The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-12-27

Ora the Progress Of the War in
South Africa.
BIZ THE LEADING PAPERS.

months old on December ~, The Brit
iah have achieved no decisive or even
important victories, their principal sue
oe1ses being the carrying of the Boer po-
sition at Elandslaagte on October q,
General Methuen's victories at Belmont
lNovember 23) and at Modder river NO
vember 20). In the latter engagement
the British casualties we're 80 great (438)
that &c can hardly be called a victory.
On the other side the Beers have hadto
their credit the continued siege Of Lady.
smith, Kimberley and Maieking the
capture Of two regiments or parts Of regi-
ments which SORTED from Ladysmith on
October 80, the occupation of Colenso,
Sac destruction of the armored train at
Estcourt CNoyember 16), General Cat
acres complete defeat at Stormberg,
quickly followed by Methuen's defeat at
Mareriontein, December 10 IL British
losses 1897. and Buffers repulse (Decem-
ben 15) while endeavoring to cross the
Tuqela river; General Buffers large
command suffered heavy losses Of men
and eleven guns.
General Buffers plan Of campaign con-
tempiated three movements against the
Boor one by General Gatacre from the
south, q second by Methuen on the
Kimberley side, and the relief Of Lady
smith by General Butler himself, No
feature of this plan is in progress Of &C
complishment.
General Buffers losses G,097 killed,
wounded and missing) serve to accentu-
ote the dependency caused in England
by the successive defeats Of the week.
The London. correspondents of the New
York Times speaks Of the "passion of
rage. disappointment, and might almost
say fear that has swept over thecountry."
The correspondent goes on to explain
this feeling by the statement that the
people realize that Buffers defeat was
brought about by orders from the gov
eminent. 1.-THE inept war Office and the
scared government, " the correspondent
says, yielded to popular olamor for
revenge and ordered Butler to strike
blow at once that would retrieve the fall
ing reputation Of the army and improve
the spirits of the people," The corre-
apondent Of the Sun says that "gloom
and grief overwhelm England" y and the
other correspondents write in the same
vein. Already, the Sun correspondent
notes, there are evidences Of determine
ton to reckon grimly with those who
shave brought the darkest days Great
Britain has known within the memory
of}iying man."
The London press comments upon the
situation in a respondent and chastened
tone. None of the papers seeks to mimi
mize the dangerous and trying nature of
EneIands position in the face Of defeat
% the hands OF an antagonist that was
expected to scatter at the first charge Of
tho British troops. The Times says that
England has not faced $50 painful and
anxious q situation" since the days Of
che Indian mutiny. The Star, the ST..
Jamess Gazette, and the Globe lay
especial emphasis upon the danger Of
other powers taking advantage Of the
empires predicament. All the papers,
however, urge the immediate necessity
81 pluoking victory out of defeat by send
ing Of endorsements and unremitting
action against the Beers. The guilt Of
the government" is a frequently used
phrase but the fixing Of responsibility,
n the opinion Of all, should be left to
ihe future. A strange feature Of the
trend Of continental opinion is the COM
nletiYely quiet way in which the situ-
on Is viewed ia France and the in
acridness Of German comment.
dispatches say that "tho German
w and people are iubilant over the
from South Africa, and everywhere
'he streets people stop each other and
o1r congratulations" while in France
H news ia received without sorrow or
mnalhy." Quotations from the news
nem bear out these statements. This
ena especially strange ia view Of the
friendly relations between England
md Germany that we're supposed Ia
have been agnalized by Emperor vii.
ml Viait % England last month.
ltmonr our own papers, the Evening
representa- the sentiments Of many
on'nsla when g says that the results Of
ha campaign are "a terrible shock "a
aah prestige, and the Tedeplorable
hoi the outcome tends 10 prolonc
mako more bloody q war that hal
been disastrous beyond an OK
ons" Naturally those who have
t'zod with Che Boer because h'
he under dog DO not now feel
ho 81 entitled 20 their moral sup
on lho ground that itis struggle o.
aea|nlia Goliath. Aa one papei
ho feeling the British roVene
uon.a in thia country % q sym
lh 60 British in their trouble
ou|d % once outrun and nou