The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17
.fL|tGIhG HE GAUNTLET
England's Trouble the Opportun-
ity for Germany.
GREAT BRITAIN is HATED
On the Continent for Her Efforts in
Behal OF the United Ssates-Euller's
Reverse Was an Unexpected
Blow-A Cry or More Troops
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondents of the Associated Press.
| London, Dec. 16.-The grave situation
confronting Great Britain in sou,h At
RIGA almost obliterates the effect of tho
speech Of the German minister of for
eign anairs, Count Won BueIow, in the
reichstag on Monday last. Though
scarcely any announcement of recent
years has had so much bearing on the
! future OF Europe, in spite of the unin-
formed comment in so many English
quarters that Count Won Buelow spoke
merely for political effect, in other
words 'jollted the reichstsg by means
OF jingoistic sophistries, for home con-
sumption, to vote for the navy. In
Vienna. which is in closer touch with
Berlin than any other capital, Count
Won Buelow is Interpreted as nlnglng
down the gauntlet 10 Great Britain.
The Neue Fret Presse, which has per-
sonal connection with the foreign min
lister of Germany, declares Germany is
determined to obtain the greatest pos
sible advantage from the Soulh African
complications, and adds:
THE cool mention Of England dis
sipates all apprehens.ons caused by
Emperor Williams stay at Windsor,
difficulty may. In certain circum-
stances, be Germany's opportunity"
The Vienna correspondent Of the
Standard, retailing much more similar
comment, reiterates what has often
been heard here, namely that Great
Britain is more hated on the continent
on account of her interference in be-
half of the United States when the
later was at war with Spain than
for any other recent cause. why Count
Won Buelow should have gone out Of his
way to indicate the possibility of Great
Bri.aln's hostility and belittle the
friendship between her and Germany
British authority. A consensus of the
best opinion tends to the belief that the
German minister wished to offset Mr..
Chamberlain S rash speech at Leicester.
Yet this seems a small excuse for such
| language at this period, while the sug-
gestion that Count Won BueloW spoke
for purely political effect is dismissed
as being entirely uncharacteristic Of the
| man who is rapidly achieving the rep
utation OF being the first statesman
in Europe.
80 far" says the Saturday Review.
referring to the war, I'VE have been
able to answer each reverse by the pD-
| tent argument of another division, but
| that cannot last forever
| Such an expression appearing in an
| ultra conservative and optimistic pub
| LEGATION is significant.
| While the Won Buelow anti British
| isms have not stirred resentful criti-
| cisns, the public is just beginning to
| realize that with 100. 600 men in the
| field no progress Is being made in any
direction and Kimberley and Lady
| smith seem as far off as ever from the
! promised relief.
While General Buffers reverse was
| al - fha MI tJ,a
! had pinned its faith to him. it would
! appear that the original plan of cam
/ paign, If adhered to, would have given
| better results, for tine besieged towns
have shown themselves quite capable
| Of holding out. Az 1t is now, the Brit
ish fcrces are split up, have bsen re.
| pulsed. are unable to cooperate and
| at any rate for the present are unable
to reach their objective. 1t was for
! this plan that the central advance was
sacrificed. Even the relief OF Lady
/ smith can scarcely have great allevl-
ating consequences to the campaign. as
whole, unless its moral effect qu.ets
the growing dlsaffectlon in Cape Col
| ony and disheartens the Beers to a
| more serious extent than their other
minor reverses have SO far done.
| But, however looked at. the British
| position is most unenv.able, and there
| is great cry for more troops. Lord
send out 1000 more men, saying:
Conceive the effect on the empire
! If Methuen Is forced to surrender"
The St. James Gazette says this with
! the intimation that the treasury Is
Withholding the funds necessary to
! send out reinforcements, adding:
! IF this is so, even Lord Salsbury's
| reluctance to sacrifice colleague will
| not serve to shield a minister who
! stands between England and her SUI
periority in South Africa
On the other hand there are many
magnificent examples through public
/ speeches and editorials of the great
| common sense which is the backbone
! of the nation. There are people who
/ inaplore Englishmen not to make fools
| of themselves, and not to imagine that
| few reverses make 1T necessary to
| drain the country of every man able
greatly worked up and numbers of APP
| plcations to serve In regiments from
| individuals have been received The
| associated press learns, however, that
| Lord Wolsiey believes that though
! these men are excellent as volunteers,
| they lack the evenness in the ranks
| and among the officers which marks
| "They are brilliant in spots, but weak
| in Others" and while he appreciates
| the offers, he sees no way to accept
| them at present.
| The action of the national federation
| this week In dec ding to support Wig
! orous prosecution of the war. but re-
serving the full right of criticism. now
| there is much to be depicred in the
| conduct of the negotiations preceding