The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-19
ENGLISH ELECTIONS APPROACH.
Dissolution Of Parliament Bunetined
for September %.

NEW YORK. sept. iS--A dispatch tc
the Tribune from London says:
Sir Matthew White Ridley was fairly
run down by newspaper correspondents
after the meeting OF the privy council at
Balmoral. and as they would not re-
wise their forecasts. Tuesday. Septem-
Der p, has been bulietined through the
United Kingdom as the date for the
dissolution OF parliament
The date designated allows the short
est possible margin. for nominations
and elections. No nomination can be
made after the last day Of September
and the elections will be finished by
October Is. Processes are as rapid here
as they are slow in America.
The Liberals have not made Up their
list nf candidates. and as there will
not be time for completing them. an
unusually large number Of boroughs
and districts will be uncontested. the
Jnionists going in without a struggle.
Another striking proof has been offered
that with the sanction Of the queen
0ublic attention win be centered dur
ing the elections upon imperial inter-
ests.
Tbs colonial office has announced that
the Duke and Duchess OF York will visit
the South seas IN the spring to open
the first parliament Of United Australia.
This visit Is explained as a mark Of
the rOyal recognition Of loyalty Of the
colonies IN the battle for the preserva-
ton Of the empire. Lord Salisbury re-
ceives credit for recommending this
royal journey. but without doubt Mr..
Chamberlain has inspired the policy as
he has also proposed a muster in Lon
don Of representative colonial volun-
teers. headed by Canada. for review
by the queen
II Is possible that the new parliament
when elected may have something more
than formal work TO do in the meeting
In autumn. but II is difficult TO credit
the current reports that the Chinese
question viii require legislative action
in November. The foreign Office. in an
nouncing that Prince Ching and Earl
Ii are fully authorized by the emperor
10 negotiate with the powers. virtually
takes the whole subject out OF current
politics for many months. During this
long interval public interest in the East,
at least in England, will gradually sub
side.
The approach of the elections. how
ever. has invested Lord Roberts bulle-
tins with much Of their old fascination
for the public. General MacDonald's
success In driving bands of guerillas
across the Vet is the principal incident
recorded in the last twenty-four hours.
and 1t is hailed as a brilliant exploit.
The last stage of the war contains.
however, little that is heroic on either
side.
The Beers have lost heart and have
ceased 70 display any OF their char
acteristic qualities. and the British bat
Fo1f nd q Va1fr1fxr hfTrf-
ing down train wreckers and capturing
cattle and abandoned stores.
large part of the Rustenberg COM
mando has surrendered and there are
reports that Commandant Botha has
given himself up.
The Nails correspondent in Maritz-
burg says II is stated that Lord Roberts
is expected to leave Pretoria for Eng
land about October 3.
The correspondent Of the Daily Tele-
graph in LOurenco MARQUES has been
accorded an interview with Mr.. Kruger.
The ex-presid snt, however, declined to
answer interrogatories in person, and
his spokesman was Mr.. Berdellus. the
Transvaal commissioner Of police. an
exile himself. who remained in an ad-
Joining room with the door wide open
and the correspondent had only pass
ing Rnmpse OF MIN, sltunS cTOSs-
legged in q lounge chair. dressed in
black with his left eye covered by
shade.
In reply to questions. Mr.. Berdellus
proceeded to talk Of British cruelties in
the field and made more or less wild
assertions Of murders Of women and
children by Kaffirs led bv the British
Time would prove. he added. that we
are not nearly beaten.