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VOLTTME 98*-^O.llB. BRITISH SUFFER HEAVY LOSS. General Buller Reports to the War Office at London That His Casualties at Tuegela R'ver Num ber One Thousand and Ninety-Seven. Many Officers Picked Off in the Battle; Nine Have Been Killed and Thirty-nine Wounded — Talk of Calling Out the Militia and Volunteers for Service Abroad. LONDON, Dec. 16.—General Bullejf reports to the War Office that his losses ln yesterday's engagement were: Killed 82, wounded 667, missing 348. A total of 1,097. LONDON, Dec. lb*.—The revised list of the British casualties at the battle of Magersfontein shows the total to be 9G3, of which number 70 were officers. The Black Watch were the heaviest suf ferers. Of the rank and file 42 were killed, 182 were wounded and 111 are missing. PRETOBIA, Thursday, Dec. 14.— General Symons reports from Mafeking under date of Wednesday, December 13th, that the British attacked a Boer fort. The Boer casualties were one man killed and one wounded. The dispatch also says that Com mandant Schoemann had a brush with the British on Tuesday, December 12th, at Geldenhuis farm, which the British were bombarding on Wednesday. The condition of General Joubert, who is ill at Volksrust, is improving. The Transvaal Government is empoying na tives to work in the mines, paying them £1 a month and feeding them. MODDER RIVER, Friday, Dec. 15 — The Ninth Brigade, under Colonel Pole- Carew, the Grenadier Guards and a squadron of the Twelfth, made a recon noissance this morning, supported by the Seventy-sixth Battery, howitzers, on the center and right and four naval 12-pounders on the left. A 4.7 naval gun on the right opened fire at 5:30. While the brigade deployed across the plain the howitzers shelled the Boer trenches and searched the ridges, the naval gun doing the same. The Boers unmasked two guns, one of which was dismantled by the naval gun, and the second of which it was impossible to touch. No one was killed, although a shell fell in the middle of four of the Northumberland Regiment, causing all to fall, but when the smoke cleared away it was seen that the men were marching as though nothing had happened. All the troops returned to camp. There were no casualties. General Methuen directed the oper ations from horseback. His wound is almost well. He intends to conduct operations from here to the northward. The camp is fortified and forms natur ally an excellent base. LONDON, Dec. 17.—Beyond a partial list and a summary of the totals of the casualties of the Tuegela River engage ment posted about midnight, the War Office professes not to have had any news from the seat of war, while the censorship evidently blocks other chan nels of Information. Never within the range cf the longest: memory has Great Britain met withj three successive reverses ln a single week, and hence it is not surprising: that notes of anxiety should be heard' amid the general chorus of press ex pressions of giim philosophy and resig nation. Mr. Asquith's speech at Newcastle ■ last night fairly expresses the fair, 1 moderate opinion of the situation. A] more radical view, which, however, has few open followers, was echoed by Sir Wilfrid Lawson in an address to the Liberals of Carlisle. He accused the Government, after bringing the country to the verge of war with America, Rus sia, Germany and France, of having plunged it into war in South Africa through incompetent diplomacy. He thought the people should insist upon the Government stating its terms, 30| that everybody might see what it was l fighting for. The Sunday papers mostly follow the lead of yesterday's morning and after noon Journals in their comments on the; situation. At the Army and Navy and other : clubs the general Impression prevails that the check is only temporarily. The Government view is probably voiced by Right Hon. Walter Long. ■ President of the Board of Agriculture, who, speaking at the ship brokers' din ner in Liverpool last evening, intimated that the Cabinet Committee on Na lonal Defense had considered the ad visability of utilizing the militia and volunteers for service abroad. He em phatically asserted that the Govern ment had in no way attempted to inter fere with the Generals in their military operations. Some say that another 100,000 troops are wanted, and, declared Mr. Long, if the Government does not purpose to send them, they say it will be wanting in its duty to the country. For his own part, Mr. Long said he failed to see that the necessity had arisen, but if it does arise, the 100,000 will be forthcoming, and they will be sent. CASUALTIES AMONG BULLER'S OFFICERS. LONDON, Dec. I(s.—The War Office late last evening issued the following list of Buller's casualties: Killed: Field artillery, Captain A. H. Goldle and Lieutenant C. B. Schrieber; Dublin Fusileers, Captain A. H. Bacon and Lieutenant R. C. B. Henry; Tn THE RECORD-UNION. niskillen Fuaileers, Major J. F. W. Charley and Captain Frank F. Loftus; Medical Corpa, Captain M. I. Hughes; Thornyeroft's Mounted Infantry, Lieu tenant C. M. Jenkins, Lieutenant the Hon. F. H. S. Roberts, son of Lord Roberts of Candhar and Waterford. Officers wounded: Devonshire Regi ment 5, Rifle Brigade (the Prince Con sort's Own) 1, Fifth Brigade staff I. InniskiUen Fuslleers 8, Border Regi ment 3, Connaught Rangers 2, Dublin Fusileers 3, Irish Fusileers 1, Horse Artillery 1, Field Artillery 5, Medical Corps 1, Mounted Infantry 3, Natai Carbineers 3, South African Light Horse 2. The wounded Include: Captains N. J. Goodwin, J. F. Radcliffe, P. U. W. Vig ors, Hon. St. Leger Jarvis, A. J. Han cock, W. F. Hoey, E. J. Beckley, J. E. S. Probyn, H. M. S. Lewin, J. E. R. Brush, H. D. White Thompson, H. I. Reed, F. A. G. Elton and W. N. Ccn greve; Majors R. N. G. Heygate, A. W. Gordon and F. A. B. Raycington; Colonels L G. Brooke, Long H. Hunt, and Lieutenant Ponsonby of Thornys croft's Mounted Infantry. Officers taken prisoners or missing: Field Artillery 5, Devonshire Regiment 3, Essex Regiment 1, Royal Scots Fusi leers t$ Royal Artillery 3. THE CRISIS FAR-REACHING. LONDON, Dec. IG.—As might have been expected, the desperate state of the British arms in South Africa, as revealed by the defeat of General Bul ler at Tugela River, where at one stroke he lost treble the number of guns Wellington left in the handa of Napoleon during the six years' fighting in the peninsula, while adding to the determination of the authorities to send every available man to the front, caused something in the nature of a momentary panic among the public, which was reflected on.the Stock Ex change. It is long since the tone of the newspapers and the comment in the clubs and other resorts has been so chastened and pessimistic. Some of the comments go so far as to say the crisis is so far reaching that Great Britain stands "where she stood over a century back, when .the American colonists, men of British and Dutch blood, were in arms." The "Evening Standard" declares the situation calls for all the equanimity, determination and perseverence of the empire, and demands the Immediate calling out of all the volunteers, em bodying all the Outlanders expelled from the Transvaal, to guard r.he lines of communication, thus freeing all the regulars for service in the fighting line. The "Star" urges the commandeering of "all the great English .Atlantic lin ers for the transportation of reinforce ments," and says the country must "set herself the task of plucking vic tory out of defeat," adding: "The guilt of the Government Is superseded by the danger of the empire. We are thinking of a hostile Europe; we are thinking of India, and .whatever hap pens, we implore the Government not to move another man from Calcutta or Bombay. We remember the mutiny." The "St. James Gazette" is also ap prehensive of foreign complications, and "thinks Prance is preparing for some venture which will b? in the nature of a defiance of Great Britain, and urges the Admiralty to form a new squadron of the ships in the reserve. The "Globe," after urging the im mediate dispatch of reinforcements and the use of the militia, says: "And we can turn with equal confidence to the strong arms and loyal hearts of our fellow subjects in Canada and Aus tralia. Those offers, which were so liberally made and which were not too generously received at the beginning of the war, will, we are confident, be re newed, as the urgency of the contest reveals itself. They can see as keenly as ourselves that not only our supre macy in Africa, but the maintenance of the empire, Is at stake." The "Pall Mall Gazette's" review of the situation says: "It is no use cry ing over spilt milk. Surprises of all sorts must be expected In war. Our position for defense Is intact. Nothing has occurred to shake our belief in General Buller. Let us steadily trust him, and furnish him as rapidly as pos sible with more guns and. more horses and men." As the day proceeded, the attack of nervousness disappeared, and the only permanent effect of the serious news was to cause a. tighter clinching of fists, and a more set determination to achieve the task the country" has under taken. Departing troops were more vehemently cheered than usual, and the troops themselves displayed even a much greater desire to reach the front. There was little excitement at the War Office, but orders were being issued ln all directions for the mobilization of the reserve in the militia. Tho latter will replace the regulars in the garrison towns. Queen Victoria was greatly concerned at the latest reverse. The Commander-in-Chief, Lord Wolseley, was at Windsor Castle when the news arrived, and he took a special train back to London. The West India docks wer? gay this afternoon, with about 6,000 prominent people present, Including a lvumber of royal personages, on the occasion of the presentation of the Queen's flag to the American hospital ship Main". The Duke of Connaught. surrounded by the ladie-s of the committee on the poop deck, presented the flag to Lady Ran doplh Churchill. He said that in the name of the Queen he thanked the American men and women "here and on the other side" who had "so nobly contributed to help the English sick and wounded." ; The Duke also referred to the unique occasion of a ship sailing under the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes, "as evidence of affection existing be tween the two countries." Lady Randolph Churchill replied, thanking the Queen and the Duke of Connaught. • The Bishop of Islington blessed the ship, and the flag was hoisted by the Duke, After several unsuccessful tugs he broke out the stops, and an im mense Union Jack, with a red cross in Its center, flew out in the sunshine. The "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Save the Queen" were played by the Scots Guard Band. The crowds cheered, and the dockers clustered along the river banks joined in applause. Lady Ran dolph Churchill called for three cheers for the Duke of Connaught, which were given heartily. The royal party included the Duchess of Connaught and Princess Louise of Lome. They drove away, after having inspected the Maine, which is expected to sail for South Africa in about a about a week. (Continued on Fifth Page.) SACRAMENTO, SUNDAY MOKNTNG, DECEMBER 17, 1899.—TWELVE PAGES. THE WAR AFFECTS LONDON SOCIETY. Festivities Which Usually Mark the Holiday Season Have Never Been So Few and Far Between As They Are This Year. Gloom Overhangs All Circles, It Being Powerless to . Allay the Feeling of Bitter Grief and Dis appointment That Pervades the Length and Breadth of the Land Over the Reverses in South Africa. (Copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.) LONDON, Dec. IG.—The social festi vities which usually mark this season of the year in London have never been so few and far between, and they are quite unable to dispel the gloom over hanging all classes. The brave show kept up by the majority of the organs voicing public opinion is merely an in stance of the grit of the British race. But it is powerless to allay the feeling of bitter grief and disappointment that pervades the length and breadth of the land. Nor is this confined to the re grets, pent-up criticism of the militaiy authorities in finding vent in quarters that heretofore have studiously avoid ed as premature any strictures on either the War Office or the Generals in the field. Unless some striking change for the better soon marks the course of the British arms, there bids fair to break over the head of the Govern ment a storm of indignation such as has not been seen since the Crimea. That such a movement is not without cause is evidenced by information gleaned by a representative of the As sociated Press that the authorities have already decided that the reorganization of the War Office is absolutely neces sary, and that it will not be delayed a day longer that can be helped, though it can scarcely be done until hostilities cease. The "St. James Gazette" this week, commenting on the Canadian con tingent, says: "They have shown that their long home training and colonial campaigning experience has not been lost on them, and they are now getting their reward for being pushed to the front. We should like to see a little more notice of this taken in the London press. The colonists are intensely loyal, hut they are a little sensitive, and ap preciative notice of the work they are doing would be good imperial cement." General Montgomery Moore, former ly ln command in Canada, has been se lected to succeed General Kelly-Kenny at Aldershot, where the latter has been in charge of the mobilization. England, with the rest of Europe, has been suddenly plunged into intensely cold weather, accompanied in London by dense fogs, the mercury in the coun try falling to 7 below zero. Skating has begun and hunting has been suspended. With the inspection of the American hospital ship Maine to-day and the farewell dinner Sunday the work of the ladies who have been so active in col lecting funds ends. Curiously enough, their efforts have not always been ap preciated in England. The members of the committee have been told on more than one occasion that England did not want foreign charity, and some of the papers have said many ill-natured things. "Vanity Fair," following a thin ly-veiled allusion to one of the com mittee, who was received by the Queen, remarked: "So she has been received at last. She must have been surprised and gratified by the unexpected honor. Charity does so much." Lord Salisbury was no sooner recov ering from the blow caused by the death of his wife than he was afflicted by another personal sorrow in the se vere illness of his favorite daughter-in law, Lady Cranborne. At one time this week her life was despaired of, but it is now hoped she will recover from her sickness, which started with a severe attack of influenza. The cold weather, with the first snow of the year. Is responsible for a long list of prominent invalids, among them being the Duke of Westminster, who is now recovering from laryngitis. According to "Vanity Fair," Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt found Nice so dull that they went for a ramble in an automobile, and were last heard from at Marseilles, which they reached in record time. Several new publications are on the eve of birth. Eyre & Spottiswoode are bringing out an illustrated weekly on the lines of the "Illustrated London News." Sir George Newnes, proprietor of the "Westminster Gazette" and other papers, is responsible for another six penny illustrated weekly, entitled "The King." A still more ambitious project under consideration Is the starting, of a Radical daily In London. Since the anti-war editors were removed from the "Chronicle" and "Echo" no paper in London has opposed the Government's policy in and out. Radicalism, as rep resented by the weekly "Speaker," is not representative of the •metropolitan press. The Shamrock's skippers, Hogarth and Wringe, will take an active part in next season's yacht racing, the former in sailing a sixty-five-footer now build ing for Peter Donaldson and the latter in sailing a sixty-flve-footer building for John Gretton. It is said they have refused much larger American offers, and are determined to> stick to England. The American liner St Louis, which sails for New York from Southampton to-morrow, will have among her pas sengers Henry Savage Landor, the Thibetan explorer, who will lecture for several months in America. Mr. Land or has Just returned from a second ex pedition to Thibet and Nepaul, where he broke the world's record in moun taineering, reaching, at the summit of one of the Lumpa peaks, an altitude of 23,500 feet. In spite of the war the theaters are generally prospering. William Archer has received the final proof sheets of Ibsen's new play, on a translation of which he is busily engaged. Marie Tempest has left Daly's be cause George Edwards objected to her tights, requesting her to substitute knickerbockers for them. Miss Tem pest now announces that she has aban doned light opera entirely, and will de vote herself to the higher branches of her art. ANGLO BOER WAR. Sulzer's Resolution According Bel ligerent Rights to Transvaal. WASHINGTON, Dec 16.—Represen tative Sulzer of New York has intro duced a Joint resolution declaring that a state of war exists in South Africa, and according belligerent rights to the Transvaal Government. The resolu tion is as follows: "Resolved, By the Senate atid House of Representatives that the Govern ment of the United States recognizes a condition of public war between the Government of Great Britain and the Republic of Transvaal, and the United States of America hereby declares that they will maintain a condition of strict neutrality between the contending Powers, and accord to each and all the rights of belligerents in the ports and territory of the United States. The Congress of the United States protests and remonstrates against the barbar ous manner in which the war has been conducted by Great Britain, and the President is hereby authorized to take such steps as may be expedient in his judgment to secure an observance of the laws of war as recognized by all civilized nations, and bringing about an honorable peace." Mr. Sulzer said of the resolution: "My sympathy is with the heroic Boers. They are making- a brave and gallant fight against odds for their homes, their firesides and their liberties. We should not secretly or openly help Great Britain to their advantage. We should accord the Boers all the rights of bel ligerents. I want to see the Boers win, and I hope they will. I am opposed to the pig-sticking mode of warfare Great Britain is carrying on. If what I read in the papers is true, this cruelty and inhumanity puts England beyond the pale of civilization. I shall do all in my power to pass this resolution. It will come up in the House, and I want to go on record ln favor of the Boers and their Republic and against England or any Anglo-American alliance expressed or implied." BANK FAILURE. The Broadway National of Boston Goes to the WalL BOSTON, Dec. 16.—The Broadway National Bank of this city has failed. The Directors are John R. Graham, Henry T. Lawrence, Frank O. Squire, Rosswell C. Downer, Frank W. Downer. Frank O. Squire is connected with the firm of John P. Squire & Co., which as signed yesterday with §3,000,000 lia bilities. The Broadway Bank was incorporat ed in 1853. Its capital is $200,000. News of the failure became known when the bank failed to open its doors this morning, and a notice posted at the entrance, read: "In the hands of the Comptroller of the Currency. D. G. Wing, Receiver." The last statement of the Broadway National Bank, issued at the \ close of business December 9th, was aSTfollowstT Capital, $200,000; loans, $1,995,000; cir- | culation, $45,000; individual deposits, j $2,348,000; due banks, $131,000; due from reserve agents, $247,000; expenses, clearing house, $273,000; due from banks, $108,000 ; 5 per cent, funds, $2, --230; legal tenders, $158,000; specie, $113,000. Of the Directors Roswell C. Downer •is President and Frank O. Squire Vice President. CIVIL SERVICE LEAGUE. Denied That Any Serious Differ ences Occurred at Meeting. INDIANAPOLIS (Ind.), Dec. 16.—The Chairmen of the committees of the Na tional Civil Reform League to-day gave out the following statement: "Reports stating that serious differ ences occurred at the meeting of the National Civil Service Reform League in regard to the resolutions and report of the Investigating Committee are I wholly false. There was no difficulty at any time, either in the committee | or at the League meetings. The reso- | lutions were agreed to with absolute unanimity, and no objection whatever was made to any part of the report of the Investigating Committee. No secret session of the League was ever held, and the entire statement of the alleged dispute, 'which threatened to disrupt the League,' is a pure invention. "CHARLES A. BONAPARTE. "Chairman Investigating Commmittee. "WILLIAM DUDLEY FALKE, "Chairman Committee on resolutions. "HERBERT WELCH, "Member Committee on Resolutions. "LUCIEN B. SWIFT, "Member Executive Committee." FEDERATION OF LABOR. The Question of Boycotting Causes Much Contention. DETROIT, Dec. 16.—The question of boycott action against concerns which employ part union and part non-union craftsmen caused considerable conten tion ln to-day's meeting of the Ameri can Federation of Labor. The matter was brought out through consideration of a resolution declaring that the boycott against Swift & Co. is universal, and applies to the Swift packing establishments in cities where the concern employs union labor as well as those where it does not. Treasurer Lennon differed from most of the speakers on this subject. He held that it was Inconsistent and unfair to organized labor, and only retarded a boycott to push it in industries where union labor Is employed. He offered, however, the following addition to the resolution: "Resolved, That union men should not remain In the employ of any concern which has been declared unfair by the American Federation of Labor." A resolution to place the Buffalo Pan- American Exposition on the "unfair list" was sent, with other similar dec larations, to the Executive Council. President Gompers arrived to-day, and was warmly greeted by the con vention. Blizzard in Colorado. DENVER, Dec. 16.—The blizzard, of which warning was given to stockmen by the Weather Bureau yesterday, has begun on the divide between Denver and Colorado Springs. At Palmer Lake several trains are stalled by snowdrifts on both the Rio Grande and the Santa jFe roads. It is clear and warm in Denver. BUELOW'S SPEECH IN THE REICHSTAG. The German Minister's Remarks at Last Monday's Session Interpreted by Some as Flinging Down the Gauntlet to Great Britain. Declared by One Journal That Germany is Determined to Ob tain tne Greatest Possible Ad vantage From the Sonth Afri can Complications. (Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press.) LONDON, Dec. 10.—The grave situa tion confronting Great Britain in South Africa almost obliterates the effect of the. speech of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Yon Buelow, (5 the Reichstag on Monday last. Though scarcely any announcement of recent years has had so much bearing on the future of Europe, in spite of the unin formed comment in some English quar ters that Count Yon Buelow spoke merely for political effect, in other words, "jollied" the Reichstag by means of jingoistic sophistries for home con sumption to vote of the navy, in Vienna, which is in closer touch with Berlin than any other capital, Count Yon Buelow is interpreted as flinging down the gauntlet to Great Britain. The "Neve Freie Presse," which has personal connection with the Foreign Minister of Germany, declares that Germany is determined to obtain the greatest possible advantage from the South African complications, and adds: "The cool mention of England dissi pates all apprehensions caused by Em peror William's stay at Windsor, and it is not impossible that England's diffi culty may, in certain circumstances, be Germany's opportunity." The Vienna correspondent of the "Standard," detailing much similar comment, reiterates what has often been heard here, namely, that Great Britain is more hated on the Continent on account of her interference in be half of the United States when the lat ter was at war with Spain than for any other recent cause. Why Count Yon Buelow should have gone out of his way to indicate the pos sibility of Great Britain's hostility, and belittle the friendship between her and Germany is an enigma yet unsolved by any British authority. A concensus of the best opinion tends to the belief that the German Minister wished to offset Mr. Chamberlain's rash speech at Lei cester. Yet this seems a small excuse for such language at this period, while the suggestion that Count Yon Buelow spoke for purely political effect is dis missed as being entirely uncharacter istic of the man, who is rapidly achiev ing the reputation of being the first statesman in Europe. "So far," says the "Saturday Re view," referring to the war, "we have been able to answer each reverse by the potent argument of another divi sion, but that cannot last forever." Such an expression appearing in an ultra Conservative and optimistic pub lication Is significant. While the Yon Buelow anti-British isms have not stirred up criticism, the public is just beginning to realize that with 100,000 men in the field no prog ress is being made in a«y direction, and Kimberley and Ladysmith seem as far off as ever from the promised re lief. While General Buller's reverse was an unexpected blow to the public that had pinned its faith to him, it would appear that the original plan of cam paign, if adhered to, would have given better results, for the beseigned towns have shown themselves quite capable of holding out. As it is now, the British forces are split up, have been seriously repulsed, are unable to co-operate, and at any rate for the present are unable to reach their objective. It was for this plan that the central advance was sacrificed. Even the relief of Lady smith can scarcely have great alleviat ing consequences to the campaign, as a whole, unless its moral effect quiets the growing disaffection in Cape Colony and disheartens the Boers to a more serious extent than their other minor reverses have so far done. But, however looked at, the British position is most unenviable, and there is a great cry for more troops. Lord Londonderry urges the War Office to send out 100,000 more men, saying: "Conceive the effect on the empire if Methuen is forced to surrender." The "St. James Gazette" caps this with the intimation that the treasury Is withholding the funds necessary to send out reinforcements, adding: "If this is so, even Lord Salisbury's re luctance to sacrifice a colleague will not serve to shield a Minister who stands between England and the restor ation of her damaged superiority in South Africa." On the other hand, there are many magnificent examples, through public speech and editorials, of the great common sense which is the backbone of the nation. There are people who im plore Englishmen not to make fools of themselves, and not to imagine that a few reverses make it necessary to drain the country of every man able to carry a rifle. The volunteers are greatly worked up, and numbers of applications to serve in regiments from individuals have been received. The Associated Press learns, however, that Lord Wolseley believes that though these men are excellent as volunteers, they lack the evenness in the ranks and among the officers which marks a line regiment. To use his own words, "they are brilliant in spots, but weak ia others," and, while he appreciates the offers, he sees no way to accept them at present. The action of the National Liberal Federation this week in deciding to support a vigorous prosecution of the war, but reserving the right of criticism now and in the future, while stating that there is much to be deplored In the conduct of the negotiations pre ceding the hostilities, may be said to voice the opinion of the bulk of the Liberal party. The correspondent of the "Standard" suggests that the United States Gov ernment ought to present the British Consuls in Spain with a year's salary in cash, as a recognition of their serv ices during the war, as they had much extra work and were subjected to In sults. There are only five of these Con suls. They received queries from the Secretary of State at Washington re garding their extra expense and fees collected while guarding United States interests, but nothing further resulted. OPEN DOOR IN CHINA. j Likely All Powers Will Answer Favorably America's Request. (Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press.) BERLIN, Dec. 10.—From an authen tic source the correspondent hears re garding the open door In China that the Washington Government has not yet asked any other Power besides Ger many to furnish assurances, verbal or written, to maintain the open door, but now that Germany's answer is entirely favorable, all the other Powers Inter ested will be asked, Including France, Russia, Italy and Great Britain. It is expected that all of them will answer favorably, except, perhaps, Russia, but it is hoped that strong moral pressure can then be brought to bear on Russia to yield. Severe cold weather and storms have prevailed throughout Germany this week, and this has produced consider able suffering. From all 'the larger cities there are reports to that effect, and there have been many deaths due to exposure. In Berlin alone there were eight deaths from exposure dur ing the last four days. The tempera ture was lower than for years past. At Koenigsberg It was 23 degrees below zero, in Berlin 18 degrees below and at Breslau 22 degrees below. The German press and people are ju bilant over the news from South Af rica, and everywhere in the streets peo ple greet each other and offer congrat ulations. Among the press comments to-night is that of the "Kreuz Zeitung." which says: "We, in Germany, do not wish England to get off cheaply. The more they are humbled in the Boer war, and the more completely their power in South Africa is broken, the better for us." The "Boersen Courier" says: " "The attitude of the English people In view of these hard knocks deserve every praise," and the paper adds that "in any case England's position as a world power is secured by her navy." The "Tageblatt" compares Buller's defeat with that of the Italian Gen eral, Barateri, at Adowa, The "Lokal Anzeiger" says: "Surely a severer trial the British world and empire never had to meet for, as things are now, England will have to thank the other Powers for their sin cere love of peace only if she emerges from this war with a whole skin and mere lo&s of prestige." CRUISER BROOKLYN Arrives at Manila Several Days Ahead of the New Orleans. ■WASHINGTON, Dec 16.—The Brook lyn arrived at Manila to-day, winning easily the long race from this country • out, which she has been running with the New Orleans. The New Orleans sailed from Singapore to-day for Ma nila, S3 that she is about four days be hind the Brooklyn. While the Brooklyn is now about four or Aye days ahead of the New Orleans, It Is pointed out at the Navy Depart ment that unless something befalls the New Orleans before she reaches Manila from Singapore, she will actually have made the trip from the "United States to Manila in the same or even less time than the larger cruiser. . Important Precedent Established. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16.—Judge E. B. Adams has handed down an opinion from the bench of the United States Circuit Court, in which he establishes the important precedent that questions involving the ownerships of accretions to property along navigable rivers are matters for the Federal Courts to con sider. In the course of his decision Judge Adams says: "I have found many cases announcing the general doctrine that local laws must determine the riparian rights of owners, but sub- ' ject in all cases to primary right of the United States in navigable waters for the purpose of commerce." The Death of Pugilist Neise. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 16.—The verdict of homicide, without intent, was found to-day by the Jury which has been Investigating the death of Henry H. Neise, who was killed Thurs day night in a bout with Fred Beller son. The cause of death as reported to the Coroner was concussion. Bellerson, with his seconds, Louis Nordman and Price Lawson, with Neise's seconds. Fitzgerald and Billy Sachritz, is being held to await the action of the Grand Jury. The re-arrest of Charles Whit ney, Jr., manager of the St. Louis Club, Tim referee, and J. A. Cappels and "Professor" Bill Clark, timekeep ers, has also been ordered. The Revolt in Venezuela. CARACAS, Dec. 16 (via Haytien cable).—The Government troops yester day completely defeated those of Gen eral Hernandez near Tocuyo, a town In the State of Barquesimeto, thirty-four miles from Trujillo. Lieutenant Brumby Worse. WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—The condi tion of Lieutenant Brumby was report ed this afternoon as slightly changed for the worse. The Martha W. Tufts in Port. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 16. — The schooner Martha W. Tufts, out thirty days from Gray's Harbor with a cargo of lumber, arrived off the bar last night, but could not come In until to-day. For three weeks the vessel has been steered on her course by a spar rigged out astern. The improvised gear served well in keeping the schooner Into the wind, but she was blown out of her course many miles. Want an Extra Session. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16. — The "Examiner" will say to-morrow: Bankers and business men, represent ing in the aggregate over $100,000,00U, have signed a petition requesting Gov ernor Gage to call the Legislature in extraordinary session as soon as prac ticable after the holidays for the con sideration of harbor Improvements at this port. The petition will be forward ed to the Governor at Sacramento to morrow. WHOLE NO. 18,999. PAYNE WITHDRAWS HIS RESOLUTION. Abandons tha Idea of Proposing to Republican Committee A Change la Basis ef Representation at National Conventions. Found That the Resolution En countered Opposition He Had Not Anticipated, Including Na tional Chairman Hanna, Who Thought It Without Province of the Committee to Make Any Such Radical Changes. WASHINGTON. Dec. lfi.—The mem bers of the Republican National Com mittee were received by President Mc- Kinley to-day at the White House. There was no speech-making, the mem bers of the committee simply passing through the room and shaking hands with the President. After the reception the committeemen were grouped in front of the White House and photo graphed. The members of the committee re turned to the Arlington Hotel and as sembled in session, Mr. Payne of Wisconsin, who had prepared a resolution to change th? basis of representation, made the fol lowing statement to the committee: "It is well known by members of the committee, both from the public and press and correspondence with them, that I have intended to refer and ad vocate the adoption by the committee of a resolution recommending to the next National Republican convention a change in the basis of representation In subsequent conventions. I some time since gave to the press for publication and discussion the resolution, which I had prepared to present to the com mittee upon the subject. "Briefly stated, it proposed to make the national conventions which nom inate Republican tiokets and formulate Republican platforms, fairly represen tative of those who vote for Republi can platforms and Republican princi ples. The proposition has received the support of almost the entire Republi can press of the country, and I have reason to believe that upon its merits, as well as upon grounds of expediency, it has the support of a large number of this committee. I have not in the slightest degree changed my conviction as to its justice, nor have I the slight est doubt as to its expediency. Within a day or two it has encountered opposi tion which T had no reason to antici pate, including that of the Chairman of this committee. It is sufficient for me to say that out of my regard Tor his opinion and the opinions and wishes of others high in the councils of the party, to which, as a loyal Republican, I feel bound to defer, I am constrained not to offer the resolution. "I thank the committee for its indulg ence, and I have made this statement only in justice to myself." Senator Hanna briefly discussed the Payne proposition, although it was not formally before the committee. He said that he did not believe it was the prov ince of the National Committee to in augurate any such radical changes. The committee was appointed for the pur pose of assisting in every honorable way the election_of the ticket nominated, and to arrange the preliminaries for the next convention. Changes in the basis of representation, he thought, should be left for the convention to deal with. He did not believe that the committee should make recommendations to Con gress as to legislation. In their indi vidual capacity members could ask their Senators and Representatives to bring about such legislation as they fa vored, but the committee, he thought, should maintain Its position as an or ganization to conduct the affairs of the party under the Instructions of the convention. If it assumed more it would be charged with dictation. Mr. Hanna's remarks were cheered by the committee. None of the other propositions on th's subject were brought forward. The sub-committee on arrangements for the convention was announced as follows: Manley of Maine (Chairman), Payne of Wisconsin, Scott of West Vir ginia, Kerns of Missouri, Kean of New Jersey, with Hanna and Dick, Chair man and Secretary of the National Committee, ex-officlo members. The selections of delegates from the District of Columbia was referred to an election board. There was some talk about the large representation from Territories, but no action Was taken. The committee adjourned subject to the call of the Chairman, it being ex plained that it will assemble a few days before the convention meets to make up the preliminary roll of dele gates. MRS. R. P. SHICK DEAD. Was the Second Oldest Daughter of Ex-Senator Ingalls. ATCHISON (Kan.), Dec. 16.—Mrs. It. P. Snick, daughter of ex-United States Senator John J. Ingalls, died suddenly at her home at Reading, Pa., last night. Mrs. Shick was the second oldest daughter of Mr. Ingalls. She was ln an Episcopal school, where she met Mr. Shlck, a manufacturer of Reading, to whom She was married April last She has been in poor health lately. It Is not believed Mr. Ingalls' health ■will permit his coming home to attend the funeral, which will take place in this city next Tuesday. Mr. Ingalls went to Las Cruces, N. M., last fall for his health, and a day or so ago started for Tucson, Ariz. His exact whereabouts are not known, and It has been Impossible to reach him by wire. Plague on British Ship. PLYMOUTH (England), Dec. 16.— The Peninsular and Oriental line steamer Bala rat, from Calueutta No vember 15th for London, has arrived with a native Indian fireman on board suffering from the plague.