The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-01
LONDON INDIFFERENT.
Public Paying Little Attention to
South African or Chinese News.

New York, Aug. What is ordinari-
~ the silly season of London journal
ism is approached this year with many
signs OF insensibility on the part of the
Jaded and overwrought public, says the
LONDON correspondent OF the Tribune.
The unexpected death of the duke of
Saxe-Coburg, the always popular sailor
prince in England, although he prefer
red to end his career in a minor Ger
man court, was announced on the day
when an address to the crown was
moved in both houses of parliament on
the monStrOuS crime of the Italian as
SaSS1n which has excited indignation
and abhorrence through the world; and
the closing scenes of the war in South
Africa with simultaneous operations in
as many as five fields, are passing al
most without observation and certainly
without critical knowledge because
public attention has been overstrained
by uncertainties and anxieties in China
The campaign in South Africa is now
closely connected with China, for the
speedy surrender of the Beers will en-
able the British government to take a
more decisive line in the impending
conflict than it has been following.
There is probably no truth in the cur
rent report that Lord Roberts has tele-
graphed to Lord Lansdowne that the
war will be speedily brought to an end,
for the war office has a remarkable
talent for keeping it's secrets and Lord
Roberts, is not in the habit of forecasting
events There is, however, a strong
conviction among the members of par
Lament that the close of hostilities is
in sight.
Only about one thousand burghers,
with a single gun, are reported officially
as having surrendered to Gen. Hunter
in the Caledon valley, but the Harrismith
and Vrede commands will probably be
brought in, with the remaining artillery.
The number of prisoners is not likely
to exceed 5000, since there are many
assertions. The collapse of the Free
q wi % W
De Wet and Mr.. Steyn are surrounded
and compelled to surrender, and to Gen.
Botha has been credited the intention
of giving up the fight when his allies
are dispersed.
Lord Roberts has recalled General
Hamilton's column to Pretoria. either
to reinforce Colonel Broadwood or to re-
lieve General Baden-PoWell and Genera
French is either hating at Middleburg
until Sir Redvers Butler can send a di-
vision northWard through Ermelo or is
pushing on to Koomattipoort. General
Baden-Powel and Lord Methuen have
an enemy in considerable force to fight
west of Pretoria, and General De Wet
is dangerous until he is caught, but
there is a clearing prospect for speedy
close of hostilities in the Transvaal and
the release of a large British army for
service in China.
The British cabinet met yesterday at
short notice, and, without doubt, dis
cusSed the new aspect or the Chinese
question. This is the use made of the
tages. This fact has been blurted out
by Ii Hung Chang, and is clearly stated
in a dispatch received from Rome, where
the Chinese government is expected to
order the foreigners to leave Pekin at
once if an advance to the capital be
attempted.
Whatever may be the view of the state
department at Washington, the officials
here are convinced that the Chinese gov
eminent, under the guiSe of protection,
offered to the legations, is seeking to hold
back the allied forces until terms of
peace can be settled on a basis of flnan-
cial indemnities. The legations will be
posed to an attack from regular troops
or from the boxers if the allied army adj
vances from Tien Tsin. The Chinese have
500 hostages, whose blood will be declared
to be on the heads of the advancing bat
talions, and hence it will be dangerous for
an army to march on Pekin until the for
eigners have been delivered from their
critical position.
Press dispatches yesterday were mea gre,
nOuncement Chinese authorities that
the legations were safe July "a. The
situation is one which requires firm ac-
ton and sound judgment. The drouth en-
ables the allied army to move toward Pc
kin during a season when the district is
eminent is protecting itself against
aggressive action by exposing 900 foreign
ers to the menace of fatal attack, and
meanwhile is ordering up reinforcements
from various provinces, including the
Black Flags, the worst ruffians and GRIM
inals in the empire.
your family is late getting off for
your summer trip.