Evening star., 1901-02-11
ALLIANCE WITH PORTUGAL L
KING CHARLES w1l AID BRITAIN
Move Very UnpOpu In Lisbon
Kitchener Reports Defeat of
Botha'- Fpttee..

ilE
LONDON, February MA solemn re-
affirmation of the AnglpsPortuguese al
lance is pending, I am Informed says
the Lisbon correspondent Sof the Daily
Mail, land England will require Portugal
to lend Portuguese troops to guard certain
points in South Africa I'M order to enable
the British employed at those points to
join the fighting columns"
A dispatch from Lisbon, dated February
10, says: Portugal, 1t is alleged, is pre-
pairing to send troops to aid the British
in South Africa. King Charles will remain
in London until tomorrow.
Great efforts ere being made to secure
new treaty of alliance with England SUI
perseding the antiquated treaties
The Monde, in the course of a violent
attack upon the policy Of the Portuguese
government for violating neutrality by al
lowing the British to land troops on Por-
tuguese territory in South Africa SAYS:
''Such a course invites disaster. 1t is
easy to perceive symptoms of grave events
In the near future. The press Of the en-
tire world has condemned the action of
Portugal, which, in addition, will incur
great expense, notwithstanding the lament
able condition of the country's finances
The Anglo-Portuguese alliance means the
ruin of Portugal"
Kitchener Reports Fighting.
The war Office has received the following
dispatch from Lord Kitchener the COM
mander-in-chief in South Africa:
"PRETORIA, February 9-The columns
working eastward occupied Ermelo Febru-
ary G, with slight opposition. A large
force of Beers, estimated at 7,OOO under
Louis Botha, retired eastward. About 800
wagons. with families, passed through Err
melo on the way to Amsterdam, and very
large quantities Of stock are being driven
east.
"A peace delegate, under sentence OF
death, and other Boer prisoners were taken
away by the Beers. All the reports show
that the Beers are exceedingly bitter. Fifty
Beers surrendered.
Louis Botha, with 1000 attacked General
Smith-Dorrien at Orange Camp. Boutwell,,
at am. February 6. He was repulsed af-
ter severe fighting. General Spruitt was
killed, General Randemeyor was severely
wounded, two field cornets were killed.
Twenty of the Boer dead were left in our
hands. and many severely wounded. Our
casualties were twenty-four killed and fif-
ty-three wounded.
'Our movement to the east is reported to
have thoroughly upset all the enemy's cal
culations, and created regular panic in
the district.
Christian De Wet appears to be crossing
the line south of Jagersfontein road to
the west this morning, having failed to ef-
feet a crossing by the drifts east of Bethu-
lie.
I'm Cape Colony, Calvinia has been oc-
cuped by Colonel De Isle. who entered
February 6. the enemy retiring toward
Kenhardt. Colonel 4Iafg' is driving the mid
land commanders northwaTd past Aber-
deem"
De Wet EIudess she> british.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Times, wiring yesterday and; giving gen.
eral outline of the British offensive opera
tions, says:
1.-The British force directed against Chris
tian De Vets commando included seven
columns. under Knox Hamilton, Maxwell,
White, Pitcher and CreAwe They hoped to
force De Wet upon tha British corps con-
centrated on Orange river The Beers, un
der cover of a detached commando, swung
westward and captured a "pompon' from
between Springfontein and Endenburg,
evaded the British concentration.
DE Wet is now probably in the Philip
polls district, and this probably accounts
for the northWesterly movement OF the
Beers in Cape Colony.
1.-The latest proclamation issued by De
Wet and Steyn closes thus: / shall now
enter Cape Colony to give the farmers there
a taste of what we have ourselves suffered
through this war
Lord Raglan, under scertary of state for
war; informed the correspondent of the As
sociated Press yesterday that Gen. Sir
Evelyn WOOQ Is not gong 10 ooulH alflCd
and that no peace commission is contem-
plated.
THE report as to a peace commission is
false from beginning to end" he said. The
policy of the government Is the very oppo-
site Of what would prompt such step.
Troops, not peace commissioners, are going
to South Africa
Alarm ut Cape Town.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated Feb
ruary 10. says: Yesterday Sir Alfred Mil
ner reviewed 600 men OF the new volunteer
force, and made a spirited address to the
officers. He expressed his qualification at
the loyal response the colony had made to
the call, emphasized the great value OF
mounted men, and complimented the officers
already done in stemming the Boer fnva-
sion.
1T has been said that the enemy would
never come to Cape Town. but any one,
who in face of the events of the last few
months, will say a thing is impossible be-
cause it seems improbable is too silly to
be argued with I am aware that l risk
being called an alarmist but it is better to
be called an alarmist than to run any risk.
There was time when it was regarded
impossible for the Beers to penetrate
the extreme west and south Of Cape Colony
but they have reached one and are within
a few miles of the other Therefore, 1t Is
necessary to take every precaution. MOST
men prefer to be called alarmistS and to
safeguard their property. That is better
than to be called fine, plucky fellow and
to lose your property"