The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-12
ENGLISH RESPECT DE WET,

Lest we forget, lest We forget"
ENGLISH RESPECT DE WET.
NEW YORK. Dec. li.--A dispatch to
the Tribune frcm London says;
A singular comment was made upon
the fox hunt after De Wet by vet
eran OF the British army who has spent
many years in India. He said that the
troopers engaged in running him to
earth were ready to cheer for him and
to take him upon their shoulders In
triumph to the nearest camp as the
chief hero OF the war in South Africa
This old soldier had been talking
with officers OF the guards who had TAX
en- part In Intellectual hunts after the
willy raider. and was convinced that
only true sportsmanlike spirit Of fair
play and admiration prevailed respect
ing him. No other Boer commander.
he maintained. had commanded in an
equal degree the admiration OF the Brit
ish army in South Africa. and when
the war is ended the officers whom he
outwitted and bafiied many times would
like to Join in a complimentary re-
ception to him in London.
Further news respecting De Wet Is
eagerly awaited. A rumor. which. how
ever. at present lacks confirmation. was
current last night that severe fighting
had taken place between his forces and
those OF General Knox.
Lord Kitchener has already fulfilled
the forecasts Of experts in one re-
spect-he has adopted a laconic style
in his bulletins. His dispatches have
declined in compass day by day since
he assumed the chief command, and
single sentence suffiees for the official
announcement that the last batch Of
British prisoners has turned up at Be-
thule. The experts are pleased with
this economy OF words. They assert
that Lord Roberts unconsciously digni-
fed guerrilla warfare by devoting long
bulletin to 1t daily and that Lord Kitch-
ener win minimize the Boer operations
by allowing .he petty incidents to
pass without observation.
While Lord Kitchener is taeiturn he
is fairly afiame with energy. Military
men say that every trooper in Knox's
column has three horses and that with
these fresh mounts constantly available
the pursuit Of De Wet into the last
ditch has been made possible.
Germany has given one more proof
Of her resolve % maintain friendly re-
lations with England. It is generally
agreed that the imperial chancellor's
speech in the reichstag must dispose
once and for all Of any hopes of Euro
pean Intervention Kruger and his ad-
visers might have entertained.
Mr.. Chambsrlain's vindicauon OF his |
personal honor, which was impugned
by Lloyd Georges amendment to the |
address in the house Of commons, was
a veritable triumph. The colonial sec
retary has seldom spoken with so much |
digcity and feeling, and the house
eheered him to the echo. In straight
forward language he told what his prin- |
ciples Of conduct had been since he first |
entered public life and when at last
he sat down he had succeeded in de-
stroying the case so diligently worked |
up against him.
The suggestion that a memorial to
the colonial soldiers who have fallen in
South Africa should be erected in Lon
don is taking practical shape and the
Royal Colonial Institute which in its
membership is typical Of the empire. is
considering several projects which have
been formulated for its approval.
The ministers are striving to shorten
the present session Of parliament by ex-
planning how little needs to be done.
Broderick has some estimates to present
and the chancellor Of the exchequer
requires slight increase Of borrow
ing powers, but everything can be put
out of the way by Saturday If talka-
tive Radicals will only respect the Eng
lish prejudice in favor Of long Christ
mas holiday.
Joseph Chamberlain contented him
self with curt yea and nay when
questioned about South African
matters and the debate on the queens
address was allowed to limp and drag.
Mr. Bartley's amendment relating to
the predominance Of one family in the
cabinet brought UP Arthur Balfour in
speech Of great llgnity in defense Of
Lord Salisbury. It came with
good grace from him because he has
obtained his place in the cabinet on his
own merits and without any relation
ship to Lord Salisbury. He countered
Mr.. Bartley's attack neatly by taunting
the Radicals with first complaining Of
the ascendency Of Mr.. Chamberlain in
the cabinet and then talking about the