The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-09
The Wessenger.
THE WAR IN AFRICA.

1t makes the British very happy in
these parlous days to gain a victory
in 4 small fight. They nave met with
50 many serious disasters they are like
Saucho Panza, very thankful for small
favors n not disposed to look the
gift horse in the mouth. England goes
almost daft now over a skirmish in
which they are victorious. A London
correspondent writes:
There is a disposition here Iondon)
to exaggerate the Importance of small
Skirmishes and engagements. 1t should
be borne in mind that General French
has only 900 men, and so far as the
important points of the campaign are
conce nee The situation is virtually un-
changed
The Dragging nov is that defeated
BulIe- is again confident of a great
triumph over the Beers, while Methuen,
who was also licked, will do big things
after a little. In the meantime French
Ia some how not in a good fix. Let us
contain our souls in patience. But the
Beers gain their advantages also here
and there.
In Great Britain the new year began
in discomfort, and was marked by
gloom and anxiety" says the excellent
correspondent of the New York Tri-
bune in London. The only comfort the
people could draw was hat the Beers
were not following up victories. But
since then they are more active and
are repelIing attacks and destroying re-
lief trains. They threw q few shells
into Ladysmith that killed one captain
and wounded seven I~ieutenants. But
they were merciful and a dispatch of
the 1st from London said this: "All
well. The Beers have been firing
plugged shells containing plum pudding
and the compliments of the season.
They are still f%ortifying their positions,
and are evidently determined to make
a firm stand"
Another dispatch of the same day
aid Hear unoficially from Sterks-
troom that a British reconnaissance
seven miles north of Dordrecht engaged
superior forces and was obliged to re-
tire on Dordrecht."
General French's victory was impor-
tant to the British. Their reports are
that the Beers. suffered heavily. A
Dutch rising is feared, as their are
ugly rumors" from Cape Town. The
British are reported ready for battle"
Sir Charles Warmers division at Frere
Camp, is ready to advance. The cor
respondent of the London on
1st reported that General Buffers diff
fcuIties have been UNNECESSARILY In
creased by the enforced delay since the
last engagement. He now has before
him a series of walled and fortified hills
running sixteen miles along the line of
the Tugela- These are Swarming with
the enemy, posted in positions of great
strength, and bristling with guns, while
the river in front is in full flood. The
coming battle will certainly be the stiff
fest, and probably the most moment
ous. of the entire campaign" As usual
Butler is confident" as he was conf
dent of eating his Christmas dinner in
Pretoria which he may never reach
The Messenger has again and again
said that it believed in the final and
complete victory of the British Ihere
are no more plucky. stubborn fighters
ON the globe. They have the means
and the numbers and they must tri-
umph at last, overcoming all dithcul-
ties and obstacles and foes. A London
cable dispatch to the New York Even
ing Post has this:
They mean to carry the
in South Africa to a successful conclu-
sion, though they now realize that IL
may take another six months and
man hard fights.
Some idea of what they are doing
may be gathered from the fact, OF
which l had official confirmation yes
terday, that whereas, at the most nd
eral estimate, the two Boer republics
have 60, 900 men in the field, England
will in four weeks time have loo,OOO
fighting men, fully equipped. in South
Africa. = = But the government mere
is confident that Lord Roberts and LORD
in control of a force OF 15O,-
Gee men, including as it does, all they
have asked for in the way OF
infantry and artillery, will, with patti
ence and quiet persistence, see the bus
mess through"
But might never yet in all OF the
worlds history made right. The pow
erfuI can destroy or conquer the weak.
Here in the closing ear of the century
the two great English-speaking coun-
tries-none greater-who boast of their
Christian CD civilization and their free
governments, in which h people rule,
are engaged each in warning upo two
weak peoples, without any ope cause
of justiRcation-trying to capture and
hold.
WHO FIRED THE LAST VOLLEY AT
APPOMATTOX.