Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

15 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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CONTENTS OF INNER PAGES.

THE SITUATION AT THE FRONT.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

THE SITUATION AT THE FRONT. In estimating the position at the seat of war we are prone to think only of our own failures. Admittedly these failures are surprising, but the enemy has also had his failures. He was the aggressor, and invaded the Imperial territories with the avowed object of driving the British into the sea, raising the whole Dutch population, and establishing a Dutch rule throughout South Africa. So far the British forces have failed to drive back the invaders. On the other hand, they have succeeded in preventing any further advance. As for the Boers, they have failed in all their objects. Where they have gained any advantage over the British troops, it has only been in repelling attack. They have only once ventured on an attack of their own, and were decisively defeated. That was when they attempted to carry Lady- smith by assault on January 6th. For the rest, their armies are practically where they were when the war commenced. They have not taken Mafeking, nor Kimberley, nor Ladysmith. All they have been able to do, with heavy loss, has been to check the progress of the relieving armies. That progress is not likely to be much longer delayed. Even as we write Sir REDVERS BULLER is again moving towards a fresh point of attack, which it is hoped will afford better chances of success than either of his previous efforts, Moreover the Boers are being troubled in the rear. A highly mobile force of mounted troops, recently despatched from Durban, has made its appearance in Northern Zululand, whence it may easily threaten the com- munications of the force investing Lady- smith. They have already realised the danger, and hurried up forces from their army round Ladysmith to defend their line. They will find it a difficult task to protect their railway, and a much more difficult task to repair any damage the Imperial force may succeed in doing. They have net, for instance, the engineer force and railway appliances with which our army is richly supplied, and which enable it to rebuild bridges and restore wrecked lines within a comparatively short period. In the north, Colonel PLUMER is steadily forcing his way to the relief of Mafeking. In the west General KELLy-KENNY has taken up the sixth division into a position which is the centre of a line, with General FBENCH on the left and Sir WILLIAM GATACRE on the right, and which is apparently about to advance into the Free State. The seventh division, under General TUCKER, will also soon be in the field in that direction, either to reinforce Lord METHUEN or to co-operate with General KENNY. Other troops are pouring in rapidly, and we have the authority ofMr GEORGE \VYNDHA:\lforit that when the troops now undei^orders are landed, Field-Marshall Lord ROBERTS will have under his command a total of one hundred and eighty thousand men. Critics who have been denouncing the Government for not employing more mounted men and more Colonial troops wui, no doubt, be agreeably disappointed to learn that thirty- seven thousand of the force are mounted men, excluding artillery, and that twenty- six thousand are local troops, that is Colonial volunteers. The artillery question, so much discussed, appears to be in an equally satisfactory state. According to Mr WYNDHAM, we have in South Africa, over four hundred guns, of which one hundred and ten are guns capable of throwing heavy shell, some to a distance of ten thousand yards. They include thirty- eight naval guns, thirty-six siege guns, and thirty-six field howitzers. It will still be open to captious critics to argue that, < III according to the modern standard of allow- ing five guns per thousand men, we have only about half the number of guns proper to one hundred and eighty thousand men. To such critics the sufficient answer will be that the artillery is ample for the purpose, being in tho proportion about four guns to One Boer gun, as far as it can be calculated from the latest figures of the number of guns in possession of the, Boers. Criticism of that kind is, however, becoming stale. Faultfinders are looking forward to the statements which will presently be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for War, the one asking for a further credit for the war expenses, and the latter proposing additions to the strength of the army. The whole country is anxious to bear these statements, and will cheerfully foot the bill if efficiency be assured. On the latter point the present Government has already afforded full satisfaction, for under no War Office adminstration has the country had more for its money than under that of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE.

. NOTES BY THE WAY.

5 YEOMANRY AND VOLUNTEER NOTES.

. WELSHPOOL.

BERRIEW.

BISHOP'S CASTLE.

CHIRBURY.

MONTGOMERY

NEWTOWN.

MACHYNLLETH.

LLANFYLLIN.

--EVERY WEAK MAN

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