NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THOUGH the first shot has not been fired as we write, war is now inevitable, if, indeed, it has not already begun. The commandeering of the gold — something like 4800,000, the property of private individuals, contrary to the usages of civilised States, has been seized—not to mention the violation of our territory by the reconnoitring patrols, which are reported to have crossed the frontier at Laing's Nek at night, was an act of war. On Thursday the Daily Telegraph published a despatch stating that the invasion of Natal had actually begun, but this news was evidently premature. Apparently Mr. Bennett Burleigh, who was travelling with General Jonbert, assumed that what he was told would be done immediately had been done. At present the military situation appears to be roughly as follows,—for all the figures are guess-work. The Boers have some fifteen thousand men of various sorts, with a good deal of artillery, massed along the borders of the triangle of Natal territory which runs up between the Free State and the Transvaal. Billie are near Van Reenen's Pass ; others are massed on the east of the Buffalo River, but the main force are at Volksrust, —i.e., at the very apex of the triangle, and just opposite Laing's Nek. Meantime we have most wisely abandoned Newcastle, a town right up in the narrow part of the triangle, and our troops are standing on the defensive at Ladysmith and Dundee, both of which places are strongly held by forces which are not only entrenched, but well equipped with cavalry and artillery and all stores.
