New-York tribune., 1900-08-01
SURPRISES MULTIPLY.
BRITISH PUBLIC .IADED By
STARTLING NEWS.
END OF SOUTH AFRICAN WAR NEAR
DANGER IN ADVANCE on CHI
NESE CAPITAL
Copyright. 1890: BY The New-Tork Tribune.I
IBY CABLE To The TRI8UNEI

IBT CABLE To TIE TRI8UNEI
London, Aug 1. L a. m.-What is ordinarily
the silly season OF London Journalism is ap-
preached this year with many signs Of insensi-
bility the part OF the jaded and overwrought
public. The unexpected death Of the Duke OF
Saxe-Coburg, the always popular sailor Prince
in England. although ne preferred 10 end his
career in minor German court, was announced
on the day when an Address to the Crown was
moved in both houses OF Parliament the
monstrous crime of the Italian assassin, which
has excited indignation and adherence through
the world; and the closing scenes of the war in
South Africa. with simultaneous operations in
as many as five fields. passing almost
without observation. and certainly without crit
ical knowledge because public attention has
been overstrained by uncertainties and ankle
ties in China One startling surprise has fol-
lowed another in this ammo mirabiu until news
paper readers have grown listless and Indifferent
witnesses to current history.
The campaign in South Africa is now closely
connected with China, for the speedy surrender
of the Beers will enable the British Government
TO take more decisive line IN the impending
conflict than it has been following. There IS
probably no truth in the current report that
Lord Roberts has telegraphed to Lord Lans-
downe that the war Will be speedily brought TO
an end. for the War Office has 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 Parliament that the close OF hostili-
ties is in sight.
HUNTERS CAPTURE NIAGNIFIED.
Only about one thousand burghers. with a
single gun, are reported officially as having sur
rendered to General Hunter in the Caledon VAL
ley. but the Harrismith and Vrede commanders
will probably be brought in with the remaining
artillery. The number Of prisoners is not likely to
exceed three thousand, since there are many
desertions. The collapse OF the Free State
forces will be complete when General De Wet
and Mr.. Steyn surrounded and compelled to
surrender, and to General Botha has been cred
| tied the intention of giving up the fight when
his allies are dispersed
Lord Roberts has recalled General HamiIton's
| column to Pretoria, either 10 reinforce Colonel
| Broadwood or to relieve General Baden-Poweu
| and General French is either halting at MiddeI-
! burg until Sir Redvers Butler can send a divi-
| sion northward through ErmeIo or is pushing on
! to Koomatpoort. General Baden-Poweu 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 a speedy close OF hos
| tilities in the TransvaaI and the release OF a
large British army for service in China
The British Cabinet met yesterday at short
notice and. without doubt. discussed the new
! aspect of the Chinese question This is the
! made of the foreign legations and refugees as
| hostages. This fact has been bluTted out by II
| Hung Chang. and is clearly stated in a dis
| patch received from Rome. where the Chinese
! Government is expected to order the foreigners
10 leave Peking at once if an advance TO the
capital be attempted.
| PERIL OF THE LEGATIONS.
Whatever may be the view OF the state De-
| partment at Washington. the officials here are
| convinced that the Chinese Government, under
the guse of protection offered TO the legations. is
| seeking TO hold back the allied forces until
| terms of peace can he settled on basis Of 1nan-
/ ciaI indemritIes- The legations will be exposed
to attack from regular troops or from the
Boxers if the allied army advances from Tfen-
Tsin. The Chinese have six hundred hostages.
whose blood will be declared to be on the heads
of the advancing battalions and hence It will
be dangerous for army to march Peking
until the foreigners have been delivered from
their critical position
Press dispatches yesterday were meagre, the
most important point being the announcement
on Chinese authority that the legations were
safe July "a The situation is one which
requires firm action and sound judgment. The
drouth enables the allied army 10 move toward
Peking during q season when the district is
ordinarily flooded, but the Chinese Government
is protecting itself against aggressive action BY
exposing six hundred foreigners TO the menace
os fatal attack. and meanwhile is ordering up
reinforCements from various provinces. includ-
ing the Black Flags. the worst rufians and
criminals in the empire. 1. n. F.