The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-14

IN parliament arrived But lacking
that, there seems pendi1g an pphslyal
which bCdes ~ for the government.
the war office and some. OF the gener-
ais in the field. for these rankings are
current. not 80 mBch among the low
er sensation-loyng clsSss. but
among the highest born ana mos, even
minA-d ~ Great Rriiain's best citI-
zens.
Nor ~ the discomfort confined to
the inactlon Of the generals. Several
Of the most powerful iyillan fac,ors
IN English ne. some Of them almost
as much financially interested IN the
future Of South Africa a. the govern
ment Itself, have repeatedly hrged cer-
tain reforms In the methods Of carry
lng on the war. not meddling with the
purely military phases. but Offering
for instance. 10 purchase horses for
the Cape. pointing out better me h.
Cd Of transport. urging a more vlgor-
GUS campaign, giving information as
Ia the best routes towards the objec-
tive and supporting everything by
expert witnesses brought, often at a
grai expense. f.Om the Cape
A representative OF the Associated
Press learns that distinguished body.
including a former governor and about
a dozen men who have held civil, mill
tary Or irregular positions Of control
during Vhe recent troubles in South
Africa. waited on Major General Ar
dagh director Of the military intelli-
gegee department Of the war Office.
the very week previous to that which
marked the three disasters to the
British arms.
These men begged General Ardagh
TO accept certain ofIors and intlmated
that he had lnderestimated the op-
posing forces. The general listened
and replied:
Thank YOU, gegttlenrsn. But you
are wrong. We outnumber them at
every point and we have got en- like
that" Thereupon General Ardagh
banged his open palms together.
In spite OF this dlscouraglng recep.
tlon the men referred to their repeat
ed offers and the war Office now seems
to have awakened TO the seriou ness
Of the position and the officials are
likely 20 accept one OF the most dar-
ing projects ever undertaken. the full
scope OF which the Associated Press
is not at liberty to disclose but which
II perfected Will work Independently
OF the war ofice. to achieve one Of
the most important British objectives.
The imperial yeomanry after the
first llush OF public applause, is being
gauged gingerly. 1t is dawning upon
the minds Of all that what Great Brit
ain wants are crack shots and rough
riders after the type Of the American
avalryman, and frequent comments
appear pointing out that the average
yeoman who is farmer does not come
up to this standard while the average
lordling who adds brlulancy TO the
force, is not generally much nearer
the mark in this respect than his
yeoman tenant that both have far
less military training than ;he mem
bers Of the volunteer force, and Il is
fact that large percentage Of the
enrolled imperial yeomen have never
served even in the yeomanry.
What is being forced upon the war
Office is that 100 colonials accustomed
TO bushwhacking, COW punching ard
and scouting are worth 1000 English
( clerks and farmers.
+ To find instances Of the appalling
impNcticabllity distinguishing the
formation. of Great Britain's irregu-
lar corps, 1t is only necessary to read
the list of the kit being taken out by
the city OF London volunteers. The
officers OF this body carry to the
plains of South Africa an air pillow.
cork mattress, canvas basin. bath
, bucket a tin box of candl 8, q Ian
( tern, filter and q host of other inn
pe1iments that an American officer
would burn before starting on a ten
mile march, while tine men are laden
down with four pairs Of pants, four
pairs of shoes, three caps, pajamas,
two large turkish towels, a filter, a
clothes brush and a writing portfolio,
and other domestic articles. No Won
der the British forces are not mobllel
The revival of "She Stoops to Con-
quer," Tuesday, and "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" at Her Majesty's
theater Wednesday, have given de-
cided impetus TO the languid theatri-
cal season. Both performances were
decided successes Beerbohm Tree
surpassed himself in the productions
which are pronounced to be the finest
exhibition Of staging and scenery ever
seen In London.
In George AleXander's reconstructed
ST. James theater, which opens shortly
with Rupert of Hentzau," is curl
Gus innovation for the suburbanites,
in the shape of room for gentlemen
to don evening dresses.
I