New-York tribune., 1900-12-13
DE WET OUT OF THE TRAP.
SLIPS AROUND KNoXs FORCES, AND
THE CHASE rs on AGAIN.

SIR ROBERT REID ADVOCATES NEGoT1A-
TToNs FOR AAdNEsTY-PLENTY OF WORK
AHEAD FOR THE IRISH SECRETARY.
Copyright: 1900: By The New-York Tribune.l
[BY cABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
London. Dec 13-o a. m.-The Fox is still
aheld and running 10 cover at Reddersburg'
with his pursuers close behind. General De
Wet instead OF following the direct road from
RouxviIe 10 Wepener, where he would have
been headed OF by the column sent TO intercept
him, has circled around KnoX's forces, re-
crossed the Caledon River ahead Of them, re-
gained the SuithieId road and doubled back
upon his first track It has been wonderful
fox hunt, and has not yet ended. Knox's troop
ers have not lost sight Of the brush during the
long circuit and are riding hard. Ihe
persistency with which the British fly
ing columns hang upon De Vets flank
and keep up a running fight is better PROOF
ultimate success than the assumption OF san
elline experts that the wary guerilla will be en-
trapped at Reddersburg by the column waiting
for him De Wet has the advantage Of knowing
every foot of the country. but there viii be
limits 10 his powers OF endurance If KnoSs
troopers as is generally believed in military
circles here. wei supplied with relays or
horses snd-can keep Up the chase Several
petty affairs reported briefly by Kitchener
but Il Is clear that he attaches supreme i'm
portance 10 the capture OF De Wet and Steyn as
the first real stroke Of his campaign. Military
men here are commenting upon the fact that
General French the best cavalryman on the
British side. is not employed against De Wet.
but the probable explanation is that his rank
excludes him from commanding a small flying
column. French was last reported at Johannes
burg. but has not been mentioned in the dis
patches from the front for several weeks.
Sir Robert Reid, who made the most dismal
speech ever heard in Parliament year ago,
when the cup of British humiliation was brim-
ming over. was the chief croaker at yesterdays
debate. and he startled the Liberals by ad-
vocating negotiations for amnesty and business
arrangements for restocking Boer farms and
rebuilding houses. Mr.. Brodrick. who had re-
covered from the previous days nervousness
made a spirited reply, charging him with aiding
and abetting the enemy.
Money votes are running their course rap
idIy and the session is virtually ended
II "a posnted out by to-day's Post" that the
Kouadrons Of the British navy in the English
Channel and the Mediterranean are lamentaoly
deficient in cruisers. In the Mediterranean Eng
land has ten battleships and nine cruisers whle
IN the Channel she has eight OF the finest battle
ships OF the world and six cruisers. but so otten
are some Of these cruisers necessarily absent
from their duties that quite recently the Chan
mel SQUADRON found itself the possessor OF a SOIL
tary third class cruiser. These deficiencies are
regarded serious.
Edward Lloyd the great English tenor made
his farewell appearance in public yesterday AZ
ternOOn al concert in Albert Han 1heIe was
& wonderful assenblage Of talent. including
nearly all the prime favorites among phe sinseiS
OF the day. Mr. Lloyd received an ovation
George Wyndham was the chief figure at a
large dinner given last night by the United
Club to the new Unionist Members OF Parha-
ment He was in high spirits, as his duties as
Irish Secretary had not proved onerous' ana
new members who had not recovered from stage
fright over their maiden efforts in Parliament
envied his fire and grace OF manner.
Unless al signs fail. Mr.. Wyndham VIII nave
plenty OF work before his term Of ONCE expires
O'Br1en has become the real Irish leader WIN
the help OF a new and powerful orsahlAA'io'
which has carried everything before II IN tie
island. and the renewal OF the agrarian aeila'ion
Is highly probable. Timothy H. Healy ASSUMES
a cynical indifference 20 OBrfen's sentence oi
communication from the Nationalist party
while John Redmond laments the necessity Ior
stern action. But neither can be ignorant OF the
fact that Ireland has again been brought unus'
the control OF a single strong Will
The liberals also had feast last nlsht III
honor Of Thomas LOugh. sturdy Home f'uie
Radical and the founder Of the London REFORM
Union. James Bryce occupied the chair ana
voiced the good feeling or the irish TEA Hlei-
chants toward their liberal friends
II was a fayoTite night for banquets' en-
gineers barristers and the Chambers OF Agrl-
culture having festive gatherings.
Beerbohm Trees company has begun the re
hearsal of Twelfth Night" This indicates the
withdrawal OF stephen Phillps's "Herod" about
the middle Of January. Benson is setting an
excellent example 20 other actor managers Dy
s1l0sene Wsir nlaV F@lstan- and reserNinS