New-York tribune., 1900-12-25
LATEST LONDON COMMENT.
GARNET MINISTER'S FoRSAKE OFFICES
FOR CHRISTMAS AT HOME.
DIR. JAMESON OFF FOR SOUTH AFRICA
RICHARD CROKER QUIET AT HIS
COUNTRY HOME
Copyright: 1900: By The New-York Tribune.l
tBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

Copyright; 1900: By The New-York Tribunel
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
London Dec. 25, a. m.-The English Christ
mas comes this year with holly and mistletoe
hut with no rue The work in South Africa is
unfinished, but there is no sense OF humiliation
IN the unexpected reVerses and no bewilderment
over the holding up of the British army at the
three points of attack and the failure
complish the relief of the starving garrisons
The news from the theatre of war is meagre
and what there is points to a gradual breaking
down OF resources in the Boer resistance. It is
mainly problem of remounts and relays of
horses. The infantry cannot bring the war to
q close by sitting tight on the railways and in
the chief towns The Boer guerillas must be
hunted down, and this can be done only by sup
plying the mounted force with droves of horses
for riding hard and fast over the veldt The
War Office has never been able to comprehend
the necessity for purchasing horses on an un-
precedented scale for operation in South Africa.
No intelligence was received from Kitch-
ener yesterday, and private advices indicate that
railway and telegraphic communication between
Cape Town and the north has been suspended
partly by the operations of the Boer raiders and
partly by the heavy rains, and this fact may ac-
count for the silence of the wires. Considerable
anxiety as to the situation in Cape Colony is still
said TO prevail in military circles in Cape Town.
but here there is the fullest confidence in the
ability of Lord Kitchener, who is now on the
spot, TO crush the marauding commanders. The
Beers are not in sufficient strength to seriously
interfere with the British lines Of communica-
ton and any damage that they may have done
to railway and telegraph lines will no doubt be
quickly repaired.
The Express looks upon Vicker's Son &
Maxin's arrangement with TIE Cramp Ship
Building Company a tremendous stroke of
British enterprise. Cramp WILL 1t declares, be
only the ostensible head of the Cramp company,
which will be virtually a British concern and
will build American warships for the benefit of
British shareholders. This newspaper in another
column at the same time appeals to Englishmen
to wake up to save the threatened industries of
the country THE Tines this morning dealing
with the same subject, concludes that there is
urgent need for thorough national system of
technical and commercial education.
The public offices at Whitehall have been left
under the charge of janitors and night clerks,
and the Cabinet Ministers are entertaining
family parties in their country houses. How
large viii be the Cabinet Council Hatfield is
uncertain; probably it will not exceed three
members, as the two Right Hon. Balfours have
other engagements. Lansdowne is at Bowood
with large company. The Duke of Devonshire
is at Chatsworth. with big shooting party.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach is Coin Staldwyns. in
Gloucestershire. and Chamberlain is at High
bury. he FIVE years ago when his
holiday recreation was interrupted by tidings
OF the Jameson raid and he was brought back
TO London in hot haste by a special train The
soldier OF fortune who then menaced his peace
Of mind is reading French novels the
10 Cape Town. DR.. Jameson has slipped out of
London quietly. and has taken passage for South
Africa without observation. His health has i'm
proved under the rigor of medical treatment
here, and he has succeeded in eluding inter
viewers and gossips during his protracted stay.
The American Ambassador will have a family
party to-day at Carlton House Terrace, his
wife and daughter having returned from the
Continent IN improved health. Secretary Henry
White will entertain his colleague, Ridgely Car
ter and other guests at Wilton. The Naval At
tache has recovered from long Illness, but is
unable to go out of town for Christmas.
Richard Croker is not a diplomatic parsonage
and his holiday recreations can only be sur
missed. 1 learn that he is recruiting his health
and talking about horses at his country home
and is not concerned over the onslaught made
Dg Governor Roosevelt upon MS IrlenQS IN the
District Attorneys office.
y Hall Caine sends from the Continent the
following tribute to Stephen Philps's "Herod,'
which has been the chief feature of the London
theatrical season:
The real motive is the strife OF ambition with
love. Ambition conquers first, then love brings
in its reckoning. The last act is very moving
Nv only criticism would be that the work is
too short. and the emotion gives the effect of
being written in shorthand. 1t would have been
stili more impressive if it had been two acts
longer but the theme and treatment have great
ness. This poet belongs to the first flight. He
possesses imagination and passion. l rejoice to
know him, and 10 find him in Gay of so much
Nkeliness. J. n. F.
VOy BTELOW WON EMPEROR'S APPROVAL.