Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-21
CHEERS FOR DEPARTING TROOPS
Church Congress the Only Other
Matter of interest.
+ r nee AND THE POPE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

LONDON was all agOg last night, ana L
imagine that we are experiencing in a
somewhat minor degree, owing to the diff
ference between the two cases. much you
went through when war declared
against Spain Large placards announced
the Boer move, and newspaper men and
boys shouted themselves hoarse, and as
near an approach to excitement sober
Londoners ever permit themselves reigned.
The only response which the British gov
eminent can have made to the communica-
ton which has been addressed to it must
have been in the nature of a request to the
Transvaal government to furnish a suffi-
cent escort to secure the safe conduct of
the British agent, Mr.. Conyngham Greene,
and his staff to British territory. This will
probably have already been done, and at
o clock this afternoon the commander of
the Boer forces will be free to take such
offensive measures against the British po-
sition as he may deem wise.
From the point of view of military policy
one cannot feel any surprise that President
Kruger mas resolved to precpitate the
struggle. The only doubt that existed lay
in the uncertainty of his intentions on the
main question. Nobody could be quite sure
whether he really meant to climb down in
the last resort or to challenge the imperial
government to make good their purpose in
their own way He has chosen to adhere
to the policy of resistance and to face all
tiic consequences II IS d DOlO ana ueSper-
ate choice. and at least it shows that the
old man has courage. as well as obstnacy.
He, at all events. can be under no illusions
with regard to the ultimate result. He
must know that the contempt which his
burghers have been taught to feel for the
power of Great Britain has very poor
foundation. and that they must have before
long terrible awakening.
Fight to a Finish.
A great many people in this country be-
lieved up to yesterday afternoon that he
could not be mad to deliberately in
woke war. He has now done so, and the
second serious campaign with the sturdy
race that has for sixty years been a dis
turbing element to the peace of South
Africa will date from October II, 1899 The
cartoon in today's issue of Punch, there
fore, is singularly timely and pointed. John
Bull is therein represented saying to a
turbulent ruffian of the veldt: LAS you will
tight, you shall have it. This time it's
fight to a finish''
The ultimatum Is a godsend to the lead
ers of the opposition. 1t relieves them from
an fndefensibe position The ultimatum al
lows them to throw over Mr.. Kruger and
all his works and to give the government
what will be a practically undivided sup
port.
Plan of the Campaign.
There will be no further hesitation or
delay about sending off the $4,000 men of
Sir Redfers Buffers command. AS quick
iy as the regiments be modified they
will be put on transports and sent right
away. Within four or five weeks they may
all be at the front, for by sending the
transport services on in advance the gem
erals will be able to move their men into
the fighting line fast the ships can
dtsembark them. Profound secrecy is pre-
served as to the plan Of campaign, of which
| can only learn that it is drawn with ex-
IRENE care and is remarkably complete.
Everything has been taken into account
even with the possibility of a landing at
DelagOa, from whence 1t would be a COM
paratively easy march to Pretoria, especial
ly II Sir George White was at the same
time holding the Beers fast on the Natal
frontier. Rumors which have appeared in
the papers as to the dispatch of flying
squadron are not unfounded. Such squad
ron would be object lesson in hands
off, policy. 1t would be, irrespective of
the ordinary fleet, which will be gathered
at Durham and Delagoa bay, strength
ened by the Powerful and Terrible.
now respectively on their way thither from
China and England From the warships
strong naval brigade of about 1000 men
will be landed and sent forward with the
army.
Enthusiastic Crowds.
Londoners reused themselves by daylight
yesterday and turned out in their hundreds
and thousands to give a hearty farewell
to the New South Wales Lancers, prior to
their departure for the Cape Every in
coming train, bus and tram packed to
the utmost, and traffic anywhere near the
line Of march was for sometime completely
disorganized. The enthusiasm was extraor-
binary. Staid city men who would. in or
binary times, not be moved by less than
an earthquake. cheered until they We're
hoarse while the more ventUresOme pressed
forward to shake the men by the hands
In fact the feelings of the crowds We're
displayed with such embarrass ng VgOr that
| ii seemed question at one time Whe her
the troops would ever be allowed to reach
| their destination. Judicious police manage
ment, however triumphed in the end. ard
| a way was found to the Mansion House.
where the lord mayor and the sheriffs in
| their official robes, amid an indescrbable
scene of enthusiasm. rendered the men a
| hearty greeting. At any time the stalwart
| Australians would be conspicuous, IL only
| for their splendid stature, but yesterday
| morning, carrying their lances, they were
| made more prominent. At the Mansion
House they were given official farewell
| on behalf of the city fathers; then per-
| haps the most enthusiastic send off came
| from the members of the stock exchange.
who turned up early to give their lusty
| cheers Seldom before has the London
| crowd so heartily cheered a body of men
as 1t did the New South Wales Lancers,
| and the day will doubtless never be for
| gotten by them. The bands of the Grena-
| diers and the Coldstreams accompanied the
| men to Fenchurch street station. where
| they lert TO join their steamer down the
| river.
| AbolishfnE an Embassy.
| The movement in France which Is now on
| foot to suppress the French embassy to the
| pope, If it should be finally decided upon,
| will be a striking result of the Vatican
conspiracy against the republic The pro-
| posal will. at any rate, be made to the
| chamber by the budget committee. 1t may
| not be accepted, but it is significant that
| it was carried in the committee by thirteen
| votes against seI en-. The supporters of the
| resolution took the ground that the con-
| tinuance of diplomatic relations with the
| Vatican involves recognition of the tenn
| poral power, which, as a matter of fact
| has ceased to exist. 1t is needless to point
| out that if the embassy is abolished very
| long step will be taken toward the estab-
| lishment of good relations between France
| and Italy. France Is distrusted by Italians
| because they are convinced that whenever
| the opportunity may offer she will lend
her assistance to the restoration of the
| pope's temporalities. That conviction once
| removed, the greatest obstacle to a good