Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-28
Stead's Wild Fear.

Stead's Wild Fear.
copyrighted by Associated Press)
London, Dec. 24.-Not for many years
passed has Great Britain faced such a
situation as confronts her this Christ
mas, yet to meet it there has arisen
new Britain which, by it's virility and
pluck EFFORTS admiration even from
her bitterest continental critics. Since
boastfulness has disappeared from the
British press, the comments of foreign
papers, at least such as are printed
here, are couched in tones far more
fair and friendly than when it was be-
lieved speedy victory awaited Gen. Bull
Ter. AS repeatedly asserted, there is
no likelihood of European interference,
yet w. 7. Stead in the Daily Chron
icle today has a very alarming column
in which he has visions of a superior
Jameson raid by $4,000 Frenchmen Of
London, in the absence of a channel
feet Stead points out how easily in
his opinion, this might be accom-
plished, and says: ITO rely, as some
appear to do, upon the addition of a
number of raw recruits, under the eX-
element and stimulus of the present
war fever is to rely on broken reed.
The Woolwich arsenal might be in
flames and the French tricolor flying
over Westminster palace before the
first of these new recruits would have
learned to handle a gun
Great Britain's plight in south Africa
seems temporarily critical. The AS
ISOLATED Press learns that the beers
are straining every nerve to secure
mediation from President Mckinley
towards favorable peace. But any one
with the slightest knowledge of Brit
ish feeling quickly appreciates that not
one person in a million contemplates
any result but the ultimate British tri-
umph. All sections unite in saying
this must be secured, no matter at
what cost. Hence, the boer agents
themselves have only slight hope that
mediation may be accepted, though
believing if President Mckinley could
be persuaded to prOffer it, Lord Sails
bury though, perhaps bound to refuse,
would lose humanitarian sympathy in
the United States and thus divert to
the beers much wavering sentiment.
No offer of mediation would be accept
ed by Lord Salisbury in any shape or
form. The popular conception of
peace is that it must come through the
idol of the army, Gen. Roberts, and
his not less adored chief of staff, Gen.
Kitchener. The country is prepared to
wait indefinitely for that eventuality.
The fall of Kimberley, Ladysmith and
Mafeking would not make a particle Of
difference, for this stoical resolve is
thoroughly imbedded in the hearts of
the people who for the first time in the
memory of this generation have drank
deeply Of the cup Of military defeat |
and disgrace. The estimates of the |
duration of hostilities vary from three |
months to a year. The lack of news |
last week has by no means been |
taken as an instance Of the adage |
regarding no news. The very general |
impression prevails that Kimberly will |
5uccumb. An officer of the British |
South Africa company who has init
mate knowledge Of south Africa says
he believes if the beers capture Cecil
Rhodes they will shoot him. The
stock market is still panicky, many
people believing the most serious
risis has not yet been reached.
While most persons knew the late
Duke of Westminster was one of the
'ichest men in England no London
newspaper has taken the trouble to
procure an estimate Of his wealth He
)wned several thousand parcels of Lon
lon realty which made 600 acres
Iuch of this is in Belgravia, the aris-
ocratic residence quarter. He also +:
lad 10000 acres in the country, an an
lual income of 100000 pounds The {
Leir to the dukedom is Viscount Bel Z
rave now in south Africa, aide de {
amp to Sir Alfred Miner, governor of :
n Colony