OUR FRENCH CRITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 34, 9 February 1900, Page 3

OUR FRENCH CRITICS.

THEY ARE ANGRY AT CHAMBERLAIN'S POPULARITY. I (Received 8, 9.15 am.) Paris, February 7. The French are chagrined at Mr. Chamberlain's increasing popularity and influence. THE VOTE IK THE COMMONS. ' OPPOSITION LEADERS VOTE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. (Received 8,9.10 a.m.) London, February 7. When the division was taken on Loid Fitzmaurice's amendment 38 Government supporters were absent from the House, chiefly from the front benches. jjJAll the leaders of the Opposition voted for the amendment, despite Mr. Balfour's appeal that patriotism required the nation to show an united front, j. The Irish Party abstained from

voting. The Liberals vainly requisitioned Sir H. Campbell-Btnnerman not to divide on the amendment. AT THE MODDER RIVER. LORD METHUEN IN BAD ODOUR WITH HIS TROOPS. (Received 8, 1.40 p.m.) Sydney, February 8. A correspondent of an Indian paper states that the situation in the British camp at the Modder Biver is an impossible one. The troops have completely lost confidence in their commander. The indignation of the Highlanders over the blunder which cost the life of Colonel Wauchope and decimated the Highland Brigade is such that the men absolutely refuse to salute Lord Methuen. COLQNIALSJTTHE FRONT. (Received 9, 1.8 a.m.) Sydney, February 8. Colonel Williams, head of the New South Wales Medical Corps at the front, reports that the health of the whole of the Australian troops compares more than favourably with the Imperials, who suffer from the heat. The efficiency of the corps is highly praised by the Impetial officers and largely availed ef for the British wounded. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Received 8, 9.15 a.m. Durban, February 7. President Kruger has closed the J. B. Robinson Company's Bank at Johannesburg. London, February 7. A scarcity of transports is delaying the despatch to South Africa of the new Yeomanry force which has been raised in England, The Channel Squadron has been ordered to Gibraltar to relieve the Particular Service Squadron, which proceeds to the Cape. CABLE FROM AGENT-GENERAL. Wellington, February 8. The Agent-General cables to the Premier that there is no authentic news from the Beat of war, beyond the fact that General Buller crossed the Tugela Biver on Monday.

AUSTRALIAN BUSHMEN. (Received 9, 1.8 a.m.) Sydney, February 8. One of the transports provided by the Imperial Government carries the men of the combined Bushmen's Contingents, and the otner takes 300 horses. The Government is negotiating for a steamer to convey the balance of the horses. Exclusive of Victoria, which made its own arrangements, theother colonies' combined Bushmen's Contingents to Sal 995 men, 42 officers and 1145 horses. Brisbane, February 8. The Queensland Meat Export Coapany has donated £SOO to the Bushmen's Fund. Received 8, 9.30 a.m. Pehth, February 8. The Government has decided to enrol 100 bushmen for the Transvaal. NEW ZEALANDSTHIRD CONTINGENT. THE WELLINGTON SECTION. Wellington, February 8. With respect to the controversy now going on over the appointment of a commander to the Third Contingent, and the desire expressed in Cbristchurch and elsewhere to see Colonel Fox at the head of the men, it should be pointed out that the Imperial Government refused to allow anyone above the rank of Major to be appointed. It is also understood the authorities are averse to sending anyone to Africa who would outrank Major Robin. The test of shooting for recruits was almost ludicrous in its results. The men had 15 shots at 500 yards and many of them never hit the target once. Amongst the failures were some who possessed fair records with the rifle, and they blamed the weapons and ammunition, saying the sights had to be put up to 600 yards, and the hollownosed bullets used made true shooting impossible. The weather was also against the men, but it was obvious numbers had never used a rifle and did not know how to hold it. A further test will probacy be applied, THE AUCKLAND SECTION. Auckland, February 8, Seventy-one volunteers for the Third Contingent passed the medical tests, Seventy go into camp at Potter's Paddock for infantry work. Carbines are to be called iu from the Xavuls. Shoot iug tests will take place nest week, Captain Abbott and Lieut. Walker art expected to be the two chosen officers of the contingent. The Patriotic Belief Fund it, ovei £7OOO, and the .Rough-riders Funii nearly £2OOO. A patriotic concert ai Whangarei realised, with donations £l3O. THE WANGANUI SECTION. Wanhaxci, February 8. Forty.ojghtout of the fifty RwuhuY

been finally selected for the local contingent to join the Rough-riders. In the shooting tests the men fired excellently, several putting on within one of the possible at 300 yards. There are also in camp twenty men from Taranaki and Feilding. So far about .£3OOO has been raised towards the equipment of men, all of whom find their own horses. THE NEW PLYMOUTH SECTION. On Thursday, Mr. O. E. Bellringer, Town Clerk, received the following wires from His Worship the Mayor, who is at Wanganui:—" The men are not yet selected. Wiggins, Kichardson, and Murdoch's horses have passed; the other seven rejected. I find the Wanganui men are short of horses, and, while ready to send extra number, have not yet got them. Four Hawera horses out of six have bean rejected. lam told the Government have no horses. I am told that Bleasel, of Waitara, has a suitable horse for sale. Try can any be sent by to-morrow's early train. Height, from fourteen and one-half hands to fifteen hands three. Age, over five and under ten years. The price paid here is from twelve to seventeen pounds. A lot has been rejected our black horse, for his blemish on the hind leg, and Mackinder's for something, or rather nothing, on one fore knee. The Premier is* arriving to-morrow afternoon. Do what you can to send some likely horses. —E. Dockkill, Mayor." " Men will not be selected to-day. A monster garden party is going on around camp. Celonel Sommerville had told the men that the Premier intimated that Taranaki would have to be cut down to twelve. Application was made for eighteen. I will arrange as best I can when he arrives tomorrow, I would like to see a nurse go, and will urge it on him if the Committee wish.—E. Dockkill, Mayor." The following telegram was received on Thursday from the Under-Secretary for Defence: —" Six men only can be taken from your district by the Knight Templar, or twelve if Hawera and outdistricts are included. How many horses do you send ? This is exclusive of the Wanganui detachment.— Arthur P. Douglas, Under-Secretary of Defence." A resident of New Plymouth, who has already contributed £lO to the Patriotic Fund, writes to the Town Clerk suggesting that this sum should go towards sending a nurse to South Africa, and stating that if the suggestion is adopted the donation will be supplemented by another £lO. The Town Clerk has wired to the Minister of Defence asking if a nurse would be accepted, and also for an approximate statement of the cost.

TROOPER ENDERBY'3 ESCAPE. The special correspondent of the New Zealand Eerald, in his account of Trooper Euderby's narrow escape, says:—Boom went the Boers' Long Tom, the shells flying overhead with a shriek, striking the ground about 400 yards away. Trooper Enderby, New Zealand, Iwd a miraculous escape from an awful death. A shell from one of the Boer guns burst within five yards of where he lay. A cloud of dust enveloped the Now Zea'ander, almost hiding him from the view of his comrades, who never expected to see him visa again. The shell, however, had burst forward, as most of the Boor shells do, and to thair astonishment ind relief, Eodjt by rose, covered from head to foot in tha red dust of tha karoo. His nonchalance under the circumstances was remarkable. He rosa leisurely from the ground, his ears deafened by tin roar of the explosion. Stooping to the ground, and picking up a portion of the shell (which he, if j spared, will bring back to New Zea-j land), he turned in the direction of the Boer laager, and with a suggestive < shrug of his shoulders, said, "Well, they are not bad shots after all," WAR ITEMS. A letter lias been received in London from Mrs. B,ussell, wife of the Superintendent of Education, Natal, dated Pieternmiitzbtirg, Nov. 24, in which she says Thousands of men have gone up country, but there seems to be a want of mounted men to chase these rascally thieves, who are laying waste farms and homesteads. The worst of it is that Natal Dutchmen, foul traitors that they are helping to destroy the property of loyal Englishmen. V Retribution, like a poisoned hawk,' is in wait for them. Mr. E. P. Mathers, editor of South Africa, telegraphs from Durban that, as the result of recent operations, ftany of the Boer commandants have been incapacitated. Commandant , Malan is dead, azjd Coijimandant- ] general Joubert cannot take the field ( again. Commandant Sclialk-Burger is in command of the Boer forces in- , vesting Ladysmith. Mr. Mathers adds that the Boers are looting at I Weenan, They have saturated the j grass and pools in the vicinity in j arsenical poison, and 100 sheep and t cattle have died in consequence, j Dr. Conan Doyle has frequently j described first-class fighting men of j various sorts in his novels; but, as is j well k*own, he has never been in the Army. He has volunteered, however, , (says the Daily Chronicle), for active service in South Africa, promising, ii| 9 the event of being given a commission j in a regiment of horse of, say, irregulv ars or scouts, to provide his owr charger, etc.