The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-17

But hort nm6 be fex9 <he 1oiioMl18 an
nouncemeDt was ma d e:ss; ie,s
acting upoht tls dy!ss 6t the naiiitary
authorities Her Ma4ea{ Af0ysrn1m ent snas ls
"Ail the remainfnR pofkio OF the army
reserve. Including SectioH IL. are, called
out. The Seventh .ptylsit hichis being
mobilizsd, will rroceed 20, fSout H i1Sca
without delay. The GommanderJn5{}e g;
in South Africa has been authortx9a )
continue to raise at his discretion &
troops, mounted, - ~ "a
"Nine battaIIons OF militia in addition
to two battalions which have already vol
unteered for service at Malta and one foi
service In the Channel Islands, will be at.
lowed to volunteer for service outside OF the
United Kingdom; and an equivalent mum.
Der OF militia battallons will be embodied
,or service at home.
"a strong force OF volunteers, selected
from the yeomanry regiments, will be
formed for service in South Africa.
Arrangements are being made, and will
shortly be announced, for the employment
In South Africa OF strong contingent OF
carefully selected volunteers. The pa.
trIotic offers which are being received from
the colonies will, 80 far as possible, be ac-
eepted, preference being given to o1ers OF
mounted contingents."
These startling orders mean that almost
the whole strength OF the British Empire
will be thrown into South Africa. The
mobilization OF the troops will be pushed
with the greatest possible speed and tho
fastest ships from the British mercantile
marine viii be used to hurry the forces to
the Cape. It is calculated that these re.
endorsements will begin to reach South
Africa in about Ave weeks.
Meantime, the original campaign will
be abandoned aud general policy OF mark
time will be adopted by the commanders
of the forces now in the field. All the indica.
tions now point to the beginning OF great
campaign late in January. Meantime Ia.
dysmith, Kimberley and Mafoking must
wait. Their situation Is perilous, but &C.
cording to all accounts there is no serious
danger that famine will be added to theii
other sufferings.
The news OF Great Britain's tremendous
PREPARATIONS may spur the Beers Into seri.
Gus aggression before the fresh British
troops arrive, but thus far they have shown
no desire to attack entrenched forces, while
the British disasters have been caused by
LUST that thing.
General Butler reports to the War ONCE
that bis losses were: Killed, 80; wounded.
667; missing, 348; total OF 1887.
The Times, commenting on the situation
says:
ssNelther the Crimean war nor the Indiar
mutinY gave rise to greater dangers to tho
empire than that with which we are now
menaccd; nor at either OF those critical
periods was Great Britain soisola.ed potiti.
cally, or regarded with such dislike and
suspicion 5as are now almost everywhere
apparent. We are fighting not merely for
supremacyin South Africa, but for our
position as great power. We know we
have miscalculated the strength OF our foe,
and we are resolved to make that mtscal-
eulatlon good"
The Liberal organs foreshadow serious
reckoning for the government When tne
time comes. The Daily Chronicle hints
that General Sir William Butler, who was
recalled from the Cape command because
Of his Boer sympathles. long ago advised
the Government that the prosecution OF
Mr.. Chamberlain's policy would make
heavy relnforcements for tue Cape tmpera'
tive,