Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-03-02
WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
Summary of the Dispatches from Africa
Tha; Electrified an Empire.

II
| London. March 2.-The dispatches
that set the British empire, to rejoicing
| yesterday We're brief, but they told
| the people what they had been want
| ing TO hear for MANY days. The first
| one was very brief-simply state
lnent from Butler, that DundOnald's ;
| mounted force had entered LadySmith
| and that there wer,.7nO Beers between
Butler and Ladysmuh.
Than came Il longer cable stating
| that nearly the whole Boer army had
retired in hot haste from the siege of
LadySmith: that the garrison was on
| half Il pound of meal a man per day
and Supplementing the meat ration by
horses and mules; and that the men
will want n little nursing before being
lit for the field This was the dis
Patch read in the commons. beginning
Il have just returned from Lady
smith,
Bur the news from Butler was not
the only good news the war office gave
out. y telegram from Roberts an
nounced the occupation on Feb. 2S of
ColeSberg. the British being received
there with great enthusiasm. In addi-
ton news was received from Mafeking
stating that the Beers made Il severe
and prOtracted assault on Feb. II, but
We're driven off ut all points. The
truce which is usually observed Sun
days was broken on the 18th 10y anoth-
or fierce attack, but after determined
fighting the Beers were repulSed with
loss of forty killed and wounded. The
defenders. who We're able To take ad-
vantage of the shelter of carthworls.
los, only two killed and three
wounded
one of the happieSt women i'm Emo
land Yesterday was Lady white. 'wlre
of the commander ut Ladysmith. Lady
White. in Il message in reply to con-
gratulationS. SAYS: ''All the world is in
sympathy with me today. and l ann in
sympathy with all the world. l am
delighted Al the joyful news of the re-
lief and am happy ut the intelligence
that my husband is well ana safe ut
last. AS Il wife | can say no more.
What happy wife could say more?'
All over the United Kingdom the
London scenes were duplicated. At
Glasgow. Liverpool. Birmingham,
Edinburgh and. i'll fact, in all the cities,
big and little. flags were flying every
where. whistles footed. bells chimed
and crowds paradcd the streets sing
ing patriotic songs. business was given
UP for the day. the schools were
closed. In the harhOrS all the vessels
dressed ship and at the military and
naval depOtS scenes of the widest
enthusiasm prevailed. The queen has
teleGraphed her congratulations 10
General Butler ana General White and
the Prince of Wales has telegraphed
his cougra tulationS rD General Butler.
One striking feature of the rejoicing
was the great number of American
hagS intertwined with the British. At
II o'clock. when the theatres and mu-
sic halls poured forth thousands. the
jubilatiOn was rpdoublcd. In Trafalgar
square every available inch of space.
including the plinth of lions at Mel
sons column. WAS occupied by Il
surging. singing cheering crowd. All
Joined in singing God Save the
Queen" applauding every reference to
Roberts. Butler. White. Baden-POwell
and the rest. The scene at this point
was almost without precedent and is
not likely Ia be forgotten 10y those who
witnessed il. y smaller but almost
equally striking demonstration oc-
curred in the vicinity of ST. Paul'S
churchyard earlier in the evening. when
the famous peal of bells was rung i'll
honor of the occasion.
y Calcutta dispatch says that all
over India rejoicing was reported. In
fact. wherever the British ensign
flOated the people We're cheering yes
terday. the cheers following the IA
nous drum-roll around the globe.