Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-01

decided to embody two additional
militia battalions and another bat
terry of artillery.
Roberts Reports no Change.
London, Jan. 2S.-The only news is
sued by the war office during the night
is a dispatch from Lord Roberts, dated
Saturday, stating that the situation
was unchanged and that Gen. French
reports a reconnaissance of the
enemy's position Thursday, when he
found the beers strongly posted at
Pieterfontein. The maps do not show
any such place in the region of Gen.
French's operations, and it is probable
that Peitfontein, ten miles north of
Colesberg, is the place alluded to.
special dispatch from Colenso, dated
Wednesday, says a commandant of
Lucas Meyers commando surprised
and surrounded a strong body of Gen.
Methuen's infantry, killing and wound
ing 20, and capturing Is. Absence of
news from the front is causing the
public attention to turn to the APP
preaching opening of parliament, and
speculation as to how the government
will meet the attacks on it with re-
gard to the causes of the conduct of
the war a foretaSte of which has al
ready been given in the speeches of
John Morley and others during the
past week. The governments defense
is perhaps foreshadowed by the
,i,,g no, aCf
evening by Jesse Ceilings and ]. Aust
en- Chamberlain.
Wilkinson Analyses Situation.
London, Jan. 2S.-Spencer Wilkin
son, whose articles on the war situa
ton have attracted such attention here
and abroad, wrote the following re-
view of the situation for the Associat-
ed Press at midnight, after the war Of
flee had given out a telegram from
Lord Roberts, dated Capetown, Satur-
day, saying there was change in the
situation: The affair of Spion kop
appears very much like a reverse at a
decisive point of a decisive battle.
According to Buffers telegram, Gen.
Warren determined to take the hill
because it commanded the enemy's
other positions. Having taken it
Tuesday night, he abandoned it
Wednesday night, presumably because
he was unable to hold it. The pub
lished words of Buffers telegram have
tone in which the reverse is
announced. Whether the mishap can
be made good it is impossible to say.
general attacking has, to some ex-
tent, the power of making his own de-
cisive point. Warren may yet best
the enemy by success at some other
point or may retake Spion kop and
keep it: but unless in one way or
another the battle now going on can
be won, there is no probability of
Ladysmith being released. Buffers
army, unless successful, will be in a
critical position, for its retreat is a
difficult operation. The main boer
| force is as near to any point on the
railway as Warren's wing of Buffers
army; and the beers have the advan-
tage Of speed. For this reason, as well
as because of the Importance Of his
purpose to relieve Gen. White. we
may expect Butler to do his very ut
most before giving up the attempt,
and in this necessity lies the best
hope of success. The American civil
war showed how rihed firearms, by
rendering an assault difficult, produced
battles lasting several days; and as
since then the range and rate of fire
mas been greatly increased, the pro-
longation of the duration of battles
was to be expected But with
out fulled knowledge than
the kilograms have az yet
afforded, it is not yet possible clearly
to interpret the episodes of the unfin-
ished fight A report from boer
sources state that Mafeking has been
relieved is credible, for Col. Plumer
has been persistently working in that
direction and there has been times,
since he was last heard of near Gaber-
ones, for him to cover the intervening
distance. Moreover, the beers have
wisely been concentrating their forces
at more decisive points, but it requires
confirmation"
Will Prosecute the War.
London, Jan. S.-Joseph Chamber
lain, who was expected to attend the
banquet of the Birmingham jewelers.
and silversmiths this evening, was un-
able to be present, owing to the hold
ing of a meeting OF the defense COM
mittee. His place was taken by the
Right Honorable Jesse Ceilings, under
secretary of state for the home office,
and J. Austen Chamberlain, civil lord
Of the admiralty. The former, re-
plying to toast to her majesty's min
listers, deplored the attitude of the
press in regard TO the war in south
Africa. He said there had been no
muddle in it's conduct, and the facts,
when known, would show there had
been no war in which more foresight,
skill and care had been displayed by
the government than the present one.
The reverses, he declared. had only
increased the determination to pros
ecute the work to the end. The war,
ne said. involved the question whether
Great Britain should maintain her po-
sition or sink to an insignificant, third
rate power.