The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-05
FOREIGN.
usual

There was tremendous excitement in Eng
land on Monday over dispatches from Natal,
In South Africa, announcing that fierce
battle had occurred between the English and
the rebellious Beers, in which the English
had met disastrous defeat, and their
commander Gen. Coley, had been killed. 1t
appears, a little beyond the line between Natal
and the Traasvaal is the mountain Majola
with a round top called by the Beers in their
Duch lingo Spitzkop. Gen. Colley thought'K
would be a good thing to occupy It, The
Beers allowed him TO make the ascent with
little opposition, but when once there they
made furious attack, surrounding the hill
on all sides SO that there was no escape. Or
the 600 it is believed less than 100 got away.
Gen Colley remaining on the top OF the hill
with bullet through his head.
the event has caused intense excitement in
England, and while there are doubtless many
who had sympa.hised with the Beers and
urged granting them their independence, an
almost universal cry now goes up that the
disaster must be avenged and the credit of the
British army vndicated. Gen. Roberts, who
displayed such ability in the Afghan war, has
been dispatched to South Africa to take Gen
Colley's place, hacked with abundant rein
forcements to overwhelm and literally crush
the poor .Dutchmen. There is no question
but the dispatch of Gen. Roberts to the field
settles the fate of the Trsnsvasl As the
Times remarks: The qualities displayed BY
that dashing officer in his march to the relief
of Candahar and the victory over Ayoob Khan
may be trusted to bring the hitherto disastrous
BOer campaign TO IA successful conclusion.
week age the peace atany-price party was
strong enough In England TO have extorted
from the government liberal terms for the
gallant rebels; but this third and most disas.
trous slaughter, IN var with 40 weak an enc
my. has aroused popular rage that will pro
badly force the ministers TO exact merclless
vengeance If the Beers do not find their last
state worse than the first they will have bet.
ter fortune than it Is now safe to prophesy for
them"
The coercion bill which dragged so heavily
in its passage through the house, is meeting
with 70 such obstruction in the lords. 1t had
its first reading on Monday, second reading on
Tuesday, was considered IN committee OF the
whole on Wednesday, and WAS expected to be.
come law on Thursday.
Though encouragement had been given to
the contrary, the passage Of the force bill
through the house WAS promptly followed ~
the introduction of the arms blll,' by force
to dsarm the people of Ireland, ana the min.
istry announced that It would be pressed TN
der the gag rule to speedy passage. Far
nell, who on Saturday had again gone to
Paris, was telegraphed to at once 10 return TO
parliament and oppose the arms bill, in which
it is said, he will be seconded by many diSsai-
lstied English liberals.
While in Paris Parnell made an appeal TO
Victor Hugo, asking hun to use his pen IN
behalf of Ireland, alleging that it Is battle OF
j, 900 900 workingmen struggling Tor the right
To live by labor in their own land against
small, privileged class of landlords.
O'Kelly has written TO Archbishop McCabe,
defending the course taken by himself and
parnell in the recent negotiations with the
Partisan press, and protesting against the let
tiers of men like Bellingham and Errington.
Parnell was received by the Archbishop Of
PARIS, who counseled moderation.
| Hearne, the land a gent TO the brother OF the
| lsle Lord Mountmorres. was on Sunday fired
at by two men near his residence st Balm
lobe anu mortally wounded. He received six
pistol shots.
Eviciions of q notwithstanding character are
| in progress all over the island. In one case
the furniture Of the parish priest Of Kikoman