Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-17
THE WAR NOT OVER.
England Considers Roberts's Assertion
 Premature

Premature.
 LONDON, Dac. 1T.-I.ord Salisbury and his colleagues must today feel great ly relieved that parliament was prorogued Saturday. A grim irony now attaches to Lord Roberts description of the war as 'over." fl -Gesterday the war office for the first time in many months remained open |, throughout Sunday in response to the demand of public anxiety to learn the latest news.
 Lord Kitchener is reported to have sent a fresh and urgent request to the govern ment to send out every available mouht- ed man. With General De Wet again escaping through the British cordon in the neighborhood of Thabanchu, the seri- ous affairs at Vryheid and Zastron and the Magaliesburg disaster confronting the British people, they may well begin to ask, as they do why Lord Roberts is allowed to come home.
 The colonial office announces it's deci- sion to enlist 5000 men instead of the 1000 previously asked to be recruited in Great Britain for General Baden Powell's consta bulary, which shows that recruiting in South Africa is less active than had been anticipated.
 Dispatches from Lourenco Marques assert that all the Boer forces are plenti- fully supplied with ammunition, but ter ribly in want of food and clothing.
 Mr. Kruger, at The Hague, received tIr. William T. Stead yesterday. MT. Stead urged him to continue his tour of Europe and to go to America. The Boer statesman listened attentively. but de- clined to commit himself by any definite statement. It is reported that he is about to remove from his hotel to pri- yate residence, as though contemplating prolonged stay at The Hague. , Lord Roberts, now returning to Eng land on board the Canada, did not go ashore at St. Helena, though the steamer touched there.
 Ninety troopers, members of the Sev- enteenth lancers, stationed at Ballincol- liz. were arrested yesterday for insuh. ordination. They were about to start for South Africa and were annoyed al not being allowed license to carouse.
 Wiring yesterday, Lord Kitchener, after announcing that the released Magalies berg prisoners have arrived at Rusten berg, says that the Boer force divided into two portions. one moving south anC the other west.
 The following dispatch, dated Pre- toria, Dec. 15, has been received by tho war office from Lord Kitchener: Five officers and 316 men. Magalies berg prisoners, have been released.
 The Boers surrounded and captured | 12O of Brabant's horse in defle in thu Zastron district.
 | Colonel Bloomfield. moving on Nry l held, defeated the Boers with heav. loss. driving them from Scheepers nel and capturing q quantity of arms. Tn l Scheeper's nek movement occurred Dec 1 13.
 The Boers who attacked Nryheid Dec | 10 lost 100 killed and wounded befor they retired. The fighting lasted all day the enemy drawing off at 80 p. m. Tn British loss was 6 killed. 19 wounded am 90 missing. Our casualties included tw officers who died of their wounds.'
 The following particulars of the disas ter to Clements force have been re ceived:
 Clements brought in his force to Con mando nek unopposed. The casualtie were heavy. Killed, officers and c other ranks; missing, IS officers and 5 of other ranks. These latter were fou companies of the Northumberland fus Hers, who were stationed on the hill, an some yeomanry and other details ser up to support them. Names and natuI of wounds are being telegraphed frol Cape Town.
 Broadwood's brigade took no part i the engagement The Boers suffered s | verely.
 Knox drove De Wet north to the Tn; banchu-Ladybrand line, which was hel by the British troops. De Vets fore about 5000 strong, made several I tempts to get through during the da assisted by force of Boers operatir from the north. These attacks were T. pulsed, though some of the Boers fro the south were able to get through u line.
 While passing the lines in the neig borhood of Thabanchu De Vets for lost considerably. The South Africe Light horse and Thornycroft's Mountt infantry captured a 15 pounder, taken Dewetsdorp; a pompon, several wagol with ammunition, 22 prisoners and son horses and mules. A portion of the en my has not been able to pass north.
 The secretary of state for war, M William St. John Brodrick. has appoir ed committee to deal with the questi, of war office reform. The commit will consider the system of contracts al the possibility of further decentralizatit and more expeditions working IT chairman of the committee is Mr. Cli ton EGverd Dawkins of the firm of J. | Morgan A Co.