Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16

London, Dec. ia hastily sum-
moned meeting OF the cabinet was held
at the foreign office this afternoon for
the purpose Of dealing with the war
crisis.
Joseph Chamberlain, secretary OF
state for the colonies, was not present
at the meeting.
As might have been expected the
desperate state Of the British arms In
South Africa, as revealed by the de-
feat Of Gen. Butler at Tugela river,
where at one stroke he lost treble the
number Of guns Wellington left In the
hands Of Napoleon during the six years
fighting in the peninsula, while adding
to the determination Of the authorities
10 send every available man TO the
front, caused something in the nature
Of a monetary panic among the public
which was reflected on the stock ex-
change II is long since the tone OF
the newspapers and the comment in the
clubs and other resorts has been 50
chastened and pesslmistic. Some OF
the comments go so far as to say the
crisis Is so far reaching that Great
Britain stands where she stood over
a century back. when the American
colonists, men Of British and Dutch
blood. were In arms"
The Evening Standard declares the
situation calls for all the equanimity,
determination and perseverance Of the
empire and demands the immediate CALI
Ing out OF all the volunteers, embody-
ing all the outlanders expelled from the
Transyaal, 10 guard the lines Of COM
municatlon, thus freeing all the regu-
lars for service in. the fighting line. The
Star urges the communicating OF all
the great English Atlantic liners for
the transportation OF endorsements
and says the country must set herself
the task OF plucking victory out OF de-
feat" adding;
THE guilt OF the government Is
superseded by the danger OF the EN-
pire. We are thinking Of a hostile
Europe; we are thinking OF India, and
whatever happens, we implore the gov
eminent not TO move another man from
Calcutta or Bombay.
I'VE remember the mutiny."
The St James Gazette is also appre-
hensiye Of foreign complications, and
thinks France Is preparing for some
venture which will be In the nature OF a
defiance Of Great Britain and urges her
admiralty to form a new squadron OF
the ships In the reserve.
The Globe, after urging the immedi-
ate despatch OF reinforcements and the
use OF the militia, says:
And we can turn with equal conf
dence TO the strong arms and loyal
hearts Of our fellow subjects In Canada
and Australia. Those offers. which
were SO literally made and which were
not too generously received at the be-
ginning OF the war, will, We are corl-
dent, be renewed. as the urgency Of the
contest reveals itself. They can see
as keenly as ourselves that not only
our supremacy In South Africa, buy the
maintenance OF the empire is at stake"
The Pail Mall Gazette's review Of the
situation says,
III Is no use crying over split milk.
Surprises Of all sorts must be expected
In war. our position for defense Is In
tact Nothing has occurred 10 shake
our belief In Gen. Butler. Let US stead
lly trus, him and furnish him as rapid
ly as possi~@with more guns and more
horses and men,"
As the day proceeded. the attacks Of
nervousness disappeared and The only
permanent effect Of the serious news
was TO cause tighter clenchlng OF
fists. and a more set determination to
achieve the task the country has un-
dertaken. Departing troops were more
yehementiy oheered than usual and the
troops themselves displayed even
much greater desire TO reach the front.
There was little excitement at the war
all directions for the mobilization Of the
reserve In the militia.
The latter win replace the regulars In