New-York tribune., 1901-02-26
LATEST LONDON COMMENT
EARLY ENDING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
WAR EXPECTED
JULY MAY SEE THE MINES RUNNING
AGAIN-THE COURTS PROGRAMME.
wM. J. O'RRIEN.
Copyright. 1901 BY The New-York TribuneD
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

Copyright: The NewYork TrtbuneO
IBY THE TRIBUNE.l
London Feb. 26, l a. m.-There few adj
ditional details of the rout of the Dutch forces
in South Africa, but there is a buoyant feeling
In military circles that the end of the is
nearer than il was. The junction of De Vets
men with the commanders which were already
in Cape Colony has been prevented and the in
vaders have been scattered in all directions. and
their resources for keeping up hostilities have
been paralyzed De Vets name has lost the
glamour and fascination which it has exercised
over the Dutch imagination. If he succeeds in
eluding Immediate pursuit he will have great
difficulty in renewing his supplies of war ma
terial and keeping his men in the field
General French's operations have been equally
effective. Botha's force has been harassed
steadily, and compelled TO break up into small
bands. Its losses in ammunition are heavy. and
the country is devastated. General Kitchener
has done his work with scientific thoroughness.
He has corralled the sparse population here ard
there under strong guard and emptied the vast
spaces of South African veldt, so that there Is
no possibility OF continuing the war in an ef-
fective way. There no relays of horses. no
droves Of cattle. and the veldt is uninhabtable,
and train Wrecking Is the last resource of the
guerillas. There may be unforeseen accidents.
but military expert here expects that the war
will be prolonged beyond the first of July. l am
told that there were wagers in johannesburg
al the opening of the year that the mines would
be operated by the first week IN July.
Court officials are having a short respite dur
ing the kings absence in Germany. and many
are taking weeks run In the country. 1t is
a mistake TO assume that any large plans for
future ceremonials are under consideration. No
decision has been reached respecting the date
for the coronation. and the kings wishes ars Dot
known in court circles. The civil list has been
virtually disposed Of far the court is con
cerned and the treasury officials have the easy
task OF inducing Parliament to consent TO a lib
eral allowance for the establishment OF the
queen consort, annuities for the kings children
and the transfer Of the usual grants from the
account OF the Prince Of Wales to that Of the
Duke II Cornwall. When the king returns there
Will be special audiences from time TO time for
about seventy bodies OF various sorts and con-
ditions which have a traditional right pre-
sent addresses OF coincidence and congratula-
ton
The departure Of the Duke Of Cornwall for
Australia Will be followed by the visit Of the
king and queen to Scotland. when they will go TO
Balmoral. This Is the programme outlined by
the court officials. with the coronation as an
undetermined question
There has been no disclosure Of the nature and
scope of the Victorian memorial which will be
proposed by a committee headed by the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury. Lord Salisbury and Lord
Rosebery. 1t is thought that the memorial will
have both a practical and an ornamental side.
involving a work Of benevolence on a large scale
and some architectural scheme for the perpetu-
alton OF the queens memory. If there be a
feature or the latter kind 1t will offer the op-
portunity for American cooperation For ex-
ample. If a series OF Victorian Crosses like those
for Queen Eleanor be agreed upon, one OF these
might be made an American gift The Ameri-
can Society in London has not taken any OBJ
trusive action in the matter II has obtained
possession of the field to keep out seIf-adver-
tisers. and will remain in the background until
the general plans are formulated. 1t will then
be in a position for action If any portion of the
plan offers a chance for a popular and really
characteristic expression OF American feeling
for the respected and lamented queen
1. N F.