The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-10
GUNS ARB silent
OMINOUS WAVE OF Discomfort IN
LONDON OVER FAILURE OF
NEWS FROM FRONT
GOVERNMENT is CRITICISED
MISTAKES OF THE CAMPAIGN IN
SOUTH AFRICA BEING FREELY
DILATED UPON
MR.. BALFoUR MAKES EXCUSE

Says an Empire That Cannot Grace
fully Accept Defeat Is Unfit to BE
CIassed as Grent-SensatiOnal Ru-
NOR of Collision Between British
ure Causing Less Anxiety.
LONDON, Jan. 10.-The war Office has
not contributed the least particular as
to what is taking place in Natal since
Sunday. Neither has 1t allowed the dis
patches of correspondents to get through.
Consequently the facts of the situation
hre replaced by conjecture, and the i'm
patience of the public pours itself into a
discussion of the conduct Of the war, Of
what might have been done or ought not
to be DONE
The Morning Post demands that the
forces afield, a1oat and in preparation
shall be increased by $1,000 men. To this
end it urges that all the trained men the
country possesses, militia and volunteers,
Bhalf be called out, asserting, incident
ally, that, although the attitude of other
powers is correct in the diplomatic sense
of the word, an invasion, if attempted,
would be sudden, and that now is the
time to apprehend contingencies.
The Daily Mail says it understands
that the supersession of another general
commanding in South Africa will shortly
be announced. This may have reference
to Gen. Buffers hasty summons from
Devonport 1t Is reported that he came
by special train to London yesterday,
and held a long consultation with the
headquarters staff. This seems to indi-
cate that his advice, which only recently
was in extreme disfavor, is about to be
utilized.
RESTLESS CRITICS.
The. critics range up and down the en-
tire field of war transactions, finding
fault especially with the lack of trans
ports for the troops who are ready to
depart and with the concealment of
news, aVerring the censorship in South
Africa embraces the mails that the re-
ports of correspondents are being mutt
lated and the entire letters suppressed.
The admiralty in seeking transports is
reported to have chartered the American
liner ST. Paul, which was inspected pre-
vious to chartering, and three Liverpool
steamers.
The various regiments Of the Liberal
party are being drawn together for united
opposition in parliament next month.
Great Britain's losses since the war be-
gan are fast approaching 5000. A war
office compilation of casualties, issued
last evening, shows a total Of 7,2141, OPT
killed, 3,675 wounded and 2,511 missing.
These do not include 140 who have sue
cumbed to disease nor the casualties at
Ladysmith last Saturday.
PROBABLY NOT TRUE.
A special dispatch from Amsterdam to-
day says that an uncredited rumor is cur
rent there that a British cruiser has
fired upon the Dutch cruiser Friesland,
near Delagoa Bay, and that Dutch Of
ficer was killed.
THOSE SHIP SEIZURES.
The Daily Graphic makes the following
statement regarding the seizures of GSr-
man vessels by British warships:
Germany has addressed two notes to
the British foreign office, challenging
Great Britain's right to detain any vos-
sels travelling between two neutral ports.
These notes have been duly answered.
The queens government find themselves
utterly unable to acquiesce in Germany s
contention. Germany cited a case in sup
port of her contention, but on eXamina-
ton the so-called president proved to be
quite IN applicable to the seizures under
discussion
The correspondence between the two
governments rests there, pending a decis-
ion of the prize court.
The Daily Mail has the following dis
patch, dated Sunday, Jan. Z, from Cape
Town:
"Dordrecht is now garrisoned by 1,cOO
rebels, thus releasing the Orange Free
alc
NOT READY FOR PEACE.
King Leopold, according to the Brus-
sells correspondent of the Daily Mail, re-
Gently inquired of Queen Victoria wheth-
er an opportune moment for intervention
had arrived, but received a reply in the
negative.
MR.. SBALFOUR'S DEFENSE
Arthur ]. Balfour, government leader,
speaking tonight at East Manchester,
said:
Il know of no war Great Britain has
been engaged in except that resulting
in the independence Of the American col
onies which has not resulted favorably
While all have resulted triumphant, II
Is true that Great Britain has suffered
exceptional defeats or disasters. On the
other hand, there is union of the Eng
lish-speaking classes, making all fee
they have common destiny. This leads
us to suppose they will support us ir
far greater trials than this war will pro-
duce. Remember that nation that can
not bear defeat is a nation unworthy o.
empire, and although defeat has not yet
come, and although we hope and believe
1t will not come in the course Of the
present war, yet should it turn out other
wise we should rely upon the courage an(
patriotism of our countrymen." (Cheers.)
DEATH DROVE THEM BACK.
NEW YORK, Jan "a special from
London says:
1.-The most appalling battle picture from
a British point of view yet painted by
correspondent in the field comes by mai
from J. B. Wigham. with Lord Methuen'
column. 1t shows the collapse of TIL
Highlander brigade at Magersfontein
Describing the unexpected Boer fire whel
the brigade was about deploying from
quarter column, Mr.. Wigham says:
Some shouted retire, and the day wa
lost. The Highlanders broke and ran
There is no other word for it. In a fev
minutes the brigade had been decimated
and the issue was ended. They did no
run far, but when they rallied they wer
shaken and confused for hours. The
lay fiat between the British guns and tn
Boer trenches. About noon the Boer riff
fire greatly increased and soon the Brit
ish were in full retreat Back they cam
In wave that no officer could stop. I
was perhaps the most unpleasant sigh
the British soldier has ever seen, certain
ly sight not to be forgotten
Tt was difficult to say what woul
happen next, until NAL Ewart rode III
with an order from Lord Methuen whicl