Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
FATE OF THE Beers
People of England Are Already Dis
cussing the Matter.
AMERICAN HOSPITAL SHIP MAINE
Change in the Editorial Policy Of
the Chronicle.
SHAKESPEARE IN VIENNA
SHAKESPEARE IN VIENNA
.ciai Correspondence of The Evening Star.


been rolled back, and they have been re-
duced to submission, has now taken pos
session of the public mind; and the ques-
ton is being warmly discussed.
When terms of peace come to be made,
however, they will probably not fulfill all
the popular anticipations, though they will
doubtless realize, more exactly than an
outsider would have imagined, the earnest
hope of the chief men in the government.
and such sympathetic statesmen outside as
Lord Rosebery, that the terms to be Of
fered will be generous.
The idea most favored is that the two re-
pubiics will be abolished and transformed
into self-governng colonies of the same
status as the Cape and Natal. Thereupon
would be set up a federation of the whole
of the self-governing colonies of South
Africa, including Rhodesia, under the title
of the Dominion of South Africa.
There is another project. however, which
is somewhat different, inasmuch as it seeks
to preserve to the vanquished Beers some
semblance of their independence. Under
this plan, the republics would be permitted
TO retain their present form of government,
though probably the TranSvaal would be
compelled to give up the ambitious title of
South African Republic.
Would Lose Their Identity.
But with this they would be Egyptian
ized'-tnat is TO say, the military and
financial control would be taken from them
by the imperial government. Their forts
would be dismantled their arms taken
away and the farmers only permitted to
carry sporting weapons. The imperial gov
ernment would recognize the duty of pro-
lection cast upon it by these measures and
would leave a sufficient garrison in the
country to secure the protection of the in
habtants against native risings. whether
within the borders of the state or from
without
1t is thought by those who support this
scheme that under it the Beers would pres
entity become reconciled. and ask volun-
tarily to be included within the South At
rican federation, on the same terms as
Natal and the Cape. OF course, it would
be the first principle of either scheme that
the franchise would be extended to all
white men on the same generous scale as
it is applied in the two British colonies.
why His Plan Failed.
1t is now clear that General Joubert's
plan" like that of a celebrated French
general, has failed. His object when he
entered Natal was not merely to shut up
a large British force in Ladysmith, but to
capture Pietermaritzburg and Durham, and,
to use the phrase current among the Beers
drive the English into the sea" He car
ried out his plan with great skill. An over
whelming Beer force was thrown into
Natal, and had war been declared a fort
night earlier success would have been at
least possible The movements of the Beers
We're necessarily slow. Glencoe, whatever
else it did, checked their advance, and so
did the battle of Elandslaagte. 1t was
nearly at the end OF October before they
were in force at Ladysmith, and the bulk
of Jouberts army has since been detained
on the siege of that place. General Jou-
bert ten or twelve days ago began a
ny ont in ilara II
rection of Pietermaritzburg. 1t was, how
ever, now too late. He found the British
in too great force, and all the accounts
agree that he is now returning in the di-
rection of Ladysmith. Communication has
been restored with fstcourt, and the ad-
vance of a body of 10000 British troops in
the direction of Ladysmith has already be-
gun, the advance guard having reached
Frere. where, however, the railway bridge
has been broken down.
Interesting Operations.
1t Is clear that General Joubert must
either give battle to this force or raise the
siege of Ladysmith The general impress
sion Is that he will endeavor to hold the
line of the Tugela, which the British troops
could reach today or tomorrow The river
is in flood, and as the Beers will no doubt
take care to destroy both the railway and
the ordinary bridges the passage will have
to be effected by pontoons. This. in the
face of an enterprising enemy, is always a
difficult operation; but no doubt Sir Red
vers Butler will see it successfully carriaa
out. When the British get across tho
TuGela we should see the first real
pitched battle of the war. unless Joubert
should abandon the siege of Ladysmith and
endeavor TO reach the Orange Free State
through Drakensberg passes Sir George
White ought to be able to either prevent
the execution of this plan or inflict heavy
ecution. This Weeks operations IN N ~ ea
are likely to be of extreme interest.
The official information given foreign
governments that state of war exists
work of the British ships EMPLOYED in
blockading the South African ports
Whether ships of have the right of
search IN time OF peace is, to a certain
extent an open question, but there Is nor
the slightest doubt that such a right exists
during state Of war. In the present in
stance power to overhaul ships of any
nationality on the high seas would be par
ticulariy useful in the interception of sun
plies of ammunition to the Beers There
is reason to believe that several consign-
ments of this description are on the Wav
out, and unless the vessels on which they
are being carried out are exceptionally
Vigilant ar excellent chance exists of their
capture.
For the Hospital Ship.
Lady Randolph Churchill, the chairwoman
of the American hospital ship fund. has
received from Anne RIGA a gift of 5000 from
all anonymous donor, to be used for the
service of the Maine. The munificent giver
of this donation has promised $1,000 more
II the executive committee of the fund find
that II will he required A dinner to be
held at the Carlton Hotel, London, for the
benefit of the fund, on the evening of
December II. is to take place at half-past
3, 70 Is the price of the tickets The di-
rectors of the Carlton Hotel have generous
ly placed their entire suite of reception
rooms on the ground floor at the disposal
o: the committee for that evening. and the
gross proceeds arising from the sale of the
tickets will be handed over to the fund. In
addition to the Prince of Wales 1t is hoped
that one or two other members of The
royal family will honor the occasion with
their presence.
Several well-knowp artists are giving
their services to the members of the Society
of American Women in London for their
lat home" in aid of the American hospital
ship. on the evening of December 4. Among
the tableaux vivants that are being ar
ranged, the concluding one is especially in
teresting, as it will show a group of the
doctors and the nurses and United States
orderiies who are going out to South Afr;-
ca on the Maine.
Surgeons and Nurses.
The party of American surgeons and
nurses that came from New York on the
in