Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-18
ROBERTSTO COMMAND.
To Have Charge Of British
Forces In South Africa.
KITCHENER his CHIEF OF STAFF.
Builsr to Command Only in Natal--Lord
Roberts Son Died Of wound-More
Troops to He Sent and Volunteers to
lie Selected For Service.

LONDON, Dec. ls.-Baron Roberts Of
Kandahar and Waterford, commander
of the forces in Ireland, has been ap-
pointed to the chief command in Sonth
Africa, with General Lord Kitchener Of
Khnrtoum as his chief Of staff.
A notice was posted at the war office,
containing the following:
"As the campaign in Natal, in the
opinion of her majesty's government,
is likely to require the presence and un-
divided attention of General Sir Red
vers Butler, it has been decided to send
Baron Roberts of Kandahar and Water
ford as commander in chief in South AT.
rica, with Lord Kitchener as chief Of staff,
to proceed to South Africa without delay.
Tho commander in chief in South Africa
has been authorized to continue to raise
at his discretion local troops mounted.
Lieutenant The Hon. +. Ii. S. Roberts,
son Of Baron Roberts Of Kandahar and
Waterford, .and who was wounded
in the engagement at Tugcla river. ia
dead.
The war office issued the following
announcements:
"Acting upon the advice Of the mill.
tary authorities her majesty's govern.
ment has approved tho following meas.
ure:
"'All tho remaining portions Of the
army reserve, including section ID, arc
called out. The Seventh division. which
is being mobilized, will proceed to South
Africa without delay.
"'Nine battalions of militia, in addi.
ton to two battalions which have al.
ready volunteered for service ut Malta
and one for service in the channel
islands, will be allowed To volunteer for
service outside Of the uuited kingdom;
battallions will be embodied for service
Mt home.
"'A strong force OF volunteers, So.
leoted from Yeomanry regiments will
be formed for service in South Africa.
Arrangements are being made, and
will shortly be announced, for the en-
ploymeut in South Africa of strong
contingent of carefully selected volun.
teers. The patriotic offers which are
being received from the colonies will, SC
far as possible, be accepted, preferences
being given to offers of mounted contin'
gents"
General Buller reported to. the war
Office that his losses in Fridays engage
inent5 We're: Killed, 81, wounded, 667;
missing. 3lS; II total OF 00i.
The revised list of che British casual
ties ut the battle Of Mascrslontoin show,
the total to be $685. OF which number n
were officers.
The Black Watch were the heavie..
sufferers. OF this ranl; and file ~ wer,
I..l ln .l..I q
eniasing.
PRETORIA, Dec. l3.--An official dis
patch from tho Modder river says: 9TH
Beers captured great quantity Of loou
including 200 Ice Metiords, cases Ct
cartridges and hundreds of bayonets
Great numbers OF the British have re
tired from Two Rivers. In the direction
OF Belmont. Tho loss of the British wa
very great. There wero heaps OF den,
Oh the field. The wounded are bei.lj
attended to Temporarily at Bissel's farm
The sappers and miners must have SUI
fered severely. The Beers suffered
heavy losses In horses. l cannot other
wise describe the battlefield than as
sad and terrible slaughter. Monday wa
for us brilliant victory. 1t has infuse,
new spirit into our men ana will enable
them to achieve greater deeds"
The war office received II dispatcl
dated Dec. II from General Forester
Walker at Cape Town, containing tn
following: "Methuen reports that Lieu
teaant Chandos. Pole. Gall was taken pris
oner last Thursday morning while goin
to meet u flag OF truce. He was wnvln
his handkerchief in response and wa
unarmed.
"Gataore has removed his troops auC
m =,
ltrall. French has established head
quarters At Arundel.
"Nandermerwe, with II commando
is reported moving south from Jacobs
dial. :"
The queens graceful act in present
ing IL flag to tho American hospital shi
Maine Is highly appreciated by her owl
people as well Us by the Americans Il
London, and the morning papers expires
tho hope that tho incident means some
thing more than pretty ceremony.
"Black week." us last week il nov
universally called, hus evidently arou.e
the government and the war office to
full sense of their responsibility and G
the magnitude OF the task before then
Tho papers unanimously applaud thi
awakening. despite the fact that the
recognizes that the heroic measures noN
decided upon SAVIOR rather of weakness
than OF strength.
Rumor has 1t that the question Of OK
ponso has really been at tho bottom G
the half hearted measures hithert
adopted, and 1t IL not unlikely that 81
Michael.Hicks- Beach. chancellor of th
Gxchequer. and other members of tn
cabinet will resign.
Ii Is high time that something YER
lnprUptir Nyus lpup- rhn nritiah lnsaa
in killed, wounded. prisoners and mis-
ing throughout the campaign now rean
the enormous total OF 1880.