The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-31

the armies in the field seem to Indicate
that the relief OF Ladysmith has been
abandoned for the present and that
concentration Of the British forces for
an invasion is progressing. In addition
to Gen. Kelly Kennys movement, Gen.
Brabant. chief Of the Cape colonies, has
arrived at Sterkstroom.
The natives report that three Boer
guns have been removed from spytfon-
tein to Kimberly The Beers are appar-
emily making special effort TO reduce
the place quickly The Kimberly gar
rlson was safe last Sunday.
A blue book was issued yesterday re-
lating to South Africa and covering the
/ period from March last to the present
month. The most interesting feature is
a letter from Sir Alfred Miner to Mr..
/ Chamberlain, dated Nov. 30, In which he
/ says:
j Il have always regarded a war with
/ the republics as a very formidable war,
/ indeed owing TO the colossal arrange
ments of the Transvaal. In viw Of these
l cannot but anticipate a terrible strug-
gle-the last thing in the world to which
or any man in the world could look for
ward otherwise than with the gravest
solicitude,"
In the course Of the same letter, Sir
Alfred Miner describes the Transvaal
as a huge arsenal"
1t is also worthy Of note that on Aug
ust q. he wrote to Mr.. sshrener, the
cape premier, saying;
Like yourself l do not expect war"
SCARCITY OF NEWS.
LONDON. JAN. 3i.-spencer wnkin-
son, reviewing the military situation, in
the Morning Post says
Here is again remarkable scarcity
Of information about what is taking
place in the theatre Of war. There must
be more than 100 war correspondents at
the front. but the are kept silent"
LONDON. JAN. SO-The seventh ses-
sion Of the fourteenth parliament Of
Queen Victoria opened at 2 y. m after
the customary formalties.
The gentleman usher of ne black Roo
Sir M. s. Biddulph. summoned the com
mons to the house OF lords at 2:oj p. m.
of which the lord high chancellor, Ear
Halsbury read the queens speech. whlcl
was as follows;
my Lords and Conference.-The peac'
which has recently been broken in soutl
Africa when last / addressed you, has
unhappily not been restored, but othe-
wise my relations with other states haY
been friendly. In resisting the invasion
of my South African colonies by tn
African republic and Orange Free Sta,es
my people have responded with devotion
aEd enthusiasm TO the appeal which
have made to them. and the heroisn o
. my soldiers in the field and my soldier
4 and marines who were landed 10 cooper
ate with them has not fallen short Of tn
. noblest traditions OF our military histor3
i 81 am deeply grieved that so ma
=. valuable lives should have fallen as a sac
= rince. blt I have Witnessed with rrld
2 and with heatriest qualification the pat
q riotic eagerness and spontaneous loyalC
5 with which my subjects In all parts %
my domains have come forward to sEar
IN the common defnse OF their Of thci
Imperial interests. ] am confident that
shall not look { othem In vaan when ] eX
hort then 10 sustain and renew their *
ertions until they have brought TIN
struggle for the maintenance Of the elu
pire and the assertion OF IT'S uspremacy s
South Africa 10 a victorious conclusion
"A treaty has been concluded with th
German emperor for the adjustment e
the rights claimed Boy the two countrit
claimed IN Samoa, Tonga and other IS
ands On the Pacific. To a portion OF thes
stipulatons the government Of the TINT
"a stntes has also been a party bl
wil be introduced al an early daio
give effect TO the scheme Of federation
which has been adopted by most caref
consideration by FIVE OF mg Australia
colonies.
80 i have watched with cordial satisfa
ton the gradual growth OF my great
" colonies into self-government commur
~ ties. ] feel confident that the establis
- = ment ~ the great federation OF Austr
!. lia win prove advantageous not only
the colonies Immediately concerned, b
4 also 20 the empire az large.
'erhe brilliant courage and soMierh
IL qualities OF thf colonial forces engaged
South Africa have already earned hi
IL admiration and patriotic offers % ass