Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-10
Copyright. Associated Press.

LONDON, December 9.-What with
the growing inclination to its sceptical
oVer-glorious victories that leave the
Beers able to fight just as hard the next
day, with the still virulent storm of dis
approval raining from all quarters on
Joseph Chamberlain because of his re-
markable alliance speech, and with the
dalwning realization of the difficulties,
which beset the task of conquering the
Beers and wiping out Afrikander dis
satisfaction, the position of the British
government at home and in Europe
has by no means been strengthened.
A really decisive victory compelling the
Beers to vacate the scene of British OPP
erations or enabling the British to
achieve the relief of Kimberley or
Ladysmith, would quickly improve the
feeling. That all is not right is feared
even among the governments staunch-
est supporters. While awaiting such
victory as, by mere force of numbers,
it seems must come, the feeling of I'M
rest is bound to increase. while the
anxiety exhibited in we'll informed
quarters, that previously spoke opti-
mistically of Cape loyalty, but now re-
gretfully admit widespread colonial dis
affection, is not likely to be allowed.
1t appears that the British forward
movement is retarded more by politi-
cal conditions prevailing in the terri
tory through which the lines of commu-
nication pass than by the Beers, who
hang like bulldogs on the advanced
TANKS. Military critics during the
past week have frequently observed
that if it is necessary to pSeserve the
lines Of communication with such large
forces when operating in British ter
ritory it will be much more essential
to do so when the head columns have
entered
An AvOwedIy Hostile Country,
That Ladysmith will be relieved, and
shortly, is now taken as a matter of
course, though in the same breath it
is admitted that decisive engagement
must be fought before this is accom-
plished. Nothing has been more prom
inenbly brought out during the two
months OF the war than the fact that
the Beers never attack, as Gen. Gar
cia said last year of the Cubans. With
their wonderful mobility, the Beers
are enabled to take up, one after an
other, carefully selected positions, in
every instance Turing the British gen.
erals to attack them and retiring, after
intiicting severe loss, to other posi-
tons equally good and apparently
previously prepared. If such tactics
continue, it seems possible that the re-
lieving force will reach Ladysmith so
crippled that an advance into the
TganSvaal will be impossible in the
near future. In fact the most optimis-
tic see no chance of the British forces
making serious Roadway upon an ag-
gressive campaign for two or three
months, while many who confidently
prophecied that Gen. Butler would eat
his Christmas dinner in Pretoria are
trying to find excuses in the slowness
of the transports of the incapability
of the war Office.
Mr.. Chamberlain shows no signs of
repentance or desire to recant his Lei
cester speech. When questiond by a
representative of the Associated Press,
in this connection, the colonial secre-
tary replied:
Il have nothing to add to what l
have already said -