New-York tribune., 1901-12-27
SEVERE BRITISH REVERSE
NE WET, WITH STRONG COMMAND, AT
TACKS CAMP.
,,rrcHENER REPORTS THAT HEAVY CAS-
1rALTIEs ARE FEARED -ZIoNIsTs IN sEs-
sION-GAGE ON CUSTOM HOUSE

JrALTIES ARE FEARED -ZIONISTS IN SES-
sIoN-GAGE ON CUSTOM HOUSE.
Copyright: 1901: By The New-Yo-k Tribune)
tBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUSE.I
London, Dec. 81 / a. m.-The British have
sustained a severe reverse in South Africa at
.be hands of their redoubtable enemy De Wet
On Christmas Eve Colonel Firman's camp at
ZeefonteiTl, in The northeast of the Orange River
Colony, was successfully rushed by a consider
able force Of Bocrs under the leadership of that
famous guerilla general. Only meagre particu-
ars are Yet known. but Lord Kitchener in his
yHc!al dispatch suggests that the British loss
= Tas heavy. Colonel F1rman's column consisted
If four battalions of yeomanry, which
guarding the blockhouse line from Harrismith to
Bethlehem. They had two guns with them, and
these, apparently, the Beers have got safely
away with. as. although two battaIions of I'M
periaI Light Horse have gone in pursuit. lord
Kitchener does not hold out any hope that De
Wet viii be overtaken
Following quickly the news of Colonel
Damant's defeat at Tafei Kop. Orange River
Colony, and Major Bridgford's defeat at Be-
ginderlyn. in the Transvaal the reports OF this
successful move the part Of De Wet have
caused a renewal Of the uneasiness here with
regard 10 the military situation in South Africa
Switzerland. Delegates to the number of three
hundred We're present from all parts of the
world including the United States and Canada.
but half of them came from Russia and many
from Germany. DR.. Herzl in his presidential
address contended that the Jewish question
could only be solved by the Jews themselves
He could Tot say how the Zionist plans
would mature, but he had pleasure in announc-
ing that he was authorized by the Sultan TO
state that in him the Jews had a friend and
well wisher DR.. Marmorek mentioned that sew
eral new Zionist societies had been formed, in
Guiding one amcng American Jewish soldiers
now serving in the Philippines. The congress
sat far into the night, discussing the question
Of the Jewish colonial bank.
Secretary Cages defence Of the American Gus
tom house in The North American Review is
criticised by The Globe which says: "Secre-
tary Gage most carefully avoids the great and
main complaint Of most people who pass through
the custom house. and that is the unnecessary
brutality and III manners with which many Of
fcials treat the ordinary traveller It may be
natural that as their bribes are cut off they
should wish to take It out in I'll manners. but II
Secretary Gage can teach the United States in
spectors at the custom house TO do their duty
with ordinary civility he will have achieved a
reform worth much more than the few thousand
dollars he has succeeded in securing for the
Treasury
Ditton Park, near Windsor the home of the
late Duchess of Buccleuch, has been let for the
coming year TO a wealthy American, who WILL IT
is stated, there entertain the United States rep
resenta tive during the coronation festivities
Dittcn Park is of great antiquity. In 1881 the
manor granted by Edward III to Sir John
de Molins, who permitted TO erect castle
= -fT11a Of
James II, and the present noble structure took
its place early in the last century.
The reported objection by the Chinese peace
tlenipotentiaries to the four points in the Man
churia convention proposed by Russia Is re-
garded as a serious check 20 Russian diplomacy
in Peking 1.-The Standard" thinks If the repre-
sentatives of the other powers have been con-
suited by the penipotentiaries, it may be as
sumed that they have approved of the course
that has been adopted
London has its fair share Of pantomime this
year. The principal Christmas entertainment
Of the kind is always produced at the Drury
Lane Theatre, and last night the famous old
playhouse was crowded in every part when the
curtain rose on Blue Beard" 1t was great
success. but more gorgeous spectacle than
as a paatomime for children In one scene, the
fan ballet there was 2 feast OF beautiful color
ing and dazzling light, in which the evolution of
the fan was illustrated by Illuminated scenery
This ballet will be the talk Of the town. The
electrical contrivances introduced are note
worthy feature OF the production. At one mo-
nent in the cascade OF jewels and falling stars
five thousand lights were aglow, and a sensa-
tonaI effect was created by stars exploding mid
way in descent, and scene after scene Of sur
passing beauty was unfolded Nothing SO elabo-
haa- befo
Lane.
PRISONER ESCAPES FROM ST HELENA
Deo British steamer