The best news from South Africa is contained, not in
Lord Kitchener's despatches, satisfactory as they are, but in the important Blue-book issued on Wednesday. In a long despatch written on November 15th Lord Milner notes two great changes for the better,—the uninterrupted working of the railways, and the advance made in clearing the country, showing that two months ago a large area in the Transvaal, more important economically, politically, and strategically than all the rest of that State, was virtually denied to the enemy, while in the Orange River Colony the theatre of war was also greatly contracted. Lord Milner, who estimates the Boers remaining in the field at eight thousand, of the best fighting quality, emphasises the need under the settlement of a social change,—viz., the introduction of fresh blood, of a body of enterprising European setttlers, especially on the land, to reinforce the Boer population, who have failed to do "even the remotest justice to the vast natural capabilities of the soil, on which, for the most part, they have done little more than squat." The Blue-book also contains letters from the Boer leaders, showing that while Schalk Burger, in a private letter to Steyn, counselled unconditional surrender as far back as last March, he and Steyn, Botha and Delarey, have since insisted on the retention of independ- ence as an indispensable condition for the establishment of peace. Lord Kitchener's weekly summary of results shows a diminution in the Boer forces of three hundred and twenty- eight. General Bruce Hamilton, who has done extremely useful work of late, nearly captured Botha on the 11th; and General Elliot's columns, which have developed a mobility equal to that of De Wet, are giving the famous raider no rest.
