The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-18
KITCHENER
is CALLED.
COnquerOr of the DerVishes
Ordered to South Africa.
To Be Chief of Staff to Baron
Roberts.
SUCCESSOR TO BULLER
All Remaining Portions of
Army Reserves Called Out.
Militia Will Be Allowed to Vol
unteer for Foreign Service.
SUCCESSOR TO BULLEF
LOSSES TO DATE 1880
England Sees That It Is Time
to Do Something.

London, Dec 18.-Baron Roberts, of
Kandahar and Waterford, commander
Of the forces in Ireland, has been ap-
pointed to the chief command in South
Africa, with Gen. Lord Kitchener, of
Khartoum, as his chief Of staff.
Shortly before midnight the following
notice was posted at the war office:
LAS the campaign in Natal, in the
opinion of her majesty's government, is
likely to require the presence and undi-
vided attention of Gen. Sir Redvers
Butler, it has been decided to send Ba-
ron Roberts, of Kandahar, and Water
ford as commander-in-ch chief in South
Africa, with Lord Kitchener as chief of
staff
The war office today issued the fol-
lowing announcement:
Acting upon the advice of the mill
tary authorities, her majeSty's govern
ment has approved the following meas
ure:
"AIl the remaining portions of the
army reserve. including section D. are
called out. The Seventh division, which
| is being modified, viii proceed to South
| Africa without delay.
Mine battalions of militia, in addi-
ton to two battalionS which have al
ready volunteered for service at Malta
| and one for service in the Channel is
| lands, will be allowed to volunteer for
| service, outside OF the United Kingdom;
and an equivalent number of militia
| battaliOns will be embodied for service
| at home.
! "A strong force of volunteers. select
! ed from the yeOmanry regiments, will
/ be formed for service in South Africa.
| arrangements are being made, and
| will shortly be announced, for the en-
| ployment in South Africa of a strong
| contingent of carefully selected vOlun-
| teers. The patriotic offers which are be-
/ ing received from the colonies will, so
| far as possible, be accepted, preference
| being given to offers of mounted con-
| tingents."
/ BLACK week. as last week is now
/ universally called, has evidently arOus-
| ed the government and the war office
! to a full sense of their responsibility
! and Of the magnitude of the task before
| them. The papers unanimously ap-
! plaud this ava kening, despite the fact
/ that they recognize that the heroic
| measures now decided upon SAVIOR rath-
| er of weakness than of strength.
/ Rumor has it that the question of
| expense has really been at the bottom
| of the half-hearted measures hitherto
| adopted, and it is not unlikely that Sir
| Michael Hicks-Beach. chancellor of the
| eXchequer, and other members Of the
| cabinet, will resign.
/ It was high time that something very
| energetic was done. The British losses,
| in killed, wounded, prisoners and miss
| ing throughout the campaign now
| reach the enormous total of 1880
| The tragic circumstances of the ap
/ pointment of Lord Roberts almost sim
| ultaneously with the announcement of
! the death of his promising son excite
| the deepest public sympathy
The Times, commenting on the situa-
| tiOn, says:
Neither the Crimean war nor the
Indian mutiny gave rise to greater dan
| gers to the empire than that with which
| we are now menaced, nor at either of
those critical periods was Great Brit
! ain so isolated politically, or regarded
| with such dislike and suspicion as are
| now almost everywhere apparent I'm
! less the calmness which impresseS the
| foreign observer proceeds only from
| apathy OF a. want of sufficient imagi-
| nation to realize the imminent danger
1 to the whole fabric of our empire, the
| great efforts now urgently required will
| surely be made before it is too late to
| retrieve the situation. We are fighting
| not merely for supremacy in South Al
| rica, but our position as a great power
| We know we have miscalculated the
| strength of our foe, and We are resOlv-
| ed to make that miScalculatiOn good. >"
The Liberal organs fOreShadOw a
| serious reckoning for the government
| when the times comes.
| The Daily Chronicle hints that Cen
| eral Sir William Butler, who was re-
! called from the Cape command because
! of his BOer sympathies, long ago ad-
| vfsed the government that the prose
| cution of NIr Chamberlain's policy
| would make heavy relnfOrcementS Tor
! the Cape imperative.
The Daily News says:
| "The governments decision is either
| a counsel of panic or the confusion OF
| utter miScalcula ton.
Lieutenant General Sir Charles War
/ ren, commanding the Fifth division of
! the First army corps, has arrived at
/ Cape Town. 1t is understood that he
/ will proceed to Port Elizabeth.
NATAL IN REBELLION.
| Sterkstroom, Dec. 1S.-As a result of
/ the British reverses the whole country
| northward is in rebellion. The natives
| there as we'll as those in BaSutOland,
| are said to be much disturbed and los
| ing heart respecting the strength of the
| British.
| Cape Town. Dec. 14-Secret meetings
| of Boer sympathizers continue to be
| held in various parts Of Cape Colony,
| and the attitude Of the Dutch farmers
| is truculent.
LIEUTENANT ROBERTS DEAD.
London. Dec. 1S.-Lieutenant the Hon.
F H. s. Roberts, son Of Baron Roberts,
! of Kandahar and Waterford, and who
was wounded in the engagement at
| Tugela river, is dead
I Lieutenant Roberts was an only son,
| and had been his fathers aide-de-camp
since 1895. He served in Waziristan
| and in the ChitraI and Nile expeditions.
Such was his display Of gallantry on
! Friday in an attempt to rescue the guns
/ that he was recommended for the Vic
/ tOria cross.