New-York tribune., 1900-12-28
ACTIVE LORD KITCHENER
HIS FLYING MOVEMENTS COMFORT
LoNDoNERs.

BRITISH COMMUNICATIONS INrAcr-LoRp
ARMsTRoNG's cAREER-s1ow
OCEAN MAILS.
toopyTight; 1900; BY The New-York TrisuneI
tBT CABLE THE TRTBuNF1
London. Dec 2S. a. m-General Kitchener
offers striking proof that the British lines of
communication are not seriously menaced bv
the Boer raiders He has suddenly reappeared
IN Pretoria after a flying journey to De Aar and
Naauwpoort, having passed In a single week up
and down the entire line of communications
without Of insecurity HIS message
tends 20 minimize the Importance of the raids
IN Cape Colony and 10 reveal the first objective
point Of his campaign. Knox's troopers are de-
scribed fighting with De Vets burghers at
Leeuw Kop and preventing his return south
ward to the Orange River. Some military writers
have been rashly assuming that De Wet would
merely be kept under observation and that
Knox's troopers would be diverted to the de-
fence Of Cape Colony. The pursuit Of the great
raider has not slackened. and he will be fol-
lowed until he is caught. Lord Kitchener
knows that the capture Of De Wet is the most
important result to be accomplished, since Botha
and Delarey viii hold out as long as their ally
is moving tb4 veIdt and swooping down
upon isolated posts. Knox has received a rowing
commission to keep up the chase and wear out
& he cannot corner or entrap the fox.
The statement that General ColviIe has been
requested to resign his command OF an infantry
brigade at Gibraltar is attracting much atten-
ton. Colvile 81 will be remembered, went out
10 South Africa in command OF the First Bri-
gade Of Methuen's Division. Rightly wrongly,
he was blamed by nearly all correspondents
for not moving more quickly to the aid of Colonel
Broadwood on the occasion of the ambuscade at
Sannas Post. and he accused of not march
ing 70 the assistance of the Imperial Yeomanry
when the Lindley affair occurred Shortly after
ward he left South Africa and received the
command Of an infantry brigade at Gibraltar.
The Times says the natural inference is that
Lord Lansdowne took a not unfavorable view
OF General Colvile's conduct and Mr.. Brodrick
finds himself unable TO agree with his prede-
cessor-
Lord Armstrong; death at the ripe old age Of
ninety was not unexpected, for he had been
ailing several months. He baron without
issue and, in addition to immense business
interests at Elswick, owned estate Of
10000 ceres and a splendid collection Of pict-
ures at Cragside. Art collectors greatly in
terested In the disposal Of these art treasures
which include AIfllais's "Jephtha's Daughter" and
best landscape. Chill October" and important
works by Turner Constable. Willkie, Rossetti
Muller and LinneIl Although he nominal
head Of the Elswick Board the shipyards and
gun works have been managed by his associates
during the last ten years. His career was a re-
markabie instance OF a wrong choice of a pro-
fession in youth. for he was educated for the
bar and practised law fifteen years before be-
coming engineer inventor and electrician. His
London club was the Athen@um. where he was
seldom
The Duke Of Norfolk headed band OF over
two hundred English pilgrims who started for
Rome yesterday. It has been alleged that he
IS paying the travelling expenses Of the bulk of
this party. but this is absurd. The cost Of the
journey and stay in Rome has been cheapened
by tourist agents until the figures almost
the lowest on record for Continental travel
Cardinal Vaughan will join the pilgrims in Rome
and the Pope Will receive and address them.
The reviewers are holding solemn inquest
upon the year and century. The daily press is
overweighted with elaborate essays on the prog
ress Of art, science literature. drama, society,"
politics. trade and industry during the hundred
years No expert has yet undertaken to write
a critical retrospect OF steam navigation, and
the conditions this week are not favorable for
optimism The White Star, Cunard and Ameri-
can lines are rivalling one another in putting on
the sIowest ships possible for carrying the mails
70 New-York. Nine ten days must be allowed
for every mail steamer outward bound this week
for New-York Passenger traffic is SO light that
the lines consider IL necessary 10 save expense
and lay up their fast ships for repairs, and the
mail service is left to shift for itself. There is
strong argument for more liberal payments for
mail carriage. with compulsory clauses in the
contracts for the employment Of fast ships.
NF.