Against the Tweefontein disaster, however, distressing as it undoubtedly is,
must be placed the incontestable evidence of further attrition furnished during the week. The reduc- tion in the enemy's strength in December amounts to a thousand, probably more than a tenth of their whole force, and the Times correspondent at Pretoria, by no means in- clined to indulge in facile optimism, describes the district between Pretoria and Johannesburg for miles round as being almost as safe as Piccadilly, while work at the mines has been steadily resumed, and markets are " booming." The exten- sion of the blockhouse system steadily progresses, a new line from Beaufort West to De Aar, guarding the railway, having been completed. Lord Kitchener's weekly summary shows that the fighting force of Boers has been diminished by some three hundred and thirty killed, wounded, captured, or sur- rendered, irrespective of De Wet's losses. We may add that De Wet's concentration of his forces, though attended by unwelcome surprises, nevertheless affords our columns yet another chance of striking a combined and decisive blow at the guerilla leader.
