NOTES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVI, Issue 581, 3 December 1904, Page 4

NOTES.

The war drags wearily on. The chief interest in the struggle centres round Port Arthur, and the latest accounts ap-' pear to show that the garrison are selling every inch of ground dearly. As the fearful contest develops, the appalling magnitude of the task before the Japanese becomes the more apparent.- In the meantime, the gradual approach of the Baltic fleet to the theatre.of war appears to be causing the islanders some concern, and during the next few weeks the- moat desperate efforts will be made to conquer the remnant of the garrison. UntiJPort Arthur is open to their ships, there will be an element of uncertainty about the struggle for the Japanese, but with, the harbour in tlieir possession, they will be in a much, better position to deal with the at sea. The estimated losses of the Japanese in their endeavours to capture Port Arthur have so far reached 25,000 lives, which, affords a striking proof of the enormous difficulty of the task with, which, the Japanese have been confronted. The information to hand from. Manchuria is vague and indefinite. All th.at seems to be known is that two immense armies are almost within touch, of each, other, but for some reason iin-. known, and most probably owing to climatic influences, the leaders find it impossible to come to close 'grips. In the meantime, each, is sternly preparing for the next great battle, and momentous issues will hang on the result. „

A cable this week conveyed the information that' the remains of the late

Paul Kruger, the ex^-President of the Transvaal, have arrived at Capetown. The British &b*erjbwnt is acting With every consideration to the memory of J the deceased. ,No objection has beeri raised to the burial of its quondam foe in his native cduntiry, and the remains of Paul Kruger will be interred by* those who were so closely allied with : him when he opposed his will to the power and might of Britain. The. incident will doubtless be a sorrowful one tb "urged the . ex-Presk dent on to .his, fate.,, The Boer leaders wilji surely remember that it is only by the favour of thip'sg : whom they so bitterly opposed that^the ibone st)f their dead compatriot are allowed to rest in his'native land, and their feelings will nofc, wfe should think, be enviable under the circumstances. From^a-.'contem-, learn thit tiie ex-President's remains tCre to lip in state, at Capetown for a week arid will then .be conyeye'd by special train to Pretoriai "the ;%ial interment taking place on Deceiiaber lfith. The Government have promised to faciKtateHfche attendance of. Afrikanders from all 'parts of the country by relajatljg- the stringency of the permit regulations. The ceremony in Pretoria will be »f a semi-military character, and ftinerat orfttapris: wiit^be delivered by Grene'ral Bqtha and other Boer leaders.

The news that the Government has been successful in floating a : million loan will be received with much satisfaction. It would; 6^c6yase,h&ye been more satisfactopy iiihß-interisi; had been 3i per cent., but in these of scarce and dear -money 1 the price is not out of the way, and the money is^r£enj;ly required. A. great many unportan^works have now been hung up for some time, and the floating of this loan should make it possible to jproeeed witii. the development Of ihb colony's; resources.