Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-24
MEDIATION rs NOT POSSIBLE.
EDITOR STEAD TELLS WHAT A
FRENCH ARMY
MIGHT DO.
He Says to Rely Upon Raw Recruits
in Such a Crisis is to Lean Upon
q Broken Reed-A Very General
Impression That Kimberley Will
Observation-Disclosures of the Late
Duke of Westminster.
ccopyrlght, Associated Press.)

Christmas. Yet, to meet 1t, there mas
arisen a new Britain, which by its vir-
ility and pluck. EFFORTS admiration even
from her bitterest continental critics.
Since the boastfulness has disappeared
from the British press, the comments
Of the foreign papers, at least such as
are printed here, are couched in tones
far more fair and friendly than when
IT. was believed a speedy victory await
ed Gen. Butler.
AS repeatedly asserted, there is no
likelihood of European interference, yet
w. T. Stead, in the Daily Chronicle to-
day, has a very alarming column, in
which he has visions of a superior
Jameson raid" by $4,000 Frenchmen Of
London, in the absence of the channel
feet. Mr.. Stead points out how easily,
in his opinion, this might be accom-
plished, and says:
"To rely, as some appear to do, upon
the addition of a number of raw re-
cruits, under the excitement and stimu-
lus of the present war fever, is to
Rely on a Broken Reed.
Woolwich arsenal might be in flames
and the French tri-color flying over
Westminster Palace before the first of
these new recruits would have learned
10 handle a gum"
Although Great Britain's plight in
South Africa seems temporarily cri-
teal, the Associated Press learns that
the Beers are straining every nerve to
secure the mediation of President Nc
k.nley towards a favorable peace. But
any one with the slightest knowledge OF
British feeling quickly appreciates that
not one person in a million contem-
plates any result but an ultimate Brit
ish triumph, and all sections unite in
what the cost. Hence, the Boer agents
themselves have only slight hopes that
mediation would be accepted, though
believing, if President Mckinley could
be persuaded to proffer it, Lord Sails
bury, though perhaps bound to refuse,
would lose humanitarian sympathy in
the United States and thus divert to the
Beers much wayering sentiment.
The Associated Press is informed
from excellent sources that
No Offer OF Mediation
would be accepted by Lord Salisbury
in any shape or form. The popular
conception of peace is that it must
come through the idol of the army
Gen. Roberts, and his no. less adored
chief of staff. Gen. Kitchener. The
country is prepared to wait indefinlte-
ly for that e~ventuality. The fail OF
Kimberley, Ladysmith and Mafeking
would not make a particle Of difference,
for this stoical result is thoroughly inn
bedded in the hearts of the people, who,
for the first time in the memory of
this generation, have drank deeply OF
the cup of military defeat and disgrace.
Any other defeats that the future holds
for the British, except entire annihila-
ton, are anticipated by the scathipg
criticism which the nation has infiict-
ed upon itself. Estimates of the dur
alton of hcstilities vary from three
months to a year. The lack of news
this week has by no lean been taken
as an instance of the adage regarding
10 news. A very general impression
prevails that Kimberley will succumb.
An officer of the British South African
Company, who has intimate knowledge
of South Africa, tells the Associated
Press he believes if the Beers capture
Cecil Rhodes
They Will shoot Him.
Nowhere more than en- the Stock Ex-
change has the lack of information
caused extreme nervousness. 1t is re-
allied that if Kimberley falls De Beers
mines, shares and interests will shrivei
to nothing, while the Chartered Com
pany's vast issues will loose what little
bottom they have left.
1t is learned by the Associated Press
that the great financial houses in Lon
don have combined and furnished suf-
ficient money to insure 40 large fall
ures on settling day, December %,
though the small fry may suffer. I'm
less this action has been taken several
well known houses, not of the first i'm
portance, but of large proportions,
would, it is said. have to go under.
This concerted %precaution has to some
extent restored confidence but the mar
ket is still panicky, many believing
that the more serious crisis has not
been reached.
While most persons knew the
Late Duke of Westminster
was one of the richest men in England. no
London newspaper has taken the trouble to
procure an estimate of his wealth. He
owned several thousand parcels Of Lon
don realty, which, together, according to
the Dukes own statement, made coo acres.
Much of this is in Belgravia, the aristocrat-
tc resident quarter. He also had 1900 acres
in the country and an annual income of
G750,00. His realty values in London were
probably worth $50, 900, 900. The heir TO the
dukedom is the late Dukes grandson, Wis
count Belgrave, now in South Africa, an
aide-de-camp to Sir Alfred Miner, the
governor of Cape Colony.
The papers abound in anecdotes of the
late Duke. He was rather careless and
shabby in his dress, and his life at Elton
hall was that of al ordinary country gen.
tleman. At any time during his stay in
Cheshire. the Duke might be seen riding
or walking about his park, usually smok-
ing a cigarette not often composed of to-
bacco, for he used medieated cigarettes as
a remedy for asthma To his household
the Duke was
Always an Enigma.