Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-01
KITCHENER TO LEAD.
Lord Roberts Retires from South Af-


 LONDON, Dec, 1.-The war office an nounces that Lord Roberts handed over the command of the British troops ip South Africa Thursday to Lord kitch= ener.
 IL is further announced that the queen approves Lord kitchener's promotion to lieutenant general, with the rank of gen eral while in cominand i'll South Africa.
 4 lieutenant general is the next highest rank to a general in the British army. Lord Kitchener is the youngest lieutel- ant general in the British army. He was born ill 1850 and entered the army ill 1871. He was created baron about two years ago for destroying the mahdi's pow CT in the Sudan
 From Durban, Natal. comes the report that Lord Roberts is due to arrive at Merchandising Dec. f and should ar. rive there Dec. 6.
 There is virtually no fresh news from South Africa this morning, but the re- tirement of Lord Wolseley. the return of i Lord Roberts and the appointment of Lord Kitchener to the supreme command occurring as they do simultaneously, are lleenly discussed. Despite some misgiv- ings hearty approval is generally express ed of Lord Kitchener's appointment. It l is felt that if any one can clear up mat ters in South Africa he is the man. and it is readily admitted that the task be- fore him, though of q different kind, is almost as difficult as that which faced | Lord Roberts ten months ago and is cal cnlated to give the fullest scope to all Of l Kitchener's talents as an organizer, The Morning Post hints broadly that l the recent. demand Of Lord Roberts for re-ehfereenents has not been complied with and insists that Lord Kitchener's hands must not be tied by any lack of men or horses. II says:
 If re-enforeements are withheld CT de- | layed. Lord Kitchener may be paralyzed. with what conseQuences to the empire no l one can foresee. From 30,000 to 50000 men are required"
 1 All the editorials dwell with considera- ble emotion on the nations debt of grati- tude to Lord Roberts, who has success 1 fully piloted us through one Of the dark l est hours of our history i From Cape Town come indications of 1 the uneasiness felt. All military posts throughout Cape Colony are being strengthened Rioemfontein is now. pro- pared for any possible attack. Extra scouts are out, and guards watch the streets in the night time. Mines have been laid along the railway. The gar risons on the Orange river drifts are be | ing increased
 The Statist proposes that the govern l ment should begin negotiations with Commandart General Botha and Gen eral De Wet to bring the war to close 1 As the Boer leaders might misunder | stand the motive of oyeiture from the military authorities, it suggests that tine highest civil authority in South Aries | should begin the negotiations-if not Sil i Alfred Miner. then the chief justice o1 Cape Colony or even If J. H. Hof myer.
 This great financial journal leads up te it's proposal by an an1lysis ef the situa I tien in South Africa and says:
 We are losing in every way-losing 1T | prestige and losing in trade. We are seeing our South African possessions | plunged into greater and greater distress and the opinion is gaining ground abroad that We are incapable of bringing the | struggle to q satisfactory termination"