New-York tribune., 1902-01-01
LOND0N'S LATEST NEWS.
xo WATCH NIGHT DEMONSTRATION AT
ST. PAULS

BoER FORCES REDUCED BY 1850 IN THE
YEAR-DEsIRE TO SETTLE ALASKAN
BOUNDARY DISPUTE
fropvright: 1901 BY The New-York Tribune
lBY CABLE TO TRIBUNE.l
London, Jan. l, l a. m.-Watch night services
ware held in several churches of this METROPOLIS
last night, but there was no late service at St
pauls. In consequence of the disorderly scenes
which have occurred in former years on the
stsps Of the national cathedral the omen spsce
IN front OF the ediice was carefully rallied off,
and the noisy crowd which had assembled on
ire adjacent thoroughfares long before mid
night was kept moving by strong force Of
police.
With the dawn OF the new year the country Is
hopeful Of better times. The coronation festivi-
ties will put immense sums OF money into circu-
ation, and British trade WILL it is expected, ben
eft largely from that much needed stimulus.
The war still goes on, and Lord Kitehener's
last weekly bulletin for 1901 reports 32S Boer
losses. 4 careful examinatio of the official dis
patches shows that from January 1 to June 80
the Roer strength reduced by 11,300 For
the second half of the year the Boer casualties
Of all kinds amount 10500 making a total
reduction for the year of -1.S00 OF course, the
Beers have obtained large numbers of recruits
from Cape Colony in the twelve months which
have just elapsed, but the situation has certain
ly changed so much since the beginning of the
twentieth century that Engshmen have every
reason 10 believe that they enter upon the new
year with better prospects than those which
hersIded the coming of its predecessor.
It's admitted that the Alaskan boundary ques-
ton is the most difficult problem that faces Sec
letary Hay and Lord Pauncefote. The British
Foreign Office is obliged to take a wider view of
foreign affairs than presents itself TO any single
colonial government, while it is at the same
time anxious 10 give full weight to the wishes of
any part Of the empire most directly concerned
in any particular question arising between il
and its neighbors Canada is believed TO be less
disposed TO compromise such dispute as that
involved in the Alaskan frontier than the i'm
peral authorities would be if they were not
pressed by colonial opinion, but, all the same
the hope is expressed that the present moment
when England's relations with America on
8 favorable footing, will not be allowed to pass
without general settling up.
William Jessop & Sons, of Sheffield have
placed contracts for the erection of new steel
works at Washington Penn. The initial plant
will il is stated, consist of three main buildings,
a crucible melting shop 225 feet by 10 feet.
rolling mill 30 feet by 40 feet and power
rouse 100 feet by so feet. No bars Will be made,
and attention at first will be devoted 70 the
manufacture of sheet steel. A large portion of
the ore used will be imported from Sweden.
Forty acres of land has been acquired, and the
works at the start will occupy only three acres.
This tale of British enterprise would give COM
plete satisfaction If il were not known that the
material for all the buildings and engines is to
be supplied by American firms
Cuthbcrt Hall manager of Marconis com
peny, asserts that the inventor of wireless teleg-
raphy viii be back in England in two or three
weeks. He will then start in in earnest on the
work of putting England and America in wire
less communication practical commercial
basis. The American station will be at Cape
COD and the English station will be in Cornwall.
as at present, and Mr. Hall is optimistic enough
10 believe that within six months wireless
vice between England and America will be in
operation.
The Standard publishes q long telegram
from Pretoria from which it is possible to
gather the meaning and purpose Of De Vets
series Of recent movements. The revival of ac-
tivity the part of the Boer genera, seems
10 have been dictated by desire to break the
chain Of blockhouses before il closes round his
place Of refuge. He made his first sally in the
oifection oI hellproh' ana attempted 10 carry on
Colonel Wilson'S convoy. Beaten off he moved to
the vest Of Lindey. ana presently at Lang
berg found himself in danger of attack from
Three convergng British columns. General
Dsrtnell forced him into action. The Beers
charged like cavalry, and in the face Of maga-
zne rife fire actually got 70 within 80 yards
OF the British front. which is feat that twelve
mcnths ago would have been regarded inn
possitle. Both sides suffered severely, but, badly
a. he had been hit De Wet struc.l northward
without delay. and Christmas morning
s"coped down on the camp at Tweefontein. His
success there was complete. and it is now known
oehnltsly that two guns, along with all the am
muHiton and stores in the camp, fell into his
hands
ROER LOSSES LAST WEEK