Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-20
BRITISH LOYALTY
Now Being Shown in the
Volunteer EnIistments..
10000 Volunteer Mounted Infantry to
Be Sent to the Front.
Kruger Willing for Peace on Conditions
Otherwise will Continue Fighting.

London, Dec. 20.-4.45 A. M-The
government has at last consented to
mobilize a force which Gen. Butler is
credited with having demanded all
along an essential Of success in
South Africa, namely 10000 mounted
| infantry.
This morning. the war office issued
an order to the effect that the govern
ment had decided to raise for South
Africa a mounted infantry force, to be
| called Imperial Yeomanry and to be
recruited from yeomanry, volunteers,
and civilians possessing the requisite
qualifications. Enlistment will be for
| one year, or during the continuance of
the war
The men must be between 20 and So
years Of age and of equal physique to
the ordinary cavalry soldier. Officers
and men are to provide their own
horses and to wear neutral tint cloth
shooting Jackets not necessarily uni
form, felt hats, breeches and CATERS.
All must be good riders and marksmen.
The same order invites every volun-
teer regiment that is linked with a reg
ular battalion serving at the front to
supply a full company which will take
the place of the mounted infantry of
the regiment. These arrangements are
expected to result in a considerable
force. The enrolled strength Of the
yeomanry forces which originated in
the troublous period Of the French
Revolution is now 10,433. Their services
have never before been called for in
war.
The lord mayor of London, Mr.. Alfred
;e;,
force Of 1000 volunteers among the city
corps. The large city firms are con-
tributing the necessary expenses.
Col. Sir Charles Howard Vincent,
commandment of the Queens Westmin-
ster Volunteers has also offered to raise
a regiment Of 1909 picked marksmen.
The enthusiasm Of volunteers enlist
ments continue and promise to give the
government ample material
Mr.. Rudyard Kipling addressed a
meeting at rockingham, last evening,
called for the purpose Of forming vol
unteer company.
The Queen has announced her inten-
tion Of entertaining at Windsor Castle
Dec. 2e the wives and children of SOL
diers serving in South Africa who re-
side in the neighbOrhood. Tea will be
served, Her Majesty probably presid
ing in person. and there will be a
Christmas tree % feet high laden with
gifts.
The British second-class cruiser Isis
will convey Gen. Lord Kitchener from
Egypt to the Cape. She has been or
dercd t. steam at IS knots.
Special reports regarding the fighting
at the Tugela river are still filterinG
through. but all the newspapers COM
and it is still impossible to get an accu-
rate idea of the battle. From the lat
est accounts, however, it appears that
Gen. Butler was in personal command.
A correspondent of The Associated
Press at Chieveley Camp says the
Beers excuse themselves for firing on
the stretcher bearers by asserting that
two squads of the Connaught Rangers
took cover under civilian bearers of the
Red Cross and that this act drew the
Boer fire, three being killed and several
Much anxiety is caused by the fact
that the war office has not yet received
a full list Of the casualties al Tugela
river.
Statements are published from Boer
sources in Brussels and Berlin that
President Kruger is willing to con-
clude peace on the basis of the status
quo, but that otherwise he will call
upon the Beers in Cape Colony to join
in proclaiming the independence Of the
Cape territories Of Great Britain.