The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-24
MEDIATION NOT WANTED
ROBERTS AND KITCHENER
MUST DECTATE TERMS.
BRITAIN is NERvED FOR FRESH DISASTER
The Fall of Kimberley, Ladysmith and Mafek-
ing Would Not Affect the Grim Deter
mnstion She Has Formed TO
Triumph Over the Beers.
Triumph Over the Beers.


Copyright by the Associated Press
London, Dec. 23.-Not for many
years past has'Great Britain faced such
situation as eenfronts her this Christ
mas. Yet to meet it there has arisen
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, TAT least such as are printed
here. are couched in tones far more fair
and friendly than when it was believed
speedy victory awaited General Butler.
As repeatedly asserted, there is no likli-
hood of European interference, vet w. L.
Stead, in the Daily Chronicle today, has
very alarming column in which he has
visions of a superior Jameson raid by
sixty thousand Frenchmen on London,
in the absence of the channel fleet Mr..
Stead points out how easily in his opin-
ION, this might be accomplished, and
says:
ITO rely, as some appear to do, upon
The addition of a number of raw recruits,
under the excitement and stimulus Of
the present war fever, is to rely on a
broken reed. Woolwich Arsenal might
he in flames and the French tri-color fly
ing over Westminster Palace, before the
nrst of these new recruits would have
learned to handle gum
Though Great Britain's plight in South
Africa seems temporarily critical, the
Associated Press learns that the Beers
are straining every nerve to secure the
mediation of President Mckinley to-
wards "a favorable peace. But anyone
with the slightest knowledge of British
feeling quickly appreciates that not one
person in a million contemplates any re-
suit but an ultimate British triumph,
and all sections unite in saying this must
be secured, no matter what the cost.
Hence. the Bodr agents themselves have
only slight hopes that mediation would
be accepted. though believing, if presi-
dent Mckinley could be persuaded to
proffer it, Lord Salisbury. though, per-
haps. bound to refuse, would lose hui
manltarian 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.
General Roberts. and his not less adored
chief of staff, General Kitchener. The
country is prepared to wait indefinitely
for that eventuality. The fall of Kim
II t. fal- ~
not make particle of difference, for this
stoical resolve is thoroughly imbedded
In the hearts of the people, who, for the
first time in the memory of this genera
ton. have drunk deeply of the cup of
military defeat and disgrace Amy other
defeats that the future holds for the
British. except entire humiliation, are
anticipated by the scathing criticism
which the nation has inflicted upon itself
Estimates of the duration of hostilities
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 gen
eral impression prevails that Kimberley
viii succumb.
An officer of the British South Africa
Company, who has an intimate knowl.
edge of South Africa, tells the Asso.
ciated Press he believes that if the
Beers capture Cecil Rhodes they will
shoot him.
Nowhere more than on the Stock Elk.
change has the lack of information
caused extreme nervousness. 1t is real
lied that if Kimberley falls DeBeers
mines shares and interests will shriyel
to nothing, while the chartered company
vast issues will lose what little bottom
they have left.
1t is learned by the Associated Press
that the great financial houses in Lon.
don have combined and furnished suffi
cient money to insure no Large failures
on settling day, December 2Sth, though
the small fry may suffer. Unless this
action had been taken several well known
houses, not of the first importance, but
of large proportions. would. it is said
have to go under. This concerted pre-
caution has to some extent restored con
fidence,, but the market is still panicky
many people believing that the most seri
Gus crisis has not yet been reached.
WESTMINSTER \ CROESUS.
While most persons knew the late
Duke of Westminster was one of The
richest men in England, no London news
paper has taken the trouble to procur,
an estimate of his wealth. He owned
several thousand parcels of LondoY
reality, which, together according to th'
Dukes own statement. made six hun
Gred acres. Much of this is in Belgravia
the aristocratic residence quarter. III,
also had thirty thousand acres in th'
country and an annual income of ESQ,
900. His realty values in Londoi
were probably worth 30,000,O00 pounds
sterling. The heir to the dukedom i
the late Dukes grandson, Viscount Bel
grave, now in South Africa, an aide-de
camp Of Sir Alfred Miner, the Cover
nor OF Cape Colony.
nnXNitt,c Little Earlv RSers nurif,