Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-01
A NAVAL DISPLAY.
Great Britain 10 Mobilize Her Fleet
Off Irish Coast.
Beers TRY TO REDUCE KIMBERLEY


hat the cabinet devoted much of its
discussions on Saturday TO the mo-
bili,ation of the fleet Nothing was
settled except that, until further Sc
curity to the home coasts has been
obtained by naval preparations, The
Eighth division shall not be sent to
South Africa. On Monday the admir-
atty issued orders that the Channel
squadron instead of leaving Portland
this week for Gibraltar, as previous
| " directed, shall assemble on Feb
ruary ) off Eddystone and proceed to
Bantry for fortnight's exercise off
the Irish coast, thus keeping in home
waters for Il time.
The mobilization of reserve war;
ships, if such course shall be de-
termined upon, would be of the ut
most importance, There is nothing
in the intelligence possessed by the
public to cause the cabinets pro-
longed discussion of this matter and
| the inference is that the feet may be
modified as II general warning to
other countries TO keep their hands
off the rransyaa situation, or the
ministry may have definite knowl-
edge that the neutral powers purpose
to take some advantages elsewhere
while England is busy in South A.
rica.
The natives report that three Boer
guns have been removed from Spyt-
fontein to Kimberley The Beers are
apparently making special effort to
reduce the place quickly. The Kim
berley garrison was safe last Sunday.
The Military situation Reviewed.
London, Jan. 3l.--SpeAcer Wilkin-
son, reviewing the military situation
in the Morning Post, says: Here is
again remarkable scarcity of infor-
mation about what is taking place in
the theater of war. There must be
more than 100 war correspondents at
the front, but they are kept silent.
The column under Gen, kelly-kenny
has occupied Thebus, about 30 miles
by railway from Colesberg, where
Cen French is operating, and about
As miles from Stormberg junction,
where the Beers opposed to Gen. Cat
deere are believed to be. The strength
OF Gen. KeIly-Kenny's column is not
ted, but as that officer commands the
Sixth division, the whole of which has
reached Cape Town, and as there is
no word of any part of it having gone
to Natal, the probability is that the
column is identical with the division.
AT any rate it is to be hoped that
this is the case, and that the last has
been heard of breaking up divisions
into fragments. The dispatch of this
column, II, as must be presumed, it is
strong enough for independent opera
tions, portends Il great deal. In the
first place, ii means that the cam
paign in Natal is to be left TO the
care of itelf. For, it the Sixth divi-
sion is at 'Thebus, there is no other
force AT Cape Town capable of turn
ing the balance in Natal l.adysmith,
| then, is not to be relieved Its gar
rison must hold out as long as posi-
Bile, or make a desperate attempt TO
fight its way out, unless, indeed Gen.
Butler, with such forces as he has,
tries third time TO drive back the
Boer army. This discussion implies
that the war will he prolonged, and
that the Beers are to be given time to
push their advantage in Natal. They
will try to overcome Sir George
Whites forces and to take the Of
| fensive against Gen. Butler, whose
army they would in that case, per-
haps, he able to hold by putting sew
eral parts of their own more mobile
force in positions in the front tanks
and rear. Gen. Butler would keep
them occupied as long as his supplies
and ammunition lasted, During these
operations the British forces in Cape
| Colony and the achievements on the
way would he collected into an army
to march through the Free State. IL
| That march could he rapid enough 10
produce an effect on the mind of the
Boer c0mmander-in-chief, while Gen.
Buffers force is still occupying him,
the plan might lead to decisive re-
suit. but there can hardly be start
for another month and march
through the Free State must take a
month al least. II is not easy to-day
to foresee what can happen in Natal
by the end of March,"
Hopes Soon to He In Ladysmith.
London, Jan. 3l.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Mail, tele.
graphing yesterday says. Sen. Bull
Ter told his men that they ought not
to think because they had retired
from their position that all their
work was OF no avail. On the con.
trary, in his opinion they had gained
the key to the road to Ladysmith, in
which he hoped to be within week
Gen. Butler then called for cheers foI
the queen, which were heard for miles
around"
MOrrIstOWu. Pa. NaarIv WIned Out