Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-20
WANTS CAVALRY.
KITCHENER WANTS THOUSANDS
OF MOUNTED MEN.
ENGLISH PUBLIC IN UPR0AR.
Wonder How Roer War Will End
Scathing Criticism of Gener-
alship in Africa.

New York, Dec. 20.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
There are persistent rumors that Gen.
Kitchener has asked for large reinforce
ments of mounted men. Various figures
ranging from aa.o00 to 10000 men are
named hut the war office is silent, and
the reports are not credited by military
men. No action in the direction or
strengthening the army in South Africa
is probable until Lord Roberts return.
If reinforcements are sent, it is not be-
lieved that they will exceed 10000 men,
A picked body of mounted infantry is
already under orders to sail early in
January. but it will not outrun 1000 men.
The supply of horses is reported to be
scant in South Africa. Some experts
consider that there are men enough al
ready in the field. and that the proper
course would lie to send horses by thou
sands and put in the Sadule the infantry
now sA:ferinG from iaaction ana Wearl-
ness OF camp routine. Attempts on the
part of the press agencies to magnsy
the services of mounted infantry under
Clements. and explain away the recent
reverse are not convincing. The strie-
lures of veteran officers here upon the
management of the British forces in that
enga cement are most severe.
Lord Kitchener maintains silence With
respect to the invasion of Cape Colony,
and there is bound to be considerable
anxiety until the truth is known. 1t is
difficult to believe that the Beers who
crossed the Orange river can be in suffi-
cient numbers To frighten the war office
authorities, or to cause Gen. Kitchener
much annoyance. One OF the comman-
does is. however. reported to be in the
neighbolhood OF Aliwal North. which is
about the worst center of disaffection in
the whole colony. The invading Beers
are probably receiving considerable as
sistance from the local Dutch, and in
case of a general uprising, the troops at
the disposal of the British authorities
would not be sufficient to cope with the
situation, which private advices depict
as somewhat oninous De Larry seems
disposed to follow up his success at
Nooitgedacht. Hitherto the Boer gener-
ais have been content to rest on their
oars after a victory, but De Larry. if he
intended profiting by his oefeat of Gen.
Clements, should not have given the lat
ter time to be joined by Gen. French
AS was generally expected. the losses of
the northumberland fusiliers at Nooitge-
dacht week ago We're more than the
official accounts first reported.
Owing to the altered preparations for
Lord Roberts return. the short route in
London which the field marshal will
cover in his drive to Buckingham palace
1T is feared by a good many that the
crush Will be very great. The author
tiles are. however. determined to prevent
a repetition Of the scandalous scenes
which marked the return of the city vol
unteers.
Society gossip now proposes to reward
Lord Roberts With an eardom and ESQ.,
600 pounds.
st. Pauls was Well filed al the service
in memory of the soldiers and sailors
who have fallen during the war. The
ford mayor Was present in state, and
there We're files of Coldstreams and
Blues with a full military band. Lord
WolSeey and Mr.. Broderick represented
headquarters and the war office. The
service was impressive. with funeral
marches and dirges by Beethoven, Wag-
ner and Chopin.