New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
BRITONS UNDISMAYED.
uFTHCEN'.S DEFEAT SERIOUS.
BUT CONFIDENCE SHOWN.
uF. AGAINST CUBAN RECIPROCITY
s1O00-JONES'S NEW PLAY.
f-opyr.Sht, 1902. D. The Tribune Association)
Isnsc!aI % Tne TEbune BY French Cable.l

81 0VO-}ONES'S NEW PLAY.
s-onvr-ht. 1902. D. The Tribune Assocation)
Especial 20 Tne Tribune by French Cable.l
rondon March u, ! a. m--The English press
.o,rrues 70 discuss Lord ,NIethuen's defeat
,nosophioa.Iy. but is sensitive respecting for
.'~r opinion. The extracts printed from the
re-lin vienna and Paris journals are not pleas
.rt rsadiag. since they imply contempt for
T7-sish military skill American comments are
r,ore charitable. The English press. after its
usual fashion. ec-a-ses upon the magnitude of
,bs disaster and The hr.lliancy Of De La Rey's
tac;ios.
wirary experts. not content with following
LORD Robertss counsel, and suspending judg-
1snt until the facts are known. pick flaws in
Lord Merhuen's mana cement Of the transport
and the division ct the column into two detach-
ments.
Veterans who have known service in South
Africa take . different view. a high official,
connected with the transport service in pre-
yious campaigns. told me that the stampede Of
the animals was unavoidable if he had read the
DISPATCHES Alright. and that nobody who had ever
attempted 10 manage mules or OK trains on the
yedt would criticise Lord Methuen. Each sys-
TEN was bad. and there was a difference OF
opinion in the army to which was the worse;
but where both were adopted the column was
naturally divided.
The trouble began when the raw troops finched
and threw the column into disorder.
The current military view is that the burghers,
being unhanpered by supply trains and having
the mastery in the art OF rough riding and OF
the management of cattle. are the best guerillas
whom the world has ever known. and that no
European army could avoid an occasional de-
feat and Hishap.
The effect Of Lord Methuen's defeat is admit
ted to be serious, since it will light up Boer
enthusiasm; but military men assert with con-
fdence that hostiltles have been restricted TO
three districts. that De Vets power is broken
that Botha's forces are kept well under restraint
and that the Western Transvaal where block
house lines have not been established. is the
only section where serious work remains.
There seems only too much reason to believe
that the news Of Lord Methuens defeat was
known 10 certain favored persons at least two
hours before the public got it. Leading jobbers
in the Kafir market will be requested by the
Stock Exchange committee TO show their books
in regard TO earlier dealings on Monday, that
effort may be made TO trace the operators
who had the secret.
Representatives of important trading inter-
ests in the North Of England. Scotland and Ire
land were received by Lord Lansdowne at the
Foreign Office yesterday. The deputation, which
was organized by the Liverpool Chamber Of
Commerce. urged upon the Foreign Secretary
that the adoption Of a reciprocity treaty between
the United States and Cuba would put an end
10 European trade with Cuba. Various speak
ers expressed the hope that the utmost effort
would be made by the British Government TO
prevent signing any such treaty. or least
secure the assurance that the most favored ma
tion treatment should be continued by Cuba to
this country. Lord Lansdowne promised that
the matter would receive the consideration Of
the Cabinet.
The meeting of Ministers yesterday was main
y concerned with Irish questions, An active
foreshadowed. The Irish members cynically de-
scribe the proclamation of league meetings
an appropriate method Of celebrating the coro-
nation.
The shirt worn by Charles I TO the scaffold
was auctioned off at 200 guineas yesterday at
Covent Garden.
At a meeting Of the Aeronautical Society last
might. Sir Hiram Maxim denied that he had
offered 100000 prize 10 be competed for
at the ST. Louis Exposition airship contests. He
was. however, prepared to give a large sum of
money for prize If a really practicable airship
was produced. This he said, was not at present
In existence
still incomplete. The total known British casual
ties amount to 324 men, and there are still 326
unaccounted for.
Henry Arthur Joness play. The Princess's
Nose" produced last night. proved TO be a
comedy Of intrigue, with some passages of
bright dialogue, but with the characters family
portrayed. The first act dragged through an
excess OF explanation. but the remaining acts
were brisker. The interest of the comedy cen
tired IN princes intrigue with the wife of a
brewer and the princess's strenuous efforts to !
retain her husbands love by various artifces F.
The acting was most spirited and there was
much enthusiasm especially at the end Of the |
third act. H. B. Irving acted the part Of the /
prince with cynical good nature, and displayed /
his usual fine play. shading its varying love
making 20 the wife and her rival Irene Van /
brugh, the Princess, played with vivacity and /
genuine emotional power Gertrude Kingston /
was the rival, and acted with charm and grace |
Gilbert Hare was exceedingly good as Sir John |
Languish. worldly peacemaker, who endeav-
ored 70 set things right, and persevered TO the /
end in his aniable Offices. The play was not .
Up 10 Mr.. Jones's highest level but entertained
the audience. Inf.
MORE TROOPS FOR THE FRONT.
London. March 1.-THE War Secretary. Mr.. |
sFodrick, when asked in the House Of Com
mons to-day what steps had been taken. in view |
U the success Of the Beers against General |
Saethuen. send Lord Kitchener reinforce
inents. said that six thousand yeomanry would |
De Immediately embarked. with large drafts OF
cavalry and infantry To Lord Kitchener would |
De given all the assistance which he asked.
FEAR FOR GRENFELLS COLUMN.