The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-07
THEIR WINTER
OF DISCONTENT
/
London Making the Most Of the
Few Slight African Victories.
BULLER'S CHANCES RUINED
.------ s-----
His Defeat at COlensO Has Deprived
Him Of All Opportunity for
Advancement 10 the Rank OF
COmmander-in-Chief.
BULLER'S CHANCES RUINED

copyrighted 1900 by the ABsociateu
press)
LONDON, Jan. G.--The winter Of dis
content - which Grddt Britain has s,.t-
tied dowl. has bcsn somewhat modl-
hed by tho Isolated successes which
marked the past week. though the
seizure q foreign ships and unfounded
rnmors regarding Dehgoa bay threat
ened TO bring out crop Of rumors VI
European interference
The dolngs II General French and
Colonel Pitcher have beon made the
most Of By the correspondents ana are
} rather mlgnIned edllorally by the
British prasA But anything is accept
able in thess days
The appointment Of the Duke OF
, Connaught to command the British
forces In Ireland mas led 70 lot OF
speculation rs to whc,her he VIII sue
ceed Lord wolseley. whose term ex-
plrcs In November as commander In
chief Lord Roberts Is his logical sue.
eessor. but until ne was chosen TO
command In South Africa ihe general
impression was that he would be too
old TO be selected for the Office when
Il became vacant.
General Butler was hot flvoglte.
/ but his defeat near Cofcnso seems L,
have irrevocabiy ruined his chances
II is more than probable that Roberts.
I II successful In South Africa. will iill
the Office OF communion in chief for a
short period and that he viii then be
succeeded by the Duke OF ConDaught
whose popularity and military knowl-
edge are strong enough to ov,gcome
the prejudice against a member Of the
royal family holding that office.
The abuse OF the war office aud Lord
Landsdowne. the secretary Of state for
war and Lord Wolseley continues un-
abatcd In the press and among the
public, by the time parliament Nas-
semblcs 1t PROMISES 10 have gathered
such force THAI It Is more than likely
that most stormy scenes will mark the
debates, while many people declare
unless Lord Lansdowbe resigns or ex-
culrltes himself. the cons ,rvatlve par
~ will be considerably menaced
So far the criticisms emanate chiefly
from tho patriotic Bntisher whose
pride is hurt at the reverses and from
those whose heart strings have been
touched by death. But, when the solid
British taxpayer begins to be drained
20 support the war then. truly the
criticism Of the military officials will
begin to relch its true volume
The Times which. with the rest Of
the British press, has been under the
impression that America was unani-
mously supporting Great Britain, to-
day prints letter from Toronto. say
ing the anu-BritiSh press In the Uni
ted States is enjoying itself over the
reverses the empire Is at present en-
during. and adds:
1T screams It's delight and II speaks
sneerlngly and tauntangly of Great
Brtains decadence and the useless
ness of her colonial sons"
The action OF the English insurance
companies in charging an extra 5 per
cent for war risks, already referred 20
IN these dispatches has created no lit
tie unavorable comment and uncom-
plimentary comparison of their action
with thai ~ ha
To-day" gays:
In answer TO the protests the COM
panies say sentiment cannot enter into
business transactions. The best an
swer TO the British companies is that
the American officers are making no
such demand, and IL the Americans
see their way to dispense with an ex-
ira premium, II might be thought that
the enormous wealthy English officers
could easily do the same Their re-
fusal Is short sighted from a business
point Of view as 1t is unpatriotic. Un-
fortunately, II is in keeping with the
general trend Of English insurance |
management"
Much interest Is exhibited In the
new Duke OF Westminster, who has |
decided to remain at the Cape during |
the war. 1t appears that he has a |
keen taste for racing horses and his
fathers splendid stable is not likely |
to be broken up. Ben Dor" as the
young duke Is nlcknamed after the
famous horse, though not yet 21, is
said to have selected a wife. which
dlsappoints society," for he is the most
eligible party in the matrimonial mar
ket.
The decision of Mr.. Edward Corri-
gan to bring over great string Of
American horses is hailed here with
interest and pleasure. One sporting
authority writes that Mr. Corrigau
never does things by halves, adding