Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-12-21

midnight the following nouce was
posted at the war office:
AS the campaign in Natal, In the
opinion of her majesty's government,
is likely TO require the presence and
undivided attention OF Gen. Sir Red
vers Butler, it has been decided to
send Baron Roberts Of Kandahar and
Waterford as commander-in-chief in
South Africa, with Lord Kitchener as
chief Of staff"
The war office has also issued the
following announcement:
Acting upon the advice Of the mill
tary authorities her majesty's govern.
ment has approved the following
measures: AN the remaining portions
Of the army reserve, including Section
D., are called out. The Seventh di-
vision. which is being modified, will
proceed TO South Africa without delay.
The commander-in-chief in South At
RIGA has been authorized 10 continue
TO raise. at his discretion, local troops,
mounted. Nine b~attaliOns of militia in
addition to two battaliOns which have
already volunteered for service at
Malta and one for service in the Chan
mel islands, will be allowed 10 vOlun-
teer for service outside the United
Kingdom; and an equivalent number
Of militia battalions will be embodied
for service at home. A strong force Of
v0luntee rs, selected from the Yeoman-
~ regiments, will be formed for SER
vice in South Africa. Arrangements
are being made and will shortly be an
nouEced for the employment in South
Africa Of a strong contingent of care
fully selected volunteers. The patri-
otto offers which are being received
from the colonies will. so far as pos
sible, be accepted. preference being
given TO offers Of mounted contin-
gents"
"Black Week" Wakes Them Up.
London, Dec. 1S.-Not for years be-
fore has the queen decided to spend
Christmas away from Osborne. Her
decision TO remain at Windsor in
touch with the cabinet is a measure OF
the gravity of the crisis and Of the
anxiety her majesty feels for the well
fare Of the country. She is neverthe-
less in fair health.
The queens graceful act in present
ing a flag to the American hospital
ship Maine is highly appreciated by
her OWL people as well as by the Amer
leans in London, and the morning pa
pers express the hope that the incident
means something more than a pretty
ceremony.
BLACK week." as last week is now
universally called. has evidently
aroused the government and the war
office to a full sense of their response
bility and Of the magnitude of the
task before them. The papers unani-
mously applaud this awakening,
that the heroic measures now decided
upon SAVIOR rather of weakness than of
strength. Rumor has it that the ques-
ton Of expense has really been at the
bottom Of the half-hearted measures
hitherto adopted, and it Is not unlike
ly that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, chan
cellor Of the exchequer. and other
members of the cabinet will resign.
1t was high time that something very
energetic was done. The British losses
in killed, wounded, prisoners and
missing throughout the campaign now
reach the enormous total of 1880.
The tragic circumstances OF the ap-
pointment Of Lord Roberts almost ST.
m~Cltaneously with the announcement
Of the death of his promising son ex.
cites deepest public sympathy.
Gen. Warren Arrives mt Cape Town.
London, Dec. 10. - Lieut.. Gen. Sir
Charles Warren, commanding the
Fifth division of the First army corps.
has arrived at Cape Town. 1t Is un-
derstood that he will proceed to Port
Elizabeth. No further news has been
received regarding the battle at the
Tugela river. The latest accounts re-
garding the battle at Magersfontein
show that the retirement of the Brit
ish troops was executed with the
greatest GOODNESS and order under n
heavy Boer artillery fire on Tuesday.
Mafeking was safe on Dec. 16 and Col
Baden-Powell, the British commander
there, Is still actively pushing out his
defenses. The other beleaguered gar
risons and positions are still holding
out.
Result of British Reverses.
Storkstrom, Dec. 19-As a result of
the British reverses the whole country
northward is In rebellion. The natives
there, as well as those in Basutoland.
! are said to be mucn disturbed and
losing heart respecting the strength of
the British.
Buffers Losses.
London, Dee. 19-Gen. Butler reports
to the. war office that his losses In the
recent engagement we're: Killed. 50:
wonrded, 667; missing. 54S; total,
1,097.
PHILADELPHIA REQUEST.
IA yvoaI6 BE the Republican N~attopnI
sCommtttee's Headquarters. !,