The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-18
GLOOM IN
BRITAIN
Slightly Relieved by
Gen. White.
LATTER REPULSES BOERS
British Ministryin PeriI--The German
Seizures Create Much Dip
IOmatic Friction.

LONDON, Jan. 10.-The plight OF
British arms in South Africa is over
shadowed for the present by the storm
which is bursting over the head Of the
home Government The Manchester
speech OF Mr.. Balfour, the Govern
ment 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, 1t is doubtful If the
Conservatives would retain power in
spite of their tremendous majority OF
the past session. The pent-up dissat-
isfactiOn with the Governments lack
Of energy in waging war is no longer
concealed. When such ardent Conserv-
ative papers as the Times and the Globe
come out boldly with reproof, there is
no knowing where the agitation will
end. The provincial press has al
ready taken up the cry. For the mo-
ment, Mr.. Balfour is the scapegoat,
but there Is a terrible rod In pickle for
the Marquis Of Lansdowne, while Lord
Salisbury and other Cabinet Ministers
win not escape, unless 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, successes in
the field will abate the popular clamor.
Some of the Conservative papers go so
far as to regret the extreme age Of the
Cabinet Ministers and refer to the Cab
met as a body of patriarchs. Under
these circumstances 1t Is doubtful
whether events transpiring before the
|reassembling OF Parliament would be
powerful enough to restore confidence
In the Government and maintain its
majority. There Is the important al
Tentative that Lord Lansdowne OF Lord
Wolseley may be sacrificed. A repre-
sentative of the Associated Press learns
that Lord Wolseley not only disap-
proved of Lord Roberts appointment
TO the chief command OF the British
troops In South Africa, but allowed his
disapproval to be generally known. 1t
is the fact that Lord Wolseley knew
nothing OF the Governments intention
in this respect until he saw the an
nouncement Of the appointment in the
newspapers. Whatever ensues, the i'm
mediate future will doubtless see at
tacks on the Government such as Lord
Salisbury has not had TO withstand dur
ing all the course of his political ca
reer.
The borrowing powers conferred on
the Government at the last session Of
Parliament are almost exhausted
About seven and half out Of the eight
millions of treasury bills authorized
have already been issued. The large
revenues coming in will, however.
probably furnish ample funds until
Parliament meets.
British Tactics Criticised.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1O.-A dispatch to
the Herald from London says:
From Colenso comes intelligence OF
General Buffers demonstration on Sat-
urday, which emphasizes the fact that
the Beers are conducting their cam
paign with great cunning and skill.
When, with the faint hope OF drawing
of some Of the Beers from the attack
on Ladysmith. General Clery led out
a strong force Of cavalry and guns. his
left having as its object Doornkoop and
his right Hlangwana Mountain, the
Beers refused to disclose their strength.
They evidently we're in their trenches
and in Colenso itself. but though both
brigades advanced well up to the posi-
tions where the battle had ragged most
fiercely more than three weeks ago.
there was no animated response to the
British challenge. Even when the ar
tillery came within 1900 yards OF the
BCer rifles and General CIery himself
rode close 70 the Tugela. the trenches
remained silent
Interest i1 the attack on L1dysm'th
has been so absorbing that very Hf,'e
comment has been heard upon q certain
phase Cf the conduct Of the British
campaign which has been d-a'r u00u
IN these dispatches ard which was
shown I'm al1 frs g'a-irz faults in the
full descriptions Of the battles Of
St0~ubs-E. Nare-sf--frfn ard C1Iereo
which reached ENGLAND through the
mails this week.
Since their publication the ysEua