The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-22
ENGLAND Is AWAKENING
To NECESSITY OF A MORE POWERFUL
ARMY IN SOUTH AFRICA.
HER FORCES To Be DOUBLED.
h VIII Soon Have One Hundred and
Forty Thousand Men In this Field.
General Lord Roberts Placed In Con-
mand, With General Kitchener as
His Chief of Staff - No Important
News from the Seat OF war-BattIe of
Tugela River Described.
Especial to The Baltimore SUM-

Especial to The Baltimore SUM-
London, December 1.-THE British
government is at last fully awake To
the necessity of a vigorous campaign
in South Africa.
There is no doubt that even the cabi-
net up to last Saturday underestimate
ed the Boer defensive strength. As a
result Of the cabinet meeting on that
day, when the successive reverses OF
Generals Gatacre, Methuen and Butler
We're carefully considered, the following
important measures were decided upon.
which were announced tonight for the
first time:
Field Marshal Lord Roberts has been
appointed commander-in-chief in
South Africa
Lord Kitchener, of Khartoum. is to
be Roberts chief of staff.
The whole of the reserve not yet
incorporated will be called up. The
Seventh division, now mobilizing, will
proceed at once to South Africa. Rein
forcements of artillery, including three
howitZer batteries, will also be sent
out.
~ Iull1I ID dulUOTlZGu tD raise
a local mounted corps in South Africa
A considerable MOUNTS force from
England will be sent. Nine b~attalions
of militia, in addition to three which
have already volunteered, will be ask-
ed to for foreign service. a
special force of volunteer regiments
will be formed for South African SER
vice. Offers of mounted men from the
colonies will be accepted.
These mpa GI1raS ShnrrId piya thn prit-
ish forces in South Africa $4,000 more
men. On the way there or in process
OF embarkation are the Fifth and
Sixth divisions, about 10000 strong;
while the total of men under arms in
South Africa, including Cape, Natal
and local forces, may be placed at 49,
900, deducting losses. Thus the British
strength in the field is to be almost
doubled.
"BOBS," THE SOLDIERS IDOL.
Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who
has been appointed to the chief com-
mand of the British forces in South
Africa, is a man whom all England
trusts. The soldiers love him and speak
of him Familiarity as "Bobs."
He received his first commission as
second lieutenant in the Bengal artil-
lely in 1851, served with distinction
throughout the Indian mutiny cam
paign and received the Victoria Cross
for personal bravery in the field in 1858.
(By Associated Press.)
London, December ia correspond.
ent of h Daily Mail telegraphing from
Frere camp, Natal December 18th and
describing the Tugela liver battle says,
1.-THE Beers in great force occupied
a strong, entrenched position, com
manding the river and reaching back
about 500 yards from it's further sic
General Harris brigade, on the left
first attempt a crossing under q
murderous Nordenfeldt and rifle fire
The Royal Dublin fusileers, the Royai
I~nniskinner fusileers; the Kings owl
Scottish bordererS and the Connaught
rangers crossed with superb and un.
finching g~allantry, but the position or
the other side was found utterly unten.
able.
1.-The British suffered heavily from
a perfect hail of artillery and shrapnel
while their own artillery was very bad
ly mauled. They were therefore, oblig.
ed to re-cross the river.
ION the RICH, general Hilyard's bri.
gade, displaying equal heroism, sue.
ceeded in entering the village of Colen.
son, but the Sixth battery encountered
a murdeTous fire and was compelled tt
retire, leaving guns and ammunition
wagon on the veldt. This brigade was
also Obliged to fam back.
Meanwhile, General Barton's brig.
AIDE also failed to a possession o.
Hlangwri hin, as was intended, and
the entire force retired on Chiey1ey
General Clery was in command"
London, December ia dispatch Il
the Daily Mail from Naaupoort, Caps
Colony, Dated December 10th says;
The Beers brought a big gun to beas
on the British near War kop. Tht
British pieces were too small to reach
the enemy, and after an intermittent
artillery duel, General French with.
drew under shell fire. but without
losses, to Arundel"
Sterkstroom, Cape Colony. Thursday
December 14-General Gatacre has Is.
sued a proclamation forbidding all per
!, SONS living OF farms to movs
about the district or to visit
Sterkstroom, except ON Saturday.
and then only with ass un-
der pain OF summary arrest It II
understood that the proclamation 1.
directed partly to the prevention Of tn
conveyance Of news regading BRITISH
l mOyomenfS