Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-01
LONDON TURMOIL
MANY STARTLING EVENTS TO BE
DISCUSSED.
VICTORY IN AFRICA NEEDED,
Would Set Troops Free for China-Re-
port Says Legations Were Safe
July "a.

New Iork, august w is din
Ny the silly season of London journalists
approached this year with many sings
of insensibility on the part of the faded
and overwrought public. says the Lon
don correspondent of the Tribune, The
unexpected death of the duke of Sake.
Coburg. the always popular sailor prince
an england. although he preferred to end
mis- career in a minor German court, was
announced on the day when an address
no the crown was moved in both houses
or parliament on the monstrous crime Of
the Italian assassination, which has ex-
cited indignation and adherence
the world: and the closing
scenes of the war in South Africa, with
Simultaneous operations in as many as
1lve fields are passing almost without
observation and certainly without crit
acal knowledge. because public attention
has been overstrained by uncertainties
ana anXieties in china One startling
surprise has followed another in this an
no mirabili until newspaper readers
nave grown listless and Indifferent wit
nesses to current history.
The campaign in South Africa is now
closely connected with China, for the
speedy surrender of the Beers will enable
the British government to take a more
decisive line in the impending conflict
eaan 1t has been following. There is
probably no truth in the current report
that Lord Roberts has telegraphed to
Lord LansdoWne hat the war will be
speedily brought to an end, for the war
ONCE has a remarkable talent for keep
ing lis secrets and Lord Roberts is not
IN the habit Of forecasting events. There
rs. however, a strong conviction among
the members of parliament that the close
of hostilities is in sight.
Only about 1000 %burghers, with a single
gun, are reported officially as having sur
rendered to General Hunter in the Gale
don valley, but the Harrismith and Vreda
commanders will probably be brought in
with the remaining artillery. The num-
Der of prisoners is not likely to exceed
5000: since there are many assertions.
The collapse of the Free State forces will
be complete when General DeNet and
Mr.. steyn are surrounded and compelled
to surrender. and to Genera Botha has
been credited the intention of giving up
the fight when his allies are dispersed.
Lord Roberts has recalled Hamil-
tons column to Pretoria either to
reinforce Col. Broadwood or to relieve
General Baden Powell n General
French is either halting at Middleburg
until Sir Redvers Butler can send a d.
vision northward through Ermelo, or is
pushing on to Koomattipoort. General
Baden-Powell and Lord Methuen have
an enemy in considerable force to fight
west of Pretoria, and General DeWet is
dangerous until he is caught, but there
lis a clearing prospect for a speedy close
of. hosti!ities in the Transvaal and the
release of a large British army for serv-
ice in China.
The British cabinet met yesterday on
short notice, and. without doubt. dis
cussed the new aspect of the Chinese
question. This is the use made of the
foreign legations and refugees as hos
tages. This fact has been blurted out
by Lii Hung Chang, and is clearly stated
in a dispatch received from Rome, where
the Chinese government is expected to
order the foreigners to leave Pekin at
once if an advance to the capital be a.
tempted.
Whatever may be the view of the state
department at Washington, the officia J
here are convinced that the Chinese gov.
under the guise of protection
Offered to the legations, is seeking to hold
back the allied forces until terms of peace
can be settled on a basis of financial ir-
IDENTITIES. The legations will be exposed
to ar attack from regular troops or from
the Boxers if the allied army advances
from .Tien Tsin. The Chinese have six
hundred hostages, whose blood will be
declared to be on the heads of the a6.
vancing battalions, and hence 1t will b
dangerous for an army to advance to
Pekin until the foreigners have been de
livered from their critical position.
Press dispatches yesterday We're mea