County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

THE report that the Persian Minister in London had gone to Contrexeville to present the Shah with a. report on the London fire brigade is stated to be in- correct. THREE steam trawlers of Great Yarmouth, the 1134 Horatio, 1167 Lethon, and the 1168 Admiral, have been arrested and fined for illegal fishing off the coast of Iceland. IN the bombardment of the Taku forts the British gunboat Algerine fired 580 shots. THE Liberte states that when all the troops now being despatched have arrived in China France will have a force of nearly 6500 men on sea and land. GEN. SIR STANHOPE WILLIAM JEPIISON, Bart., who has died at the age of 90, saw much service in Afghanistan and China. With his death without issue the title becomes extinct. THE other day," said Jefferson, an old woman bounced into our office, displaying a notice that we had written to her, to the effect that a quarter tax on some property of hers was due. She swore she had paid it. I had the books to prove that she had not, and suggested that she had made a mistake. She declared that she had not, and said, Don't you ever make mistakes?' I assured her that I did not, and jokingly added: The only mistake I ever made was when I was married.' She looked at me a second time, and then said No, your wife made that mis- take.

THE RAISING OF THE CI.V. T The Lord Mayor of London (Sir Alfred J. I Newton, Bart.) has just issued an official volume, somewhat in Blue-book form, containing a series of reports which in collected order give the history of the raising, organising, equipping, and despatching of the City of London Imperial Volunteers to South Africa. The Lord Mayor in the introduction says I think the accompanying reports from those most intimately associated with me in the formation, organisation, and equipment of the C.I.V. will be interesting and should be printed. Attempts have vl() been previously made for utilising our magnificent volunteer force on active service, but the salient features of Colonel Boxall's plan, which he laid before me two days before the battle of Colenso, were: first, the centralisation of authority and financial respon- sibility in the Chief Magistrate of this city; and secondly, that all metropolitan commanding officers should have equal opportunities of lending their men and serving on committees, and that no officer or man should be accepted for the campaign without the written approval and recommendation of his own commanding officer. The contingent, 1600 strong, left for the seat of war to dates as arranged, with quick-firing guns and ammunition, saddlery, horses, transport, tentage, and equipment of the best quality, ample in quantity, and with com- plete details. I know the officers and men were selected with the greatest care, and so gained the commendation of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, and now their honorary colonel, who wrote to me from Modder River, on the 11th February last: I have no finer or keener material under my command than the City of London Imperial Volunteers.' At Jaoobsdal, Britstown, Paardeburg, Thaba Nchu, Klip River, Florida, Roodepoort, and Johannesburg they have proved their mettle, and have now reached their goal at Pretoria, delighted with the opportunity afforded them of serving their beloved Sovereign her Majesty Queen Victoria, and not unworthy of the Imperial City of London, which, on the accept- ance of the plan by the military authorities, became responsible for its efficient realisation."

ORIGINS OF IMPERIAL BRITAIN. I Professor J. A. Cramb took Religion and War: What is war ?" as the subject of his latest lecture on the Origins of Imperial Britain at the Pfeiffer Hall, Queen's College. The wars waged by the Empires in the past, he said, had not death as their end, but a deepening of the life both of the conquered and the conquering States. War was thus a manifes- tation of the world-spirit in the loftiest form. Not to be envied was the critic who in the prayer of two embattled hosts could discern but a mockery, an insult to God. It was the cry for guidance in the tragic hour the formulated utterance of the silent prayer within the breast of every soldier on the tented field-" Through death to life, even as my country on its high path fares through the shadow of death to the fuller life, the higher freedom." That was the meaning of the battle-prayer—the nation, the Empire, the Stat" grown conscious that by this ordeal alone could its destiny be fulfilled. Proceed- ing to consider certain recent declarations against war in the abstract, he remarked that in the world of letters Count Tolstoi occupied a unique position-a position analogous to that of Goethe in the begin- ning of the century, or of Voltaire in the days of Louis XV. When Tolstoi spoke, not Russia merely, but half the world received his words in sympathy or ostility. On war Tolstoi's judgment was open—it was the enemy of religion and of human progress its con- tinuance turned our profession of faith in Christianity into a derision. When Tolstoi narrated a campaign or a battle it was the pathological side which absorbed his energies, the dismay in the hearts of the combatants, the wounds, the hospital, the fever, the revel of death. Hazard, not intellect, was supreme in war; Napoleon Tolstoi describes as a charlatan, narrow of brain, devoured by vanity, tricking and tricked by all around him, even on the aread morning of Borodino anxious only about the quality of the Eau-de-Cologne with which he sponged his coat, gloves, and vest! That was Tolstoi's conception of the Man of Destiny," the man who was to the Aryan race what Hannibal was to the Shemetic, its crowning achievement in the sphere of war. In contrast with this consider the attitude towards war of a thinker not less deeply religious, not less profoundly conscious in all lite of the Eternal behind the transient, of the Unseen Presence in which alone was reality—Thomas Carlyle. After the brief moment of Goethe-worship, the works of Carlyle for 40 years were informed by one thought, one tyrannous obsession-the might, the majesty, the mystery of war. One flame picture after another set that forth. Since Homes there were no such battle-paintings as the battle-paintings of Carlyle. The spirit of The Iliad" stirred the pages of Cromwell" and Frederick; it was present in the first combats which Carlyle in his early manhood drew, Fleury an Jemappes; it sank, but it was like the going down of the sun, in the last of all his battles, the death of Olaf Tryggvason, done when Carlyle's course was nearly run. Whence was this distinction ? In war Carlyle saw that manifestation of the world-spirit. In Tolstoi the force of the Slavonic race behind him mastered his own genius. That was the difference between Tolstoi and those sovereigns of the realm of thought Goethe and Voltaire. These drew inspiration from every land, from every epoch, Greece, Italy, Rome, Persia, the mediaeval, the modern world. In modern Russia Tolstoi began, in modern Russia he ended. He dipped his pen in the blood, not of his own heart, but of the Slavonic race. Out of the sword the Slav has nowhere forged an instrument for the achievement of great political ideals. In war the Slav had found the agent of oppression, of despotism. M. Bloch's work was significant in that light. The contrast between Imperial Britain and Russia lay in this—that in Great Britain a democracy, self- governing, war-like, conscious of its destiny as an Imperial people, resolute to fulfil its destiny, con- fronted the new century, rising like a palm on the horizon's verge; in Russia a government despotic, alien in its origin, attracted by Imperialistic schemes, dragged on a people, apathetic, indifferent, sullenly rebellious, or superstitiously loyal. In conclusion he pointed out that it was remarkable that Tolstoi, who I, had striven si, nobly to reach the faith beyond the creeds, had ignored in his denunciations of war, the fact that in all the utterances of Christ there was not a word, not a syllable condemnatory of war in the relations of State and State. The organic unity named a State was not identical with the unity of individuals that compose it; and on the relations of these more complex unities, Christ was silent. Ethics and metaphysics were outlined in His utterances, but not politics." The peace of which He spoke was a deeper, a more intimate thing than the amity of States; it is the peace of the soul recon- ciled with God and that peace could exist, did exist, on the battleSeld as in the hermit's cell. And as to the war in which we were engaged, a war in its origin and its course determined by the ideal of Imperial Britain, the larger freedom, the higher justice, was it not rash to assert, in the face of Christ's reserve, that it was contrary to the teachings of Galilee ?

A PARIS correspondent says that the sudden clos- ing of the Columbia Theatre has deprived a large number of ballot gi rls!of their means of livelihood. A large number of English girls were dealt with by the English Consular authorities, who provided them with money for their fares to London. A SQUADRON of cavalry which'was sent to the village of Durankuluk. in the district of Varna, the inhabi- I tants having offered forcible resistance to the collec- tion of the tithes, was fired on by the villagers during its march, and two officers were killed. The soldiers returned the fire and wounded about thirty persons. THE Great Northern Company announce that the new station at Nottingham, the joint property of the Great Northern and Great Central Railways, will for the future be known as the Victoria Station. IT is common in Samoa for girls to bear boys' names, and for boys to bear girls' names. If a boy is born soon after the death of a brother, or a boy soon after the death of a sister, it is inferred that the spirit of the deceased has been transferred from one child to the other, and the name of the dead child is given to the latest arrivaL

NEARLY ..=- ,088 TABLETS VI NOLI A. HA'PEOTTIES on nearSy 6,000,000 Tablets, representing J? Ifll fSOn h-avs been seat to tike Soldiers' War Fund. \d, pent on every Tablet sold.

THE KING AND THE BOTANIST. A story illustrating the simple bonhomie of the King of Sweden and Norway is told in the Echo de Pa1.is by M. Gaston Bonnier, the botanist. M. Bon- nierwas botanising near Stockholi-ii, when he met a stranger similarly occupied. The two botanists fra- ternised, and M. Bonnier suggested thal they should lunch together at an inn. No, come home and lunch with me instead," said the stranger; and he led the way to the palace and opened the gate. M. Bonnier was naturally astonished; but his new acquaintance was most apologetic. I'm sorry," he said, but I happen to be the King of this country, and this is the only place I've got to entertain anybody in." So they went in and lunched and talked botany together all the afternoon.

REMARKABLE WATCH. What is said to be the most remarkable piece of mechanism ever put together by man is a watch made in Berlin, which measures less than a quarter of an inch in diameter and weighs under two grains. The case is of gold, the works and hands are of the finest tempered steel, and the whole construction is of the most approved plan; while it is declared to keep time excellently. The minute hand is less than an eighth of an inch long, the hour hand less than a twelfth of an inch, and the second hand not one-six- teeJth of an inch long. The cost of this watch was in inverse proportion to its size, for the owner is said to have paid close won £400 for it. e-- -:8

PROFESSOR G o I T J AN o v IC Tv IT A MP, L', it G K R director ot the National Museum of Geology and Palaeontology at Agraiu, Croatia, has found on the bank of the Krapir.a— a small stream in Northern Croatia (Aus- t,ria-RLingarv-tlie remains of a paleolithic man,with flint weapons, traces of fire, and bones of the rhino- ceros, bear, beaver, and wild ox. &c. BKBCIIWOOD is under trial in Germany for railway sleepers, but they rot internally unless they are creo- soted, when their average life on Alsatian lines is 19 years. When preserved with chloride of zinc their lifeis 21 years. THE California Agricultural Experiment Station has made experiments favouring the acclimatisation of the Australian salt bush (atriplexsemibaccata), on the alkali plains of the,South-Western States, as fodder and pasture. IT is announced from Madrid that Senores La Inglesio and Comyn, Deputies, who are the Commis- sioners charged by Royal decree to confer with the holders of the Exterior Debt regarding the income and property taxes, will leave shortly for London. Mn. HARRY POLLITT, son of Sir William Pollitt, having resigned the post of locomotive superinten- dent of the Great Central Railway, will be succeeded by Mr. J. G. Robinson, locomotive superintendent of the Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway. DURING the recent eruptions of Mauna Loa, the great volcano of Honolulu, a flood of lava 40ft. wide rushed down the mountain-side at the rate of 30 miles an hour. THE amount of powder required to propel acannon projectile generally equals about half the weight of the missile. A projectile measuring 4in. in diameter would require 16Mb, of powder 5in., 251b.; 6in., 501b.; Sin., 1251k lOin., 2501b.; and 12in.. 4251b. THE; appeal of the Irish Invincibles," Fitzharris and Mullet, has been rejected, and they will be de- ported from the United States. Mn. MCLEAN-, the Premier of Victoria, has cabled to Sir Andrew Clarke that Victoria approves of the new amendment to the Federation Bill. UNDER new regulations, to be issued shortly, paupers will not be tied down to any particular die- tary as now, a nutritive standard being substituted MATT, advices from Xlondvke received at Tacoma report that the spring clean up shows a result of twenty to thirty million dollars worth of gold. THE Rio Tinto miners at Huelva have returned to work in large nnmbers. In the mining department of Nerva the strike continues. Ans exhibition of the book industries will beheld at Gothenberg, in Sweden, "from July 15 to Septem- ber 1 of this year. SOME £ 40,000 annually has been allotted for the promotion of technical instruction by the new Irish Board of Technical Education.

WOV7 "PURE ,) F1WS COCOA | "NO FLAW IN ITS CLAIM TO BE I ABSOLUTELY PURE."—Medical Annual:

SINCE the larger number of Union Jacks of the thousands displayed in our towns and villages during the last few weeks have been either hoisted the wrong way up or, more often, incorrectly manu- factured, a contribution which Professor Skeat sends to Notes and Queries on the subject, though too long for reproduction here, may be commended to those of our readers who do not already know the true flag and its proper position when they see it. Probably a great number of the wrongly-made flags came from Germany, the source of quantities of the national" emblems now flying around us. We may perhaps add that Mr. Skeat himself technically errs, in common with almost the whole mass of his country- men, in calling our honoured flag the Union Jack." The Union is only a Jack when it is flown from a jack-staff. What a jack-staff is we will leave our readers to ascertain, if they do not already know, and are at all curious on the subject. By the death of Mr. Thomas Jones, F.R.C.S. (England), chief of the Welsh military hospital in South Africa, Manchester has lost a brilliant mem- ber of his profession, a professor of Owens College, a > leading honorary member of the local infirmary and hospital staffs, and a renowned operator. Shortly after leaving Guy's Hospital he settled in Manchester in 1873, followed by the regrets of his medical friends in London, who augured from his academical career there and at the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, that he would make a distinguished name for him- self whether in metropolitan or provincial practice. When approached by the authorities responsible for the equipment of the Welsh hospital at the seat of war with a view of taking charge of that organ'sa^?n> Mr. Jones felt it his duty to accept the position offered to him, and in March last he left intending to be away for six months. Mr. Jones was not much over fifty. He was son of Mr. David Jones, of Derlwyn, near Carmarthen, and matriculated at London University in 1865. v l'ht. JAMES LOEB, in the American Journal of PIty- siology shows that common salt (chloride of sodium) when pure, that is, when freed from other marine salts which accompany it, is a poison tor sea animals, and perhaps it would be the same for man if he did not take with it salts of POtash, lime, &c. Small sea fish of the genus Fundulus and medusas were found to die in a day or two in a solution of pure salt in distilled water.

SfffPfV; 4BJLACK UlAtj I LEAD

THE WAR. 1 OPERATIONS IN THE TRANSVAAL. GENERAL HAMILTON AT HEIDELBERG. The following telegram from Lord Roberts has been received at the War Office PRETORIA, June 24, 11.30 a.m. Buller reached Standerton on 22nd; found good deal of rolling stock. All Dntch residents had left the town. British prisoners captured since our occllpationoi Pretoria have been taken through Standerton, en rotite to Machadodorp, near Belfast, on the Delagoa Railway. Ian Hamilton occupied Heidelberg yesterday. Enemy fled on the approach of his column, and were pursued by our mounted troops for six or seven miles. J On the previous day Broad wood's cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy and completely dispersed them, capturing six prisoners without loss on our aide. Hunter's advance brigade reached Johannesburg towards Heidelberg early on the 22nd. The enemy attacked our post at Honing Spruit, and before reinforcements arrived from Kroonstad they had succeeded in burning three culverts. These will all be repaired by this afternoon. THE BRITISH PRISONERS. The following telegram from Sir R. Buller has been received at the War Office: STANDERTON, June 24, 3.25 p.m. Four hundred and sixty-one prisoners, Irish and Middlesex Yeomanry, taken at Lindley, and 180 men details of Highland Brigade, taken with the convoy I y Bear Heilbron, passed through Standerton on 18th. Of these a few severely wounded, including Lord Longford, had been left at Reitz, and the following lick were left here Highland Light Infantry, 6474 Lance-Sergeant W. H. Maloney, Privates 3947 D. Macdonald, 3688 D. Lindsay, 6098 J. Cosgrave; 2nd Black Watch: 7213 J. Mansfield; and 46th Company Irish Yeo- manry, 9444 Trooper J. Hill, who is seriously ill. Others doing well. Bulk of prisoners, including Lord Leitrim, Lord Ennismore, and Victor Gibson, are stated to have been in good health. Reuter's Agency has received a message from its Standerton correspondent, dated Saturday, which says It is reported that the British prisoners who were taken from here remain at Ermelo, and are allowed to walk about the streets. The Hon. Victor Gibson is the youngest son of Lord Ashbourne, Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was born in 1875, and is a barrister. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN. The General of Communications, Cape Town, has telegraphed to the Commander-in-Chief as follows: CAPE TOWN, June 20. Referring to your telegram of June 19 to General, Cape Town, telegram arrived from Methuen June 4 giving casualties amongst 13th Battalion Imperial Yeomany found by him on arrival at Lindley June 1, which, having been checked as far as possible, were telegraphed to Secretary of State June 6. All in- quiries have failed to elicit further reports on fate of the rest of battalion or condition of wounded. Trooper Hankey, lately belonging to 13th Battalion, who was with Methuen, states that he helped to write Methuen's telegram, and that no further news was available. It was supposed that all not mentioned were prisoners of war. This requires confirmation. Interrupted telegraph communication to the north of Kroonstad is probably cause of no reply received to inquiries. I am sending to every station where news could be expected. Only further reports were telegraphed to Secretary of State on June 14 and June 18. With reference to the above telegram, private messages have been received by relatives of troopers in the Duke of Cambridge's Own (which forms a company of the 13th Battalion), including a joint telegram to Sir James Blyth and Mr. Gold which was despatched direct from their sons, stating that ;hey were all well, and requesting the relatives of lToopers Woodhouse, Young, and Cunliffe to be informed. BOERS CAPTURE A MAIL TRAIN. It has only just become known (said a Central News Cape Town message of Saturday's date) that the Boers on the Zand River recently captured a train containing 2000 mail bags, conveying an accu- mulation of three weeks' letters for the troops with Lord Roberts. Two members of the Post Office Corps were killed and two wounded, whilst the rolling stock was as far as pOS, bla destroyed. There were E4000 worth of stamps captured with the mail bags. These were English, and specially for the use of our troops, so that they will be useless to the Xoers. SURRENDER OF BOERS TO SIR C. WARREN. De Villiers's commando, consisting of 220 men with 280 horses, 18 waggons, 260 rifles, and over 100,000 rounds of ammunition, has (a Reuter's Cape Town cable of Saturday says) arrived at Blik- fontein and surrendered to Sir Charles Warren. It includes 16 leading rebels, but De Villiers himself, with a small party, has gone eastwards. SUCCESSFUL SKIRMISHES. THE OCCUPATION OF HEIDELBERG. The following telegram from Lord Roberta has been received at the War Office: PRETORIA RESIDENCY, June 25, 11.5 a.m. June 25. Clements successfully engaged a body of Boers yesterday near Winburg, where he had gone to pick up supplies and some heavy guns pre- paratory to acting in combination with columns from Lindley, Heilbron, and Heidelberg. He drwe the enemy north of the Zand River with loss. No casualty reported. Ian Hamilton reports as follows (Begins) Heidelberg is most English town I have yet seen, and inhabitants gave us great reception, street s being crowded and fine display of bunting. Captain Yallentiji hoisted the Union Jack in the market square amidst the cheers of the populace, British, Australian, and other colonial troops. God Save the Queen was sung, the crowd heartily joining. The poor loyalists have had a rough time of it lately. (Ends) Hutton's Mounted Infantry had skirmish with some Boer patrols yesterday a few miles south-east of Pretoria. Captain Anley is reported to have managed the little business very well. Our casualties, Lieutenant Crispin and one man Northumberland Fusiliers wounded. ACCIDENT TO GENERAL HAMILTON., General Ian Hamilton is (according to a Cape Town message') suffering from a broken collar-bone, caused by a fall from his horse. ATTACK ON A BRITISH POST. I On Saturday morning the Boers attacked the post at Honing Spruit and succeeded in burning three culverts before reinforcements arrived from Kroonstad. Our casualties were 31 men killed and wounded. General Huncer's vanguard reached Johannesburg on Saturday and proceeded next day to Heidelberg. The foreign Military Attaches who were with Lord Roberts are returning to Cape Town, whence they will proceed homeward. SIR R. BULLER'S FORCE. I The Hollanders who did not take up arms and .rere not concerned in the burning of railway sleepers and the destruction of bridges are not •(according to a Reuer's Standerton 0 message of Monday) interfered with on condition of their sign- ing an oath of neutrality. About 70 men are still detained in custody. Civilians have been enrolled to form the town police. Some of our scouts came in contact with a small party of the enemy about five miles to the north. The Boers opened fire at close range and tried to capture the scouts, but unsuccessfully. THE LINE OF COMMUNICATIONS. I RECENT BOER SUCCESSES. The following telegram from Lord Roberts has been received at the War Office: PRETORIA, June 25, 4.55 p.m. June 25.—Owing to breaks in telegraph line and railway I have been unable to obtain full particulars of two mishaps on the lines of communications, which I do not think have been fully reported to you. So far as I can ascertain, the facts are as follows: On June 2 a convoy of 50 waggons in charge of Lieutenant Corballis, Reserve of Officers, was de- spilte-hed from Rhenoster to Heilbron, escorted by 160 details of the Highland Brigade under Captain Johnstone, Volunteer Company Seaforth High- landers; Lieutenant Lang, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and Lieutenant Murray, Highland Light Infantry. At one a.m. on June 4 Major Haig, in command of 1000 details at Yredefort Road, received a message from officer commanding convoy, dated 9.30 p.m. 3rd, that they Wf.f'Ol surrounded by superior numbers and required assistance. Major Haig at once started with 600 details find sent the message on to Major Haking, commandant at Railhead, some seven miles further north, at Kromellanberg Spruit. The latter received the message at six a.m., and in an hour latter despatched 120 Mounted Infantry Berkshire Regiment to join Major Haig. Both parties returned in the afternoon without having been able to get touch with the convoy, the Mounted Infantry being driven in by superior numbers. The convoy was surrounded on the morning of June 4, and in reply to a flag of truce from Christian De Wet surrendered. On the morning of June 7 the enemy attacked the post on our Tine of communications just north of the recently-repaired railway bridge at Rhenoster River, held by the 3rd T?4th] Derbyshire Regiment and a party of Imperial Yeomanry scouts. The pickets which had been posted on a range of kopjes just' north of the camp were attacked at dawn and driven in, and the enemy occupied the range, which com- pletely commanded the camp. Our troops lost 35 killed and 111 wounded-the remainder being taken prisoners. Captain Anderson, Imperial Yeomanry, has since escaped and reports Captain W. Knight, D.A.A.G.. and Lieutenant Kreager, Imperial Yeomanry, are prisoners and are well. THE FIGHT AT HONING SPRUIT. KROONSTAD, June 2^. Part of De Wet's commando, consisting of about 700 to 800 men, with three guns (says a Reuter's message, dated as above), attacked the railway between Kroonstad and Honing Spruit yesterday at dawn. The attack was first made on an outpost of Canadian Mountain Rifles two miles south of Honing Spruit. The outpost was cut off and two men were killed, and Lieutenant Triglis and four men were wounded. Three men are missing. The enemy then attacked a camp occupied by two companies of the Shropahires and 50 Canadians, shelling them freely with shrapnel, but without much effect, as our troops were well intrenched. Meantime, at Honing Spruit Station, a train from Pretoria going south with 40J infantry was also attacked. The released prisoners from Waterfall hastily arrived. They were armed with rifles surrendered by the Pretoria Boers and were without artillery. Colonel Bullock, of the Devon Regiment, was in command. The attacking force numbered about 300 and had two 15-pounders. Colonel Bullock just managed to telegraph to Kroonstad before the wires were cut. The enemy destroyed the railway on each side of our position. They sent a white flag sum- moning the troops to surrender, but the demand was at once refused. An attack with rifle fire from the north immedi- ately commenced. It was then about half-past eight. The Boers also opened with shell fire from guns posted to the north and south-east of the position. Then their riflemen, riding round to the east, practi- caliy encircled our men. After a heavy shell and rifle fire, which lasted several hours, the enemy again invited Colonel Bullock to surrender, but he indig- nantly refused and continued his unflinching resist- ance until half-past three, when reinforcements de- spatched by General Knox, consisting of the 17th Battery R.A. and 300 Yeomanry under Colonel Broomfield, from Kroonstad, arrived. The Boers fled immediately. Major Hobbs, of the West Yorks, who had been for eight months a prisoner, was killed; Lieut. Smith, Gloucestershire Regiment, was wounded, and three men were killed and 16 wounded. Fortu- nately. Dr. Lenthal Cheatle, consulting surgeon on Lord Roberts's Staff, happened to be in the train. Otherwise the wounded would have fared badly. Among the reinforcements from Kroonstad were also the 4th Argylls and the 17th Lancers. All took part in the relief of the attacked force. The wounded were sent to Kroonstad, where they arrived safely. Two have died, but the remainder are doing well. I GENERAL RUNDLE'S FORCE. In continuing the march towards Senekal {says a Reuter's cable dated from that place last Saturday) the rear of General Rundle's transport was attacked by the Boers about five miles from the town and not far from the late camp of the Colonial Divi- sion, which had gone on in advance last night. The Scots Guards and the Hampshire Yeomanry under Captain Seely, formed the rearguard, towards which the enemy crept, taking cover behmd the smoke of a veldt fire. When they had got within 400 yards of the convoy they sent in a volley. The Guards and Yeomanry returned the fire with great promptitude, and repulsed the oncoming Boers. who commenced retiring as quickly as possible, their retreat being hastened by volleys from the Guards and by the fire of a Maxim which had come into action. The enemy were completely driven off and many were seen to fall under our rifle fire. There were no casualties on our side. A strong force of the Colonial Division, with the Yeomanry and infantry, completed the rout by chasing the enemy back to their main position at Tafelberg. Some Boers took refuge in a farm on a low ridge near the base of the hill, and our artillery, coming from Senekal, shelled the farm, as well as a donga where another party of the enemy were hidden, with telling effect. Meanwhile, the Colonials and the Yeomanry had closed in on foot towards the farmhouse, and the men, advancing in splendid form up the slopes of the ridge, surrounded the house. They captured a few prisoners and finally set fire to the building, returning under the covering fire of the artillery. THE SURRENDER OF DE VILLIERS. The following telegram has been received at the War Office from Lord Roberts PRETORIA RESIDENCY, June 26, 2.45 p.m. Sir C. Warren reports that the rebellion in the Cape Colony north of the Orange River is now over. The last formidable body, under De Villiers, sur- rendered to him on June 20. It consisted of about 220 men, 280 horses, 18 waggons, 260 rifles, and over 100,000 rounds of ammunition. Baden-Powell reports that pacification is going or very satisfactorily in the Rustenburg district. DR. JAMESON. I Dr. Jameson has been returned unopposed as member of the House of Assembly for Kitnberley. THE VICTORIA CROSS. I The London Gazette of Tuesday night contains announcement of the conferment of the Victoria Cross on Major E. Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant C. Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver H. Glas- sock, all of the Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, for their gallantry in saving the battery in the Koorn Spruit action on March 31 last. Major Phipps- Hornby gets the Cross as senior to Captain Hum- phreys, who was equally recommended, and Sergeant Parker, Gunner Lodge, and Driver Glassock were elected by their comrades to receive the decoration.

ADMIRAL MAXSE DEAD. I The death is announced of Admiral Maxse, who returned to England from South Africa only a few weeks ago. Frederick Augustus Maxse, son of Mr. James and Lady Caroline Maxse, and grandson 01 the fifth Earl of Berkley, was born in 1833. HE entered the navy as a lieutenant in 1852. He took part in the bombardment of Odessa, and assisted ir the disembarkation of troops in the Crimea. Aftei the battle of Alma he was rewarded with honourable mention in Gazettes, with promotion to the rank of captain, and with the 5th Class of the Order of the Mediidie. He retired as captain in 1867, passing later through the higher ranks of retired rear-admiral and retired vice-admiral, and becoming a retired admiral in 1885.

PROFESSOR OLIVER LODGE has been appointed Principal of the new Birmingham University. THE Pinemore sailed from Tilbury Dock on Satur- day with over 300 officers and men of the 1st King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), and Cavalry and Artillery remounts for South Africa. A contingent ^f Am bnlance men for the Yeomanry Hospital left in the Kinfauns Castle for the Cape. A large number of wounded and sick from the front arrived on Saturday and Sunday, the Pembroke Castle -Ind Custodian landing over 600 at Southampton, the Monfort nearly 300 at Plymouth, and th6 Ulstermore 250 at the Roval Albert Docks.

THE CRISIS IN CHINA. I THE BOMBARDMENT OF TIEN-TSIN. 1 RELIEVING FORCE REPULSED. The Admiralty announces that a telegram has been received from Rear-Admiral Bruce at Taku, dated Chifu, June 23. stating that the allied Admirals were working in perfect accord, with the Russian Vice- Admiral as senior officer. The British sloop Algerine was all well. Two hundred men of the Chinese Regiment from Wei-hai-wei were land ed at Taku on June 22. As only one runner had got through from Tien- tsin for tive days, no information could be obtained except that the settlement was almost entirely destroyed and that our people were fighting hard. News was received as the telegram was being despatched that the attempt to relieve Tien-tsin on June 22 was repulsed with some loss. ANTI-FOREIGN MOVEMENT SPREADING. The Times Shanghai correspondent says that the anti-foreign movement, openly backed by large bodies of Chi-li and Han-su troops armed with the best modern weapons, is spreading northward to Niu- chwang and southward to Tien-tsin. Sheng, the Director of Telegraphs, announced on Friday that in- formation had been received that the foreigners in Pekin were safe on Wednesday of last week, but that all the Legations except the British, Austrian, and Belgian had been burned. Telegraphing on Saturday the Times Shanghai correspondent says the first accounts of the destruction of pro- perty at the Tien-tsin settlement are now stated to be exaggerated. No news from Pekin has yet reached the foreign Consulates, but Sheng announced on Saturday, on the authority of news brought by a special courier from Pekin, that the residents of the Legations are safe and that the foreign Ministers are demanding their passports, which the Tsung-li-Yamen is disposed to grant. The Times correspondent adds that it is earnestly to be hoped that the British Government, in view of possible complications, will despatch a powerful naval force to the Yangtsze. mrrNRSE WAR SHIPS AS SHANGHAI. No fewer than eight Chinese war vessels having assembled at Shanghai, the Consuls requested he Chinese admiral to remove them. He undertook that they should go on Saturday and Sunday, but so far as was known in London on Monday morning had not fulfilled his promise. Active measures for the despatch of more troops to Tien-tsin are being taken by several ofthe Powers. It has been decided ,to raise the force to be sent from India to divisional strength. ADMIRAL SEYMOUR'S FORCE. DESPERATE FIGHTING AT TIEN-TSIN. The Admiralty has received the following telegram from Rear-Admiral Bruce at Taku, sent from Chifu, June 24: The total force which left Tien-tsin with the Com- mander-in-Chief for Pekin about 2000, composed of detachments of the allied ships. No action could possibly be taken to relieve the Commander-in-Chief, because it was only known that he was cut off by Tien-tsin's being invested. Tien-tsin has been fighting for its life ever since. It was on receipt of information that Chinese army had ordered trains for attacking Tven-tsin, ravaging Tangku.andjwere reinforcing Taku, as well as mining the mouth of the Pei-ho, that it was promptly determined to seize Taku just in time, since when every effort has been made to relieve Tien-tsin. Have commandeered small coasting steamer for taking troops, sick and wounded, across the bar to Wei-hai-wei, where I intend making temporary base hospital and asylum for refuge. The Admiralty reports the following casualty at Taku on June 17: Seriously wounded: A.B. Samuel Symons Corber, 163298, of her Majesty's sloop Algerine. The name of the A.B. of her Majesty's cruiser Endymion already reported as wounded at Taku on June 17 has been confirmed as E. J. Wyatt, 171606, not Moyatt. y MORE BLUEJACKETS FOR THE FRONT. A Chifu telegram (the Times correspondent at Shanghai, wiring on Monday, said) reports the arrival of the Humber, bringing a number of refugees, including Mr. Kinder. A relief committee has been organised at Shang- hai. A military correspondent, writing from Tangkn on the 20tb, states that a further contingent of 250 bluejackets under Commander Cradock is leaving for the front. The operations of the combined forces are suffering from the want of a recognised head, from defective organisation, and from the absence of transport. MACAO TROOPS UNDER ARMS. The Hailoong, with stores (according to a Reuter's Hong Kono: message, sailed on Monday morning). having been delayed in order to take on board 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition. Dr. Sutton will accompany her for the base hospital at Wei-hai-wei. The troops at Macao are under arms. The Governor of Macao has sent arms for the Portuguese at Canton. Anti-foreign placards have been posted up at Canton. THE INDIAN TROOPS. The total strength of the China expeditionary force (observes the Simla correspondent of the Times, wiring on Monday) will reach 10,000 men eventually, as more cavalry and a battery of Horse Artillery will probably be added. The season of the year is un- favourable for shipping horses owing to the mon- soon. A portion of the infantry and sappers will embark at Bombay in order to relieve the pressure on Calcutta. The composition of the force will be as follows: The 1st Brigade, commanded by Colonel Norman Stewart, will consist of the 1st Sikhs, 24th Punjab Infantry, 7th Rajputs, 26th Baluchistan Regiment. The 2nd Brigade, commanded by Colonel O'Mooro Creagh, will consist of the 2nd Rajputs, 14th Sikhs, 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas, and 30th Bombay In- fantry. The divisional troops will be the 1st Bengal Lancers, 12th Field Battery, No. 4'Company Bengal, No. 2 Company Bombay, and No. 3 Company Madras Sappers, and 1st Madras Pioneers. The 22nd Bombay Infantry and 3rd Madras In- fantry will garrison Hong Kong. General tiir A. Gaselee and his staff will sail from Calcutta in the Zibengla on July 2. The brigade under the command of Colonel Stewart will be accompanied by Nos. 39 and 43 Field Hospitals. That under Colonel Creagh will be ac- companied by Nos. 42 and 47 Field Hospitals. Nos. 25 British and 54,63, and 66 Native Hospitals will also go to China. The country round Pekin being now swampy, no further cavalry or artillery are being selected at present. Two coolie corps, each 1000 strong, will be raised in India to assist the expedition. Each corps will be under the command of two British officers. Commander Elderton, of the Indian Marines, will oe Transport Officer, and Major Burton and Lieu- tenant Fenton, of the Army Medical Service, will accompany the hospitals. RUSSIAN MOBILIZATION. The following Order of the Czar was published at St. P-etersburgh on Monday: As we consider it necessary to raise the troops in the Amur Military District to a war footing, we request the Minister of War to take the measures required to that end. At the same time we direct that the necessary number of men belonging to the reserve in the territories of the Siberian and Amur Military Districts shall be called out for active service." The Russian Press generally approves the communique on the Chinese question published yesterday by the Goiermnent Messenger, as being in complete accord with the opinion frequently ex- pressed by the newspapers that, although Russia must certainly participate in the common action of the Powers to rescue foreigners from their present danger, it is equally her duty to preserve the friendly relations between Russia and China which are rendered necessary by the immense and manifold interests resulting from their position as territorial neighbours and their traditional and reciprocallv conciliatory policy. TIEN-TSIN RELIEVED. The Times Shanghai correspondent, telegraphing en Tuesday, says that official information has been received that the allied troops, about 8000 strong, entered Tien-tsin on Saturday afternoon. Admiral Kempff, telegraphing to Washington from Taku on Monday, confirms this statement, and adds that the Pekin relief force which left Tien-tsin on June 10 is sur- rounded at a point 10 miles from that city. A Itetiter despatch of Monday from Chifu says it is believed that the foreign Ministers and Admiral Seymour will be held as hostages to secure favourable terms of settlement, and that the whole Chinese Army is join- ing in the anti-foreign movement under the leader- ship of Tungfuhsiang. The railway is reported to be seriously damaged near Niu-chwang, and a Chinese force is said to be advancing on that city.

LIBELLING A PRINCE. ONE FARTHING DAMAGES. In the Queen's Bench Division, before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, an action was tried on Tuesday in which Prince Charles de Looz et Corswarem sought damages against George Newnes (Limited) for an alleged libel contained in an article published in Tit Bits in July last, in which it was stated that plaintiff was undergoing a long sentence of solitary confinement in one of the Belgian peniten- tiaries. The defendants admitted the publication,and paid 40s. into Court as sufficient satisfaction of the plaintiff's claim, alleging certain matters in mitiga- tion of damages and their counsel said that in 1894 and 1895 the plaintiff was in London defrauding lodging-house keepers, to whom he represented that he was going to marry the Princess Dermdoff, whom, in fact, he had never seen. In 1894 he was con- victed in absence in Paris of fraud and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 1896 he was charged with fraud at Brussels and acquitted on the ground that be was in a condition of here- ditary psychical degeneracy" and afflicted with an "ambitious monomania." Evidence having been given in support of this statement, counsel for the plaintiff said he had declined to open the case unless the Prince appeared in the witness-box. The Prince undertook to appear, but he had now written to say that he was much upset and wanted an adjournment, for which, however, he would not apply. The jury found for the plaintiff with one farthing damages, and, as the defendants had paid 40s. into court, his lordship gave judgment for them.

MARRIAGE OF MISS CLARA BUTT. Those well-known singers, Miss Clara Butt and Mr. Kennerley Rumford, were married on Tuesday in Bristol Cathedral. A wedding does not usually apset the equilibrium of a lartre town, but Bristol was anusually excited all day. Both contracting parties ire well known in the musical world, and Miss Butt lived in Bristol from her childhood. She was offered St. Paul's Cathedral for the wedding, but the Dean of Bristol came forward, placing Bristol Oathedral at her disposal, and she favoured the city of her adoption. Five hours before the ceremony commenced people ;ook up positions outside the building with camp stools and refreshments. Gradually College-green became impassable, with such a crowd as has seldom if ever been seen there before. After ticket-holders to the number of 500 had been idmitted the doors were thrown open to the public, ind a scene of confusion followed. Women and jhildren were mercilessly elbowed about in a surging, swaying crowd. Many screamed aloud, and dozens gained the interior of the Cathedral minus hats and bonnets and with clothes torn. It was a sight that an hardly be imagined, and it took many minutes before order could be restored. This was only done by closing the doors, but not until the building was full to the doors. These were closed on thousands, who clamoured loudly, but in vain, for admission, and finally con- sented themselves by remaining in the Green wait- ing for the bridal party to come out; and when she came out with her husband she received a popular ovation. Entering the western door, the bride on the arm of her father passed up the central aisle. She was attired in a gown of ivory meteor crepe de chine, with a deep fringe at the bottom of the skirt, over an !Lccordion-pleated frill of crepe de chine. The bodice was artistically draped from a transparent yoke of real Brussels point. The cuffs, turning back from the elbow over mittens of Brussels point, gave a pretty finish to the charmingly simple though rich oostume, which admirably suited the bride's figure. The tulle veil was fastened with a spray of orange blossom and a flight of diamond swallows. Her bouquet, the gift of the bridegroom,, was of white orchids and lilies. There were six bridesmaids, Miss Lily Hanbury, Miss Dorothy Bligh, daughter of the Hon. Ivo Bligh, Miss Marjorie Allix, and the Misses Pauline, Ethel, and Hazel Butt, sisters of the bride. These were attired in Empire gowns of pink crepe de chine with soft pink chiffon fichus, with picture hats trimmed with pink and red roses. They carried crooks of the same period tied with clusters of roses. The two little pages, Master Bernard Green and Master Ivo Novello Davies, were dressed in white satin suits of the Florentine period. The bridesmaids were presented by the bridegroom with a gold heart-shaped brooch enclosing a stave of music bearing the notes C B in whole pearls sur- mounted by a lover's knot, while to each of the little pages he presented a pearl pin. The officiating clergy were the dean, Canon Griffiths, Vicar of St. Paul's, Bedminster, and the Rev. Sidney Fischel, Vicar of Horden, Essex. A reception and ball were given at the Royal Hotel after the ceremony, and later in the afternoon the bride and bridegroom left for Dover en route to Norway. The presents, which number over 300, include gifts from the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, silver candlesticks from the Bishop of R,ipon and Mrs. Boyd Carpenter, a jewelled muff chain from Mine. Albani, silver fruit baskets from Lady Tulli- bardine, silver cigarette case from Countess Valdo Gleichen, gold-mounted walking-stick from Lady Maud Warrender, gold bonbonieres from Sir Howard and Lady Vincent, silver candlestick from Signor and Mme. Tosti, a diamond brooch from the citizens of Bristol, as well as numerous gifts from members of the musical profession. Other donors were the Duke and Duchess of Somerset, Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft, Lady Morgan, Mr. Alfred de Rothschild, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lloyd.

COMPENSATION APPEAL CASE. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, before the Lord Chancellor, Lords Morris, Shand, Davey, Brampton, and Robertson, judgment was given in an appeal, "Powell v. the Main Colliery Company (Limited)," from a decision of the Court of Appeal. The appellant, a collier, sustained injury while in the respondents' service in December, 1898, and in May following gave the respondents notice of the accident, and of his intention to claim com- pensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act. He did not, however, file his notice in the County court requesting an arbitration under the Act until the following October. The County- court judge made an award in his favour. The colliery company appealed on the ground that the claim was not made, as required by the Act, within six months after the accident, their contention being that the word claim must be interpreted to mean the initiation of proceedings before the arbitrator. The Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Romer dissenting, adopted this view, and reversed the finding of the County-court judge but their lordships now, Lord Morris dissenting, allowed the appeal, and restored the finding of the county-court judge.