Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-01


AND WOUNDED - FEELING
AKIN TO CONSERVATION PRE-
Walls AND PUBLIC ANXIETY Is
INCREASING REPETITION OF
MAJUBA HILL.
LONDON, October 31.-The throng
of visitors at the war Office remained
all day. Anxious people practically
fought their way to the notice board.
Most affecting scenes were witnessed.
Many women were heard to gasp:
Thank God, he's alive at any rate"
as they found the name of some below
ed one on the list of prisoners. The
sidewalks were packed with solid
masses awaiting their turn to enter.
There was continuous stream of
callers until a late hour, everybody
anxiously inquiring regarding yester-
days casualties, but the war Office de-
clared that nothing had been re REed
since Sir George Whites dispatch COM
municating the news of the capture of
the Royal Irish Fusilers and the Glou-
cestershire regiment.
This delay in getting further intelli-
gence is attributed n part to the break
down of the east coast cable, but it
stands to reason that the war office
must be possessed of further news.
which it is probably not thought advis-
able should be published as yet.
The disaster has caused a feeling
akin to CONSERVATION, and in Glounces-
tershire and the North of Ireland,
where the captured regiments were re-
cruited, the blacklist gloom prevails,
families awaiting with beating hearts
the names of the killed and wounded,
which are fully expected to reach a
high figure Many homes are already
in mourning in consequence of the
losses sustained by these regiments in
previous engagements.
Public anxiety was increased by a
special dispatch from Ladysmith pub
lished in the late editions of the Lon
don afternoon papers to the effect that
before darkness yesterday the Beers
re-occupied the old position held by
their heavy artillery, which Gen. While
had reported silenced by the guns Of
the naval brigade frog the Powerful,
and had opened fire again.
The dispatch further says:
1.-The enemy are again enclosing in
and the situation is one Of grave anxi-
ETY.. Beyond doubt the Boer retirement
yesterday (Monday) was a ruse to draw
Gen. White into the billy country and
away from the British camp"
This last sentence is significant and
confirms the opinion of military ex-
perts here that Gen. White is allowing
himself to be out-generaled by Com
mandant General Joubert.
From the scanty advices received up
to II o'clock p. M, it seems probably
certain that the disaster was a simple
repetition of the battle of Majuba HILL
though on a larger scale. The two reg
iments were allowed to march into the
trap set for them by the Beers. 1t is
simply a case of Boer spider and the
guileless British fly. In fact the whole
engagement of Monday seems to have
been brought on by Commandant Gen
eral Joubert, who skillfully conceived
s, gigantic trap, out of which, as the
official dispatch shows, Sir George
White only escaped with difficulty
Gen. White advanced with the idea
of driving the Beers from the hill
seven miles out which Gen. Joubert
made an ostentatious display of fortify-
ing on Sunday.
The Beer commander left a force
sufficient to draw Gen. White on, while
the mass Of the Beers he moved stead
lily round the British right to deliver
a flank attack and to endeavor to cut
off Gen. White from Ladysmith. The
British commander succeeded in beat
ing off the attack, but only with great
difficulty and during the turning
movement his troops suffered from
a thanking fire.
Harsh things are said in military cir
cles of the British tactics which have
made possible the ambush of the Eigh-
tenth Hussars at Glencoe and now the
loss of two fine regiments. 1t is fear
ed that Sir George White is no match
for the Beers in that cunning by which
Beer tactics are conceived. and it is
pointed out that if the British com
manders continue TO lead their men in
TO obvious traps further disasters
must be looked for.
An interview published with Brit
ish officer whose name is withheld. but
who is described as "A well known
general with a distinguished record
during the Indian mutiny," in the
course of which he passes severe crit
icism upon the conduct Of the cam
paign. Yesterdays disaster" says
the officer. lis only another proof OF
serious laundering Although sir