The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-10
STORM BURSTS.
Indignation of the British Press
and Public
Breaks It's Bonds and Descends
on the Ministry.
HURLED FROM POWER.
Impending Fate of the Govern
ment Leaders.
Unless Reverses In Africa Shall
Be Soon Retrieved.

London, Jan. 10.-The plight of Brit
ish arms in South Africa is overshad-
owed for the present by the storm
which is bursting over the head of the
nome government The Manchester
speech of Mr.. Balfour, the government
leader in the house of commons has
loosened such a torrent of comment
from the press and individuals of his
own party that were parliament to re-
assemble today, it is doubtful if the
conservatives would retain power in
spite of their tremendous majority of
the past session.
The pent up dissatisfaction with the
governments lack of energy in waging
the war is no longer concealed When
such ardent conservative papers as the
Times and Globe come out boldly with
reproof there is no knowing where the
agitation will end. The provincial press
has already taken up the cry. For the
moment, Mr.. Balfour is the scapegoat,
but there is a terrible rod in pickle for
the Marquis of Laonsdowne, while Lord
Salisbury and other cabinet ministers
will not escape unless a wonderful
change comes over the war situation.
A reporter of the Associated Press
learns that the conservative leaders
privately admit the gravity of their
position, but fail to see what can be
done. In the meanwhile the successes
in the field will abate the popular cla-
NOR. Some OF the conservative papers
go SO far as to regret the extreme age
of the cabinet ministers and refer to
! the cabinet as a body of patriarchs.
Under these circumstances it is doubt
full whether events transpiring before
the reaSsembling of parliament would
be powerful enough to restore conf
dence in the government and maintain
its majority. There is the important
| alternative that Lord Lansdowne, or
| Lord WolSeley may be sacrificed.
A representative Of the Associated
Press learns that Lord WolSeley not
only disapproved of Lord Roberts ap-
| pointment to the chief command of the
! British troops in South Africa, but al
| lowed his diSapproval to be generally
| known. 1t is the fact that Lord Wolse-
ley knew nothing of the governments
| intention in this respect until he saw
! the announcement of the appointment
! in the newspapers. Whatever ensues,
the immediate future will doubtless see
| attacks on the government such as Lord
Salisbury has not had to withstand dur
ing all the course of his political career
The borrowing powers conferred on
| the government at the last session of
parliament are almost exhausted. About
! seven and a half out of the eight mil
lions of treasury bills authorized have
/ alrea6y been issued. The large reve-
/ nueS coming in will, however, probably
| bUI1ISn dllplG 4uI1QS uIlll
! meets.
| Gen. French supplements his advices
| of yesterday by reporting that Captain
! Ricardo and four troopers of the Life
I Guards are missing, showing that his
! accommodating party met with opposi-
| ton.
Gen. Gatacre dispatched a strong
| force Monday, Jan. 8, to reconnoiter
| Stormberg which the Beers We're re-
| ported to have evacuated. The British
found the burghers strongly entrenched
! and returned to Sterlxstroem.
| The Sailors and Firemen's union of
/ Glasgow is trying to block the sailing
| of the transport City of Rome, by de-
| manding an increase of wages,
NOT ENOUGH MEN:
New York, Jan. 10.-A dispatch to the
| World from London says:
'"The force in the field evidently is
! insufficient" declares the London Morn
| ing Posts war critic today, 'for no pro-
gress is made by either Butler Methuen,
Gatacre or French.
| 1.-The cheapest measure now possible
is that which will most rapidly and
| most effectively increase the forces in
| the field to point at which success will
| be secured. The proper way to do this
/ is by calling to arms all the trained
| men the country possesses embodying
! at once whatever militia battaliOns
| have not yet been called up, then call
ing out the volunteers as a whole and
then calling for all the trained men who
! have passed through either force and
| for fresh recruits for both.
"The stoppage of Delagoa bay as a
channel for supplies to the Transvaal
has been urged The mcst effective
| method of stopping the traffic is that
| which we suggested some time ago
giving a liberal supply of cash and
/ large discretion to the British agent
at Lorenzo Marquee
1.-The national determination to win
has been expressed by all classes Now
is the time for action and yet the mea-
! sureS taken so far all bear marks of q
mere continuation of the original plar
of gradual reinforcement"
The leading military expert says:
still there is no news of any turning
whether he is well or in poor state OF
health. Looking at the kilograms sent
| through we should say that they are sent
by his staff in his name.
We cling to the idea that he is en-
gagged in developing a movement in con-
cert with General White
The Leader announces that steps have
sons interested in the abortive proceed
| COMMITTEES for the purpose of searchine
inquiry into the alleged completely of Of
| ficers of the government in the Jameson
raid. Cartwright Latham is secretary OF
the movement. P. StanhOpe, Lloyd George
and John Burns, members of parliament
have been invited to address a public
meeting before parliament sits.
The military writer for the Mail notes,
We are informed by a gentleman who
letters sent to England are calculated to
annoy the authorities the erring journal
| lists will be Immediately withdrawn from
the front. This matter and others viii be
brought before parliament at an early
IF Buffers army has any purpose ii
is to rescue 5000 British soldiers from de-
struction at Ladysmith- It is not possible
that Ladysm1th Will fall before the eyes
of 10000 British troops
Weather Indications