The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10
ROBERTS OFF TO THE WAR
Great Crowds Cheer Him in London
and Southampton.
BOERS LOOKING FOR MEDIATION,
sritii II People Arc Bent on Victory-Pop-
1lar Conception of Peace is That 1t
Must Come Through Roberts and
Kitchener-Navat Guns Destroy Part
OF the Bridge at Colenso.

Kitchener-Saval Guns Destroy Fart
OF tho Bridge at Colenso.
LONDON (By Cable) There was a scene
OF great enthusiasm at Waterloo station
when General Lord Roberts, Commander
ln.Chief OF the forces in South Africa, took
a train for Southampton whence he sailed
on the transport Dunottar Castle for South
Africa.
The Prince OF Wales, the D ukes OF Con-
uaught and Cambridge. Lord General
Wolseley, Commander-in- Chief OF the
British Army; the Marquis OF Lans.
dowre, Secretary of State for War;
MIR. A. J. Balfour, First Lord Of the Treas
ury. and many distinguished army officers,
Cabinet Ministers and members OF the
House OF Commons were in the immense
crowd.
The Prince OF Wales's last words to Gen.
sral Roberts as he boarded the train were:
"Good-bye, 'Bobs,' happy Christmas and a
prosperous New Year, and every possible
On arriving at Southampton General
Roberts was heartily cheered by thou
sands OF people, and as he boarded the
Dunottar Castle, between a guard OF honor
Of marines and bluejackets, there was q
renewed outburst OF applause. The Mayor
and corporation officials were present.
The American hospital ship Maine sailed
for Cape Town under favorable auspices.
The Red Cross flag foated from her TOP
mast, the Queens ensign from her mair
and the Stars and Stripes from her mtzzen.
As the Maine moved into the river three
cheers were given for the ship, then for
Lady Churchill and, finally, for the United
States.
The Maine will coal at Las Palmas, Ca
| nary Islands. She expects to reach the
| Cape in three weeks and will return VIII n
her first consignment OF wounded late ID
February.
A dispatch from Chievsley says:
sTne British naval guns have destroyed
the Colenso footbridge, thus preventinS the
Beers holding any position south or the
| Tugela River. The enemy are taking up
fresh positions on the eastern side, nearer
| the British camp. The British position at
| Frere Is being strengthened. According
TO reliable native reports, the Beers had
200 killed in the fight at Colenso.
! The news that the Colenso footbridge
has been destroyed seems to show that Cen
! sral Butler is more anxious to keep the
snemy at bay than to attempt a further ad-
vance. 5..
An undated heliograph message from
Ladysmith. by way Of Pleternarltzburg,
| represents the garrison as In no way
daunted by General BulleI's reverse at
| Colsnso, and as confident OF being able to
hold out indefinitely.
Though Great Brftain's plightjn South
Africa seems temporarily optical, 1t 1s
learned that the Beers are stfalnlng every
nerve to secure the mediation OF President
Mckinley toward a favorable peace.
But, any one with the slightest know
ledge OF British feeling quickly ap-
preciates tha:r not one person in q mil
lion contem plates any result but an ul-
innate British triumph, and all sections
unite in saying this must be secured, no
mattep what the cost. Hence, tho Boer
agents themselves have ouly slight hopes
t6.t mediation would be accepted, though
believing II President. Mckinley could be
persuaded to profrer tit, Lord Salisbury,
| lose humanitarian sympathy in the United
States, and thus divert to the Beers much
| wavering sentiment.
1t is learned from excellent sources that
no offer Of mediation would be accepted by
Lord Salisbury In any shape or form. The
popular conception OF peace Is that It must
come through the idol OF :he army General
Roberts, and his not less adored Chief OF
Staff, General Kitchener. The country Is
prepared to wait indefinitely for that event
uality. The fall OF Kimberley, Ladysmtth, !,
and Mafeking would not make a particle
OF difference, for this stoical resolve is
thoroughly imbedded in the hearts OF the
people, who, for the first time In the mem
ory of this generation, have drank deeply
Of the cup OF military defeat and disgrace.
Any other defeats that the future holds for
tie British, except entire annihilation, are
anticipated by the scathing self-crlticism
which the nation has inflicted upon its own
hide. Estimates Of the duration OF hostill-
ties vary from three months to year.