20 JANUARY 1900, Page 1

In the rest of the theatre of war the Boers

and British are still watching each other, and there is no change. The Boers do not interfere with Lord Methuen, nor does he attack them. General French as usual has been active in small things—he has made his force as mobile, and almost as vigilant, as a Boer commando—but though he holds his own, and possibly has advanced a little, he has not yet cut off the Boer retreat from Colesberg. Gatacre has also advanced a little, but he is powerless to do more than observe the enemy. Throughout the week the high military qualities of the Colonial troops have been exemplified by South Africans, Canadians, New Zealanders, and Australians, and a Natal trooper has been recommended for a V.C. Before the war is over we trust that other members of the Colonial contin- gents will have had the good luck to earn the Cross. We say "luck" advisedly, for there are hundreds of men capable of earning it who never happen to be able to make themselves eligible.