The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-24


London, Dec 233.-Not for many years
past has Great Britain faced such a
situation as confronts her this Christ
mas. Yet to meet it there has arisen
a new Britain. which by its virility and
pluck EFFORTS admiration even from her
bitterest continental critics. Since the
boastfulness has disappeared from the
British press, the comments of the for
eign papers. at least such as are print
ed here, are couched in tones far more
fair and friendly than when it was be-
lieved a speedy victory awaited General
Butler.
AS repeatedly asserted, there is no
likelihood of European interference,
yet w. T. Stead, in the Chronicle to-
day, has very alarming column, in
which he has visions of a superior
jameson raid" by $4,000 Frenchmen on
London, in the absence of the channel
fleet Mr.. Stead points out how easily,
in his opinion, this might be accom-
plished, and says:
To rely, as some appear to do, upon
the addition of a number of raw re-
cruits, under the excitement and slim
illus of the present warfare, is to rely
on a broken reed, Woolwich arsenal
might be in flames and the French tri-
color flying over Westminster palace
before The first of these new recruits
would have learned to handle a gum"
Straining Every Nerve.
Though Great Britain's plight in
South Africa seems temporarily critical.
the Associated Press learns that the
Beers are straining every nerve to Sc
cure the mediation of President McKin-
ley towards a favorable peace. But
any one with the slightest knowledge
of British feeling quickly appreciates
that not one person in a million con-
templates any result but an ultimate
British triumph, and all sections unite
in saying this must be secured no mat
ter what the cost. Hence the Boer
agents themselves have only slight
hopes that mediation would be accept
ed, though believing if President Nc
Kinley could be persuaded to proffer
it, Lord Salisbury. though perhaps
bound to refuse. would lose humani-
tartan sympathy in the United States
and thus divert to the Beers much
wavering sentiment
. The Associated Press is informed
from excellent sources that no offer of
mediation would be accepted by Lord
Salisbury in any shape or form. The
popular conception of peace is that it
must come through the idol of the
army. GeneGa al Roberts, and his no less
adored chief of staff, General Kitch-
ener.. The country is prepared to wait
indefinitely for that event
Kimberley May Fall.
The fall of Kimberley. Ladysmith
and Mafeking would not make a par
ticle of difference, for this stoical re-
solve is thoroughly inbedded in the
hearts of the people. who for the first
time in the memory of this generation
have drank deeply of the cup of mill
tary defeat and disgrace. Any other
defeats that the future holds for Brit
ain. except entire humiliation, are an
ticipated by the scathing criticism
which the nation has inflicted upon it
self
Estimates of the duration of hostili-
ties vary from three months to a year.
The lack of news this week has by no
means been taken as an instance of the
adage regarding no news. A very gem
eral impression prevails that Kimberley
will succumb. An officer of the British
South African company, who has an
intimate knowledge of South Africa,
tells the Associated Press he believes
that il the Beers capture Cecil Rhodes
they will shoot him.
Nowhere than on the stock exchange
has the lack of information caused ex-
element or nervousness 1t is believed
that if Kimberley falls De Beer mine
shares and interests will shrink to
nothing, while the Chartered compa-
ny's vast issues will lose what little
bottom they have left
To Prevent Fallures.
1t is learned by the Associated Press
that the great financial houses in Lon
don have combined and furnished SUI
hcient money to insure no large fail