New-York tribune., 1900-01-20
Drii' anout six miles westerly, and included
Sprong Kop, the highest hill in the range
A TRUST IN BRITISH ARMS

A1AOoI TN BRITISH ARMS.
All bulletins from Cape Town and Durham
were inflated with guesswork but the undertone
was one OF confidence not apprehension. Cen
eiai warren was reported from Cape Town to
De within striking distance Of Ladysmith. which
was, OF course. true, but the enemy was in the
way and must first be beaten
The evening papers, even in 10 o'clock edi-
tions' added nothing to the stock of knowledge
The War Office was silent hour after hour and
frankly confessed that there was no news and
that nothing had been held back The newsbovs
shouting war editions in the streets as theatres
were emptying had nothing to offer except the
appointment of the Duke of Marlborough as
captain Of the Imperial Yeomanry.
Dense as were the clouds of uncertainty hang
ing over London, there were ftfuI flashes of
the excitement and pageantry of war The
'City's Own had gala day before sailing for
the Cape. About eight hundred volunteers re-
ceived at the Guildhall the honor of the freedom
of the city, and early In the evening marched
from Buckingham Gate to ST. PauIs for a fare
we'll service at the Cathedral, and thence to
supper at the Ancient Inns of Court They re-
turned at midnight with fife and drum to their
barracks and everywhere the streets were lined
with spectators cheering heartily as they passed
Battalions have gone as matter of military
obligation, but the volunteers with their modest
uniform, have caught the eyes of Londoners as
patriots of a peculiarly disinterested type.
THE NEWS AT MIDNIGHT.
The summary of news at midnight included
few points OF interest outside of the Tugela
Valley. with its mystery of victory or defeat.
Lord Roberts's early bulletin had recorded the
visit of Captain De Montmorency with a party
Of scouts TO a farm near Stormberg where
there was an exchange OF shots with the Beers
General French had also made an official re-
turn respecting the surprise of patrol of New
South Wales Lancers and had reported severe
losses by the enemy in the Colesberg opera
tions.
One of the incidents of the battle of Lady
smith, narrated at Cape Town. was an act of
treachery the part of the Boer assailants
which had exasperated the Border Mounted
Rifles and led to fierce onslaught upon the en-
emy Partial lists of the casualties among the
rank and file In that battle are now published
with similar lists of fever patients.
The activity of Lord Methuen's column con-
tinues, and the commander is reported to be in
good health.
Kimberley. by heliograph expresses anxiety
TO obtain war news and is silent about its food
supplies.
The Sixth Division is now massed in South
Africa, but there hints respecting the
probable scene of its operations.
Adelbert Hay has arrived at Cape Town and
Consul Macrum at Naples.
ACTION REGARDING SEIZURES.
The Ministerial statement in the Reichstag at
Berlin revealed the fact that vigorous protest
had been made against the seizure of German
ships at Delagoa Bay and that the British For
eign Office had acknowledged the duty of in
Identification for damages to shipping inter
ests, and had agreed TO modest vessels under
that flag little as possible in South African
waters.
The silence of the War Office respecting Cen
eral Buffers operations remained unbroken at
late hour. The extent of the concentration of
the forces each side also a we'll kept
apparently in the upper reaches of the river
General Harts being either with General War
rem or Sir Redvers Butler. Barton's brigade ap-
parently is left behind at Chieveley and Frere
camps, and the troops the line of communi-
cations have been moved up.
General Buffers movement is exposed to great
risks of counter attack, but he has taken pre-
cautions against a Boer hanking movement by
holding one brigade at Springfield. His strategi-
cal combination is full of brilliant PROMISE and
allows a wide range for General Whites CO.
operation, but he has willy antagonists with re-
sourceful European strategists behind them
I. N.F.