Hutchinson gazette., 1899-12-21
BULLER'SSUCCESSOR
Lord Roberts to Direct His Own
Camnaign.
MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE OFFERED,
England Determined 10 Retrieve Re'
cent Defeats IN South Anrica-phe
Battle OrTugeln Kivcr GutH-
cre'S Guide Dead,

London, Dec. 10.--Ihe war office
has been in communication with Sir
William Lockhard, commandments
chief in India, with view Of ascer-
tanning what troops can be spared
from his forces, and II is understood
that as u result Of these inquiries u
force will almost Immediately leave
Bombay for Durham, including four
regiments of seasoned troops, with an
ammunition column, and brigade
OF artillery, including horst ANA ield
batteries. 1t is hoped that this force
will reinforce General Butler within
month.
The Duke of ConnaughU visited the
war office yesterday. Since the ap-
pointment OF Lord Roberts as COM
mander-in-chief in South Africa, the
question of rank no longer bars the
duke from going TO the front, and, as
he has u strong desire to go, 1t is
believed that only the queens reluct-
ance stands in the way. IL is not
unlikely that this will be overcome.
Lord Chcsman, commanding officer
of the Royal Buckinghnmshire yeo-
manry, has been authorized to organ.
ize force of 5000 yeomanry, who VIII
proceed to the cape. The yeomanry'
forces sent out will be drafted so as
to work together with the mounted
infantry and mounted militia from
Canada and Australia.
IL IL understood that the volunteers
selected will not form separate
corps, but will join their linked bat
talons of the regular forces in South
Africa.
Throughout the country, volunteers
are responding with the utmost
alarcity, TO the official notices. Lord
Lonsdale says he believes the govern
ment will only accept from twenty to
fifty men from each yeomanry regl'
ment 1t is asserted that many Of
fcers of the volunteer regiments are
Offering to go us troopers, II not ac'
cepted as officers.
The Times says editorially:
Lord Roberts will have absolutely q
free hand, and may be expected to re-
sumo the original plan OF campaign
abandoned by General Butler under
the necessity of relieving Ladysmith,
According to dispatch from Cape
Town, General Sir Charles Warren
and his stuil have started for DE Aar.
This seems to indicate that the Fifth
division will be- sent to reinforce
Lord Methuen, decision which will
meet with general approval, as the
opinion is almost everywhere helG
that it would be useless to waste any
more time by frittering away men
between the various columns.
The Morning Post, in n rather
alai mist article, remarks upon the
difficulty of deciding such u crucial
matter, and says
Besides three generals in the field,
all of whom need to be reinforced,
there is the rebellion in Cape Colony
to be considered. This makes four
pressing calls on the Fifth division.
lhe trouble is, who is to decide, and
cn what principle?
The Morning Post reviewing the
various positions of the beleaguered
commanders and garrisons, asserts
that the relief of Ladysmith is the
most important emergency, and that
victory in Natal would change the
whole face oi affairs. 1t also points
out the urgent need Of having the
navy in readiness to move at any mo-
nent to protect the line of communi-
cation with South Africa, suggesting
that "a quarrel with some foreign
power might come any day without
any British intention to have one"
The Daily News, commenting upon
the spontaneous response to the gov
ernments appeal fer volunteers from
all parts of the empire, says the most
remarkable scene of all recorded from
the United States was the demonstr'
ton in favor of the British in the
Church of the Messiah in New York
city during the discourse of Rev. DR..
Mjnot j. Savage on Sunday