The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-17

Misunderstanding on both sides. pacific
settlement is probable" There Is no indi-
cation that such an arrangement would be
tolerated by any considerable portion OF
the public National emotion is now in
state OF disquietude over the reverses TO
British arms. dissatisfaction with the con-
duct of military business is intense. and
there is an almost universal determination
TO see the thing through.
The War Office has issued orders for the
formation OF FIVE new batteries. Some idea
of the extent of the artillery resources to
be drawn upon may be gained from the
fact. according to the statement of mill
tary expert this morning. that an old prac-
tice howitzer at Lydd. in Kent. with which
IL is impossible TO do accurate shooting
but which for some time has been solely
used TO test shells, has been laid under
requisition for the front. Orders have been
received at Lydd to pack this venerable
relic with as much dispatch as possible
for embarkation- Seventeen more militia
battalions will be embodied in the course
of fortnight. All the regulars are now
out Of the country, except fourteen infan-
try battalions and eleven cavalry bat
talions- The War Office has placed an or
der for s2.voO.OOO cartridges in cases.
The yeomanry committee announces that
1t has accepted 5000 out of 10000 which it
wishes to raise. ana still has 10000 appli-
cants to be examined. The Daily Chronicle
asserts that the committee was goaded into
this statement by the reports that there
was no hope OF getting the full number.
The War Office has wired to countermand
the departure from Egypt of a number Of
officers who were previously ordered to
South Africa. The Daily Chronicle. COM
menting on this and upon other news re-
lated to 1t. says: There are some curious
reports in circulation-apparently with
some authority behind them-which point
to the stoppage Of the dispatch of further
reinforcements when the troops now mob
fized shall have embarked. The new cav
airy brigade Is not to leave England at
present"
The military and civil authorities at the
Cape are In conflict over the treason cases.
A dispatch TO the Daily Mail from Sterk-
strom says on this point: "Keokomons
and Mel. two Dutchmen who were tried
by court-martial during Christmas week
with General Buffers sanction, were COM
mitted on Jan. Il for civil trial. The court
martial proceedings have been stopped by
the Intervention OF the attorney general
OF Cape Colony"
A dispatch from Sterkstrom, dated JAM
Is. reports that General Gatacres troops
had made a demonstration beyond Mol
teno, in the direction of Stormberg, In
the belief that the Beers intended to seize
Molteno. The burghers were not sighted
and the British remained at Molteno. Ar
rivals from Stormberg estimate that there
are $500 Beers at that place, mostly re-
VOTED colonists and Free Staters. Presi-
dent Steyn's brother is the landdrost. Gen.
French continues to shell the Boer posi-
lions, but nothing decisive has taken place.
Evidence accumulates that General
Methuen's blunder at Magersfontein has
lost him the confidence of his entire force
to such an extent that. it is declared. 1t
Is doubtful IL the troops would follow him
I'm another attack on the Beers. The War
Office is understood to be In possession
of letter written by General Wauchope
the night before the battle, saying that
would be the last letter he would ever
write, as he had been asked to perform
an impossible task and he had either to
obey or to surrender his sword. An i'm
mediate change in the command of the
force may therefore be expected. 1t is an
ticipated in some quarters that Lieutenant
General Tucker will succeed Gen. Methuen
The Associated Press learns that while
It is still uncertain that the entire spe-
cial service squadron Is going TO South
Africa when relieved at Gibraltar by the
channel squadron. portion of it will be
detailed to convey the new naval brigade
being formed for service at the front in
Cape Colony. This brigade. consisting Of
40 inen. eight 47-inch guns, "a Maxims
and eight 1O-pounders. will be taken to
Gibraltar by the channel squadron when
II sails Jan. 30.