relief of Ladysmith. The Boers are also reported to have occupied the township of Weenan. According to the cables, this is fifty-five miles north-west of Maritzburg, but, according to the map, it is a little to the north-east of Estcourt, and nearly opposite Ennersdale. • As we know that Weenan is in the Umvoti- County, the centre of the disaffected Natal Dutch, there is no doubt i that the map is correct. - The force from this place, therefore, will act in conjunction with the Boers at Ennersdale against Estcourt. ■ It must be admitted that this latest move on the part of the Boers is very disquieting. It indicates good generalship, and is also very daring, for it shows a determination to anticipate and delay the advance by attacking the relieving force as near as possible to its base of operations, and as far off as feasible from the objective point, Ladysmith. It is certainly a very plucky move, and we may be sure that the Boers will fight with the greatest stubbornness, retreating, if possible, little by little, and delaying the relieving force as long as possible. The idea will be to give General Joubert more time to carry his plans for the reduction at Ladysmith to a successful issue. Therefore, the news that will come to hand during the next two or three days will probably be of vital importance. I can only trust that before the Boer forges get near enough to Estcourt to compel the British to attack in force the British officer commanding "vvill have his artillery considerably re-

.i....jm.CTirr,i.«M»'JlM.-M 1 , rijim inforccd. Before passing on from this por- j tion of tho theatre of war, I may say that J I regard it at present as by far the most critical of the various positions, and that is why I have devoted so much space to it. LADYSMITH. • • ' From the foregoing information, it is only natural to feel some uneasiness, and the cabled report that early on Thursday heavy rifle. fire was heard -from the direction of Ladysmith, followed by an explosion, does not. tend. to reassure' Some time ago I expressed "the opinion that as long as the garrison did not run actually short of provisions- or ammunition there were only two tilings to guard against— possible treachery, and tunnelling and undermining. Although I did not look upon the latter as very probable, I thought it was possible. The reported explosion brings home to me the fear that something of the sort may. have occurred, but I trust that this is not the true explanation. Another feasible theory is that the heavy rifle fire indicates an attack of Boers took place in force, and that the explosion has been a mine laid by the British outside one of their earthwork redoubts. But at ' present we can do nothing more than place the utmost . confidence in the valour and determination of our troops at this post to hold their own to the last at all hazards, no matter what losses they incur,, and in the meantime >vc must possess our sculs in patience. My readers will remember that a week or two ago a spy at Ladysmith was caught in the act of attempting to tamper with the quick-firing guns. Possibly, Nathan Marks, mentioned in the, cables, is identical with this man, and I notice that Dr Reitz has actually thceatened that if this creature is harmed he will put to death six British efficsrs held as prisoners at Pretoria. The cable states, further, that the report has caused a feeling of horror in Capetown, even amongst the Afrikanders. Most .likely this spy has as yet been spared, but if the authorities at Pretoria are guilty of such a fiendish and dastardly act- as to sacrifice the lives of six British combatant officers for one spy, terrible retribution will follow, and Messrs Kruger, Reitz, Steyn, and all the prominent officials of both States will pay the penalty of suffering a like fate. ALIWAL NORTH. Six hundred valiant Free Staters have occupied this place unopposed, and, with their usual impertinence, have declared the district annexed. KIMBERLEY. As a contrast to the somewhat ominous clouds on the Natal side, it is distinctly refreshing to note that the infamous General Cronje's Boers have been repulsed with great, loss in an attack on the Ottoskopje mine, Kimberley. DE AAR, On Saturday, we were informed that a column was marching from this place for the relief of Kimberley. It was also stated that the Boers looted Belmont, and afterwards retired to the Modder River, which it will be seen from the map is nearer to Kimberley. The latest cables amplify the former report, by stating that the Kimberley relief force will follow the railway line, and that a second flanking column will operate in the direction of Bloemfontein. BRITISH PRISONERS AT PRETORLi. The latest report from Pretoria informs us that there are now 1338 prisoners there. So far as we know, up to the present, they have been well.treated, but the British will deeply resent the late cowardly threat held out in reference' to the officers. HOME CABLES. I notice that the Hon Campbell-Banner-man has been guilty of a most unpatriotic action in -trying to obtain political capital out of the present situation, by making a palpable misstatement to the effect that the Government has steered the nation into war. Such tactics are utterly unworthy of Mr Campbell-Bannerman, who must know that he is stating what is not a fact. It is satisfactory to note that he occupies the unenviable position of being the only one of the leading lights of the Opposition who has not cordially endorsed the action of the Government and strengthened its hands. TRANSPORTS. It is "time, I think, the Government made better arrangements for the speedy transport of troops. In the critical state of affairs in South Africa, tho present cheeseparing policy of using slow, second-class boats may result in disaster. lam glad to see that the Government now, although late in the day, is making a new departure by chartering the Atlantic liner Canada to carry troops. This is in addition to the White Star liner referred to a day or two ago.