NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE chief fact about the war, as we write on Friday, is that General White is still holding his own at Lady- smith, and, as far as one can see, will be quite able to do so till he is relieved, which,-however, can hardly be-for another fortnight, if so, scion. At the same ,time, Kimberley and Mafeking are safe, the attacks made on them as yet being of a somewhat balf.hearted character and easily repelled. Since we last wrote news of the following events has come to hand. On November tInd General French went out with a force of cavalry and artillery and shelled the Boer laager at Beaters, capturing the camp. On November 3rd a considerable action seems to have taken place at "Dewdrop," and also at Bul- wana. According to native runners, both these actions caused severe loss to the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, but there has-been so far no official confirmation of these stories, which we shall.- therefore not describe in detail. It is conceivable that the official accounts miscarried, while the "black pigeon post" got through, but in any case it is not worth while to speculate too much on this possibility, as we shall soon know the truth. Since then Ladysmith has been intermittently bombarded by the Boers, but it does not appear that their shells have done any very. great harm. The range; however, of the big guns they have lately brought up is longer than that of ours—except the big naval guns— and therefore we have not been able to reply with effect. It is stated, however, that when the concrete of the platforms on which our largest pieces have been mounted has thoroughly set, our gunners will be able to give -a good account of themselves.
