Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04
REMAINS THE SAME
SITUATION IN FIELD OF WAR UN-
CHANGED DURING WEEK.
KIMBERLEY SALUTES QUEEN

New Years Greetings Exchanged Be |
tween Beleaguered City and Sow |
ereign-England Threatened With |
Coal Famlne-Papers Still Guilt |
waiting Americas Good Will.
London, Dec 31-The war office |
when giving out the messages ex-
changed between the queen and the |
inhabitants of Kimberley stated no |
further news had been received up to
that hour and that nothing of import
ance had come from other sources dur
ing the night. The weeks sOrties,
skirmishes, reconnaissance and bonn
bardments at various points where the
British and beers confront each other,
as far as can be judged, have had no
effect on upon the general situation at
the seat of war, which is practically
the same as it was a week ago.
Christmas night Ladysmith and
Chievely camp were in full cOmmuni-
cation, the former reporting "all well"
While signalling, the beers attempted
to muddle the messages with flashlights
from each extremity Of their long en-
trenched line. The naval brigade took
advantage of the opportunity to she'll
the boer positions which were plainly
revealed by their own lights. The
naval battery resumed the Smelling of
the boer trenches on the morning of
Dec. 20, but their fire failed to elicit
any sign OF life.
Exchange New Years Greetings.
London, Dec. 31.-Col. Kekewich has
wired through Gen. Methuen: 'TO her
most gracious majesty, the queen:
The inhabitants of Kimberley beg to
send your majesty new years greet
ings. The trouble they have passed
through and are still enduring only
tends to love and loyalty towards your
majesty's throne and person" The
queen replied: 81 am deeply touched
by your kind and loyal new years
by your kind and loyal new years
greetings. | watch with admiration
your determination and gallant de-
tense, though | regret the unavoidable
loss of life incurred"
Much Criticism Expressed.
copyrighted by Associated Press.)
London, Dec. Sit is strange to
note that as the new year daWrs for
Great Britain the greatest army she
ever put in the field remains passive in
south Africa, held at bay by two Of the
smallest republics on the face of the
earth, while at home, in spite of large
volume Of trade and apparent pros
perity, her financial interests are in a
state of instability not seen since the
Barring crash. All Europe is yelping at
her heels and the necessity for Ameri-
cas- friendship is recognized on all
sides. Papers and people that for
years have been ready with a jibe for
Americas good will no longer make
any attempt to belittle the desirability
of securing her friendship. America"
says the Globe, "is usually humorous
at the expense of all things trans-At-
lantic. With crop of 542 million
bushels she is especially in a position
to help US" The economic shoe al
ready begins to pinch the military
foot. The fact that the government
has chartered so many transports has
resulted in a rise in bread while coal is
rising by leaps and bounds to famine
prices.
That there will be a day of reckon
ing for some one is a certainty,
whether it will be Lord Lansdowne,
Lord Wolseley or General Butler it is
impossible to tell. But the gist of
criticisms point to Lord bansdowne
having to shoulder the Onus for the
terrible acknowledgement. While Great
Britain feeds cOntentedly upon long
special cables showing American
friendship, boer agents in Europe be-
lieve sentiment in the United States
has been gradually turning boerward
until the time is now ripe to develop it
into material effect. Under this imI
preston the Associated Press learns
they contemplating despatching a
special mission to the United States
for the purpose of influencing public
opinion, possibly by open meetings
and otherwise The desire is to
affiliate themselves with no par
ticularly party, but by influ-
encing political and public
opinion to secure at least an offer of
mediation from the United States.
The British government is threatened
with coal famine which is most ser
fous. Unless conditions improve many
industrial concerns depending upon
coal supply may have to suspend OPP
erations before February. The root of
the trouble appears to be the with
drawal of so many GOLFERS to take
their places in the ranks of reserves.
Wages have gone up but labor is hard
to find. The death of Dwight L.
Moody is universally commented on
here. The Times in a long editorial
compared his career to that of the duke
of Westminster. All papers paid trib-
ute to the dead evangelist and memo
rial services held in London were
largely attended.