The news from South Africa this week is very meagre,
as it always is when Lord Roberts has a large scheme on foot. What appears to be happening is a combined move- ment of several columns to surround De Wet's commandos in the North-East of the Orange Colony and compel their surrender and dispersal. It is possible that a big surrender may be achieved, but we think it more likely that the Boer force will gradually melt away, men giving themselves up in twos and threes or slinking away secretly, and that in the end only the leaders and a few hundred men will lay down their arms in a body. It is impossible to describe the actual operations of the columns engaged against De Wet, but it was announced on Friday that Generals Clery and Hart had joined hands at Vlakfontein, a place on the railway between Natal and Johannesburg, and that trains will soon be running between Durban and Johannesburg. Retreat to the North is thus barred. Mean- time the cordon of troops is being drawn round the Boers in the Lindley district. It may, of course, be some days before the final blow can be struck, but we shall not be surprised if by next week armed resistance is over in the Orange Colony, and (with luck) if ex-President Steyn and De Wet are captives in our hands. .
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