The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-18

London, Dec. 1s.-'rhe British govern
ment is as last fully awake Go the ne
cesssty for vigorous campaign i'm
South Africa There is no doubt tina.
even the cabinet hes, up co satur-
day, underestimated the Beers defen-
siVe strength. AS a result of the meet
ing OF the national defence committee
OF the cabinet Saturday, when the sue
cessive reverses of Gatacre. Metnuen
and Butler were carefully considered,
the following important measures were
decided upon, which were announced
that night: :,
Field Marshal Lord Roberts. V. G,
has been appointed commander-lh-chieI
in South Africa.
Lord Kitchener of khartoum is 10 pe
Gen Roberts chief of stall
The whole Of the reserves not yet en-
bodied Will be called out.
The Seventh division. now mobiizing,
will proceed at once 10 South Africa
Re-enforcements OF artillery' lnvluu
ing three howitzer batteries WI" DC
sent out.
Gen. Butler Is authorized TO raise
local mounted corps in South Afrca.
4 considerable mounted force VIII De
sent out from England ,,,.,o,
Nine battallons OF militia, i'm addition
TO the three which have already Noluh-
teered. will be asked to volunteer TOT
foreign service. ,...,,..
wiu,be formed for South African SER
Tho offers Of mounted men from the
colonies will be accepted.
FORCE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
These measures should give the Brit
,sh forces in South Africa $4,000 more
zen on the way there, or in the pro
,ross ~ eunharking, are the t1fth anu
Sixth divisions about 2O,OoO stIuss,
while the total number OF men ui'ue. rug.
arms i'm south Africa, incluainb ~
Cana Colony and Natal iocal turSes'
- ~ he nlaced at $4,000. after deductlng
- toeses Thus he British strehgth
Ia tho field Is 20 BE- almost doupleu; 10
rrha greatest satisfaction VIII o.
,l h, the announcement that Tn
government has decided TO sFnu a.,
Eaberts as comm noe Ir-ttnSerar
South Africa Win E.T Most brill
rhus calling upon two ot lnr iuurS i,, "a
Silus ,. afJicers I'm the British army u
t tbe grave situation when mas
,1.,.t -. services rendered 60 the EN-,
rirc bv Lord Roberts and the tecoru ~
Az hero Of the march TO haii az .,I,
ono Is familiar. lie ENJOYS IN,
whole -hpafleu " uT'
nation. ,..o. ~ tho Soul
dar viii make an ideal chiff OF s.sn,
great BRITAIN looks TO his feruie Sell'"
80 aid Lord Roberts in organizing a
brilliant termination 70 tho ramp''s'
vhfcb has SO mauspiciously oegun
SITUATION At THE FRONT.
Nus from the scenes of military
orerations is exceedingly scanty. NO
aaditional Information has peeh IoIVl-
,,or,tnq with respect to the dsastet Ou
~ Tngela. at Colenso Friday. In the
o0icial dispatch there is every eVluei'''
that some ne blundered. ,. 4,
The situation at the Moouer 49,, ~ -
,,,.antics,ilv unchanged. Lord Mebhuen
,nsde a reconnaissance Friday hls
nrtineryists bombarded the BoeI
trenrbss and silenced a gun, but ne mas
,nt vct delivered another infantry as
sanTvet-on Cronje's main posluon
II is reported that the entire force
under Cronje was composed OF lIans,
vaalers and his sforeign leglohs'ahu tho' @
the in-feeling between tIe ai,S'
and Free Staters Is growing apace'
.Nafektng. December 6, was ANXIOUS
1v Iookinp forward 10 relief. There were
satd to he 1000 Beers investing th'
town. Col. Baden Powell rs holuihs
them at bay. ,,,.,,r
Lieut.. Col. Pmmer's hylhg Coiuiili
has been checked bv the Crocodile NV
er. which is IN flood a..
The most serious news Is that Ih'
northern part Of Cape Colony Is aDlal'
with dissatisfaction and disloyalty. ~
concordance this Is the arrival or 81
charles Warren at Cape Town an'
some OF the regiments which are Z
compose his division.
From now on a steady stream o
British reinforcements will be pourinl
into South Africa. III Gen. Methuen cal
mold his position a few days longer, h
will be strengthened by 5000 or 1000 men
and viii be able once more 10 push for
ward.
In political circles IT is said that tn
attitude OF SIR Michael Hicks Beach
Who imposed the grant OF moneys ne
rcssarv FOR war separations. Is likel
10 result in his retirement from tn
cabinet
THE OFFICIAL ORDER.
Late last night the following motto
was posted az the war office:
"As the campaign in Natal, in I'll
Hows This7