The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-09
REVIEW OF SITUATION.


the Tribune from London says:
Mr.. chamberain's statement as to
the lines Of settlement in South Africa
which the government proposes to-
adopt has undoubtedly produced very
great impression and the feeling in the
parliamentary lobbies last night was
that 1t had gone far to shorten not only
the winter session but the campaign
against the Boers The colonial secre-
tary. by the moderation Of his tone and
by the generosity OF his terms. has
completely cut the ground from under
the feet OF the opposition and left them
with no real excuse to resist the grant
ing OF supplies within the shortest pos
sible time.
Although the colonial secretary did
not expressly state in his mastery
speech last night in the house OF COM
mons OH the future Of South Africa that
Sir Alfred Miner will be relieved Of the.
duties Of governor Of Cape Colony, it
is generally understood that Sir Al
fred viii be succeeded in that position
BY Sir W. F. HeyI- -Hudginson. present
governor Of Natal.
The Unionist newspapers are delight
ed at Mr.. Chamberlain's statement The
Telegraph calls 1t the rational speech
Of rational man.
The fox chase near Aliwal North ex-
ceeds In interest anything done in par
Lament. where the debate on the ad-
dress is artificial and e1sOOOOOo repre-
sents only small fraction of the
amount needed for the winding up Of
the war. General Kitchener's dispatch.
posted in the war Office during the
evening. contained evidence that De Wet
was hard pressed since all his prisoners
except the officers taken at Dewetsdorp
had been released and a gun had been
captured by Knox's force. He had re-
peated the tactics which were effec-
tive when he was pursued through
Lindley and Phenoster to the vaal.
When his advance was cut off toward
the Orange river. DE Wet marched
northeast for two days and then turned
about and doubled about southeast up
on his own tracks. crossing the Caledon
and heading for Odendal. The British
mounted force remained in hot pursuit
and when he came into touch with the
garrison at Aliwal North he again re-
tired eastward
1t is not clear from the meagre dis
patches whether the road through
Rouxville to Wepener is still open to
him. If it be closed he may be run
down in the southeastern corner Of the
Orange River Colony. General Kitch-
ener has evidently made the capture Of
De Wet the first object of his cam
paign and is not leaving a stone un-
turned. General Macdonald has been
sent to Aliwal North and Knox's forces
include several mobile mounted col
umns.
The explanation offered for the re-
turn of the Household cavalry when
mounted forces are needed for pursuit
of the guerrilla bands is that 1t was too
heavily accoutred and armed for mo- |
bile operations. If this be true. the
British army will have to depend in
time of war upon mounted bodies Of
yeomanry and colonials for cavalry
service. The suggestion has already
been made that a permanent body Of
cavalry reserves can be recruited in
Canada and Australia. This force
would not be called upon to perform
work in the colonies but would receive
pay as reserves from the imperial gov
ernment during time Of peace and be
liable for service in war time for the
defense Of the empire at the highest
rates paid for local military services
in Canada and Australia. Advocates Of
this plan assert that ten thousand cav
airy reserves could be enrolled in Can
ada and the same number In Australia.