NEWS OF THE WEEK.
SINCE our last issue Lord Roberts's advance has been rapid and continuous. After seizing Winburg and the junction of the Winbnrg branch with the main railway, he continued to force the enemy back, repairing the bridges and the railway lines behind him. On Thursday he reported that he had forced the passage of the Zand River, and on Friday news was received that the enemy, who had occupied a strong posi- tion twenty miles in length—ours, adds Lord Roberts, being "necessarily longer "—had been driven from point to point and were in full retreat, pursued by our cavalry and horse artillery along three different roads. This important success, which seriously imperils the position of the Boers in the East of the Free State, has evidently not been achieved without hard fighting, but the casualties only amount to four killed and five wounded. Lord Roberts's rapid advance has automatically cleared the country to the south, and during the week news has been received of the evacuation of Thaban'chu and Ladybrand by the Boers. President Steyn hoped to get the Boers to make a stand at Clocolan, but apparently failed. Possibly there are wander- ing commandos still left south of the road between Winburg and Ficksburg, but it is not likely that any large force is still there. In truth, the Boers are now beginning to feel the presence of the Natal army on their flank. A movement of Buller's troops through Van Reenen's Pass might place them in great peril. All the signs, then, point to a rapid exit by the Boers to Kroonstad or some place further north that has been prepared for a large concentration.
