A curtain of darkness is still drawn between us and
the theatre of war. All we have learnt during the past week is that Botha and his force have not been captined, though it is not absolutely certain that -they have finally escaped. Beyond this. negative infOrthatitin there have been news of excursions and alarms in cape Colpay,...the usual weekly record of captures, and an official amiduncement that the gunafaken'when 'Ccdonel Gough's force was cut up have been recaPtured. On tbe 'Whole, -the :news shows that the FVOcess of' attrithin is going: 'oil. That is satiafitotory, but what is unsatisfactory is the knowledge that the . process might be made much more sure and speedy if only our forces were 'given 'the mobility they ought . to have, and could have if 'our troops were made to move 'as "light” as the Boers. Cut down the men's necessaries to the minimum, and let that tainimun be the maximum for all officers, and we should soon hear less about the awful difficulties of the country and the terrible distances.
