NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE general military situation has not changed much since last week, but there have been movements in the southern and western sections of the theatre of war which have been, on the whole, favourable to the British. They have not been anything which can be called important successes, but they are indications that our generals and soldiers are beginning to find their feet, and to learn the proper way of dealing with the Boers. We have described below in detail Colonel Pilcher's raid from Belmont to Douglas, and his very complete defeat of the small commando of Colonial Boers opposed to him. On a bigger scale was General French's movement towards Colesberg. General French began to advance on Saturday, and on Monday took up a position on the hills round Colesberg, and since then there has been daily fighting. The Boers for a time evacuated Colesberg, but on being reinforced they returned and reoccupied the town. Since then General French has been manoeuvring his small force so as to surround the Boers and cut off their. retreat, and reinforcements have been sent him from De Aar Junction, with which he is in railway com- munication, in order to facilitate this work. As we write on Friday the result of his action still hangs in the balance, but it certainly looks as if the Boer force were being hemmed in.
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