Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-02-05
ENGLAND TO HAVE 213, 900 MEN IN
SOUTH AFRICA.
BIGGEST EVER SENT OUT
Wyndham's Speech in Commons Gre
ates Sensation-British Forces
Calculated to Overwhelmingly
Crush All Boer Opposition-Little
News From Seat of War

London, Feb. MIR. Wyndham'S re-
markable declaration in the house of
commons that Great Britain will have
in a fortnight 100000 regulars in south
Africa, 1000 Canadians and Austria
lians and $4,000 south African volun-
teers is received with wonderment. Of
this total of $4,000 troops, with 452
guns, all are now there with the ex-
ception of about $4,000 that are afloat.
Beyond comparison this is the largest
froce Great Britain has ever put into
the field. At the end of the Crimean
war she had scraped together $4,000
men. Wellington at Waterloo had
$4,000. Wyndham's speech was the
strongest defense the government has
forwarded of what is done and is
being done. The general tone of the
morning papers is that his figures will
astonish the country. Roughly
speaking only $4,000 men are at the
front. Ten thousand others have been
lost and 10000 are shut up at Lady
smith. Excluding these, there are70 1000
troops who have not yet been in
action, in addition to those at sea.
Why so many electives have not yet
been engaged is explained by the lack
of land transports and organization
of supplies, to which Lord Roberts is
devoting his experience and Lord
Kitchener his genius for details. It
seems as though the weight of these
masses must destroy the equilibrium
which now holds the British forces
stationary wherever they are in con-
tact with the bOer army. The lack Of
transports and organization will not
explain adequately why, when the gen
erals at the front request reinforce
ments, they get them in rather small
numbers. knowledge is slowly pene-
trating to London that large garrisons
must be kept in Cape Colony to hold
down the Cape Dutch who, as every
one knows, outnumber the British
residents at three to two. Cable
scraps received during the last II
hours do not further illuminate the
military operations. Various indie
pendent correspondents confirm the
report that Gen. Butler told his troops
on Jan. % that he hODed to relieve
Ladysmith within a week. 1t is believed
in some trusrw orthy quarters that he
is again assai1Yng the boer lines A
further list of casualties published by
the war office brings Ene total at the
crossing of Tuge1a and abandonment
of Spion kop to 1888 officers and men.
Exceptional activity at the navy yard
continues but this Na chiefly in new
construction anu reftting work.
Three ships will be commissioned at
Davenport this month. The only an
nouncement regarding fresh military
preparations is the formation of three
additional batteries.
Gen. Butler Resigns.
London, Feb. Fin the house of
lords yesterday the secretary OF state
for war, Marquis LansdoWne, said he
desired to formally announce that
Lieut.. Gen. Sir William Francis But
Ter had resigned command Of the Brit
ish forces in south Africa because of
political divergence of opinion with
81 AllI0u A1Au0I, D14CAou u4Su COinA1Ao-
sioner for Cape Colony
Beers Building Works.
London, Feb. 2.-The Daily Tele-
graph publishes the following dis
patch from Spearman's camp, dated
30th: Col. Wynne has taken COM
mand of Gen. Woodgates' brigade and
Col. Miles has been appointed chief
of Gen. Buffers staff. The beers are
still constructing defensive works OPP |
posite Potgieter's drift. A strong
cavalry reconnaissance proceeded
westward in the vicinity of Honger's
spruit.'
Activity Around Stormberg.
Sterkstroom, Feb. "A runner who
arrived here has brought a letter from
AliWal North in which it is announced
the beers have re-Opened a line to
Berghersdorp, as their supplies are
short at Stormberg. The plains being
bare, the camp of the burghers, it is
added, has been moved back of Storm
hpro hpiphtS which are still held