Up till Friday afternoon no accurate news had been received
as to the casualties, but the Daily Mail says ours are roughly put at eight hundred killed and wounded, and those of the Beers at between two and three thousand. We always regard figures as to the enemy's casualties as suspect, but it is impossible that so persistent and yet so unsuccessful an attempt to carry entrenchments can have taken place with- out very severe losses. It is stated that the assault was made in deference to an order from President Kruger, and that in accordance with a hint from him the Free Staters were put in the forefront of the battle, and so made to bear the brunt of the terrible lesson given the Boers by General White's soldiers. But even if that is true we must not expect it to have any present results. Quarrels between the Free Staters and the Boers will not help us until the Boers have had a real beating. Then, but not till then, these quarrels may have very great results. They, will not cause victory, but when victory comes they will make it far more complete.
