The war in South Africa is ending as we always
believed it would end,—that is, in the melting away of the Boer forces and without any heroic last stand or "staggering of humanity" by a Boer Thermopylw. Telegraphing on Wednesday, Lord Roberts was able to state that "out of the three thousand of the enemy who retreated to Komati Poort as we advanced from Machadodorp, about seven hundred have crossed into Portuguese territory and others have deserted in various directions," The balance have crossed the Komati River and are occupying spurs of the Lebombo Mountain, south of the railway between Portuguese territory and the bridge. A general tumult, be goes on, "seems to have occurred when the enemy recognised the hopelessness of their cause." The Long Toms and several field guns, including those captured from us, were destroyed. Lord Roberta adds that " there is nothing now left of the Boer army but a few marauding bands." It remains to add, however, that De Wet is still at large and mischievous, though his power to inflict serious damage has ceased. It seems almost certain that when the anniver- sary of the first shot is reached in the middle of October, the war will really be at an end. We may add that thousands of Boer and foreign refugees appear to be trekking into Portuguese territory and taxing the military resources of the local authorities rather heavily. Mr. Kruger has not yet left Lourenco Marques, but sits smoking in the verandah, watched by admiring crowds. The Dutch Government have, it is said, offered to take him away in a warship, and we have naturally expressed our perfect willingness that they should do so.
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