New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-18
PETTY WAR IN AFRICA.
BRITISH FORCES GIVING THE BoERs
NO REST
CLOSE OF HosTILTTIEs LOOKED FOR RI
THE END OF THE YEAR-THE CABINET
MEETING AND THE SESSION
OF PARLIAMENT
Copyright 1900: By The Ssw-York Tribune
Try r4RLE TO THE TE1BUNE-l


copyright, 1900 By The Nsw-York Trisu1"
Try CABLE TO THE TE1BrSE-l
London Nov. IS. A. M.-The guerilla Var-
fare in South Africa has become less forTni0an'e-
The centres OF hostile operations in Dutcn Ter
ritOry may have multiplied. but the Boer com
randers are thinning out from death. illness
and desertions The skirmishes recorded oa'Iy
by Lord Roberts are petty affairs IN "nicA
scores Of Boer combatants are engaged whers
formerly there we're hundreds. and sometimes
thousands Consequently casualties are light
and few prisoners are taken The British army
is adapting itself TO the altered conditions ana
is gradually wearing out the energies OF It's per
sstent and obstinate foe Where once there
were divisions. with complete stan orsaniza-
ton. there are now brigades, and lightly
equipped, mobile columns are sent in pursuit or
small banos Of guerillas. Generals and staff
officers are returning by every steamer from
the Cape. and the entire British army is in
process of reorganization for the special service
which is now required. General KeIly-Kenny.
who commanded the Sixth Division in the terri
bic march across the veldt, has been relieved
from command at Bloemfontein, and General
Hunter has taken his place. Either Roberts or
Kitchener is picking out men who have special
capacity for fighting the Beers The new tao
ties seem effective The scattered bands OF
Beers are constantly harried and allowed 10
rest. The lines OF communication are strongly
guarded and are not seriously nenaced. The
Beers are alert. but only able 70 operate
small scale against outposts, and their cattle
ard horses are constantly taken from them AMI
here and there small squads are killed wounded
or taken prisoners They have not had a sin
gle success in the last six weeks. and the
OF their losses is considerable. It is not strange
that optimists predicting the close Of hos
tlities by the end OF the year.
Mr.. Chamberlain was the only absentee from
the meeting yesterday OF the reorganized Cab
met. The session lasted two hours. and the
Chancellor OF the Exchequer was the chief fig
ure, since the only object Of the meeting OF
Parliament is financial legislation, and 10 pro-
gramrne viii be embodied in the Queens Speech.
Mr. Brodrick who is hard at work at the War
Office every day. will reserve his secrets until
February It is believed that the Government
viii act on the assumption that the war VIII
be finished by the end OF January through the
steady dirninution Of the Boer forces by capture
and death. and that its proposals will provide
for a continuance Of military expenses 10 Febru-
airy l. The Ministers hoping that the Oppo-
sition Will offer no resistance to the passage
Of money grants and credits that debate on the
address Will be short, ami that the session viii
be over in a fortnight. The Opposition has not
been consulted and its course is not yet clear.
Even the Radicals cherish their Christmas holt
day.
The salary Of the Lord Prfvy Seal. amounting
TO $1,000. has been revised. that England will
be spared the anomaly Of having Prime Min
iste- serving the Empire at his own expense.
By the VIII Of the late Colonel r. c. Firth his
wife. formerly Miss Pauline QUirin, Of Boston,
has come into possession Of property worth
$4,000 and is appointed sole executrtx. Colo
mel Firth was gallant officer, in command az
Canterbury, where he recently met a distress
ing accident. HIS horse ran away while he was
driving with his wife in a lIgnt trap. and al
though he succeeded in protecting her he was
thrown out himself. His neck was broken and
he vas completely paralyzed notwithstanding
his terrible injuries, ne astonished the surgeons
ty living nearly six weeks after tn accident