The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-18
BRITAIN In PERIL.
How Grave Has Been Shown During the
Week just Passed.
THE GOVERNMENT is AROUSED
But the Heroic Measures Proposed
SAVIOR of Weakness.
LOSSES NOW NUMBER NEARLY 5000.
The Thunderer Admits that the Position Of
the Empire Is Menaced.
IT COMPLAINS Ar ENGLAND'S ISOLATION
And the Suspicion and Dislike
which Arc Everywhere Apparent.
Members of Cabinet May Kesign.
The Thunderer Admits that the Position OF
the Empire Is Menaced.
T COMPLAINS AT ENGLAND'S ISOLATION


New York, December 1.-THE Worlds
London cable says: General Buffers re-
verse is recognized as stupendous Ma
tional catastrophe. His official report
shows that his casualties were 1897, the
severest list of the war
The press calls for calmness and forti-
tude in the face of misfortune There
is calmness. but 1t is the calmness of ig-
norance and stupefaction.
The English people have lost all conf
can only call for more men and more
guns, but Thoughtful people realize that
increasing the force means only increas-
ing the sacrifice under commanders who
have so sravely blundered
Unless some unexpected triumph sud-
denly transforms the whole situation, it
is deemed certain that European media
ton will be proposed by Russia or France.
The English press is united in asserting
in all moods and lenses that the war must
be pursued to a triumphant end If it costs
the last man and last penny Britain can
provide. The very violence OF these pro-
testations, however, shows a conscious
ness OF weakening, and after few more
experiences like those of Butler Salisbury
will be ready enough for mediation and
TO throw Chamberlain to the wolves al
ready bowling for him.
Seeing the impregnable front that Gen
eral Joubert has presented to Buffers SUI
perior force at Colenso, military experts
believe It practically impossible for the
English-aFmy ever to force its way
through the Drakenburg mountains at
Lang's Mex.
Unless some striking change for the
better occurs there bids fair to break over
the head of the government storm of In
dignation such as has not been heard
since the Crimea. The authorities have
already decided that there must be re-
organization of the war office, and 1t will
not be delayed day longer than neces-
sary.
Lord Londonderry urges the war office
to send out 100000 more men. saying:
Conceive the effect on the empire if Me-
thuen is forced to surrender"
London, December 17.--"Black Week"
| as last week is now universally called,
has evidently aroused the government and
the war office to full sense of their re-
sponsibiity and OF the magnitude OF the
task before them. The papers unanimous
ly applaud this awakening, despite the
measures now decided upon SAVIOR rather
of weakness than of strength. Rumor has
it that the question of expense has really
been at the bottom OF the half-hearted
meaaures hitherto adopted and 1t is not
unlikely that Sir Michael Hicks Beach.
chancellor of the exchequer, and other
| members Of the cabinet will resign.
It was high time that something very
energetic was done. The British losses
$500
in killed, wounded, prisoners and missing.
throughout the campaign. now reach the
enormous total OF 1880.
London, December ls.-The Times. COM
menting on the situation, says: Neither
the Crimean war nor the Indian mutiny
gave rise to greater dangers to the empire
than that with which We are now men
aced, nor at either OF these critical pc
RODS was Great Britain so isolated politi-
caliy or regarded with such dislike and
suspicion as are now almost everywhere
apparent Unless the calmness which i'm
presses the ofreign observer proceeds
Shin us Your