Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14
CABLE LETTER FROM LONDON


London, Eng, Sept 0. This week,
Great Britain has resemhled, in every
respect. that tremendously exciting
week in the United States which i'm.
mcdiately preceded the outbreak Of
the war with Spain. Dreyfus and other
topics have sunk into obscurity. ia.
triotic enthusiasm has been at fever
beat, and the slightest sign OF prepare.
tion for war has been seIzed upon by
the press and public as an indication
M the status Of the crisis The differ.
ence between the state of affairs hero
and the situation In the United States
In April, 1888, is merely that the pro.
iected campaign is military, instead Of
naval According to reliable state.
ments, the army is ready. The papers
TEEN with descriptions of the troons
who are expected to do the fighting,
with accounts of their equipment and
method of transportation, and even
the relative killing properties OF the
bullets which. it is expected, will soon
be lodged under Boer skins. The par
ticular net now is bullet known as
sMark a." Ii is claimed that its load
core is harder aud lass fusible than
any tried heretofore Large quantities
are being shipped to Cape Town.
Though mobilization has never becn
a strong feature OF the British army,
il now is believed that system as
near perfection as possible has been
prepared. The commanders -chiei,
Field Marshal Lord Wolseley, Sir
Evelyn Wood, Gen. Sir Redyers- Butler
| and other generals have been working
strenuously on ,it for months. Many
new features have been introduced,
several of them being based on the
lessons learned by the American troops
| in the war with Spain. Among the
latter, is the extreme usefulness Of
mules in such country as the Trans.
vaal. The British officers who have
heen in tho United States, Spain and
South America selecting punches Of
these animals have been ordered to
close their purchases, and ship the
mules as quickly as possible to the
scene of the probable hostilities,
All these things, to say nothing Of
the splendid morale and reputation Of
tho regiments selected for the Cape,
indicate that, il war comes, it will be
| waged reentlessly and strongly and
that there will be no abatement until
South Africa is flooded with British
troops in such numbers that organized
resistance by the Beers will be i'm
possible. Before the main body Of
British troops arrives, it is thought,
the Beers may score some decided sue
eesses, and that, even after Being over
come by the force Of superior numbers
they may continue the war, in guerilla
fashion, for many months But, con
sentative opinion places six months as
the outside limit for the capture Of
Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Former Congressman James II. Lewis
arrived here this week, and yesterday
presented his credentials at the United
States Embassy, where he was cordially
received. Mr.. Lewis is here to press
claims for the compensation of the
American miners who were evicted
, from the Aslin district of the North
west Territory by the Canadian gov
, ernment.
Referring to the Philippine Islands,
I Mr.. Lewis remarked; Tho Democratic
party is intensely American. My indi-
. vidual view is that of the party. We
, are in war. The honor OF the coun-
, try and the glory of the flag are at
stake. Both must be maintained at
! all hazards. After this is accomplished,
. there is time enough to dispose OF the
i other problems involved. :"
Q Speaking of tho suggested Anglo
s American alliance, he said The CUES
r tion has not been fully considered by
o the American people Personally, l am
t opposed to it. | regard il. as inipractic,
r able and Improbable to us. A'purely
3 commercial alliance is enough. ~
j. Referring to home politics, Mr.. Lewis
o concluded: "Mr. Bryan will DO tht
! nominee, and will be elected. No doub
q he will have the unanimous support @
@ the South and the whole Pacific coast, !
h The Glasgow Town Council, in tn
face of considerable opposition, ha
Q confirmed the recommendation OF IN
v tramways committee, giving the con
q tract for two electric traction engine
l. to the Allis Co. of Milwaukee. I'm
@ order, it is said, has gone to Americ
a simply on account of speedier delivery
II and the decision of the Council ha
orcasioned much disappointment
i. Two or three schemes for new ele'tri
10 subways joining London and its SUB
m urbs have just been successful
q financed, and will be started in tn
d autumn, and these are likely to SUPP
y further orders for American machinery
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