The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Belief strong That Botba IL About to
Surrender.

| Surrender.
| LONDON, March 2-"Dayiight in South
| Africa is the type of heading which some
OF the weekly journals today adopt The
| general aspect of affairs Is unquestion-
ably improving. De Wet, it is TRUE, has
| once again eluded General Kitchener, but
| his fresh attempt to invade Cape Colony
| has at least been made abortive, and.
what is more important, big financial
| houses here, who have often proved bet
| ter informed than the Ministry, affirm
| that General Botha is on the eve of sur
| render and that the announcement of his
| surrender which set all London in a
| fiutter on Thursday viii be justified when
| a slight temporary hitch has been re-
moved in the negotiations proceeding be-
tween General Botha and General Kitch-
encr at the instance of Mrs. Botha.
AS evidence OF the direction of the Gov
eminent expectations, it may be men,
toned that high War Office official yes
terday told a well-known Member of Par
lament that the war must end within a
fortnight. For all that, the estimates
issued yesterday provide for four further
months of campaigning in full rigor-
Another factor in the improving situa-
ton is Sir Alfred Miners departure from
Cape Town to commence the civil ad-
ministration of the new colonies. He
would not go were II not apparent that
the war is in its last stages, nor would he
go if the Ministry expected the military
administration of South Africa to be pro-
longed.
This start in the civil control of the con-
quered territory synchronizes with the
discovery by the Liberal party of conf
mon ground of action regarding South
Africa. At a meeting of the National Lib
eral Federation at Rugby this week va
rious sections of the party agreed to ac-
cept the annexation of the Boer colonies
as inevitable, agreed to differ about Sir
Alfred Miner and the policy leading up
to the war, and agreed to concentrate
upon demand for an immediate Govern
ment announcement of self-government to
the Transvaal and the Orange Colony
upon the cessation of hostilties. 1t is be-
lieved that this is Lord Rosebery's own
plan of campaign. II certainly is bringing
together the Liberals who are imperialst
and anti-imperialist, pro-Boer and anti
Boer. and is providing a line of criticism
which carries the Liberals and National
lists into the same lobby against the Gov
eminent.
united Liberal and Irish attack has driven
the Government majority down from $50
to IS. In word, the Opposition is
awakening at last. Liberalism also de-
rives inspiration from the confident an
ticipation that Toryism will be smitten
hip and thigh in todays London municipal
elections. The London householder is
about tired of the monopolistic tyranny
of the water companies. For twelve years
the London County Council aided, at
times. by water famines, has attempt
ed to dethrone the companies and
place the water supply under municipal
control, as in Glasgow, Manchester Biz
mingham, and almost every provincial
city.
Toryism has always fought this at
tempted municipalization, and. under
panies have been attempting TO use Lon
dons daily wastage of 61.0co000 gallons
of water as a pretext for fastening the
monopoly more securely upon the rate
payers. They have been hopelessly de-
feated and have been compelled this week
by an outburst of public anger, to with
draw their proposals, and tOdays cleo
tons. which are fought under the shadow
Of that withdrawal, can hardly fail TO |
strengthen progressive Londoners in their
campaign for municipal water. m snicipal |
gas, municipal housing for the working
classes. and municipal London docks
AS it is, London is the most backward |
OF all British cities, its every necessary |
being under the control of nonopolistic |
rings. As in the new Liberal unity in I'm |
perial politics. so in this municipal move |
rnent Lord Rosebery has made himself |
the accepted leader.
Politicians like Sir Howard Vincent and |
journals like the Daily Mali are get |
ting small encouragement in their at |
Tempt to turn the American steel COM |
oination to protectionist account here. |
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer and |
The president of the Board of Trade |
Tories though they are. addressing a /
Tory, have quietly snubbed Sir Towards |
that a protective tariff be es-
-ablished against foreign manufactured |
IMPORTS. with the idea OF placing on the |
some portion of the pecuniary |
burden of the Boer war. Such step
would. 1t is pointed out. hardly add to
British popularity trade. British iron
masters and ironworkers do not talk pro-
ection. Indeed. they do not seem as yet |
prepared to say how the new American |
actor should be faced.
The House OF Commons acceptance this
week of the Miners Eight-hour bill need
lot be taken seriously. The miners them
selves differ as to its desirability. The
iii is, in truth, largely the outcome of
he vote-catching capers OF rival poll
i've end as previous bills of the kind
which the House of Commons also has |
cad for the second time.
An extensive collection of Central
American land and fresh water shells has
,een presented to the Natural History
luse.m here by Mr.. Frederick Goldman.
]. X s. There are nearly 5000 speci-
mems, including types of seventy new
pecies. Mr.. Goldman also presented a
arge and important collection of butter
lies of Central America, containing 2,Jg0
pecimens.