NEWS OF THE WEEK. .
WRITING on Friday morning, it is impossible to speak
definitely as to the results of Lord Roberts's com- bined movements to clear the Boers out of the South-East angle of the Free State. All we know at present is that this great strategic tour de force, for such it is, is proceeding smoothly, and that already a good deal has been accom- plished. The investment of Wepener is over, the Boers having been forced to retreat at fall speed. The Bloemfontein Waterworks have been reoccupied, Israel's Poort, a place to the east of the Waterworks, has been carried by a well- arranged turning movement, and the plateau of Thaban'chu has been cleared of the enemy,—these last by General Ian Hamilton's command. At the same time Dewetsdorp has been occupied by General French. Meantime the Boers are reported to be retreating as fast as they can to Ladybrand. It remains to be seen whether we shall be able to capture any part of their force. That is, of course, greatly to be desired, but even if we do not succeed it must not be imagined that Lord Roberts's operations have proved a failure. On the contrary,-the mere clearing of the ground will have been a great, though unsensational, success. Remember that even Boers cannot move as fast as they have been moving in the last few days without a wear and tear of horseflesh which is most serious. And the Boers cannot get remounts.
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