The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-17
BRITONS ARE DAZED AT THE DE-
FEAT OF GEN. BULLER ON TOP
OF OTHER REVERSES
DEMAND SWIFT RRTRIDUTION
PROPOSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT
SEND ONE HUNDRED THOU
SAND MORE MEN
GERMANY GROWS UNFRIENDLY
Count Won BuelOw's Sensational Ut
terances Are DuIIed by the Dis
asters in South Africa, but Their
Significance Is Fully Appreciated
in OficiaI CircIes-LiberRIs Grow
Impatient With Government.

Significance Is Fully Appreciated
in Official CircIes-LiberaIs Grow
Impatient with Government.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 16.-The grave situation
confronting Great Britain in South AZ
rica almost obliterates the effect of the
speech Of the German minister Of foreign
affairs, Count Won Buelow, in the reich
stag. Monday last. though no act of re-
cent years has had so much bearing on
the future of Europe. In spite Of the
uniform comment IN some English quar-
ters that Count Won Buelow spoke merely
FOR political effect, in other words ''jol-
lied" the reichstag by means of jingoistic
sophistries for home consumption to vote
for the new navy, In Vienna, which is in
closer touch with Berlin than any other
capital, Count Won Buelow is interpreted
as finging down the gauntlet to Great
Britain. The Neue Freie Presse, which
has personal connection with the foreign
minister of Germany, declares Germany
is determined to obtain the greatest pos
sible advantage from the South African
complications, and adds:
1.-The cool mention of England dissipates
Williams stay at Windsor, and 1t is not
impossible that England's difficulty may,
in certain circumstances, be Germany's
hope"
i The Vienna correspondent of the Stand
ard, relating much more similar COM
ment, reiterates what has often been
heard here, namely-that Great Britain
is more hated on the continent on ac-
count of her interference in behalf of
the United States when the latter was
at war with Spain. than for any other
reason. Why Count Won Buelow should
have gone out of his way to Indicate the
possibility of Great Britain's hostility and
belittEe the friendship between her and
Germany, is an enigma yet unsolved by
any British authority. A consensus of
the best opinion tends to the belief that
the German minister wished to offset
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain's rash speech at
Leicester. Yet this seems a small ex-
euse for such language at this period,
xShhe the suggestion that Count Won
Bcelow spoke purely for effect Is dis
missed as being entirely uncharacteristic
OF the man who is rapidly achieving the
reputation of being the first statesman
in Europe.
SIGNIFICANT COMMENT.
90 IdT' says the Saturday Review,
referring to the war, I'VE have been able
to answer each reverse by the potent ar
gument Of another division, but that
cannot last forever
ouch an expression appearing in an
u4tra-conservatiVe and optimistic publtca
ton Is significant.
While the Won Buelow anti -Britishisms
nave not stirred resentful criticisms, the
public is just beginning to realize that
with 100000 men in the field no progresa
is being made in any direction, and Kim
berley and Ladysmith seem as far off as
ever from the promised relief"
While Gen. Buffers reverse was an un-
expected blow to the public that had
pinned Its faith to him, 1t would appear
that the original plan of campaign, If
adhered to, would have given better re-
suits, for the besieged towns have shown
themselves quite capable of holding out
AS it is now, the British forces are split
up, have been seriously repulsed are un-
able to cooperate, and, at any rate for
the present, are unable to reach their
detectives. 1t was for this plan that the
central advantage was sacrificed Even
the relief of LadySmith can scarcely have
great alleviating consequences to the
campaign as whole, unless its moral
effect Quiets the growing disaffection in
Cape Colony and disheartens the Beers
to a more serious extent than their other
minor reverses have so far done.
UNENvIABLE POSITION.
But, however looked at, the British DO
sition is most unenviable, and there is a
great cry for more troops. Lord London
derry urges the war Office to send 1O0, 900
more men, saying:
Conceive the effect on the empire II
Methuen is forced to surrender
The st. James Gazette caps this with
the intimation that the treasury is with
hold 4ho f,ryod
reinforcements, adding:
If this is so, even Lord Salisbury's re-
luctance to sacrifice a colleague will not
serve to shield minister who stands be-
tween England and the restoration of
her damaged superiority in South Africa"
On the other hand, there are many sig
nifcant examples, through public
speeches and editorials, of the great
common sense which is the backbone of
the nation. There are people who i'm
plore Englishmen not to make fools of
themselves, and not to imagine that a
feW reVerses make 1t necessary to drain
the country of every man able to carry
a rifle. The volunteers are greatlv
worked up, and numbers of applications
TO serve in regiments from individuals
have been received The Associated
Press learns however that Lord Wolseley
believes that, though these men are ex-
cellent as volunteers, they lack the even
which marks q line regiment To use
his own words, they are brilliant In spots
but weak in Others and while he ap-
preciates the offers he sees no way to
accept them at present.
LIBERAL PARTY VIEW
The action Of the National Liberal Fed
Grafton this week, in deciding to support
a vigorous prosecution of the war. but
feserving the full right Of criticism now
and in the future, while stating that
there IS much to be deplored in the con-
duct Of the negotiation preceding the hos
tilities, may be said to voice the opinion
of the bulk of the Liberal party.
A correspondent of the Standard sug-
gests that the United States government
ought to present the British consuls in
Spain with a years salary each as a rec
ognition Of their services during the war
as they had much extra work and were
subjected to insults. There are onlv Ave-
of these consuls. They received ouerias
from the secretary Of state at WashinSe
ton regarding their extra expenses and
fees collected while guarding United
States interests, but nothing further re-
suited.