JOTTINGS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 12, 15 January 1900, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

All the war correspondents predict that the greatest battle of the war will be at the Tugela River, and the strength of the Boer position is apparently thoroughly understood. Mr. Collet, the correspondent of the London Daily Mail at Stormberg, while bearing a message from Mr. Schreiner, the Cape Premier, to President Steyn, of. the Orange Free State, with Sir Alfred Miner's sanction, was arrested by the Boers in the mountains and conveyed to Bloemfontein. It is understood that Mr. Schreiner's letter was a protest against the impressment of British subjects in Cape Colony. According ■ to the latest papers, Birmingham is very busy, and the effect of the war is apparent in the continued advance of the crude and manufactured products of the Midlands. Orders for some thousands of hospital beds had been received by Birmingham makers, and were being executed with the greatest despal eh. When the Liverpool provision merchants held their meeting and subsenbuu over £2000 for the war fund, the Chairman cabled the result to three business friend^ in Chicago— Mr. Geddes (Scotch), Mr. White (Liverpool), and Mr, Wells (Birmingham). They look the hint, and soon raised 5000dol, with more to follow. Some good messages have coma ibrough from Kimberley (says the Irish Times), giving picturesque details of life in beleaguered Diamoindopolis. When the Bosrri are not actually firing their shells at the town, the citizens calmly go about their ordinary pursuits. When the bombardment begins the civilians go into bombproof cellars, the troops inside forwiied trenches, and the Boer projectiles have the town to themselves. About 400 reservists belonging to the Second Battalion of the Royal WarAviekahire Regiment recently left Birmingham to join the colours. Mr. Chamberlain wa& a passenger by the train for London, which aonveyed a number of reservists. These, discoA r ering Mr. Chamberlain, went and saluted him in military style, and afterwards informed him tnat they were going to fight for the tyueer in Soiitb. Africa. The Colonial Secretary gave the men a hearty hand-shake, amid ringing cheers for the Queen and hisses for President Kruger. The Duke of Abercorn commissioned a Belfast firm to forward to the Red Cress Society, on his behalf, 000 dozen specially soft pocket-handkerchiefs and 100 light woollen Avraps, for the use of the sick and Avounded soldiers in South Africa. Mr. Parslow, the correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, who was killed by accident at Mafeking, Avas carried to the grave by his brother correspondents, and received the honours accorded — as well as they can be in these times of stress — to an officer. Sir James Sievewright's three houses near Capetown, given over as convalescent homes, will accommodate 200 soldiers. A correspondent of the Cape Times has been told by a Free Stater that it was a well-understood arrangement between the several commandants that as the English concealed themselves in khaki the only way to' deal with them was to lure them from cover by displaying the white flap.