Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-18
RESERVE CALLED OUT
England Mobilizing a Vast Army to
Reinforce the Troops in South
Africa.
Baron Roberts and Lord Kitchener
Ordered to Command in the
Transvaal.
New Energy to Be Put Into the
Conflict The Situation
Today

Today
London, Dec. 1S.-'T1he ministers have
faced the crisis bravely Lord Roberts
will go to Cape Town as communicative
chief, with Gen. Kitchener as his chief
of staff. The two best men are called t
out. and Cen. Butler is left in COM
mand in Natal.
The ministers have decided 10 send
out tha seventh division with all pos
sible dispatch, and they called in the
remaining army reserves for further
reinforcements. They have replaced
the garrisons.of the channel islands and
Malta with three battalions of militia.
and viii accept service from nine more
| volunteering for South Africa. They
viii also recruit from the volunteer
| force. which corresponds to the Ma
Itional Guard in America, a large,
lpicked body of men for service at the
/ front.
This means that the eighth DIVISION,
when 1t goes out will be strengthened
BY trained auxiliaries until it will be
like an army corps By Itself The min
/ isters Will dispatch every available
battery and full howitzer corps and
also a large mounted force.
Offers from Canada and other colo
4 mics for contingents will be accepted,
land especially mounted troops. and full
llarrangements will be made for recruit
4 ing the auxiliary forces in Natal and
4 Cape Colony.
i There ought to be strength enough
4 when 100000 additional men are pros
vided and Lord Roberts is put in the
q saddle. These measures may be set
down largely TO the credit of George
WynC ham, under secretary for war
I.0r,i I.ansdowne and Sir Michael
Hicks Beach have ceased 10 thwart the
a plans of the more energetic ministers,
and the headquarters staff viii be al
II lowed 10 make the largest possible use
t of the nations reserve force.
Vigorous action by the ministry is
: requisite in order TO counteract the ef-
feet OF three British revers,s in Cape
> C'olony. where secret meetings pf Dutch
/ farmers are reported and the area q
i ldisaffectioi is constantly widening.
t Gen. Gatacre not only has been rein
q forced. but he has retained the conti-
{ dence Of his troops, as IS shown by ms
: lhearty cheers with which his address
8 has been received in camp He has re:
+ tired with his stores TO Sterkstreorn.
Cen. French by skiiltu! handling ot
his small cavalry force, has eonlpelles
the enemy TO intrench i'll a position nea
c,oiesburg. A small skirmish has oc
Icurred fiftoen miles from orange rive
bridge, and raidng operations are re
: ported III progress southward from ia
cobsdahl.
al Methuen's and Buffers armies hay
/. been hurying their dead revising thel
: casualty lists and pr pairing to retriev
disaster. Gen. Methuen's artiller
a practice or Friday turns out TO hay
been q; strong reconnaissance with fu
! brigade. and one Of the enemys gun
. MAS Knocked out after hard pounding.
/. Cen. Methuen has reported untat'
! ilag Of truce outrage. IN which an ul
Harmed British officer was taken prisone
when waving head bearers flag
Details Of Gen. Buffers reverse sao'
ehat there was no lack either Of ga
y lantry Or military science on the Bri'
- ish side, and that there WAS fighting Q
le a large. scale. Hlrts brigade made
vigorous attempt 70 force a passage
w the river and was supported by Lytti'
T. tons brigade six out OF eight batta
= ions Suffering heavily.
n This was followed by the attack
u Hiidyard's brigade upon the village
4. Coienso in the direction OF the seeot
u ford. in which the losses were less 5
-. verc.
y The loss Of artlllesy. which brpug
~ !. about the suspension OF this second q
- tempt to force the. passage o the riN,
was due to Il lack OF adequate preea
= : tioas for finding out throush scou
: whether the way was clear and $,
~ for the guns.
lip AS Col Long. who was responsif
= for this nlaneuver, has been dangerou
90 ly wounded. the military critics are !
a. served in their structures. lie mas be
20 in a half-dozen campaigns, and W
considered one of the coolest men
Ill the artillery service.
W. Most heroic efforts We're made
save the guns, and Capt Schoiield.
Young officer never before under Il
" succeeded in carrying off two OF the
~ Lord Roberts son received his NOR
wound While heading a rescue party