Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1901 — FROM FOREIGN LANDS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FROM FOREIGN LANDS.

Thgre is a gleam of hope for England in the news from South Africa. The number of fighting Boers under Botha is unknown. Neither is it known whether he has authority to accept terms for ail the Boer forces in the field. It is not believed that he can speak for such leaders as De Wet and Delarey. Louis Botha was appointed commander-in-chief of the Boer forces upon the death of General Joubert a year ago. He is only 30 years old, and, like most of the Boer leaders, is not a professional soldier, although he had had no little military experience before the beginning of the present war. And yet, in spite of the reckless daring of De Wet ns a leader, Botha is perhaps the greatest soldier the war has produced on the Boer side. In Dec. 15, 1899, Genernl Buffer, with 40,000 men, the fiower of the British regular army, attempted to cross the Tugela River. He was defeated by superior tactics but by a smaller force led by Louis Botha. This was the battle of Colenso, in which Buller's army was shattered and driven back with a loss of guns and men unprecedented in the history of the British aripy for more than three-quarters of a century. Again, when Buffer finally crossed the Tugela in Februnry, 1900, and cap tured Spion lvop, it was Botha who personally led the Boer advance, drove Warren’s forces from Spion Kou, and, after administering a disastrous defeat, compelled Buffer's army to recross the river. Botha defeated Buffer in every battle the latter fought in his efforts to cross the Tugela River and relieve Ladysmith, and he only retired when Buffer's 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 Buffer's troops to enter Ladysmith unopposed.

The new Italian ministry seems to have started right. In the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday Premier Zanardelli announced that the government did not intend to add to the public debt by raising a new loatb He further asserted that the ministry had decided to reduce taxation the present year by the sum of 30,000,000 lire ($0,000,000). In round numbers the public debt of Italy is $2,388,000,000. The figures are stupendous when Contrasted with the ability of 31,000,000 impoverished, tax-burdened inhabitants to pay. Again, contrast the enormous debt with the debt of other nations. The United States, with a population of 76,000,000, owes in round numbers $1,050,000,000, less than half of the Italian debt Germany, with a population of 52,000,000, owes $2,573,000,000, with an Immense army to support, an extravagant naval program, and an elaborate system of canals and Internal improvements under construction. Gratifying progress seems to have been made In the pacification of the Philippines. Chairman Taft of the Philippine commission has assured President MiKinely that the revolt was practically gt on end. Civil rule has been welcomed wherever it has been established, and new provinces will lie brought under tha new order na rapidly os the commission can visit them. Dispatches from Washington state that Chairman Taft will be appointed Civil Governor of the islands under the provisions of the Spooner resolution. So little dissatisfaction exists in Manila over some of the provisions of the Spooner law, especially the clause prohibiting the issuing of licenses for cutting timber on public lands. Russia has given on official assurance to the British government that the Czar has made no treaty looking to the eontlifted .occupation of Manchuria. Connt Lamsdhrff, the Russian Minister pf Foreign Affairs, has made to the British Foreign office the categorical statement that all Russian forces would be withdrawn from Manchuria as soon ns cirj cuiustancea would permit. Mrs. Mary Kjuisky, New York, weqt to a hall, against the advice of her physician. ' She's dead.