Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17


eign office this afternoon for the purpose of
dealing with the war crisis.
LONDON, Dec 16.-As might have been
expected the desperate state of the British
arms in South Africa. as revealed by the
defeat of General Butler at Tugela river,
where at one stroke he lost treble the num-
Der of guns Wellington left in the hands Of
Napoleon during the six years fighting in
the peninsula while adding to the deter
mination of the authorities to send every
available man to the front, caused some
thing in the nature of a momentary panic
among the public, which was reflected on the
stock exchange, as already cabled.
1t Is long since the tone of the newspapers
and the comment in the clubs and other re-
sorts has been so chastened and pessimistc.
Some of the comments go so far as to say the
crisis is so far-reaching that Great Britain
stands where she stood over a century
back, when the American colonists. men of
British and Dutch blood, were in arms"
In addition to the denial from Waterford
cabled yesterday to the Associated Press the
commanding officer of the First battalion OF
the Royal Irish regiment at Aldershot has
telegraphed to the Associated Press saying
there is absolutely no truth in the statement
cahled to the United States that the reserves
of the battalion cheered for President
Kruger and threw their rifles and accoutre-
ments into the river when leaving Waterford
on their way to South Africa. He adds: 1.-THE
Royal Irish Reservists arrived here complete
as dispatched from Clonmel. There were no
deficiencies in either men, arms or accoutre-
ments.'
The Evening Standard declares the situa-
tion calls for all the equanimity, determina-
tion and perseverance OF the empire and
demands the immediate calling out Of all the
volunteers, embodying all the outlanders ex-
PEELED from the Transvaal to guard the lines
of communication. thus freeing all the
regulars for service in the fighting line.
Urges Radical Measures.
The Star urges the communicating "of
all the great English Atlantic liners for the
transportation of reinforcements and says
the country must set herself the task of
plucking victory out of defeat" adding:
THE guilt Of the government is superseded
by the danger of the empire. We are think
ing of hostile Europe, we are thinking OF
India and whatever happens, we impore the
government not to move another man from
Calcutta or Bombay. We remember the
mutiny."
The st. James Gazette is also apprehensive
of foreign complications and thinks France
is preparing for some venture which will
be in the nature of a defiance OF Great
Britain and urges the admiralty to form a
new squadron of the ships in the reserve
The Globe, after urging the immediate DIS
patch OF reinforcements and the use o. the
militia says: "And we can turn with equal
confidence to the strong arms and loyal
hearts of our fellow-subjects in Canada and
Australia. Those offers which were so lib
orally made and which were not too gener-
ously received at the beginning of the war
will, we are confident, be renewed as the
urgency OF the contest reveals itself. They
can see as keenly as ourselves that not only
our supremacy in Africa, but the mainte-
nance of the empire, is at stake"
The Pail Mall Gazettes review OF the sit
uation says: 1T is no use crying over split
milk. Surprises CT all sorts must be ex-
pected in war Our position for the advance
is intact. Nothing has occurred to shake
our belief in General Butler Let us steadily
trust him and furnish him as rapidly as pos
sible with more guns and more horses and
men,"
Display of English Grit.
As the day proceeded the attacks OF nerves
disappeared and the only permanent effect
OF the serious news was to cause a tighter
clenching of fists and a more set determine
tion TO achieve the task the country has un-
dertaken. Departing troops were more
vehemently cheered than usual and the
troops themselves displayed even mucn