New-York tribune., 1901-12-25
LONDONS LATEST NEWS.
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITH BOER WAR
UNENDED.
COURT IN TOWN FOR FIRST TINE IN MANY
TEARs-CAUsE OF QUEENS ILLNESS
GIFT BY ROYAL ACADEMY
Copyright; 1901: By The New-Yorl Tribune)
IBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEI

Ilr b1 fAo1AL ANADhh1.
Copyright; 1901: By The Nev-York Tribune)
TBT CABLE THE TRIBUNE.I
London. Dec %. / d. m.-Christnlas has not
brought peace to South Africa. Despite Lord
Kitchener's blockhouse system the Beers still
retain effective means of communication and
can organize combined attack at any prear-
ranged point The tactics which they have late
ly adopted, however, are proving very costly TO
themselves. and as the result OF last weeks
operations the number Of the Boer forces in the
field has been reduced by 415. Conquest of the
two new South African colonies is proceeding
slowly, but the people here find consola-
ton in the fact that the situation is much more
hopeful than il twelve months ago. Eng
land then was confronted with a recrudescence
Of the war, which took soldiers and statesmen
alike by surprise and dssipated day dreams
and illusions. The state of affairs is similar in
some respects to-day. but the struggle has be-
come so unequal that speculation the prob
able future of the military action Of the Beers
. is almost futile.
For the first time for two generations the
Court will spend Christmas in London. There
is no doubt that the country would rejoice at
the announcement if the indisposition of Queen
Alexandra were not the cause. 1t Is said that
the rapid rate of travelling through the keen air
IN motor cars is responsible for the i'll health Of
the Queen. but no official information is vouch-
safed on this point.
The Royal Academy is celebrating the Kings
accession by presenting to the Queen collec-
ton Of representative works by its members
The proposition was first made vanishing
DAY before the opening of the academy last
summer and it has been taken up so heartily
that Sir Edward Poynter. the president. is able
to offer a collection Of seventy water color
paintings and other works by members and as
sociates, who number in all seventy-fve. One
Of the admira bly, executed water colors
comes from the brush Of Thomas Sidney Cooper.
who is in his ninety-eighth year. The works
have been divided into three sets, each in a book
shaped box. and these in turn are contained IN
a handsome mahogany cabinet, SO designed that
the front may be let down and the pictures
withdrawn separately for examination
The Foreign Office has been approached at
least twice the last fortnight by Chilli with the
request that the British Government should
speedily use its influence to bring about solu-
ton of the difficulty with the Argentine Repub-
lie The latter country has already, through its
legation in London, presented detailed state
raent to the Foreign Office. setting forth the
questions on which the mediation of Great Brit
ain is desired. AS Lord Lansdowne is out Of
town. the Foreign Office is not in position to
state exactly what will be the attitude of Great
Britain but 1t is understood that the govern
Inent will send a favorable reply.
The railway disaster at Liverpool is the first
serious accident that has occurred on an elec-
tric line here and it is certain that an exhaust
i've investigation will be made by the Board of
Trade. The newspapers pointing out the
necessity for the of fireproof material in the
neigh hborhood of electric motors and the danger
OF storing creosoted sleePers or other imam