The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-16
ALI ENdANDIS appalled,
At LATEST BRITISH REVERSE
British, With 100000 Men, Unable to Suppress
Handful of Fighting Beers Under
the Willy De Wet

LONDON, Dee. 15.-The astounding and
utterly unexpected reverse of the British
at MaSalicsburg, the news of which was
broken TO the nation exactly one year
after Gen. Buffers defeat at Colenso, eff
fcctuallE disposes of any hope that the
war in South Africa is nearly ended and
completely abated the hope that opera
lions there We're merely of a guerrilla
nature
AS Mr.. Lloyd-George OiberaD said in
the house OF commons today: This is
one of the most severe reverses suffered
by the British and it is quite evident the
war will drag for many months to come
De Wet is making England the laughing
stock OF the world. We have 100000 men
in the field, yet we are unable tC protect
ourselves from disaster at the hands Of
small commanders drawn from a pas
toral populations"
The extent of the reverse and the dis
grace of such a large BODY of men sur
rendering to a small contingent of Beers
has created a feeling of shame and as
constituent which finds free vent With
somewhat cruel coincidence the North
understands are known as the fighting
Fifth" The second battalion to which
the captured companies belong was one
of the heaviest sufferers at Stormburg
year agd. The regiment has, often been
pronounced by home and foreign critics
to be one of the finest in the British
army.
Ali the forebodings and criticisms
which ColensO gave rise to 4 year ago
have been resurrected by the disaster at
the Magaliesburg The war office has
nothing to do but grin and bear it, and
trust to time. Until Gen. kitchener's
forces are transformed into mounted in
fartry and the mounted police get to
work Mr.. Broderick secs little hope Of
Improvement in the military situation
But, whoever was responsible Tor the
surrender at the Magaliesburg is likely
to suffer, for the new war office officials
are determined to make examples of ge1-
erals or any other officers guilty Of such
gross mismanagement or worse. which II
seems must have occurred at this last de-
feat. The stern attitude on the part OF
the authorities, however, by no means
decreases. the ScOrn and ignOminy with
which certain Liberal members of par
lament who are avowedIy pleased with
! the Boer successes, are regarded by the
major part Of the community. at pro-
( Boer meeting on Friday, at which Leon.
ard Courtney presided Lord Kitchener $
| name was greeted with cries of ''Villainr
| Butcher '"Beastr' while mention of
tSteYn and De Wet elected loud cheers.
LIBERALS UNPOPULAR.
The Pail Mall Gazette today editoriallS
declares that such men as COurtnery
Bryn- Roberts and Lloyd-George ought t.
be put i'll Coventry, and be not.~snoke1
TO by any self-respecting Englishman
The .expedient, severe as it is, is likely t.
meet with approval in all quarters n0
excluding the moderate Liberal journals
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman the
Liberal leader in the house of commons
does not escape criticism for tacitly per
hitting his alleged followers to take VI
such an avowedly anti-Brit.sh attitude
CANAL IS FORGOTTEN.
| In view OF events in South Africa, it i,
| scarcely surprising that the public re.
| fuses to be cajoled into taking a burnin.
| interest in the Nicaraguan canal, in spite
| of the special American cable dispatches
| which broke the records for length an(