Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-14
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There is a CLEAN Of hope for England
in the news from South Africa. The
number of fighting Beers under Botha IS
unknown. Neither is it known whether
he has authority to accept terms Tor ali
the Boer forces in the field. 1t is not be-
lieved that he can speak for such leaders
as De Wet and Delarey. Louis Botha
was appointed commander-in-chiefo OF the
Boer forces upon the death of General
Joubert a year ago. He is only 80 years
old, and, like most of the Boer leaders, is
not professional soldier, although he
had had no little military experience be-
fore the beginning of the present war.
And yet, in spite of the reckless daring
of De Wet as a leader, Botha is perhaps
the greatest soldier the war has pro-
duced ON the Boer side. In Dec. ID,
1899, General Butler, with 10000 men,
the flower Of the British regular army,
attempted to cross the Tugea River. He
was defeated by superior tactics but by
a smaller force led by Louis Botha. This
was the battle of Colenso, in which Bull
ler's army was shattered and driven back
with loss of guns and men unprece
dented in the history of the British army
for more than three quarters of a cen
fury. Again, when Butler finally crossed
the Tugela in February, 1900, and cap
tured Spion Kop, it was Botha who per-
sonally led the Boer advance, drove War
rens forces from Spion Kou, and after
administering disastrous defeat, COM
PEELED Buffers army to recross the river.
Botha defeated Butler in every battle
the latter fought in his efforts to cross the
Tugela River and relieve Ladyslnith, and
he only retired when Buffers invasion of
the Orange Free State threatened to split
the Boer armies in twain. Then it was
that he gradually withdrew his forces,
saved every gun, every camp kettle, and
permitted Buffers troops to enter Lady
smith unopposed.
The new italian ministry seems to have
started right. Ia the Chamber of Depu-
ties on Thursday Premier Zanardelli an
nounced that the government did not in
tend to add to the public debt by raising
Il new loan. He further asserted that
the ministry had decided to reduce taxa
ton the present year by the sum of 3d.
100000 lire (S6,000,0O0). IL round num-
bers the public debt of Italy is $2,3SS,-
100000. The figures are stupendous when
contrasted with the ability of 81 10000
impoverished, tax-burdened inhabitants
to pay. Again, contrast the enormous
debt with the debt of other nations. The
United States, with population of &C.
100000, owes in round numbers S1,O5G,-
100000, less than half of the Italian debt
Germany, with a population of $1,000
900, owes $2,573, 100000, with an i'm
lfenSe army to support, an extravagant
naval program, and an elaborate system
of canals and internal improvements I'M
der construction.
Gratifying progress seems to have been
made in the pacifcation of the PhiliD-
pines. Chairman Taft Of the Philippine
commission has assured President Nc
Kinely that the revolt was practically Mt
an end. Civil rule has been welcomed
wherever it has been established. and
new provinces will be brought under the
new order as rapidly as the commission
can visit them. Dispatches from Wash
iligton state that Chairman Taft will be
appointed Civil Governor of the islands
under the provisions of the Spooner reso-
luton. No little dissatisfaction exists in
Manila over some of the provisions of
the Speoner law, especially the clause
prohibiting the issuing of licenses for
cutting timber on public lands.
Russia has given an official assurance
to the British government that the Czar
has made no treaty hooking to the con
tinued occupation of Manchuria. Comm
Lamsdorff, the Russian Minister of For
eign Affairs, has made to the British
Foreign office the categorical Statement
that all Russian forces would be with
drawn from Manchuria as soon as cir
cumstances would permit.
Mrs. Mary Kausky, New York. went IL
ball, against the advice Of her physi.
clan. She's dead.