Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-01

New York, Feb l.-London papers
have little news from South Africa to-
day and there is not much comfort In
that little except that the beleaguered
garrison OF Ladysmith' did not despair
when they learned Of Gen Buffers sec
ond reverse, but were still hopeful and
determined. The public does not believe
that Gen. Buffers army is capable OF
relieving Ladysmith, so the talk OF a
fresh movement does not inspire here.
II is not true, as has been reported that
Cen Butler has withdrawn all his
troops south Of the Tugela. His big
guns were still AT Mount Alice on Sun
day, with Lyttleton's brigade covering
them
According TO the latest information
the retirement from Spion Kop was in
evitable. When relnforcements aud a
few guns arrived during the night the
position still held by the British forces
was so confined that the various regi-
ments We're huddled together and II was
impossible In the darkness to make
proper arrangements to meet the storm
OF she'll and bullets that the daylight
would bring upon them.
The campaign In Cape Colony does
not develop rapidly. The Beers al
Colesburg, steynburg and stormburg
seem to be content II they can keep
the British troops In check while Cronje
operates between Modder river and
Kimberley, holding Methuen quiet
while the Beers lombard the diamond
city.
DR.. Leyds' popularity IN Berlin
seems to be worrying the London pa
pers. He Is TO hold another confer
ence with Count Won Buelow. the Ger
man foreign minister.
The alarm over the alleged defense
lessness OF the British Isles Increases
The London Daily Telegraph publishes
a dispatch from Portsmouth saying:
'ln the naval circles OF Portsmouth
there Is a strong impression that be-
fore long the government viii mobilize
the reserve squadron and commission
several cruisers 20 be added 10 H.
This impression is borne out by the fact
that the naval officers who are unem-
ployed have been notified to hold them
selves In readiness 20 proceed on active
service at short notice.
"The work on ships I'm handat Ports
mouth Is being pushed with all speed.
Only the most necessary repairs on sew
eral cruisers now reitting have been
taken In hand.
THAT the channel squadron should
nj the last moment have been retained
10 British waters instead Of being sent
direct TO Gibraltar, Is also considered
sign that some important step may
be taken. The squadron remains for
ten DAYS or a fortnight at Bantry and
then proceeds 10 Suda Bay or Clbral-
tar"
All this. too, al a time when the tone
Of the continental press Is not more
hostile toward England than II has
been for years; when no threat against
England Is heard IN Russia or Ger
many, or even IN France.
Charles Pierce, consul general for the
Orange Free state, says
IL believe that that man who went 20
one OF the armories here in Manhat-
tan and said he had sent 800 men from
Washington TO the Trsnsvaal and that
he proposed TO send 800 more from here,
Il a fakir No one has gone there from
this country, 10 my knowledge, unless
be paid bis own way and left here az
a private individual. I know that some
former army officers and surgeons
have gone. because they have shown me
their tickets. but cannot tell you
their names. These are the statements
! make 10 all inqulrers and there are
many Of them
First. any person wishing TO 60 TO
South Africa must do 80 as a private
Individual. as there 10 no enc In this