The herald., 1896-04-05
Associated Presa Special wire

1896, by the Associated Press)-Despito
all official and semi-official statements
to the contrary, it Is generally admitted
that the situation in South Africa 10
statements made by the secretary Cd
state for the colonies, Mr.. Chambef-
lain, has not changed the public Opin-
ion on the subject and today he is OPEN
ly accused of trif1ing with the situation
and pretending that the scanty force0
there are able to cope with the rebel
lion Of the Matabeles and its possible
outcome. 1t seems beyond question that
Buluwayo and Gwelo are the only two
stations in Matabeleland which are in
defensive condition, and there is =
strong possibility that communication
with these towns will shortly be entire-
ly cut off. Mr.. Chamberlain's disincli-
nation to have strong reinforcements
of British troops sent to South Africa
is said to arise from his desire to do
nothing which may give color to the
French and German charge that the
real object of sending the reinforce
ments to South Africa is to coerce the
Beers
Then. again, the scope of the Soudan
expedition appears to be widening, and
there is considerable fear in many quar-
ters that the government does not real
ize the extent of the undertaking. Ex-
perts in Dervish warfare say that the
Anglo Egyptian force is inadequate to
cope with the situation and that there
is acute danger that communication
with the advance guard of Egyptian
troops may ,be cut off and the latter
annihilate before it is possible for the
support of British troops to arrive. 1t
is urged that reinforcements of at least
10 900 troops should be promptly sent to
Africa from India alone and it is point
ed out that. according to reliable in
formation, the Khalifa's forces are
;x,fo 1n
the evident intention of getting behind
the advancing force. Should the march
be continued and the troops from India
be promptly landed at Suakim. they
will break Osman Digna's force ana
threaten the rear of the Dervishes'
In less than month the whole col
umn of the glo-Egyptian army
which will push up the Nile. will be
concentrated thirty-five miles from
Wady Halfa. ready to march upon
Akasheh. The rapid progress to the
front shows that the transport arrange
ments are working well. Men, arms
ammunition and stores are being con-
veyed over a very difficult route with
out the slightest hitch. General II. II.
Kitchener. the leader of the Egyptian
forces, will remain at AkaSheh until ne
succeeds in collecting his complete for
ces there In the interval the camel
corps and cavalry will push forward to
the nearest Dervish' post at Suarda.'
The Dervishes are already reconnois-
eri,.o near AkaSheh
DR. lillian Hamilton, the English
woman physician to the ameer OF Az
ghanistan. has three column letter
in the Times detailing a long conversa-
ton which she had with the ameer on
the criticism aroused in England on his
campaign to subjugate kafiristan The
ameer contends that the Durand treaty.
1893. which gave Great Britain rights
ictr at
full rights over Kafiristan, and he is
fully determined to stand by the treat.
les, regardless of the consequences.
The fears of possible Russian aggres-
sion are the immediate motives for his
action. The Russians were within a
few days march of Kafiristan and could
have occupied it easily and thus would
have been within two days march OF
Cabul and within gunshot of other vital
positions in Afghanistan.
Dr. Hamilton warmly defends the
ameer against the charge of wishing to
extirpate or ensave the Kafirs. She
says that. on the contrary. the ameer
recognizing their splendid fighting pow
ers, has tried to win their loyalty, so as
to have their assistance against Rus
sian invasion. The letter also gives in
teresting pen pictures of the slavery
question. DR.. Hamilton thinks that no
foreigner ever had the entire into Af-
CHAN harems as she has had and conse-
ouently she is able to certify that no
l<afirs are enslaved and that no tribe.
in fact. except the Hazaras. was ever
reduced to slavery by the Afghans
Princess Maud of Wales. while riding
a bicycle in Regent street early in the
week on her way to visit her old nurse,
"skidded" and fell. A policeman
promptly helped the princess into a
hansom cab. placed her damaged wheel
on the roof of the vehicle and Harry"
returned to Marlborough house decid-
edly discounted
Advices received here from Monte
Carlo show that there is a hitch in re-
gard to the renewing of the gambling
concession. According to the terms OF
the present contract the Prince of Mon
AGO receives $250.000 yearly for the ex-
elusive right to maintain gambling
establishment within the borders of his
dominions (the area of the .Drincipality
of Monaco is six square miles) in ad-
dition to S100. 900 which are the expenses
of the principality. whose population
is about $1,000. The prince now de-
mands $500O00 for the expenses OF the
principality alone, in addition to the
large sums which the casino spends an
nually in the maintenance OF roads.
buildings. etc. The receipts from the
gambling table for the year ending
March 81 We're $240000 under those OF
the previous year. 1t is explained that
there is much less plunging than usual
and that the people who frequent the
casino are a less desirable class than
formerly.