Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-01

New York, Feb. i.-London papers
have little news from South Africa to-
day and there is not much comfort In
that little except that the beleaguered
garrison OF Ladysmith did not despair
when they learned Of Gen. Buffers Sec
ond reverse, but were still hopeful and
determined. The public does not believe
that Gen. Buffers army is capable Of
relieving Ladysmith SO the talk OF a
fresh movement does not inspire here.
II Is not true, as has been reported. that
Gen. Butler has Withdrawn all his
troops south Of the Tugela. His big
guns were still at Mount Alice on Sun
day. with Lyttletons brigade covering
them.
According TO the latest information
the retirement from Spion Kop was in
evltable. When reinforcements and a
few guns arrived during the night the
position still held by the British forces
was so confined that the various regi-
ments Were huddled together and 1t was
impossible I'm the darkness 10 make
proper arrangements 20 meet the storm
OF shell and bullets that the daylight
would bring upon them.
The campaign In Cape Colony does
not develop rapidly. The iloers at
Colesburg, steynburg. and Stormburg
seem TO be content II they can keep
the British troops In check while Cronje
operates between Modder river and
Kimberley, holding Methuen quiet
while the Beers lombard the diamond
city.
Dr. Leyds' popularity in Berlin
seems TO be worrying the London pa
pers. He is 10 hold another confer
ence with Count Won Buelow, the Ger
man foreign minister
The alarm over the alleged defense
lessness OF the British Isles increases.
The London Daily Telegraph publishes
a disDatch from Portsmouth saying:
I'm the naval circles Of Portsmouth
there Is strong impression that be-
fore long the government win mobilize
the reserve squadron and commission
several cruisers 10 be added 10 II.
This impression Is borne out by the fact
that the naval officers who are unem-
ployed have been notified 10 hold them
selves In readiness 10 proceed on active
service az short notice.
THE work on ships In handat Ports
mouth is being pushed with all speed.
only the most necessary repairs on sew
eral cruisers now refitting have been
taken In hand.
That the channel squadron should
AT the last moment have been retained
IN British waters instead OF being sent
direct TO Gibraltar is also considered
n SIGN that some important step may
he taken. The squadron remains for
IA faslN 81 10. 4
then proceeds 10 Suda Bay or Gibral-
tar
All this. too at a time when the tone
Of the continental press Is not more
hostile toward England than Il has
been for years: when no threat against
England is heard In Russia or Ger
many or even In France.
Charles Pierce, consul general for the
Orange Free state, says:
II believe that that man who went TO
one OF the armories here In Manhat-
tan and said he had sent 300 men from
Washington 10 the Trsnsvaal and that
he proposed 90 send 800 more from here,
Is fakir. No one has gone there from
this country. 10 my knowledge, unless
he paid bis own way and left here az
n private individual. know that some
former army officers and surgeons
have gone because they have shown me
their tickets but cannot tell you
their names. These are the statements
I make 10 all inquirers and there are
many Of them:
First. any person wishing TO 60 10
South Africa must DO 30 as a private
Individual. as there 10 no enc in this