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

LeeFS, enIalIlnS an expenditure OF about
100000 pounds sterling $500, ,000). is
but typical of the feeling prevailing
in England at present. From all Sec
tions come enthusiastic replies to the
call for volunteers.
Fears for Methuen.
LONDON, Dec. 81. 4:45 a. m.-The
gravity Of the military situation is
again becoming accentuated in the pub
lie mind owing to the complete absence
of news. Nothing has been heard from
Lord Methuen since Sunday. and il is
feared that his communications have
been cut. If this be so his position is
critical
A correspondent of the Daily Nev s.
telegraphing from Modder river last
Saturday, says: THE Boer position,
already formidable on December 18th,
has since been greatly strengthened,
extending for a distance of twelve
miles. 1t is intrenched according to the
most modern methods throughout its
entire length; wire fences have been
placed before all the trenches at every
point; guns have been put in position.
and there is every evidence that the
Beers are well supplied with ammuni-
ton. Only powerful attacking force
can hope to make successful attack.
The Times, in an article from the pen
Of a military expert, laments the dis
persion of the British forces, quotes the
maxim of Napoleon in favor of con-
centration, and regrets that Lord Meth
uen did not retire to Orange river
week ago.
lot fahn
to show that the British forces are
standing on the defensive at all points.
General Butler is ordering the troops
now arriving at Cape Town to proceed
to Durham to reinforce the Natal coll
umn. Absence of news from him has
led to a surmise that he is trying to
join General White by a flank move
ment.
The appeals for yeomanry and vol
unteers are being responded to with
the greatest enthusiasm in all parts of
the country. Lord Wolseley proposes
that the force being raised by the Lord
Mayor of London be called THE City
of London Imperial Volunteers" The
Government expects the total of yeo-
manry and volunteers to reach 5000.
Baron Chesham will command, with
Lord Lonsdale as Adjutant General.
The papers are now generally join
ing in free criticism of the Govern
ment and the War Office as day by day
fresh proofs of unpreparedness come
to light. Special stress is laid upon
the failure to provide proper transport,
which compels the columns to stick
tight to railways, and upon the inferi-
ority of the British artillery.
oe +Lp <f+ 60 tnn
in the Sheffield district indirectly aris-
ing out of the war is that several i'm
portant steel firms are not able to get
coal even from their own collieries
few miles distant They will sue the
railway companies for non-delivery of
coal. One of the big armor-plate works
has shut down partially.
A. ]. Balfour, in his unofficial ca
pacity. has written to the Earl of Had
dington dwelling upon the Importance
of the movement to raise enough mon
ey and volunteer forces for South
Africa He suggests and offers to as
sist a public fund to augment the nee
essarily limited allowance made to the
men by the Government for equipment.
Queen Will Stay at Windsor.
has issued the following announce
ment: The arrangements made for
the Queens departure from Windsor
have been postponed until after Christ
mas, as owing to the present state of
affairs in South Africa, the Queen is
to be at great distance from
London"
Not for years before has the Queen
1nI m icfy pysAy
Osborne. Her decision to remain at
in touch with the Cabinet,
shows in measure the gravity Of the
crisis and of the anxiety Her Majesty
feels for the welfare of the country.
She is, nevertheless, in fair health.
morning she took her usual
drive, and just before dinner that even
ing she received Lord Wolseley, who,
with Major General Sir Henry Peter
EWart, crown equerry TO the Queen,
dined at Windsor.
The Queens graceful act in present
ing a flag to the American hospital
ship Maine is highly appreciated by her |
own people, as well as by the Ameri- |
cans in London, and the morning pa
Ders express the hope that the incident |
means something more than a pretty /
Iti
"Black week" as last week is now
called, has evidently |
aroused the Government and the War |
Office to full sense of their response |
1ility and of the magnitude of the |
ask before them. The papers unani- |
nously applaud this awakening, de-
spite the fact that they recognize that |
he heroic measures now decided upon
;avOr rather of weakness than of |
strength. Rumor has it that the ques-
ion of expense has really been at the
,ottOm Of the half-hearted measures
litherto adopted. and it is not unlike
Y that Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Chan
ellOr of the EXchequer, and other
members Of the Cabinet, will resign.
It is high time that something very
nergetic was done. The British losses
n killed. wounded. prisoners and miss
ng throughout the campaign now
each the enormous total of 1880. The
eneral feeling foreshadows a serious
eckOning for the Government when
he time comes.
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