The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-09


especially ri those regiments YOU spec
w. and OF the accompl .shmCnt OF your
arduous march"
General Butler told the men that
they ought not - think because they
had retired from their position that all
their work was OF no avail. On the
contrary, In his opinion they had gain
ed the key TO the road 10 Ladysmith.
in which he hoped to be within n
week
General Butler then called for cheers
for the Queen, which were heard for
miles around.
Fleet Mobilization Rumored.
LONDON. Feb. LIN the naval cir
cles OF Portsmouth there is n strong
impression that before long the Gov
eminent will mobilize reserve squad
ron and commission several cruisers
to be added to 1t. This impression Is
borne out by the fact that naval Off
GERS who are unemployed have been
notified to hold themselves in readiness
to proceed on active service at short
notice.
All the work on ships in hand at
Portsmouth is being pushed with all
speed Only the most necessary re-
pairs on several 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
a sign that some important step may
be taken The squadron remains for
ten days or fortnight at Bantry and
then proceeds to Suda Bay or Gibral-
tar.
Under these circumstances, and in
view of the fact that with the depart
ure of the Eighth Division and Fourth
Cavalry Brigade. Great Britain would
be practically denuded of troops, the
steps taken by the Admiralty have
much meaning. Under ordinary cir
cumstances the ships of the channel
squadron, which have been refitting at
Portsmouth, DevCnpcrt and Chatham
would leave about this time for their
usual spring cruise. The Admiralty
recognizes the defenseless condition Of
the country and the squadron will pro-
coed to Ireland for a short cruise, so as
TO be near at hand in case of need.
In the meantime it is likely that the
reserve squadron would be mobilized
ready to stand sentinel at Portland
when Vice Admiral Rawson takes his
powerful fleet from Ireland to Gibral-
tar, its usual rendezvous when politi-
cal clouds gather.
supplemental Casualty List.
LONDON, Feb. /. a. m.-The sup
Elemental lists of casualties fill two
columns in nonpareil type in the
morning papers, making 1900 report
ed thus far from General Buffers OPP
erations north of the Tugela. The
Daily Chronicle estimates that the to-
ia, exceeds 1000. The 40 per cent loss
at Spion Kop is greater than any Brit
ish force ever suffered, except possibly
at Albuera, Spain, in 1911.
The Admiralty has warned all half
pay naval officers to hold themselves
in readiness for service This, with
the fact that able seamen not thor
oughly experienced have been with
drawn from the Channel squadron, is
taken to indicate the early mobiliZa-
ton of the reserve fleet, especially "a"
division.
May Flood Ladysmith.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-The correspond
ent of the Times at Lourenzo Maruuez.
telegraphing yesterday, says: "Infor-
nation has been received here from
the Transvaal that the War Depart
ment, convinced that it would be use
less to storm Ladysmith and that the
commandment will continue ineffect-
i've, has decided upon change of tao
tics Huge quantities of timber and
sandbags and hundreds of Kaffirs have
been sent from johannesburg and Pre-
toria for the purpose of damming Kiln
river some miles below Ladysmith, the
idea being to flood the town and to
drive the soldiers and inhabitants out
OF the bombproof caves, so as to ex-
pose them to shell fire.
The Portuguese authorities arc at
last exercising stricter surveillance.
The Governor has notified the Consuls
that they must personally guarantee
that applicants for passports are not
going to assist the Boer army before
passports will be granted. 1t Is ru-
mored that he has also conveyed
mint to Herr Pott, the Transvaal Con-
sui, of serious consequences If he con-
tinues to infringe the neutrality of the
port"
Butler Holds On.
CAPE TOWN, Tuesday, Jan. 30
General Butler still holds the Tugela
drifts, and will possibly renew his at
tempt to force his way through the |
Boer defenses before long. In any |
case, Ladysmith is capable of holding |
out for a considerable time.
The Queens Speech.
LONDON. Jan. SO.-The seventh
session of the Fourteenth Parliament
of Queen Victoria opened at p. M,
after the customary formalities. The
Speaker, William Court Gully, arrived
a. the House OF Commons at 1853 D. m.
There was a large attendance of mem