The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-28

LONDON, Dec. 21.-Ominous silence
continues regarding Generals Butler
and Methuen. Some interesting de-
tails of the battle of Colenso have been
received to the effect that the fight
was a drawn battle and that British
troops are keeping an eye on the aban-
doned guns, while one telegram re-
cords their recovery by party of vol
unteers. But there was no confirma-
ton of these reports. The names of
1877 non-commissioned officers and men
who were killed have been forwarded
instead of III as at first reported.
There was no fresh news from Gen
eral Gatacre.
General French had another en-
counter with the Beers on Tuesday,
when the New Zealanders distinguish
ed themselves under a heavy fire.
The latest dispatch of Saturday from
Modder River refers to an exchange
of shots between the Beers and General
Methuen's OutpOsts. The Beers still
hold their position at Magersfontein.
The town of Jacobsdal is also in their
hands.
But little credence is placed in the
report that the guns lost by the British
were not captured by the Beers. Had
the story been true General Butler
must have referred to it. Buffers ar
tillery cannot now muster much more
than thirty guns, while the captured
British weapons have no doubt been
mounted in the Boer lines and can be
used, since the ammunition wagons
seem to have been lost with them.
Anxiety in Pail Mall.
Remarkable, indeed, were the scenes
in Pail Mall yesterday. Of late at the
War Office We have grown accustomed
to see ladies in magnificent toilets,
wives. mothers and sisters of officers
at the front. and modestly clad rela-
tions of soldiers elbowing each other,
all with the same anxiety depicted in
their faces and the same heaviness OF
heart 1t was in the center hall and
outside in the streets that the scene
yesterday was quite new. Instead OF
the usual war news seekers bands OF
stalwart, athletic, big-boned young
men were assembled. They were OF a
build which showed them to be of
race accustomed to live an outdoor
in their cheeks. All of them were we'll
dressed, most Of them affecting a jaun-
ty colored Waistcoat, sporting hunting
leather CATERS and boots which
looked more like those made for
DAYS shooting than those which are
seen in swell Pail Mall. They
came in crowds; they were eager, talk
ed much and kept darting in and out
of the doors and passages of the War
Llice. Many of them saluted Lord
Chesham and Lord Lonsdale. who
each remained for a considerable pc
Rod
All of these able-bodied, sportsman
like youths differed from the usual
crowd, inaSmuch as they We're not
there with the usual question, What
news?" nor were their faces anxious.
Their expression was eager. What
hey wanted to find out, what they
were there for, was to know how they
,ould get to the war-how they could |
De embodied in England's citizen army
1f irregular troops.
Volunteers Eager.
According to the War Office during
he dav from throughout the country
.ame offers of service from 100000 OF
,eomanry and volunteers, all prepared
o equip themselves under the terms
IF broad latitude of the rule as to
,1othing. which really only restricts
hem TO neutral c0lOrS, so as not to be
90 conspicuous targets for Boer sharp
shooters. Further offers of voluntary
eryice were coming in so fast yester-
Law afternoon that it was impossible
o attend to them. They came by post,
" telegraph wire and cables from the
asst and the west, Australia, Canada,
IaIta and the Cape, and from almost
very region where the British colonies
ourish.
EVERYWHERE the war fever is visible.
eopIa thought the war fever was
reat when war was declared, but it
-as nothing to what on every side is.
today, and what was most
emarkabIe is that women are just as