When and how the war will begin it is difficult
to predict. There are rumours that the Boers will attack through Zululand, -crossing be Buffalo River at Rorke's Drift, their object being to seize the railway and cut our communicatiOns, thus isolating the troops at Dundee and at Newcastle. It is an obvious plan, but we do not think it would have been so openly talked about if it had been intended. We expect, therefore, that
the attack will come from the other from Harrismith and the Free State border. Natal tams up in a triangular wedge between the Free State and the Transvaal. At the base of the triangle is Ladysmith, our place of arms. The Boers can, if they like, simultaneously invade the triangle at the apex by Laing's Nek and the railway line, on the north side by Rorke's Drift, and on the south by Van Reenen's Pass. Perhaps they will, but splitting up an attacking force is not always as good strategy as it seems. Meantime we do not doubt that our force is quite able to hold its own till the Indian troops arrive, which should be not later than next Saturday.
