The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-16

LONDON. Sept. 15.-The parliamen-
tary campaign is in full swing. but
Lord Salisbury has not yet taken the
country into his confidence as to ball
loting day; and the consequent uneer-
tainty gives the stump speaking that is
going or in every constituency an aca-
demic tinge.
Though Lord Salisbury Is not known
to have made any sign respecting the
dissolution Of parliament, Lord Roberts
is evidently Fastening the general elec-
tions. Dissolution is writ large across
the proclamations and bulletins v hich
have been received from Machadodorp
in the last "a hours.
The British Commander-in-chief's
proclamation to the Beers respecting
Mr.. Kruger's retirement from the
Transvaal and his resignation from Of
flee is an adroit and statesmanlike doc
ument which can hardly fail to be
helpful in aceelerating the disbandment
of the guerrilla troops.
The statement that $4,000 Beers are
prisoners Of war causes surprise here.
where the number Of the Dutch was
not supposed to be over 10000.
The veiled threat respecting the en-
ployment Of rigorous measures sane
toned BY the customs of war is hailed
with satisfaction by the English press
which, too has lost patience with Lord
Roberts leniency.
Bulletins from Maehadodorp all point
to the speedy collapse of the Boer arms.
Sir Redvers Buffers immense seizure
Of Boer stores at Spitzkop: General
Bothas retirement from command:
General Pole-Carew's successful ad-
vance eastward along the railway with
French's steady advance toward Bar
berton and various operations by Gem
erals Hart. Clements and Rundle, are
proofs that the pressure of oVerwhelnl-
ing numbers is irresistible and that
the Dutch burghers are fighting with
out hope and are gradually breaking
down.
Military experts expect that the last
real battle Of the war will be fought
at Nelspruit and that Commandant VIII
1oen's forces will then disperse Their
forecasts have been falsifed so often
that little Importance can be attached
to them. and it is fairly safe con-
clusion that there will be little except
police work after Komatlpoort has been
occupied. The general elections will
not be deferred for the completion Of
the police work since, unhappily, that
Is likely to go on for several years.
President Kruger's dramatic retreat
has led the commentators to rean-
nOunce the close Of the war but the
long list of casualties and deaths in
hospital. aggregating 200 a week. which
continue to fill UP the bulletin boards
at the war office belle their statements.
The claim hitherto made that the Brit
Ish losses in South Africa have been
small as compared with those OF other
camraignsappear to need revision, indg-
Ing from recent calculations made by
4 well known actllary. who finds that
If the officers in South Africa 72.1 per
thousand have been killed or died from
wounds; 30.6 per thousand Of the off,
,ers have died from disease. while Of
The men 10 per thousand have been
killed or died from wounds and 31.8
nave died from disease. These start
ing statistics not only illustrate that
while the officers and men have suf-
erred approximately equally from dis
Ease. the risks Of the officers in action
iave been hugely disproportionate. and
llso that the rate Of mortality In South
Africa Is much greater than In the
franco German war.
Kruger's millions are the subject Of
paragraphs and long nar-
Itives Of dispraise The lowest esti-
nate Of his wealth Is R100e 600 invest
d abroad: while 7onla ealculators fig-
Ire his wealth at $4,000, 900. The
'ransvaal government Is supposed to
ave two or three million pounds n
ontinental banks which will be hoard
d by the managing committee, DR..
4eyds says. for a future rising when
ingland Is in other difficulties.