The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-24
YESTERDAYS TEMPERATURES
Washington time q p. m. st. Paul..
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA


During the past week the situation in
South Africa, so far as military opera
tons are concerned, has changed but lit
tie, as far as can be learned from the
censored reports. The Boer forces ap-
pear to be massing in front of Methuens
column at Modder River and of Buffers
forces at the Tugela, and there are indi-
cations that the Beers may be tempted to
assume the offensive.
There is some talk of Boer movement
towards Stormberg for the purpose of
attacking Gatacre and French. The adj
yantages of a movement in this direction,
If successful, would be to threaten the
communications Of both Butler and
Methuen. But it is highly probable that
such a movement has been foreseen by
the British and that the British forces
at Sterkstrom, Steynsberg, Middleburg
and De Aar have been strengthened and
are strongly intrenched.
Another battle may occur at any time
on the Modder river, where the Boer po-
sition Is considered to be impregnable
Gen. Butler appears to have recovered
the guns he lost in his unsuccessful at
tempt to cross the Tugela river They
had stuck in the ''gumbo" in the soft bot
lom lands and were covered by the re-
naming British artillery until they could
be dragged out again.
The British seem to be at length awak-
tn fa0 Of hot
open door for supplies and men at Della
goa bay and that as long as that route
to the Transvaal remains open they will
receive constant additions Of war ma
terial and reinforcements. 1t is not i'm
probable that some step may be taken to
close Delagoa bay and to render the rail-
road running from that place to Pretoria
comparatively useless to the Beers.
The British war office has also been
brought to see the gravity of the situa-
ton, and the recent reverses may lead
them to OVERRIDING the thing, just as they
previously were UNDERGOING it, In two
weeks time Lord Roberts will be in COM
mand in South Africa, with Lord Kitch-
templated to give him 100000 additional
troops, including a large force of light
cavalry and an ample train of modern
artillery.
The hostile sentiment in Europe against
Great Britain, so far as the governments
and the official or semi-of1cial, press are
concerned, has moderated somewhat, es-
pecially in Germany. Popular sentiment
in Austria, Germany and France, where
1t is strongly antagonistic to Great Brit
ain, is restrained by government in
fuence. In Italy and Hungary there is
a more or less friendly feeling for Eng
land Throughout Europe the govern
ments of the different nations. even of
Russia, seem to have realized the dam
gers which would threaten them all by
the destruction Of British prestige, and
they are in no wise prepared for either
q general war or the reconstruction of
the worlds geography.
Tho Boer sympathizers and agents in
Europe and the United States are ex-
tremely active just now and are using
most strenuous efforts to secure the me-
diation or intervention of some foreign
power in the war. They realize that inter-
vention at this stage, when their forces
hold the British temporarily in check and
occupy large portions of British territory
in Natal and Cape Colony, could only re-
suit advantageously to their cause. The
prospect for such Intervention is not
bright, however, and the recent utter
ances Of the emperor of Germany do not
afford much encouragement in this direc-
ton.
Great Britain appears determined. to
fight it out to the finish and has now
commenced to put forth her tremendous
strength. The Beers have shown them
selves to be equally determined and are
great fighters and equipped for a long
struggle, and no man can foretell when
the end will be-