Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-10
A STORM
BREWING
Tremendous Opposition Devel-
opIne In England to Salisbury
and Balfour.
GETTING LOW ON FINANCES
Only Bic British Victories In
South Africa VIII Save the
Conservatives.

London, Jan. 1O-An incredible ru-
NOR comes from Cape Town that the
Beers have Withdrawn from Magers-
fontein. Probably this is an embellish-
ment of the native reports that Cen
eral Cronje is sending reinforcements
to Colesburg
London, Jan. 1O-The plight of
British arms in South Africa is over
shadowed for the present by storm
which is bursting over the head IF
the home government The Manches-
ter speech Of Balfour, the govern
ment leader of the house of commons,
has loosened such torrent Of CON-
ment from the press and individuals
of his own party, that were parlia-
ment to re-assemble today, it is doubt
full if the conservatives would retain
power in spite of their tremendous
majority the past session.
Pent up dissatisfaction with the
governments lack of energy in wag
ing the war is no longer concealed.
When such ardent conservative pa
pers as the Times and "Globe" come
out boldly with reproof, there is no
knowing where the agitation will end.
The provincial press has already TAX
en- up the cry. For the moment, Bal
four is the scapegoat, but there is
terrible rod in pickle for the Marquis
| of Lansdowne, while Lord Salisbury
and other cabinet ministers will not
escape unless a wonderful change
comes over the war situation. A re-
porter for the Associated Press learns
that 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 popular clamor Some
conservative papers go so far as to
regret the extreme age of the cabi-
net ministers, and refer to the cabi-
net as body of patriarchs.
Under these circumstances, it is
doubtful whether the events transpir-
ing before the reassembling of par
lament will be powerful enough to
restore confidence in the government
and maintain its majority. There is
an important alternative that Lord
Lamsdowne or Lord Wolseley not
only disapproved of Lord Roberts ap,
pointment as chief in command of
British troops in South Africa, but
allowed his disapproval to be gener-
ally known. 1t is a fact that Lord
Wolseley knew nothing of the govern
ment's intention in this respect, until
he saw the announcement of the ap-
pointment in the newspapers. What
ever ensues, the immediate future
will doubtless see attacks on the gov
ernment such as Salisbury has not
had to withstand during all the
course of his political career.
The borrowing power conferred on
the government at the last session
of parliament, is almost exhausted.
About seven and half out of the eight
millions of treasury bills authorized
have already been issued. Large reve-
nues coming in will however, probably
| furnish ample funds until parliament
J meets.
There is singular dearth of news
this morning from all parts of the
, theatre of war. General French sup
| plements the advices of yesterday
! by reporting that Captain Ricardo
) and four troopers of life guards are
+ missing, showing that his reconnoiter
ing party met with opposition.
General Gatacre dispatched strong
force Monday, January 9Th, to recon
hotter Stormberg, which the Beers. re
ported to be evacuated. The British
found the Burghers strongly entrench
: ed and returned to Sterkstrom.
The sailors and firemens union O
; Glasgow is trying to block the sailins
q of the transport, City of Rome b.
demanding the increasing of wages.