The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-01-24
IN SOUTH AFRICA,


for twenty-iour hours. The conclusion
deduced from this silence of the mill.
tary experts generally is that no decis.
i've blow has been struck either way, |
as, in such an event, there would be |
no necessity for silence.
The South African Cancellation COM |
mitiee, quietly formed to represent the |
peace minority, announces itself TO the |
country today and asks for support.
Among the members are Lord and
Lady Coleridge, Herbert Spencer, Ste
phen Gladstone, and many other nota-
BILE persons.
This movement should be distin-
guiahed from the "stop-.he-war" group
of extremist, of which William 7.
S.ead is the most active member. Its
program, summarized, is 10 wait until
proper opportunity arises for some
peaceable settlement. Meanwhile it
will gather and distribute correct infor-
nation and sound views. The mani
festo aflirms that "as the war was
begun amid MISUNDERSTANDING on both
sides, pacific settlement is possible"
There is no indication that such an
agreement would be tolerated by any
considerable part of the British public.
| IN dllOuul tlDOLlOD 10 EOW Ill u bldL6 vi
di,quiet over the reverses to British
arms; dissatisfaction with the con duct
of military business is intense and
there is an almost universal determine
ion 10 see the thing through.
Seventeen more militia battalions
will be embodied in the course of
fortnight. All the regulars are now
out of the country except Ia infantry
battalions and II battalions OF infantry.
The war Office has placed an order for
80 900 900 cartridges in cases.
HAMBURG, Jan. 1.-THE Hamburg
East African line has received tele-
gram from Durham saying all the
Bundesrath's cargo has been unloaded
aud found to agree with the ships
manifest. The prize court has not ar
rived at decision concerning the case.
The government is relaxing its eff
forts to send out reinforcements. The
war Office declines the offer of a third
battalion of Northamptonshire militia,
saying that no more militia will be
sent abroad. 1t seems probable that
only 5000 instead of 10000 yeomanry
will be modified.
An official telegram has been sent
to Berlin saying the British govern
ment has declared now that the inquiry
into the seizure of the Bundesrath is
concluded, her release is to be ex.
pected Immediately and satisfactory
settlement in the pending difficulties
may be regarded as certain. Measures,
it is added, will also be taken to pre-
vent the recurrence of similar Incl
dents.
SPRINGFIELD, Natal, Jan. II. Ode.
layed) Generals Butler and Warren
crossed the Tugela this evening, Bull
} Ter with the main column fording Pot.
gieters Drift, and Warren six miles
westward at Wagon drift. A howit.
{ ger battery, gotten across together with
, naval guns, was stationed at Lwart-
skop south river, commanding the ford.
The artillery effectively shelled the
Boer position north of Tugela, while
Butler was crossing. Warren forded
, Wagon Drift III gallant fashion, facing
a hot fire Of artillery and infantry
The BOers, however, made no deter.
3 mined resistance, and fell back firing
: on their main position. On the north
bank Warren's troops found the farm
uouse called Rhinocerfontein full
of the enemy, who had remained tC
Q harass the British. They fed on the
r approach of troops, after firing vol
ley. Warren later occupied position
: at Spionskop, opposite the Boer cen
i ter, five miles north of the river. A;
: yet the Beers have not replied TO the
British bombardment, but they evi
IDENTIFY are strongly entrenched.
: RENsBERG, Jan. II (delayed), =
. Nineteen of the New South Wa el
8 Lancers, patrolling today near Coles
berg, met force of sixty Beers, who
q pursued the Lancers. The latter rar
r to Kopje and prepared to defend them
selves, when more Beers appeared, sur
Q rounding them aud making resistance
= useless. Three Lancers escaped, two
o were killed and fourteen captured.
LONDON, Jan. 10 Military critics
= connected with the war office believ,
+ that the expected battle along the wide
: arc south and west of Ladysmith Cal
hardly be delayed beyond to-day. From
= Durham it is reported that fighting hal
!. already begun.
t Estimates of how many men ono
: guns the Beers have to oppose him ar
o mere guess work. In not replying L
, Gen. Lyttleton's shells they are usinG
5 the tactics that proved so successful il
s the battles of Magersfontein and Co
enso-lying low in their trenches ant
thus hoping to conceal their precise pc
r sition until the infantry advance.
!. The Capetown correspondent of thj
= Times, discussing Atrikander disloyal
= ty, says:
Il believe the sympathy of every
Dutchman in South Africa is with thu
two republics, and that general rising
: is still quite possible. The British fail
Q ures AMI the appearance of the Boer'
on British territory have fomented re
, bellion; but, even now decisive Brit
. ish victory would prevent its furthe