The position in German South-West Africa shows no signs .of
improvement. The latest reports state that the line from the coast is cut, partly by rain and partly by the insurgents, and that Windhoek, the capital, is closely besieged by a great horde of natives. Okahanja is still holding out, but any day may bring news of its fall, as the siege of the capital is being pressed with great fury. It is garrisoned by a force of over two hundred men, including neighbouring settlers and a few Boers, and a company of Regulars is marching from the south to its relief. But in that vast country travel is slow, and in any case the colonial forces, until they are reinforced by the troops recently despatched from Germany, seem insufficient to cope with the insurrection. The sympathy of every Englishman will go out to the small body of white men holding their own against terrible odds. There are many horrible tales of lonely farms and stations captured by the natives, and their occupants tortured and massacred. The one hopeful feature of the situation is that the Bastards have remained loyal. When there is a racial cleavage in the native population there is a better chance of segregating a rebellious tribe.
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