Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-12-24
AFRICAN WAR STATUS
French Government Asked by DR..
Leyds TO Mediate.
BUT THIS Is DENIED.
A Rum0r l. Current That the BOer
Ammunition u Running low,
but Little Credence Il GlIen
10 The Report.

New York. Dec %. "A dispatch from
London says.
The Paris correspondent Of The Mail
says that DR. Lsyds waited on NJ. Del.
easse and asked bis services in the cause
OF peace The French minister. II is
understood. gave an unequivocal reply.
asking. In fact for time for considerA.
ton
A fact which may DO safely inferred
from the admiralty reports Of the move
ments Of transports is that the battal.
ions Of the Fifth division. a. they arrive .
In South Africa. are divided between /
Natal and the western border. some 90. |
ing 70 Durham and others to Deaar This
seems a clear Indication that General |
Meihuen viii hold his ground at Mod /
der river, and not retreat TO Orange
river. A. many timorous military writ
ers for the press have been clamoring 10
have him DO leaving Kimberley 10 It's
fate The moral effect Of such n retreat
would b. exceedingly bad. sinoeit would
b. confession Of failure Of one o. the
first objects Of Buller's campaign with
the amy corps
Military men now assert that II Gen
Methuen's retirement had been contem-
plated all.ths rein forcsments arriving
at Cape Town would have been hurried
forward 10 Natal 10 complete the work
Of relieving Ladysmith sinos they would
not have been needed At Deaar or. Bel.
mont They also venture 10 assme that
Modder river will be made second
base for ultimate operations across the
country 70 Bloemfontein when the aux
Hilary transport. with mule train aud
carts has been organized This. howev.
er. Is poAohing upon Lord Roberts pre-
serves. The gallant veteran. who has
Just started for the Cape. will
plan his own campaign after he assumes
command Its generally understood
from hints dropped at the war Office that
he has declined 10 assume any response
bility for the campaign until his arriv.
al on the ground, and that he has not
embarrassed General Buller with any
suggestions or advice from London Bul.
Ter will have free hand until Lord
Roberts reaches Cape Town. and will
then command the troops In Natal
Among many rumors current before
midnight was one based on an alleged
statement by the manager Of the
Creusot company that the Boer ammu.
milton was running low and that urgent
dispatches. had been received from Pre-.
toria asking for the immediate ship
msnt Of large supplies These reports
were too untrustworthy 10 merit seri.
Gus consideration. There was no Ap-
|, parent lack Of Boer ammunition either
, ct Magersfontein.C Colenso or Stormberg.
and whAtever delay there has been in
, replying 10 the British artillery. Is ex
planned too easily by the strategy and
. admirable tactics Of them.
, The Daily Nail, having nearly recon.
structed the cabinet by displAcing Sii
! Michael Hicks.Beach at the treasury
with Mr. Chamberlain dismissing Lord
LAnsdowne from the war Office aud uTg
ing Lord Salisbury aud the other minis
ters 10 retire In order 10 make room fol
younger men, turns its guns on the ar
b mory service
b II Is operating on the general prinoi
b pie that England needs a athorough shak
ing up. Meanwhile England continues
j. to display pariotism of the highest AnC
r. most practical order. Volunteers an,
: ysomanry 10 the number Of 100 900 ar,
]. already at the service Of the govern
ment, or ten times as many as the wa
Office has asked for. The Stock ES
change is providing horses for the lor,
u mayors own Westminster will hav
. its own regiment and tho country is re
y spending well and disclosing the rs
y sources az the command Of the govern
70 ment