The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-12-20
MARTIAL LAW DEM AsNDED.
British Dominion in South Africa
Severely Shaken.

New York. Dee. ia dispatch to the
World from London says: British do
minion in South Africa has been shaken
to its foundation. 1t is reported that Sin
Alfred Miner, British high commissioner
in South Africa and governor of Cape Col
Ony, demands the assent of the imperial
government to the proclamation of mar
tial law throughout Cape Colony.
Lord Salisbury is unwilling to grant
this save as a very last resort, as such
a dangerous confession of the gravity OF
the British position would be offering a
positive inducement to England's enc
mics to take advantage of her extremity
Sir Alfred Miner reports that Dutch
disaffectiOn has now reached point
where ordinary law is useless to stem
it. He wants power not only OF sum
mary arrest without warrant to suspect
ed persons and the right to detain them
without trial, but also power to suppress
the Dutch newspapers throughout the
colony, which insist upon publishing ac-
counts of British reyerses and criticisms
of the war
Rigorous as is the censorship of dis
patches to England, it is liberal COM
pared with the wholesale suppression of
unfavorable tidings practiced by the
British authorities in Cape Colony. The
Rhodes papers concur in this policy, but
the Dutch give stories that filter through
from the front, though they often have
had to rely more than once for news
from English papers three weeks old.
Miner Hysterical.
Miner is declared to be in a state of
hysteria over the awful miscarriage of
his policy and the ruinous price Eng
land is paying for following his advice.
He sees none but members of his staff.
The government of Cape Colony is large
L. Iyo1I
mander-in-chief of the Cape.
The war office made public the report
of Gen. Buffers defeat shortly after mid
night The ticker service for some rea
son broke down after the first hundred
words, and the war office was crowded
in twenty minutes by men who drove in
cabs from the United Service club. the
National Liberal club and other public
resorts, clamoring for news.
The report was posted and the crowd
stood about cursing. There was nc
clamor, but men with oaths in Their
mouths declared that this means the call.
ing out of all the militia, and this means
that the volunteers must be summoned
for duty.
Nearly every man who looked over the
report on the war Office bulletin board
went away Disguised.
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain's visit
serious disturbances. He has announced
his intention of travelling over today (Sat-
urday) to stay with Viceroy Cadogan
Sunday and take the honorary degree of
LII. D. at Trinity college on Monday.
Call Out Volunteers.
The Evening Standard declares the
situation calls for all the equanimity. de-
termination and perseverance of the en-
pire, and demands the immediate calling
out Of all the volunteers, embodying ali
the Outlanders expelled from the Trans
vaal, to guard the lines of communica
ton, thus freeing all the regulars for
service in the fighting line.
The Star urges the Communicating ''of
all the great English Atlantic liners fol-
the transportation of reinforcements. .
and says the country must "set herself
the task Of plucking victory out of de-
feat" adding: 1.-THE guilt of the gov
eminent is superseded by the danger OF
the empire. We are thinking of a hostile
Europe, we are thinking of India, and
whatever happens, we implore the gov
eminent not to move another man from,
Calcutta or Bombay. We remember the
mutiny"
The ST. James Gazette is also appre-
hensive of foreign complications and
thinks France is preparing for some ven.
ture and urges the admiralty to form !,
new squadron Of the ships in the reserve.